[ArlJim78]

Genuine, okay you are passionate and have really opened this up. I will try to respond succinctly. First I do not take any of this personally and do not mind a dialogue with a passionate rational person with an open mind, which you appear to be, even if the expressed views are diametrically opposed to my own. I’m less interested in close-minded blowhards who think any person with an opinion different from their own is simply ignorant.

BTW my name is Jim not Art. Also you started off with “you conservatives”, I really don’t fit the label. Also I’m really not a “blueblood”. I don’t think these kinds of labels are helpful.

There is so much I take issue with in your post that I can’t possibly go into great detail. But I think I get where you’re coming from. Your position is that if we didn’t have Bush as president we would have, won the war on terror without fighting the war, without taking prisoners and without spying. We would have cured genital warts and girls would no longer get cervical cancer. Natural disasters like Katrina would not have happened and the levees would have been fortified and would not have given way. Mine disasters would not have happened because mine safety would not have been cut. We would have increased the taxes on the wealthy and their heirs to make ourselves feel good.

Some quick points:
I don’t know what was ridiculous about the Swift Boat story. Kerry made his VN experience the centerpiece of his campaign. That some of his fellow soldiers took issue with his version of it I think is relevant.

The Times is not favorable to Republicans or conservatives. Has there been any, even one positive story about this administration? I didn’t see the Clinton marriage article but I will say this, if it was negative at all it was only because Hillary is now perceived to have no shot at winning the presidency. You will see other friendly fire directed her way in my opinion. I think the big decision makers and big money are looking elsewhere. I think they are smart because in terms of the presidency she is unelectable.

You wrote: “And in general, the establishment of a government that seems to view the Constitution as an obstacle to get around, not the basis of our nation.” Can you give some specific examples of this?

I’m not a rabid Bush supporter. I have big problems with his lack of fiscal responsibility, his lack of leadership in some areas, his lack of good communication skills both personally and his administration as a whole. I admire him for his steadfast leadership on the WOT and Iraq.