"WWI and the resulting Treaty of Versailles and acts of naked aggression by the French were arguably what caused Hitler's rise." OK granted - I actually think also that Versailles was flawed. So a big mistake was made. Still Hitler did arise and we did have to defeat him. Or do you argue that we should not have entered WWII?
I think you are mistaken about the LP's success. The 1% referred to the Pres election (actually I think it was 1/2%) No one says that in certain more local elections the LP got a bigger percentage. For example in my state, Virginia, incumbent Senator Warner was unopposed by a Dem. So any anti-Warner votes went to the Lib candidate.
Finally about Reagan's swelling the budget. A lot of that increase was for defense. A lot more was Democrat spending that he could not prevent. OTOH his defense spending was a big factor in the fall of the Soviet Union. Money well spent, I'd say.
Why? Why was it the US's responsibility to protect Europe?
As far as Japan goes, we imposed a blockade well before 12/07/41 That was an act of war. To pretend that they were attacking us unprovoked is either a lie or an opinion based on extreme ignorance.
Finally about Reagan's swelling the budget. A lot of that increase was for defense. A lot more was Democrat spending that he could not prevent.
Nonsense. The President can veto bills. Reagan didn't veto much and to get what he wanted he allowed the democrat congress to increase education and welfare spending by unprecedented amounts. No, the defense budget did not take up the bulk of the increases.
Bush has spent more in the last two years than Clinton did during his full two terms. Don't think this won't go un-noticed down the road. I predict that Bush will lose his re-election bid unless things change soon.
The mandate sent by voters? "Less taxes and less spending."
The republicans can refuse to see this mandate at their own peril in 2004.