My common sense reflections on politics and life

I've noticed for a while now how much the Dems views are agreeable to me... I used to be a Republican.

I'm for fiscal responsibility... not overspending... not for tax breaks during a time of war... not for frivolous contracts to all my buddies (see Black Water and Halliburton)

I'm for keeping to ourselves (no nation-building)… not “spreading democracy” worldwide on my dime.

I'm for live and let live (government not intruding on my rights such as domestic spying, or even letting gays be gay, etc.)

I'm for the military... giving them all they need and taking care of them when they get home...no stop loss, AND not having them serve with private mercenaries being paid 10X their pay, with better equipment etc. Sending troops to an elective war under-armed/armored and then saying “you go in with what you’ve got” is pathetic. Bribing folks to join (or re-up) the military, then sending them to collections to get it back if they can’t fulfill their full term of duty due to injury is just disgusting to me. The same can be said for sending troops (40,000) who were declared unfit for duty due to amputations and other injuries back to the front..

I’m for my president being the foremost honorable citizen… not one (or a member of his cabinet) who outs a CIA covert operative as a form of revenge… last time I checked, that action is treasonous…

I’m for a strong president who listens to his (or her) advisors…especially when their specialty is one that I have little or no experience (such as military). I think a leader should surround him/herself with experts who have diverse opinions…therefore receiving all sides to a problem…not firing all those who disagree with him on little things like whether to invade a country, how many troops will be required, whether to send more etc… and replacing them with only those who agree with him...then going on TV saying, “See, my advisors agree with me!”…. GEEZ!

I'm for honesty in government...no lies, no falsified intelligence... no unnecessary wars. no denying the obvious i.e. "we don't torture."

I'm for honesty, integrity and transparency in the use of my tax dollars, I don’t believe in no-bid contracts to VP interests, and lost billions (literally) in Iraq with no accountability or care...Nor, am I for giving my hard earned tax dollars to an industry such as (oil) which is currently realizing record PROFITS while fleecing me at the pump… I feel like I’m getting screwed on two fronts on this one… I pay for their profits, and I pay taxes to them too…

I'm for a tough president...John Wayne-esque, not a guy who, a few years after unsuccessfully searching for the bad guy who attacked my country declares, "I don't think about him anymore really"... nor one (or his cabinet for that matter) who gets out of serving his country by A. Dad's friends getting him a cushy job in TX and not even completing it... B. saying, "I had more important things to do (Dick Cheney)...etc...I'm also for a president who goes to Saudi Arabia and demands more oil production, not one who begs for it and goes home empty handed only to then tell the American people that it wouldn't have made a difference anyway.

I'm for a president who wants a Strong Dollar, and strong American economy...one which benefits all Americans... not a guy who creates benefits for companies to move out of the country, lay off workers, etc. Nor one who supports lowering interest rates and therefore weakening the dollar…

I’m not for stimulus packages which borrow money from our enemies (China, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, etc.) with a high interest rate… one that will further weaken our economy, and for that matter flirt with higher inflation.

I’m for a proactive president… one that would see $4 plus diesel prices and the negative effect they have on our nations truck drivers… the backbone of America… On this one I think it’s somewhat deliberate. By forcing experienced truck drivers out of business, the doors are open to contractors from Mexico to drive for far less money… just wait and see on this one… it’s almost like breaking a union... Big business will again benefit in the end on this one… remember, diesel is the crap left over in the fuel world… it should almost NEVER cost more than petrol. I think this is pure market manipulation with bad intentions.

I'm for free markets, but not criminal ones. Enron should have been downright embarassing for Bush... but instead his VP declares hands off and allows it to continue... same could be said about the oil industry today... and who got screwed from the debacle? Only the investors…and their life savings! So much for Republicans being for the “little guy” as Rush Limbaugh constantly laments…

I'm for drilling in Alaska, CA, TX, and FL coasts.... but unlike our illustrious leader, I think what's drilled in America, should STAY in America... not be sent to the world market... That’s MY oil… my country’s oil…I wonder why no one puts that up to vote!

I hate to see abortions... though being a supporter of smaller federal government and more power to local governments, I'd like to see the PEOPLE of the states vote and decide for themselves.

I'm for accountability in government... whether it be Democrat or Republican... and if you cheat we the people, I'd like to see you investigated, and if found guilty punished.

I'm for controlling our borders... by actually enforcing them... not talking a good fight while winking to my corporate buddies (the ones who benefit from hiring illegal aliens)

I'm for being against our enemies and for our friends... all while trying to smartly expand my base of the latter... not holding hands with leaders of those who attacked us... (Bin Laden family, and Saudi royal family...

I'm for smaller government...not the new homeland security which is larger than any before it...let FEMA be FEMA…

I’m for a president who appoints experts and professionals to posts… not Brownies running FEMA… not oil executives to run Iraq…AND, not rewarding failure like “You’re doing a great job Brownie”, then offering him a medal after totally messing up Katrina logistics.

Returning to the financial accountability thing... I'm for all expenditures counting against the budget... therefore having true transparency... I don't understand why Iraq and other things don't count against the budget... how can you possibly be serious about balancing the budget when you can't even be honest with yourself about your overall costs?

Looking at the Dems, They pretty much stand for what conservatives are clamoring for... to a point.

Oh, and for those of you who loved Reagan... this will really piss you off... He ran record deficits, big government, AND Iran Contra (selling Iran weapons in trade for hostages and then lying about it)... for those of you who long for his days, step out of the fog and reconsider....