Why this libertarian thinker is voting for Bush.

It comes down to one word: Judges

Although I am extremely unhappy with Bush over a number of issues, I cannot throw my vote away by casting it for someone that does have a chance to win. One vote less for Bush is one less vote that Kerry needs to win, and I cannot have any part in electing Mr. Kerry to the presidency.... President Kerry, the most liberal member of the Senate... what kind of judges will he appoint? I shudder at the thought. Take any controversy on the table today that is the result of judicial activism and think what we will have when President Kerry appoints a few.

I do not like everything President Bush is doing, but the alternative is completely unacceptable. So it comes down to that: JUDGES.

I hope other Libertarians (or libertarians like me) come to the same conclusion.

It's a no-brainer for this libertarian. Bush is doing as close to a libertarian job as the political atmosphere of the nation will tolerate. It's the job of individual citizens to change the political atmosphere. The President has no choice bu to function within it.

"the political atmosphere of the nation will tolerate"

Not sure I agree with that statement, but I understand where you're coming from. Here's why:
When the No Child Left Behind legislation was signed, the overall reaction as I read it from the right was one of disbelief (Kennedy connection notwithstanding) and disapproval. Now we have the Lefties actually using their opposition to the act in their platforms. I think it goes on and on, but the Bush team seems to me to have misjudged the political atmosphere on several occasions--shooting for the center, but in the end, alienating everyone. That said, I still agree with the original comment. More damage has been done to the United States in its own courtrooms than on any battlefield.

I will probably vote Bush based on national security. As a libertarian, I don't see the appointment of conservative judges being necessarily a good thing. We don't need Ten Commandment monuments in the court house or the various other contentious items on the social conservative agenda.

In the areas where I am conservative, ie, fiscal, the judiciary has little input. The damage liberal judges do is outweighed by the loss of liberty under social conservatism.

The issue of judges is right up there for me, but gains need to be made in the Senate too. We don't have a seat in play in Oregon this year, so that's gonna be up to the ones who do. With a proper Senate makeup and GWB in office, we can expect a small improvement in the judicial Makeup. A Kerry Presidency would do the opposite.

National security is in there too. Why GWB is better there than Kerry would be is a no brainer.

Taxes - For me, there are about a thou$and rea$ons it's an easy Bush, YMMV.

Government spending and the deficit - It's a Congress thing, there is no line item veto, and the President can't spend what the Congress doesn't put on the books.

Economy - it's a push. Who is in office probably wouldn't matter a whole lot there.

Guns - a major issue that's in play. A lot of us have supported Bush in spite of his promise to sign an AWB renewal, hoping against hope our Congress would see to it that never happened, but where the rubber meets the road, it is his signature that makes it happen. It's looking good for we the hopeful right now, we all know the President's base has come out and told him in no uncertain terms that his signature on such a bill will cost him his reelection. The line has been drawn, we are at a point in time where stepping over it can not go unpunished. Should it come to pass, I'll do my part to send him packing. Through these next several months, we need to do what we can to be sure this is not forgotten.

How do you expect him to appoint someone to the SCOTUS when he can't get circuit appointments?

Thank You!!!

Thank you RE.

While I don't fully agree with Bush on a few issues, I agree with him on most and will continue to support him. I will be voting for him as President in the 2004 elections and am thankful you will too. :o)

You've taken a courageous stand and very well may feel flack from a few freepers. Stand firm.

Hello Richard,

I am from Prince Edward Island Canada, a place where many Americans vacation and over the past 3 years I have talked to as many as I could about your President. In that time I have only been able to find one that actually voted for him. All whom I talked to were apoligetic and embarrassed by him including the one who voted Republican. Personally I have never cared much about American politics assuming that America is a great Nation of Civalized people that would do the right thing but this man scares the Hell out of me and I can't believe that he is running again. The world is horrified and scared of this man. Is that who you want representing you?

Regards,

William White

Mr. White,
As a middle-of-the-road moderate, I can tell you that President Bush is absolutely the man we want representing us. He is the right man for the job AT THIS POINT IN THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORY. With all due respect to you and your fellow countrymen and women, the United States is not a socialist nation - we are a constitutional republic. The fact that our President scares the hell outta you and others in the world is no surprise, nor is it a matter of serious concern. The liberals (read: socialists) in our own country don't like a single thing he says or does - and they never will, regardless of what action he takes or stand he makes. It is in their nature to loathe that which they do not understand.
Read this clearly - I AM GLAD THEY DO NOT LIKE HIM. If they did, I would be seriously concerned about our course he is charting. They are shortsighted thinkers who are perpetually in the react mode. That serves no practical purpose for long-term stability. That mindset causes bad things like 9-11. That, I can assure you, is a cold, hard fact.
I also have no problem with the presumptive notion that some folks who voted for him are now apologetic - there are those kinds all over the world. They have no fortitude and their stand on important issues may change with the wind direction more quickly than John Kerry's vote an a given policy decision.
It is natural for them to be intimidated by a man who understands and practices perseverance in all he does. President Bush is a man of physical and moral courage who understands one important fact: leaders are not charged with making only those decisions which are popular. We were led into this mess by our previous administration's foolhearted attempts to satisfy everyone. They failed, plain and simple.
If John Kerry's recent utterances are true - if other nations' leaders want him to defeat President Bush - isn't it just faintly possible that they have ulterior motives? After all, what do weaker nations stand to gain by a strong America? What they want is an America that tries to bend to the will and every little whim of those too weak to stand strong and prosper themselves because doing so weakens us and makes them feel better about themselves. Where would they be without help from us? They would be complaining about not getting our helping handouts - just as they are now complaining about our policies - while they are gladly still accepting our helping handouts.
I do not agree with every single thing President Bush has said or done. Unlike many other people, however - I am smart enough to know that it is entirely possible that I don't know everything there is to know about all those things. I don't make a living by knowing all those things. I do MY JOB, cast MY VOTE, and hold true to the notion that we do have experts in place in this administration who do know all those things.
Some things take time to come to fruition. We got in the bad habit of expecting everything to come cheaply and easily in the 1990s and now it hurts us to have to endure through an ordeal that lasts any longer than the media coverage it garners. It's altogether sad, I must say.
Again, with all due respect, you and your fellow Canadians work toward getting affairs ironed out in your own house before you complain that our front yard needs trimming.

XOXOXO,
Don