I guess I feel compelled to season those eggs a little.
As a self described independent who almost always votes liberal democratic, I must say I'm happy Kerry has formally dropped out of the '08 race. His uncanny ability to put on a dress and dance for the GOP mudslingers is amazing.
Ted Kennedy's ability to throw a few back, take off his pants and dance willingly, yet sustain himself politically is equally amazing.
But I count the days until George W.'s term is done. The fallout from this administration will adversely affect the lives of me and my children far beyond the taxes I may have saved. Bush is a cordial, well-intentioned despot. But a despot nonetheless. The erosion of civil liberties is shocking. It's like the oft-quoted Vietnam line "We had to burn the village to save the village" except its more like "We had to take away your liberties to keep you free." The climate of fear and intimidation in politics and media from 2002-2006 is the closest thing to 50's McCarthyism I've experienced in my life. Preaching freedom and Democracy while shipping people off to foreign countries to get tortured, and holding people indefinately without formal charges is a sad joke that does nothing to enhance our image or give our policies credibility abroad. And, of course, this administration spends money like no financial conservative I've ever heard. I hope they at least learned that going to war on the cheap ends up costing a lot more in the end. The mistakes made over the last 6 years will take another 20 to iron out.
I hope '08 brings us some candidates who have a vision, respect the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the strength to appoint people to positions based upon experience and ability, not for political favors owed.
And if they can keep their fly zipped when alone with interns or campaign workers, that would be nice, too.
Respectfully disagreeing,
TOM BRESKE