Saturday, March 18, 2006

More on Being a Republican

Recently I was challenged via comment by Johnathan and while it took me a bit too long to respond, I'll blame it on a birthday and a lot of stuff going on. Ah yes, that ever present bit of 'stuff' that always seems to get in the way.

I had recently come out of the closet as a Republican and apparently my reasoning wasn't enough for Johnathan so I'm going to take some of the points he made in his comments and answer as best I can. It won't satisfy everyone and a few bits here and there were harsh but I'm all for spirited discourse so let's at it.

You say that you didn’t like Kerry because you couldn’t see him sitting in a firehouse like Bush did during the campaign. Please tell me that you had other reasons for voting for bush rather than the fact that you ‘liked’ him more than Kerry or Gore.

You haven't read much of me, I'm not a very shallow person. In fact, I thought Teresa Kerry was at her best when she told the press to 'shove it,' that was about as real as one gets. So no, that wasn't my only reason for not being a Kerry fan. I came of age during Reaganomics and I did well for myself, better than I could now if I was fresh out of school and onto my first real job. My family did well and I sat in a bar and watched the Wall come down as everyone cried.

I do believe in a lot of things that are typically 'Republican' stances. I'm a strong advocate of family values and I don't mind saying it. I firmly believe that 97% of what's wrong with kids in today's world is the lack of a strong familial background. I believe strongly in personal responsibility and personal accountability. I don't believe it's ok to use abortion as a form of birth control. I want to protect my home with my legally owned gun and if someone comes in my house and tries to hurt me or mine, I'm going to shoot them and I don't care what society did to them to turn them bad. I believe in the death penalty in cases where there is no doubt - like Joseph Smith - and it bugged thebejesus out of me that an execution of a no-questions-asked inmate was put off because of concerns for the inmate's possible pain.

Yes, I branch out on my beliefs. Family values can easily mean a family where the parents are gay, I'm strongly pro gay marriage and adoption. I don't want to see Roe overturned but I don't think women should be able to have 5+ abortions, it's not birth control to me. I don't understand why anyone needs to own an automatic weapon. I think education and health care should be offered to everyone and I think it's ok to tax the rich higher and let the middle and lower classes get a break.

bush has been far, far worse for choice and for stem cell research than either Kerry or Gore. But, you must have evaluated those positions and realized that theyweren’t important enough to you to not vote for bush.

I won't argue there, Bush hasn't done anything towards forwarding stem cell research and yes, he panders to the conservatives. I'm a Republican but I'm not a Bush fan. If there was to be another election with him in it I wouldn't be voting for Bush again. But Ididn't see Kerry as the poster boy for stem cell research either.

I liked Bill Clinton, I thought he was a fine President.

The fact that bush has just put two justices on the Supreme Court that will almost undoubtedly vote to overturn Roe clearly must not be an important thing for you.

See, now that's baiting. Why must there always be baiting, why can't there just be discussion. I go on the record here and now saying I do not for a second think Roe is in any danger of being overturned. I think it's a fear mongering tactic people use to paint that evil Republican picture. I've seen no evidence from either of the recently appointed justices to make me believe Roe is in danger.

What do you think of wasting 1000s of American lives and 100,000s of Iraqi lives in a futile push for Democracy in a middle eastern country? (Ignore the fact that he and his entire administration lied about why we need to be there.)

I support the troops. What am I supposed to say, I love war? I don't like war. I was alright with the war at first but it soon became apparent to me wedidn 't have a post-war plan. I believe we were arrogant in our assumption people would be so happy to be free of Saddam they would open their arms and all would be well. I don't think we had plans for post-Saddam Iraq and too many Americans have died.

The Discovery Channel had a documentary about the Kurds and how years later children were still being born with birth defects. People deformed and still sick, it turned my stomach. I had no problems with going in to get rid of Saddam and I'm stillglad he's gone. I've read enough spin from both sides and it's not my call to make but I support the troops with every ounce of my being.

Or, the fact that bush feels that he can spy on anyone that he likes without a warrant? Is this ok with you too?

Sort of, yes. If it really was limited to international calls then I'm not going to freak over that. I've always assumed my own Amazon purchased list is flagged somewhere as I've bought everything from the Turner Diaries to the Koran to you name it. This doesn't concern me either, I don't feel like I've lost my civil liberties.

I think it sucks that we live in a world where it has to happen but sometimes you have to level the playing field. The people that would want to cause another 9/11 have no qualms with spying and if any society is going to be able to stay a step ahead and protect its people then there are going to beintrusions here and there.

If men can carry the fetus to term, then they should be able to have the baby. If men are going to have sex that might result in a baby, then they are obligated for child support.

But why? Women are having the sex, too. Women have more choices of birth control than men do, why isn't it equally as much the woman's responsibility to make sure the act doesn't result in spawning. There has to be a better reason than just because the woman has the baby.

In both cases, there is major health issues involved, for the woman. The man has no such risks. It’s easy to _say_, I want the baby, I’ll take care of the baby for life. It’s quite enough to endure 9 months of a risky health procedure, that could result in death, to carry the baby to term.

Whoa, dude. We're talking about having a baby here, women were built for this sort of thing. Pregnancy is a big thing but major health issues? Result in death? 9 months of a risky health procedure? That sort of extremism is as bad as the Republicans you loathe so much.

I stand with my beliefs. I don't think it's fair the woman has all the say, I just don't. I think if the man has strong feelings then he should have the right to be considered.

Alright, that's enough for now. I'm all discoursed out.

Peace and love to all!

1. Amen to much of the above, and well said. It’s too early and my brain is too shut down to debate anything I would have debated (which honestly isn’t a whole lot!). To the pregnancy/child birth bit, though, that I can comment on, more for Johnathon than you, WK. Yeah, pregnancy CAN lead to death, sure. So can getting in your car and driving to work. Should a woman who lives solely on child support, then, have to turn around and pay danger support to the guy who is risking life and limb to earn the money she’s asking him to give her? Really, there is a much larger chance of dying in a car accident than there is dying during pregnancy these days. And I would know ;p

   Kel  on  03/18  at  10:05 AM

2. Found you through BlogMad.  Must say what a great post here!!! 

   I’ll have to come back and read more, but I just wanted to comment
   that what you said was great!

   Dawn  on  03/21  at  03:22 PM
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