[Gracey]

OH, by the way, PRESIDENT BUSH 41 joined the Air Force at the tender age of 17 (he lied about his age to protect your ass), so he could fly in WWII so your ass could be free in this USA. What have you done to reinforce any of our freedoms?

There are two sides to every issue. IMO, Bush had many more positives than negatives.... honesty, decenty, integrity, morals, convictions, duty to his country, and he raised some of the finest children who have served our country well. What have YOU done for your country... besides btch?????

Must agree that Bush 41 (and Bush 43) was more liberal than my personal leanings, but why do I drive the agenda? His leanings, IMO, are more in line with the majority of citizens in this country, perhaps. I will repeat....I'm MORE conservative than Bush and ALL presidents in my lifetime, but I'm also hopefully, a realist, considering who is electable.

[Cacophonous]

I reject the following notions:

-- That our only choices are those presented us by the two major parties. I am a registered Independent, and don't see either party representing my interests. I will say this for the liberal democrats: they at least are more honest in how they present themselves. You elect a liberal democrat, you know what you are getting. You vote the typical republican--Bush, Dole--you wind up with a liberal pretending to be a conservative running as a moderate. Scratch deep enough and you have the same liberal.

Yes, I voted for Pat Buchanan, because he was the most conservative candidate on the ballot. During the past election, I also voted for the most conservative candidates; they happened to all be Republicans. I have, in the past, voted for democrats; I used to live in Virgil Goode's district, when he was a democrat (he has since switched parties); he is a fine man and a good conservative, and a terrific speaker if you ever get the opportunity to hear him. I don't care if he were to switch to the Green Party; if he is a conservative, I will vote for him.

-- That just because we elect a President (Bush 43) who is markedly to the right of, more likable and infinitely more moral than his predecessor, that we can suddenly stop pushing a Conservative agenda. Generally a moderate such as both Presidents Bush do not push Conservative agendas, they only marginally oppose a leftist agenda, and the whole debate lurches to the left. Eventually we are left with left-wing and slightly less left-wing choices. Conservatives lose out.

-- That just because a republican was elected President, and because his slightly more conservative son was also elected President, he is automatically a candidate for sainthood. Unless you are a historical revisionist.

Also, I have NEVER denigrated the public and heroic service of President Bush, Bob Dole, Sen. Kerrey, or anyone else that served, sacrificed and risked his life. It also doesn't matter to me if someone didn't serve. While I encourage and applaud military service, I don't hold it is a prerequisite for public service.