I am relatively new to the political scene, as I have taken a little longer thn some to grow up and decide to be an active member of society. I don't know if the squabling is worse this year or if I just haven't heard it before but wow. I have a few thoughts and questions; First, I definitely am a Conservative and proud of it I think. The reason I say I think is that while I agree with most everything I hear about smaller government, individual health care, less taxes etc., I think we are going the wrong way with our military. I think we should have a stout military, not a skeleton crew. I believe we are making a mistake in thinking that the answer lays in reduction of personnel and and more reliance on electronics. The Chinese have already answered that by showing that they can blow a satellite out of the war in the first days of war, so what makes you think that others can't follow in their wake?  Total reliance on tecnology is I think a blunder, it is also making it so expensive to have an army that it's bleeding us dry. I know we have to stay in the race tecnically, but take our fighter jets, a country with as many tasks as the US should have a huge Airforce, and yet we are flying junk from the 60's. The new fighters we are introducing are what 1 - 10 billion or something thats rediculous. Another thing is these battle groups we have roming the globe. Why not get the Big Five together and say, look, we need .... 12 battle groups world wide, why don't we have them comprised of ships from all the Big Five's navies, thereby sharing the responibilities and reducing the "bully" image we currently have. Let each country control the battle groups in their waters, but by having all countries represented, it sends a more specific picture, not "another intrusion by the west".
                  I am in the construction industry, and have been since highschool. I have been taking a great intrest as everyone has with this imigration issue, and I think the thin that is being missed is tha #1, these people don't want citizenship, #2, we don't owe them an apology. I have a lot of oportunities to talk with immigrants, and yes 95% of the guys you see on the job are illegal, and I've asked them questions like, do you want to be a citizen? They will outright tell you NO. Ask them if they would fight for us in a war if we aere attacked, HE__ NO! What the "politicians don't undestand, and what the reporters don't understand is they are being told one thing so that they appear like they are being attacked when all these people want is money. They do not want to be productive members of society, they don't want to be citizens, most don't even like Americans. They don't care about our laws, and yet we are fighting over them. Another media induced cramp in the side of the nation? Why don't you get some of these legal immigrants to go around and interview immigrants and don't tell them why, just talk to them on the street and you'll get the real answers to your question. I hear people say, well, they help our economy, do they? Ok, they pay taxes on stuff they buy, but they don't pay for their hospital bills, they have their babies which automatically insure $$$$ and then they don't have to leave because we don't want to break up their family. You know, in my field which is drywall, we make the same money we were being paid 16 years ago. Most people enjoy the pay rising with the cost of living, but not contruction, there is always a hispanic that'll work cheaper. Wait 'til they are after the reporters jobs, boy we'll really see the true story then wont we?
             Then you have our foreign policy. I am proud of Bush, I have seen him proud, I've seen him tear up, we have all seen a president that has stuck to his beleifs and not folded to outrageous critcs and accusations. He has survived a treasonous Pelosi and cohorts, who should be tried as such under the meaning of the word. We have seen a cogress that would put our troops and their welfare at risk just to make Buss look bad. We have seen numerous examples of exposing obvious national secrets to the enemy . Our own media is actively teaching our children that it is morally wrong to be American. We have let our colleges be overrun with liberals who are brainwashing our children in their most vulnerable time of life, and systematically destroying the very will of our society. What happened to pride inour country? Why are we the only country in the world where it is wrong to have faith, say the pledge to that country, sing the national anthem, display our flag in our own yard...... we need a president who will bring back that spark in our people. We need parades, and national honor marches...... When was the last time you saw a building being erected that inspired you? I watch tv and see these countries building these huge beautiful (I am having a brain fart with that word) buildings and can't remember when the last time I saw one built here. The fact is you don't look to the USA to find beauty and might anymore. There is no dominance or even the desire to dominate. W e are being systematically taught to back down. Its being engraved in my 3 yr old son's DNA right now to subside, don't stand up for you, don't stand up for god, the flag, your country, You're a disgrace because you were born American. Thats what liberals would have him believe.
                     I would -and I know noone will agree, but I believe we should take  new approach to the world. I would like to see the US go to Russia, China, UK, and France and say, look, the USA relinquishes no dominance in the world, but we would like to share it with you. We think it is time not to change everyone to our way of thinking, but to accept that not everyone wants to think like us, and lets build on that. You don't try to force your thoughts on my people, and we will not force ours on you. Could you imagine a new alliace within the world powers to police the globe? I know thats what the UN is---thats what NATO does you idiot. But it doesn't does it? We continually are thrust or thrust ourselves into the middle of every situation. There is always that tension like you're just waiting for it to explode. I wonder what China would say if we offered them to be a part of a five nation battle group and they are the lead in their waters or in their area. Russia would command their area battlegroup, Uk their etc... with all five if the perminant members making the judgement calls, there is no squabling. The cost would be split between all nations, we could allow for more to go to other areas of our military. Maybe I don't understand how it works. I keep hearing that we are in Iraq to protect our ally's interests, but why are we footing the bill? why isn't Britain, Japan, etc... helping on the cost? What could our new president do to bring back life to the greatest country in the world? What could the new president do to repair what EVERY PRESIDENT we have had has done to our image since the Reagon yrs?

One more thing, am I the only one who thinks that a "fence" is the dumbest thing you've ever heard? A fence? So what they start carrying snips so they ncan cut it? Why not something like the great wall of China?You know, 50' high, 50' wide, big enough that they can't get over it, and our guys can ride their jeeps or whatever over the top. They could have guard dhacks every 150 yrds or so with spot lights and rifles. I am not joking, A FENCE?

Oh, and by the way, hello from South Carolina. I know I probably just lost everyuone with my rant, but I would just like to see Americans looking for more out of their Presidents, not just continually telling us what is wrong and who they think is responsible. God Bless the USA, George Bush, and every Republican who actually read this.

Welcome to the forum.

Don't worry, you haven't lost everyone.  Look forward to reading your posts.

I had the same inital reaction to the border fence idea, but the fence itself (as designed) is more of a deterrent than you might think at first.  It's not just one lone ordinary 8 foot high chain link fence.  There are two fences several meters apart, with border patrols driving in between them.  Of course, I doubt very highly that anything more than what is already in place will ever be completed.  After all, who's going to get it built?  Hillary?  McCain?

Welcome aboard!!

Welcome!

The fence, as described by neocon, would be a formidable barrier.  It is not just some standard chain link fence like you see around the neighborhood.  

The other thing that will help you get your points across is to use the ENTER key to create a little white space in your postings.  The founding fathers were not that big on punctuation but back then paper was expensive.  Now we can afford a new paragraph every few lines.  It really helps to make your posts easier to read.  

Welcome again!