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"His stand on immigration is a non-starter for me, and a lot more "Republican core" than this author lets on."

Not to mention the Assault Weapons Ban and his out-of-control spending on social programs like "No Child Left Behind" and a Medicare drug benefit for our most affluent demographic. The "Republican core" that I hang with are not impressed...

So Hop on out and vote for Kerry, or do not vote and by default support Kerry. Either way you look at it you narrow minded "conservatives" are so caught up in how important your opinions are, the country be damned.

"... social programs like "No Child Left Behind" and a Medicare drug benefit for our most affluent demographic."

NCLB is not a social program. It is an accountability program that demands that teachers teach, show results and be tested for competency themselves before any Federal monies are dispersed to them.

The Bush Administration has sued the NEA. In several states the teachers unions have been investigated and embezzlers have gone to jail.

This is why the Dems and the trolls writing to the single-issue boards and calling the talk shows are furious. They are being deprived of their constituencies. This is known as *punking* the conservatives.

The prescription drug benefit is available as an entitlement on a means-tested basis to a small fraction of the *affluent* demographic. I know some of these elders and they have next to nothing. For the rest, they can choose to keep Medicare as it is (since they paid into it) or they can elect to pay more out of pocket for a more privatized version that will eventually privatize Medicare. Every senior pays something per month for any form of Medicare and all but the poorest of the poor pay some co-pay.

GWB has preempted the Dems by passing this bill and they are furious. They do not even want the administration to be able to pay a measly $12M to advertise the truth about the Medicare changes. The Dems want to scare everyone into single-payer, which will bankrupt us as a nation while providing 3rd world health care. The Dems responded by getting their base to withdraw from AARP. Luckily, it was a fraction of a percentage of AARPs members. This almost-senior is now pondering finally joining AARP just because they for once acted rationally instead of being in lockstep w/the DNC. And just this morning, I unsubscribed to NewsMax's email updates when they once again beat on the drum of divisiveness among Republicans.

I hear this anger against the elderly all the time. It is part of the divide & conquer tactics promulgated by Gramscians. Even though many elderly do have the accumulated assets and earned pensions hard won over 70+ plus years of hard work and paying of high taxes for all that time, not all or even a majority have nearly as much as is claimed. If they have a house that appreciated, even if they sell it, they have to live somewhere and only realize a portion as a retirement nest egg. They are usually not earning income. They are liquidating those assets monthly in order to live.
They could not afford a health insurance policy at today's rates for their age group, even if they are in perfect health. Most take several medications/day in order to remain independent. Since most people have elderly relatives still living, I cannot see the source for this resentment. We will all be elderly someday unless we die young.

Personally, I have seen, in former times, the really indigent elderly who were only 65-70, which is the young old by todays standards. It is precisely because I lived thru those times that I have saved for my own retirement. Still, I will have to sell my property at some point if I live long enough and I am glad my country offers some safety net to those who paid for our schools all their lives, who paid into the programs of Medicare and SS and who did their part in working, building those industries that made this nation strong and paying taxes while they were younger.

It is GWB who has lowered our taxes, allowing us to save more for retirement. It is GWB who has lowered and will eliminate the dividend tax which allows us to save more for our retirement and allows seniors to have the benefit of their investment income while allowing those corporations who employ the younger citizens to concentrate on more than appreciation, which is what helped Clinton's bubble economy to bankrupt more than a few Americans.

This administration is doing more to undo 70 years of social engineering brought on since FDR than even Reagan did. The Dems are fighting for their political lives. If GWB wins reelection, the Democrats as we know them will be banished to the wilderness for a generation. I won't live to see the final result, but those of you who are younger should realize that the only way you are ever going get your pure conservative Messiah is to first marginalize the Democrats. Withholding your vote from the present administration is cutting off your nose to spite your face.

You need to hang out w/a more intelligent group of hardcore conservatives. They are among the 80% or so who will vote for GWB and the Republicans.