Posted on 07/22/2004 11:24:50 AM PDT by TheSmiler
I'm really having a hard time deciding who to vote for this time around. Immediately after 9/11 I strongly supported the President because I truly believed that we would be tireless in his efforts to protect this country.
However, since then I have begun to lose trust in President Bush for a number of reasons. I know this may be an unpopular topic of discussion here, but I wonder if some of you can tell me where I'm wrong.
I strongly supported the war in Afghanistan, as did most Americans, but with the invasion of Iraq I think the President overplayed his hand. I have a very hard time with what seems like a long list of exaggerations from the White House to justify the war. If we had found the massive stockpiles of WMDs that Donald Rumsfeld insisted were there, then I would have no problem whatsoever. But it's beginning to appear to me that the war had nothing to do with WMDs at all.
This is difficult for me to say, because as a lifelong Republican I have always had an unshakeable faith in the military and a belief that our soldiers would never be sent into harm's way unless it was absolutely necessary. The war in Iraq is beginning to look to me like a ruse that was perpetrated on the American people still grieving after 9/11. I believed before the war that President Bush would never squander the trust given to him by the American people to keep them safe, but it looks to me like he did exactly that, and that bothers me immensely.
Bush was elected on a platform of inclusiveness, and he promised to unite this country rather than divide it. However, any sane conservative must admit that he has done the exact opposite, and divided this country to such an extreme that I have never seen before. If I thought A truly United States of America is crucial for victory in the war on terror, and I don't believe that Bush is the man to unite us. I'm not saying John Kerry is, either, but that's the root of the quandary I find myself in.
I truly don't know who to vote for this time around. I can't bring myself to vote for a Democrat just yet, but I need to be convinced that Bush deserves another term.
Funny, the only ones I see who are saying that are liberals, and they're the ones doing the dividing.
Wow, you're so clever and original. Nobody ever thought of this approach before!
LOL!
Run back to DUh and tell them how badly you have been treated. Don't forget to copy a reply or two so you and your buds can whine about it.
"long list of exaggerations from the White House to justify the war."
Everyone, including Kerry, Edwards, Kennedy and both Clintons shared in that belief, and Congress agreed. Making it look like Bush was alone in those assertions is purely media spin. The war was NOT just about WMD's. Terrorists were abetted and given a safe harbor by many countries, including Iraq. We needed to show them that the friends of our enemies were our enemies, and we would not be afraid to act. Iraq, due to it's history with the U.S. and the UN made itself the obvious and safest choice to be made an example. It's no coincidence that there has not been one attack on American soil since 9/11-that's how the success of the war is measured. The irony is that if GWB has made us safe with the war, it may be his undoing. It's easier to point at coffins of soldiers and critcize him, when his real accomplishment may be what HASN'T happened. The security of America is no longer a given-it's being purchased with sweat, blood and political sacrifice: George Bush's.
Just a Cheshire Cat smile now, I'm betting!
You're doing good work here. Keep it up.
I will assume you are actually a Republican and not a DU troll.
I strongly supported the war in Afghanistan, as did most Americans, but with the invasion of Iraq I think the President overplayed his hand. I have a very hard time with what seems like a long list of exaggerations from the White House to justify the war. If we had found the massive stockpiles of WMDs that Donald Rumsfeld insisted were there, then I would have no problem whatsoever. But it's beginning to appear to me that the war had nothing to do with WMDs at all.
Oh but you are wrong. First off, Kerry and Edwards had the same evidence and came to the same conclusion as Bush. Clinton did also, back in 1998 based on the same intelligence. Perhaps the intelligence was overstated (not wrong though, getting to that). The recent Senate report has proven that Bush didn't intentionally mislead the American People. Not to mention, if you search a bit you will find that uranium has been found, as have several locations where possible WMD construction was going on.
Also, if it wasn't for WMD's what was it for? Oil, you say? Then why are gas prices still $2 a gallon? Why not get Mexico where there's plenty of oil and a much less difficult country to invade? How bout this: France objected because they were profiting from Iraqi oil with a backdoor deal with Saddam, and they knew that deal was dead with Saddam's fall. Look all over FR, there is plenty of evidence to support all my claims.
So it's Kerry for me. We're talking ketchup packets here, baby!
If this isn't zot material, I don't know what is. But, as a rational reply, I'd say forget about the WMD's "then". Had we not gone to war, we would have had 20 years of searching for them with Saddam. Otay and Ebay in power. So, who is stupid enough to think we wouldn't have had to do the same exact war at a later date? Especially given that the UN is a eunuch!
"Right on! Testify! You are hitting the nail on the head. Don't led the pro-Bush sycophants tell you otherwise"
- Foxy Lady
that's interesting, and I didn't post my first day, and no one else does either...for obvious reasons. Especially anti-conservative/anti-Bush musings...for that's what they are, no substance, no fact-emitting, no logic.
~Oops~ am I being mean? did I accidentally stomp over their wittle feelings and make them feel insignificant? I certainly hope so :o)
How can anyone even think there is a choice of who to vote for? John Kerry and his wife are a disgrace to this country. You may not agree with everything Bush has done, but he has done it in good faith. Surely you've read about the ties Teresa Heinz' money has with terror groups. We cannot allow these kind of people head our country. Let's fight to keep a little morality before the cesspool swallows us all up.
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