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Nope, not referring to swiftvets, though I dislike their tactics as I dislike it no matter which side takes the character assasination route. Kerry is clearly too much the intellectual for many people's tastes, but as the mom and mom-in-law of two soldiers, I didn't appreciate the swiftvets' disparaging his service any more than I appreciate the dems going on a witchhunt to try to disparage President Bush's service.

Military service is a keenly emotional topic guaranteed to be divisive, and in this respect one was just as guilty as the other in my own view. In both cases their stridency and the fact that they each had a dog in the fight (so to speak) made it very difficult to tell what the truth really was, especially for people without the patience, desire, time, skills and resources to dig very deeply for something objective, if such even existed. What is more outrageous to me is this is precisely the goal, not to be truthful, but to cast reasonable doubt in hopes of swaying voters to their side. The spin docs count on people soon tiring of trying to figure out what is what and deciding to believe what they want to believe. But is it the truth? Maybe so, and maybe no.

No, as far as President Bush is concerned, I think he made a grave error in deciding to support a constitutional amendment on the marriage issue. As he has been quoted recently, he was earning political capital, but at the expense of alienating moderate liberals who see such a stance as lacking in compassion, even hostile toward people who are Americans like anyone else. If that's where it ended, knowing such an amendment has little chance of success would perhaps let him off the hook, but it set off a chain of events where the states hastened to amend their own constitutions, and that's a much bigger issue to those who care about such things. In their view it unjustly denies people who aren't hurting anyone equal rights on, once again, a very personal, highly divisive issue, the right to be a family, if a different sort of family, with the same rights and obligations married people are afforded.

Likewise, announcing an intention to place as many strongly conservative supreme court justices like Justice Reinquist on the bench knowing this will fan the flames of that most emotional of issues, the abortion debate, was also divisive. The president may have good intentions and be following his own conscience, but to many people, his conscience is not all that counts.

It is that kind of step taken while remaining silent about and appearing to be unsympathetic toward what many Americans do want that signals to those who care about such issues that President Bush doesn't truly serve them.

By the way, these are not your ultra liberal progressive fans of Michael Moore. They, too, are middle class people of faith, law abiding citizens who work as hard as any blue collar conservative and love America just as much, who want to give their kids a good upbringing and a good education, who pay their taxes just like the president's more conservative supporters and who help their kids say their prayers at night. They also resent that conservatives have co-opted the concept of morality, as if only republicans have good morals. It's terribly unjust and bound to make enemies of people who might otherwise have been much more receptive.

Many of these same folks believe that freedom of religion is protected by the concept of separation of church and state, and that though abortion is a very serious step they might not choose for themselves, it should ultimately be the woman's right to choose. On these issues I understand their concerns and, frankly, agree with them. (Yes, there is a bit of libertarian in me.) Many of my conservative friends would have me believe that these are not legitimate values, but I value freedom and empowering individuals, as Papasmurf referenced, too much to dismiss them out of hand, as President Bush gives the impression that he does, lacking information and actions to the contrary.

This is not to say that these folks don't respect and appreciate President Bush on other issues, but from what I can see, they are disappointed by what seems to be his tendency to act according to the will of some of the people, but not all of the people. That's surely a fine line to walk, but he is the president, and that is his lot.

YMMV,
Polygirl

polygirl:

Kerry by definition was a traitor. It's the self-anointed pseudo intellectuals who are dividing this country. Kerry service was a sham. The real heroes of Vietnam War are lying in the fields of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
Kerry gave comfort to the enemy and helped in our losing that war. Kerry would have given your security over to the spineless and American hating U.N.
Would you rather have a traitor as your leader or as you say an nonintellectual?
The Swift Vets were right. I suggest you read the book. They helped save this country from sliding into third world Socialism. Bush's presidency is also your lot.
The vast majority of Veterans voted against Kerry.
Read American Evita and you'll see what we're in for if Hillary ever became president. God Forbid!
Abortion, and particularly, late term abortion is wrong. Same sex marriage is an oxymoron . we need an amendment to protect society from liberal judges,since legislators won't take a stand. People have been cohabiting for generations. We don't object to domestic partnerships. We object to dragging the state of matrimony in the mud. I'm not sure what you mean by a moderate liberal when it comes down to killing innocent lives, and the basic structure of a strong society, namely, marriage. Johnny has two mommies or two daddies, is an indication of a sick society that's getting sicker. How can you call people of faith who are pro abortion and pro same sex marriage? That's an oxymoron. You're likely a cafeteria Christian.

I can see you are a proud mom. the service your daughter and son-in-law is to be commended.

I am a vet. In my most honest and humble opinion, Kerry slaughter the integrity of our service members. Sure he served. He laughed at GW's service in the Air national Guard, yet failed to mention he was a Reservist. GW's Unit wasn't called for service, as Kerry's was. Kerry didn't want to go or he would have joined the active forces. When overseas, Kerry used his rank and position to create a documentary to possibly promote political gain.

My father was in Viet Nam the same time, had my father been captured and tortured, or even killed due to the lies Kerry told to the congressional hearing, I would have a hard time forgiving him.

As a vet, I am appaled at Sen. Kerry's senate record for financing the military. This is the same person the Dems wanted to command the Military. Perhaps we should have let him have the presidency just to see the SNAFU he's created trying to squeeze the money out of it.

Kerry brought Viet Nam into the race because he knew he had no senate record to be pleased with, or an attendance record. Viet Nam covered all of that really well. The Swift Boat vets had to clear up the misinformation Kerry was spreading regarding his very short tour of duty there.

Kerry is smart, but he is too wishy-washy. In the words of Mark Twain, "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."

Truth is an absolute. It is the same for all people for all places and all time. If you do not believe in absolutes, then you do not have any morals. No morals, no leadership.

Kerry has none of those.

With a son at the age for enlisting, if he chooses to enlist, I am more comforatble he would be under our current Commander in Chief, and so should you, with your children. If it were Kerry, I would be worried.

As far as tactics go, parties need to stop attacking character and focus on issues that fall under the Federal Government. Healthcare, Affordable meds, housing, welfare are not the function of Government.

Kerry's running mate, Edwards is a trial lawyer who has sued insurances, medical practices and drug makers. Because of these lawsuits, the cost has been driven up. Pretty ironic that Kerry is talking about affordable healthcare and it's his sidekick that helped cause the price increases.

Bush hasn't done anything wrong as president. I can name tons Kerry has done wrong as Senator and as an LT in the Navy.

I do agree with you that the democrat party isn't what it used to be, nor is the republican party. There is only one thing to trust in and that is bringing the Constitution back into our government