I’m curious about something. Do you all really believe in the conservatives that have been in power. You’ve got guys like Cunningham and Nay taking bribes for votes. You’ve got Delay under indictment and Abramoff sneaking around the Capitol. You’ve got guys like Foley taking advantage of his post, and you’ve got the head of the NAE buying drugs from male prostitutes (at the very least). This congress has done NOTHING to help the average worker, instead wasting time on the “values” issues. Do you really support them, or is it a “least bad of the worst” kind of thing? I am not trying to be combative or sarcastic. I am a liberal and genuinely curious why such inteptitude is being rewarded with public support. Any insight would be helpful.

As far as the bribes for votes/corruption issue goes I don’t see this as belonging to any one party. The Democrats have their dirty politicians as well. The fact that the Republicans tend to be slightly less tolerant of this sort of thing than the Democrats is in my opinion a plus in their favor. Foley is a disgrace to be sure, but I thought Democrats were all about the gays, I think that if Foley had been a Democrat his fellow Democrats would be defending his behavior as they did Bill Clintons. As far as the junkie, gay preacher guy goes, I had never heard of him until yesterday, and I am not sure what he has to do with upcoming congressional elections. As far as the nothing to help the average worker thing goes I am not so sure. I work as a waiter/bartender at a slightly upscale restaurant. I make pretty good money from serving whiskey to men who saved money from the bush tax cut. That money definitely trickles down into my pocket.

That isn’t to say that the Republicans don’t do anything to piss me off. I don’t gamble online but I resent a government that is so arrogant as to think it has the authority to tell me I can’t. I hate nanny government be it from Republicans or Democrats. Illegal immigration doesn’t bother me so much as an unsecured border. I work with about a dozen or so guys whom I’m fairly sure don’t have proper documentation. That doesn’t bother me so much except that I know if a Mexican dishwasher can get across the border, so can one of Bin Ladens men. There are numerous other issues as well where I have problems with Republican performance. Problem is, the Democrats are just as bad or worse when it comes to these issues.

There are also areas where I think the Republicans did some things right. Letting the assault weapons ban expire was a great victory for gun owners like myself. There are areas of the War on Terror Where I think the Republicans should have done better. (If they had to go into Iraq it should have been done with more force) But overall I think that it has been at least a c+ kind of job and since the Democrats and others would rate an F in the war I guess I will have to go with the Republicans on that issue as well.

As far as my politics go just to let you know whom this is coming from. I am a married man in my mid 30’s I have a 3 year old daughter. My wife is in the National Guard and I am ex army. I never saw a combat deployment; my wife did a tour in Afghanistan. I self identified as a Libertarian until 911. I love the Libertarians locally but they are wrong on the war, and they don’t win anyway. Currently I am a bartender my last job was at a local Sporting goods store until it was bought out by a national chain. The first thing I look at when deciding on a candidate, is their position on the 2nd amendment. I would consider voting for a Democrat if they had a good track record on that issue. Then I look at support for the military, then their record on other issues.

jones on November 4, 2006 at 4:20 PM