To: Don Pueblo who wrote (174147 ) 8/24/2001 4:49:22 PM From: American Spirit Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 769670 Not only don't I work for the DNC I dislike big parties and am a true independent. But maybe we're stuck with what we've got until we get campaign finance reform. So until then I'll vote democrat because they are righteous compared to the GOP these days. On social and environmental issues I am liberal and proud of it (except against things like gay marriage), on financial matters and military I am conservative. Therefore I tend to vote Democrat because the GOP is wrong on most social issues and wasteful and dishonest on financial issues. Tax cuts for the rich, let's face it, that's what their #1 agenda is, not tax cuts to working people. Tidbits to working people maybe, then higher energy prices, local taxes and sales taxes, so the little guy always is getting screwed by the fat cats of the GOP. I also consider campaign finance reform a law+order issue and the ones who abuse it snide crooks undermining the meaning of our votes, in other words democracy itself. Therefore I consider myself a conservative on finance reform and also on deficit spending and squadnering the surplus. Like him or not Clinton gave us a grand surplus for the first time in my lifetime as well as spectacular encomic conditions and he shrunk government too. So though he's hardly perfect he deserves credit. He also did a great job internationally and this administration stinks at it except for the efforts of Colin Powell who is increasingly estranged in this administration. When the GOP machine derails campaign finance reform you know they're the ones who have to be booted from office. And any democrat who votes against it can go to. When the GOP makes Star Wars it's #1 priority along with energy gouging it's also clearly in the wrong. That program if it ever gets funded will be one of the greatest wastes of money in history. On the other hand, I think Nader is an A-hole for being so unrealistic though he is right about the DC corruption. I think Jesse Jackson is often an extortionist who has lost many of his ideals. I think unions have too much power but not as much as corporations. So don't call me a lefty. I also think communism stinks, having spent some time visiting communist countries. But right-wing dictatorships are just as bad and can be even worse. The GOP has some good people in it, mainly on the moderate side. Jeffords is a real hero. I hope McCain doesn't sell out to his party machine and let them dash campaign finance reform. The culprits like Tom Delay are the pigs at the troughs of our money and resources. They derail democracy. I may sound like a lefty but it is just this corrupt White House that's bringing out the anger in me. Imagine appointing the foxes themselves as the guardians of the hen-houses. On consumer, campaign finance and environmental issues Bush Inc. is ominously crooked and seemingly getting worse all the time. How they cheat our future generations for their short-term gain and twist the truth every single day with their spin doctors. Shameful and un-American. I am an outdoorsman (not into killing wildlife but enjoying its existence and preserving it) and a scuba-diver. Call me a tree-hugger of a coral-reefer if you like but nature is getting a terrible raw deal from this administration just so a handful of companies in Houston can make a killing. With the help of old friends at OPEC they also ripped off our tax cut and half our surplus in case you hadn't noticed. And they want more, a lot more. Since I live in California I saw first-hand the dishonesty and criminality of Bush, Cheney and their energy cronies. James Baker is a main culprit along with the rest of the gang. They lied through their teeth and robbed us. As simple as that. No excuses. And so far no one brought to justice. When a kid can get thrown in jail for shop-lifting and these CEO's get away scott free with 100 billion of our money it's high time we reformed this system which means MORE regulator against gougers and environmental crooks not less. The GOP should have known better putting two energy mavens in the White House. Their policies stink just like the air around their refineries. Not against the energy business just against the absolute corruption awarded them when Bush took office. You too should be concerned. Or are you too busy watching the Gary Condit story? Typical.