<p>Don’t fall over SJ, but I voted Republican several times in my adult life (not in recent history, mind you ;)). I know a lot of old, fiscally conservative Republicans, who have ditched the party…(my dad, uncle, etc)</p>
<p>“Stay the course.”</p>
<p>I like it…better than 24/7 line on Fox’s ‘War on Terror’</p>
<p>“Anyone who wants a frugal government can’t seriously vote for a Dem”</p>
<p>I’m sorry but you’re incorrect and if you only assume a “tax cut” is the only meaningful part of being in the gop. There used to be other standards besides how much taxes will I have to pay? </p>
<p>Besides if you only look at “tax cut” for a basis of good or bad government, you certainly get what you deserve.</p>
<p>The Fed Gov has no real busienss funding local schools, roads, and police. Interstate highways and Medicaid yes. Many states kept adding benefits to Medicaid when times were good thus driving up the costs substantially. The highways got a big boost the last few years and driving across the US a few times recently there is construction in every state.</p>
<p>“The Fed Gov has no real busienss funding local schools, roads, and police”</p>
<p>Would that also eliminate the Feds Mandates to the above mentioned?</p>
<p>It would be nice. I think the control they exert exceeds the $$$ they supply except in a few districts where there is a large federal impact such as Army towns. What seems to happen as some police or teacher positions get fed funding for a period and then the $$$ goes away and the local gov gets stuck or has to fire them. The local govs would be better off funding what they can actually afford in the long run.</p>
<p>I voted for McCain in 2000 virtually solely on the strength of his honest comment regarding Jerry Falwell - calling him “an agent of intolerance”. He further said that he would never back down from his earlier statement.</p>
<p>Now I know for sure that he’ll say anything if there’s a political payoff in it. Accept $110,000 from convicted S&L executives too.</p>
<p>What about the course?</p>
<p>“I voted for McCain in 2000 virtually solely on the strength of his honest comment regarding Jerry Falwell.”</p>
<p>are you planning to stay the course? :)</p>
<p>You gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette.</p>
<p>“The Fed Gov has no real busienss funding local schools, roads, and police.”</p>
<p>Fine. Then you should be rejoicing when state government raises your taxes to match what the Feds decided to spend on Halliburton instead.</p>
<p>“are you planning to stay the course?”</p>
<p>Would have considered it had McCain had the guts to do so. But now he’s just a party shil.</p>
<p>Stay about Clinton.</p>
<p>Based on his questioning in this week’s Senate Hearing, McCain seems determined to stay the course with his call for increased troop levels in Iraq.</p>
<p>I am having a very difficult time picturing this as a campaign talking point that resonates with the American voter. However, it may be necessary to appeal to the remaining Republican primary voters.</p>
<p>“I am having a very difficult time picturing this as a campaign talking point that resonates with the American voter.”</p>
<p>Like I said, I don’t see McCain changing his views based on political gain. He’s no Kerry/Gore/Edwards.</p>
<p>“But now he’s just a party shil.”</p>
<p>So, which of his positions has he changed as a result of becoming a “shil”?</p>
<p>
Thank you, mini! 
Either one will do – I’m glad to see you have a sense of humor!</p>
<p>
How about September 11? Or the tulip frenzy (aka dot.com business crash)? Or the war in Iraq? The fact that the economy hasn’t tanked completely is a miracle.</p>
<p>"So, which of his positions has he changed as a result of becoming a “shil”?</p>
<p>See above. (I thought I made that awfully clear.)</p>
<p>What about course?</p>
<p>Yes, the war in Iraq. I’m guessing that had a lot to do with the deficit. Thanks for making my point.</p>
<p>Tax cuts plus new costs equals can’t pay the bills.</p>
<p>Which is what my conservative friends have been saying.</p>
<p>Mini, so you evaluate people based on who they talk to rather than what their views are. Very interesting. I have very low regard for organizations like NOW, NAACP and the ACLU but I wouldn’t withhold my vote from someone who meets with them to discuss issues or who even has good things to say about these organizations.</p>
<p>There IS no “war in Iraq”. That war ended in 2003. Now we have an “occupation”, plus a wealth transfer to Halliburton and etc.</p>
<p>Typical Republican social engineering.</p>
<p>Clinton the course.</p>
<p>“Oh, so you evaluate people based on who they talk to rather than what their views are.”</p>
<p>No, I evaluate them on the basis of whether they consider Jerry Falwell to be “an agent of intolerance.” (McCain also included Pat Robertson.) For me, that’s an EXCELLENT litmus test for whether I should vote for a Republican, as I did in the case of McCain.</p>