“What seems like a black and white decision to you, is in fact a complex decision IMO.”
I have read through your response to this as well as other comments on this thread. I understand and respect the depth of your feelings. For now, the decision is complex. It is primary season and you are not yet faced with the reality of Hillary. There are clear alternatives right now for you to not have to settle. It is human nature to look at your opponent (in this case Rudy to name one) and demonize him. Similarly, it is human nature to put the candidate that you support on a pedestal. The right thing for you to focus on is getting a candidate nominated who best expresses your views. I am a New Yorker who is a strong Guiliani supporter. If there is a Hillary vs Rudy match-up, I will be making the strong case for Rudy who in many ways would be far superior to Hillary. I assume that you strongly think this is hogwash. I am fine for that now. However, if that match-up occurs, I would like to engage you in that discussion. It is too premature to make that argument now. Lets see who the nominee is. Perhaps Huckabee will get traction and get the nomination. If so, I will be a strong supporter of his.
For now, I do want to briefly address some of your premises.
1. You have a reasonable take on the evil of Hillary, however, I believe that you underestimate what a threat of her as president will mean to the country. This for me is the number one issue that transcends everything. The contrast of this socialist criminal with almost every opponent will be clearcut. It is why I do not believe that the decision will be complex at all.
2. I understand your contempt for the Republicans who were effectively complicit with letting the Clintons off. However, I do not in any way accept that this makes them worse than the perpetrator of the crime. The Republican’s crime was cowardice as they did not have the votes in the Senate for conviction. In understanding of this cowardice, one needs to be aware of the media’s impact on distorting the truth and their influence on opinion. It is in the media where we need a revolution to get the media to report the truth.
3. As you articulated very well, there is a lot to criticize Bush for. It is true that some of his policies were misguided and seem little different from a Democrat. However, there are significant differences. He is steadfast on the WOT. The rules of engagement in Iraq were a big mistake but he is to admired for his principled strong stand. In fact, there are now successes happening with a new strategy. Contrast with the Democrats. Harry Reid “ The war is lost” quote at the time our troops are in harms range. Perhaps the most traitorous comment of our lifetime based on someone as high up in government. It surpasses Kerry’s speech to the Congress during Vietnam selling out the troops. (By the way would you go back and vote for Kerry over Bush?)It even surpasses the General Petraius Move On quote. (by the way the admonishment signed by Hillary - although she did sign the Limbaugh smear letter.) How about judges. How do you think Roberts and Alioto (after a brief brain lapse with Meirs) compare with who a Democrat would have nominated. Perhaps you might think we would have been better off with that wonderful visionary - Gore.
4. Letting the country deteriorate by having Hillary president will not succeed in having the country getting behind “pure candidates” that will right all of the ills of society. This is a discussion that I would also like to have once the nominees are known. Allowing known corruption to flourish will poison our society for a long time and I feel will do irreparable harm to the US. Make no mistake about it there is a big difference.
Bottom line, I believe the Democrats, in particular their leadership, to be despicable. Their treasonous behavior with a complicit media, their socialist goals, their hatred for America, attack on our judicial system cannot be rewarded under any circumstance. What conservatives should do is try to get their candidates elected thru the nominating process and try to influence policy. More important, try to a have a cohesive strategy for getting the truth out. That would be to change the media.
I look forward to our discussion come the general election time.
Thanks for the detailed response. Yes, those post primary discussions are going to interesting this year, if one of the conservatives doesn’t pull it out.