Why I Love Fred
OK, I had vowed to stay away from politics here. But with the debates this weekend and New Hampshire and South Carolina coming up, here it is. I'm a moderate conservative whose interested in securing our borders, ensuring our sovereignty, taking tough measures against illegal immigration and the companies that are hiring them. I'm concerned about my nation's safety in the face of Islamic extremists. I believe in the constitution of the United States of America, and I want limited government. I don't need a nanny, babysitter state, thank you. I believe in the separation of church and state, which is one of the many reasons why Huckabee is not my candidate. (His views on immigration and pardoning rapists has something to do with that as well.) Giuliani wants to take away our guns, and he's not going to be tough on immigration. McCain is in bed with the liberals on the immigration issue and I suspect would like to see the Amero as our currency in the future. Romney seems to be trying to buy the election, has jumped on the religious bandwagon too much for my taste (believe me, I don't care if he's a Mormon. They're fine people. I don't care what religion he is. I'm looking for a president, not a minister.), and had illegals working at his mansion up until recently.
Let me tell you a story. My parents, who worked all of their lives and have now retired to Arkansas, wound up in the emergency room in the hospital of their very nice small town when my mother was critically ill. The emergency room was filled with illegals. My dad worked for 35 years for the same company and has health insurance. The emergency room tried to put my 70-year-old mom in line behind people who are here illegally and who were at the hospital for free (well, working Americans are paying fo it) medical care for their cold and other ailments that should be seen somewhere other than the emergency room. My dad had to get fairly assertive. He told the hospital folks that he and my mother are American citizens, that he worked for 30+ years for 40+ hours a week, and that they have health insurance, that my mother was critically ill, and that he wanted her seen immediately, ahead of the illegals with the flu. Yep. This is an upper-middle class neighborhood in Arkansas. (And see the Canadian health system for an example of government health care. No. Thank. You.)
I don't hate people from Mexico. What I don't like is this flagrant disregard for the law of the U.S. I hate it that they have to live in the shadows here. I see it in Santa Fe, every day, this shadow sub-class. Americans who take advantage of those poor people are doing just that ... taking advantage and behaving with absolute inhumanity. I'd like to see Mexico solve its own problems instead of encouraging their people to come here illegally. Heck, their economy requires the income from illegals, I understand.
My party doesn't represent all of us moderate conservatives either. I don't think that Huckabee, Romney, McCain, and Giuliani are real conservatives, not because of their views on abortion and gays, as a segment of the conservative party seems to care about to the neglect of all of the other issues. I mean, if we are overrun with illegals and are under terrorists nuclear attacks, who will have time or who will even be around to argue about abortion and gay rights? I don't want a theocrat telling me what I can do with my body, and I don't want him/her telling any other woman that. I don't care if gay people want to spend their lives together in a committed relationship. My sister and her partner have done that for over 20 years, and I simply don't care what happens in their bedroom, or the bedroom of anyone else for that matter. That's where a lot of the members of my party and I part ways. Why is it that some of the most pious, religious folk are often the smallest and meanest people you'd never care to meet?
I have many liberal conservative friends, too, just for the record. And I respect your right to think the way that you think and choose who and what you choose. That's what makes America great. That's what our forefathers fought and died for.
I've had it with Fox and CNN and the rest of the media trying to limit my choices on who to vote for for president by talking about only their choices as if those are the only candidates who exist. I'm sick of 30-second sound bytes. What We Want in a President, The Wall Street Journal. You can find Fred's principles here.
I don't intend to argue about politics with anyone here, and this is not a political blog by any stretch of the imagination. But, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that I believe in Fred Thompson. He's the real conservative.
Comments
Being an Aussie I wouldn't engage you in a political debate, but I would like to say 'well said'.
The differences between our two political systems is no greater than is evidenced by the processes themselves, and therefore I find it quite fascinating watching from a distance.
Posted by: Angry | January 6, 2008 3:13 AM
It seems like both Britain and the US need leaders who represent the needs of all citizens, not just the wealthy and the corporations. Who comprehend what history has to tell us, and have the vision to see where today's policies might lead in the decades ahead. Leaders who embody that rare thing nowadays, statesmanship. Otherwise, Britain and the US are going to drift off on their own course, increasingly embroiled in global conflict, challenged by Russia, China and other new powers, neither understanding the rest of the world (most of which is not our enemy), nor respected by anyone. A real understanding of economics would help too, when the US has a record budget deficit. If that deficit grows, options open to the US are going to narrow. I'd vote for a good stateman, a person of integrity, who is a strong economist. I hope that such a candidate exists.
Incidentally, state health care works quite well in Britain, except when politicians interfere. And it costs far less per person in taxes than you pay in health insurance.
Posted by: Julian | January 6, 2008 3:45 AM