[spetznaz]

I see your point, and I agree on with it. However, let me ask a question that really bothers me. I hate when our side basically relies on the abortion issue as almost the sole issue to vote/not vote for them. Yes, I am pro-life (and believe that life begins at conception, that it is sacred, and that there are no two ways about that), it is just that I am tired of the choice being two liberals, only that one is pro-choice and the other pro-life.

Why can we not have a fiscal conservative, who is pro small government, has all the fiscal aspects of Conservatism ....and also happens to be pro-life!? It is sickening when the choice is fiscal irresponsibility, but with a pro-life candidate, vs fiscal irresponsibility, but with a pro-choice candidate.

That is not a complete choice, unless instead of Conservatism we simply become the anti-abortion party, with that being the only anchor point. However, my understanding of Conservatism is that it embodies a wide umbrella of issues, with abortion being exceedingly key (since we are dealing with actual lives here), but other issues also existing (e.g. adhering to the constitution, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ....something that has apparently been completely forgotten, small government, personal responsibility, hard work instead of relying on the national teat, pro-business, pro-national defense, etc etc etc). We are more than one issue.

However, it appears that in some races all you have is 2 liberals, one who happens to be pro-choice, and the other who happens to be pro-life. And each liberal is rallying voters who are pro-choice/pro-life (respectively) to vote for them or to vote against the other guy.

That is not sustainable when it comes to the health of the country. Sure, killing the unborn is murder, but as important as that issue is (again, of PARAMOUNT importance) the candidates need to have more going for them than that.

Otherwise in the future you shall see a rise in the number of independents ...people who do not belong to either party, because each party embodies part of what they believe in, but at the same time encapsulates facets that are anathema to them. In which case people become independent (or strongly third-party). For instance fiscal responsibility, proper immigration and small government have been totally forgotten by the Republican party, with only social conservatism taking the king's seat. If it wasn't for the fact that, for now, there is no other genuine/viable alternative, you would see people who are fiscal conservatives, pro-small government and for better immigration protocol sitting out (for instance, the only thing that has added oomph to McCain is Governor Sarah Palin).

All need to go out and vote for McCain, but once he is safely president the Conservative Base needs to start working hard to clean out the Republican party. Let this be the last time people vote for a person who is a Conservative 35%, but Liberal (in some cases like immigration strongly liberal) the remaining 65%.

[mnehring]

The issue for many, and why it is so important, is that Abortion is a reflection of the respect of the rights, and the life of the individual; without that, nothing else matters. If you don't respect an individuals right to exist, then all other rights are meaningless. If one person can control the life of another, literally, their life, than what are any other individual rights? What is free speech if another owns your right to live or die?

The Abortion issue is far more than just the legality of a ‘medical procedure’ (sic) - it is a foundation of individual rights- does an individual own their life or is another allowed to own it.

I see very little difference in this issue and slavery when it comes to a core foundation of principles.