Look, I'm a law and order conservative, but I'm also a realist. This idea that we're just suppose to sit back and allow terrorists free access to circumvent our nations laws and ultimately kill more Americans is a crazy policy. After all, we were attacked once by cowardly bastards and we are now engaged in a war against international terrorism, both at home and abroad. Being inconvenienced, bothered or annoyed by extenuating circumstances, are small sacrifices that most Americans have no problem with. All the freedoms and liberties we had before 9-11, we still have today. I know of no one, who has lost any freedoms and liberties. Except for may be a few terrorists and criminals.
>>>Are you not a civil libertarian?
Like most Americans, I support civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and in that regard, I guess I could be considered a civil libertarian. However, I'm not a fringe extremist, reactionary, absolutist, anarchist or libertarian. I don't believe that holding terrorist scumbags like Jose Padilla, against his will and without due process, will turn America into a totalitarian state.
>>>Same with the social spending...
You have your facts wrong. Bush has proposed two budgets so far. From 2002 ($2.052 billion) to 2003 ($2.128billion), spending increases have totaled $76 billion or 3.57%. The DoD and Homeland Security have received the largest increases under Bushes first two budgets. Add to that, emergency spending for 9-11 and its obvious where the funds have been allocated. This funding is discretionary spending and is different then mandatory spending under existing law, for items like Social Security, medicare, medicad, income security and interest on the national debt. One more time. If homeland security and 9-11 emergency spending is excluded, nondefense spending rose by 3.3 percent in 2002 and is slated to decline by 0.4 percent in 2003. Those are the facts from OMB.
Very interesting debate tactic, my FRiend, introducing the facts into the discussion...LOL!! Can you direct me to where you acquired your figures? Does this include Social Security spending? Are the spending increase percentages adjusted for inflation? And if you know anywhere these Federal Spending figures are analyzed vis a vis Gross Domestic Product, I'd be especially obliged.
FReegards...MUD