I typically haven't been that invested in the political process, but I have to confess in the background of my mind I find myself carrying a real sense of dread if we end up with 4 more years of a Republican presidency. It's not that I'm a card carrying Democrat either- I certianly see the flaws in their deal too. I guess if we're totallying up evils, I'd rather deal with something overly inclusionary under the guise of trying to help everyone rather than angry, self-righteous, rich, white guys who want to protect their power under a banner of patriotism and God's will. I have never seen God's will used to hate so much in my life. I would much rather see my taxes go to helping another American eat for another day, even if I do believe they should ultimately work for their means, than have it finance a totally misguided war that was a ruse to yet again protect corporate interests. Sorry, I don't have enough faith in people to believe a free market  can work. Enron, Halliburton, Exxon, Fannie Mae and WorldCom to name (unfortunately) but a few, anyone?

The deepest of ironies is that all they have to do is give lip service to the Christians about gay marriage and pro-life, and they can lead them around by the short hairs while they do whatever the hell they please- which usually involves if not illegally, but unethically lining their pockets and forming power alliances to protect their interests. As far as I can tell, the Reps are pro-greed and pro-power, period. Look at the corporate welfare, the outsourcing, the worshipping at the alter of the stock price. When folks complain about US corporations selling American workers down the river, the corporate heads just shrug, point to the inflated stock price as doing things right  and exclaim "the casualties are just part of the global economy." Yet in every other industrialized nation that we are supposed to be competing with, every citizen has a right to basic health care, which the republicans would never support because, hey, after all medicine is a business too and just giving the stuff away fro free would cut into the bottom line, you know. Let the free market sort it out. Again, I'd rather have my taxes go to taking care of other Americans than blowing up a middle east country just so Halliburton can get government money (and overcharge for it) to rebuild the place and open up the oil contracts to US oil corporation bidding.

I also don't get the proclaiming to be "anti big government" and getting government out of folks lives, yet wanting to wielding the authority to insert themselves in two intensely personal matters- one of which hurts no one and has no bearing on hetrosexual marriages whatsoever, or a religion's ability to not perform same-sex marriages. Regarding Roe v Wade, I think abortion is a terrible tradgedy, and it causes me an awful lot of conflict. But I also don't believe that my government has any moral authority on the matter. Look at the Iraq war. Not that two wrongs make a right, but I find it hypocritical and feel that sending our men and women into an unjust war was deriliction of duty on the President's part- that he could be that cavlier with the lives of our soldiers makes me cringe- How is that "pro-life" in real terms? So does the notion that they are over there protecting us from terrorists. There's a reason Bush opted for "Operation Freedom" as the title of the fiasco instead of "Operation Iraqui Liberation" folks...

And what about all the politicians going to prison? Seems to me the vast majority have a little "r" listed after their name in the newspapers?

Again, not saying that the Dems are angels, but anything is better than the Rebublicans at this point. The crux I see is the the Dems want to take my money and distribute it to everyone else, regardless of whether they are willing to work for it or come to the US legally. They also get heavy-handed with legislation that tries to protect ourselves from ourselves and go overboard on trying to make sure that while Americans excercise their freedoms they don't tred on or offend others. It's frustrating. But on the other hand, and the Republicans just want to take my money and keep it for themselves, promote greed and taking advantage of every situation and loophole as being "freedom" while retaining absolute authority over what is "moral and what is not "moral."- add a heavy dose of hubris and arrogance and absolute black and white thinking and that is far more depressing to me than mis-guided good will.

Okay, I'm done ranting about politics for the next  ten years. I feel better now. Well, sorta. Depends on what happens in November.