[Mannofiron]

If you didn't read my death penalty diatribe I'll tell you I'm pretty far right (and I can see that's a whole 'nother side of the road than some here but it's all cool) and I both like and dislike Bush.

I agree with the war. I think it was based on poor intelligence WMD-wise, but in his situation, the information he was given would practically require a leader to go to war from what he knew (or was told). But WMD aside, it was something that needed to be done. History has shown that democracy and freedom never co-exists peacefully with totalitarianism. Saddam Hussien was a tyrant and it was in the best interest of our country to remove him from his position. Peace is great, but there can never be peace when evil exists. I am against the UN: it is corrupt and inefficient. The very idea that undemocratic nations are let in is obscene. How shameful that civilized countries get kicked off of human rights councils and China and Sudan ran it for a while...reform is needed here.

Economically, he has done a fair to good job. I like his tax cuts (I am high-middle to lower-high class but I don't even pay taxes yet so it's not like I'm a direct beneficiary of his actions). Even so, I think that the tax system in America stinks: it is not right to have people paying disproportiate amounts of taxes. A flat tax rate would be more fair, but I would settle for at least lowering the insane amount of taxes on the upper class. They do, after all, stimulate the economy and invest more than any other group. It's important also to remember that the lower classes did get tax breaks as well, it just went to help the rich more, since the top 1% pays well over 30% of taxes. It would be ideal to have a consumption tax, but that would never happen.

Socially/domestically, I am uncertain of his job from a conservative standpoint. I agree with him on many of the hot issues (abortion, gay marriage (though an amendment is unnecessary in my opinion), etc.) but his handling of other issues leaves me worried. First off, he spends way too much to be fiscally sound. I know a war hurts the budget, but on the home front he is too reliant on government spending for my tastes. I would have liked to see welfare reform and a push for less gun control (very important to a big founding fathers fan like me) but these can be addressed in a second term (fingers crossed) or by another president. I was disappointed in his educational program, which I feel the federal gov't should stay out of. The state and local governments can handle this. No Child Left Behind is another example of gov't inefficiency and meddling when local people can do better.

I wouldn't be distressed if Kerry took office (I don't think he will but he definitely has a shot), I just think Bush is the better man for the job. It's of utmost importance to me that some good conservative supreme court justices get appointed (though the senate battles will be vicious) and that the Iraqi conflict be lead by a man with conviction. We can't abandon the area now while it is still struggling for democracy and freedom.

In good faith to all,
Doom (haha, ironically a totalitarian ruler himself)

P.S. Can't you guys get over the election of 2000? Peoples who can't vote correctly should not be given a vote, because an unclear vote is decided by a biased election judge. The fact that Florida was called for Gore obscenely early turned away many republicans when in fact the state was still close. Many recounts showed Bush the winner, and people trying to determine the "intent" of a voter who can't punch a hole through a card might have changed that because of bias.