Posted on 03/03/2003 12:34:36 PM PST by 45Auto
Before anyone on FR, or any RNC lurkers, doubt me, here's a bit of history:
1) I grew up with the idea that conservative Republicans were the good guys and that the Dems, esp. the liberal ones, were the enemy. I voted accordingly.
2) I proudly voted for Reagan 4 times (incl. primaries), and voted for Bush 41 equally as proudly, believing that he had absorbed and adopted some of Reagan's political philosophy during the prior 8 years.
3) I used to give a fairly good amount of my hard-earned, after-tax dollars to various Republicans - until 1989, that is. What's significant about that year? It was the year that Bush 41 imposed a ban on imported "assault rifles." I have never contributed to the Republican Party or any Republican candidate since that betrayal of our basic rights.
4) I was so ticked off by how Bush 41 mishandled the end of the Persian Gulf War (allowing Hussein to stay in power, and allowing the Kurds to be massacred after encouraging them to revolt), and with the violation of the "Read my lips - no new taxes" pledge, that I didn't vote for him to be re-elected. More to the point, I voted FOR Clinton because I wanted to send a message and I (foolishly, it turns out) thought that this loser would be a one-termer like the previous Democrap loser, Jimmy (I live to appease) Carter.
OK, I think that I've established that the Republicans don't own my vote, despite my natural inclination to favor their candidates. I like GWB, and I think that he's got the best character of any president since Reagan. Though I disagree with a few things that he's done (notably, signing the CFR monstrosity and pushing the Patriot Act and similar legislation with police-state potential), I am prepared to vote for him again....
UNLESS HE FAILS TO VETO ANY TYPE OF RENEWAL OF ANY PART OF THE "ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN."
The whole concept of restricting the fundamental rights of the vast majority of the population because of the criminal or psychotic actions of a very few, simply based on the supposition that if the Fedgov has the power to do something then it is OK, must die ASAP. This is the perfect time for the Republican Party to grow a pair. Because if it doesn't, it loses my vote on every level of government - forever! I won't make the mistake of voting for Dems again, but I'll stay home.
It is time to take a stand. The Republicans have campaigned time and time again (and taken lots of money from gun owners and gun rights organizations) in exchange for the promise to actively oppose further restrictions on our RKBA. Well, now is the time to collect on that promise. If it is a lie, then the liars will lose their power, because I know that I'm not alone - at least hundreds of thousands, and possibly a couple of million votes, depend on this particular piece of legislation. Since the last presidential election was decided by only a few hundred votes, I think that the Republicans should pay attention. They better, if they like to be in power.
But I'm afraid that the chance of a Bush veto on the AWB renewal bill is close to 100%. The timing couldn't be worse -- Sept. of '04 is only two short months away from the general elections, and Bush won't be willingly giving the Dems any major ammo at that time. As a matter of fact, he's actually been doing the opposite (at least in the arena of domestic affairs) -- stealing their issues.
Be prepared to stay at home during the next election.
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