Politics as usual . . .

Politics are an ugly battleground. Both sides put forth their ideas. Ideas that are usually conceived by focus groups rather than the candidates themselves. The candidates are merely puppets in the hands of advisors, poll-takers and the like. The process really sickens me to a great extent.

But, it's all we have.

Politicians try to be everything to everyone. They end up in some muddy, middle ground and we find ourselves picking between the lesser of two evils. I long for a politician to stand up and really say what he/she believes. Regardless of the political correctness of the answer. Or what the polls indicate.

I want someone to stand up and tell the environmentalists to take a flying leap and that we are going to drill for oil in Alaska. And offshore. Yes, it will take years before we see the results. But that's the argument that was put forth years ago. If we had started then we'd be reaping the benefits now. If we start now we won't be complaining years from now. The future hits us faster than we care to think. We've become a nation that wants everything now. We can't put oil on a credit card and have it delivered to our doorstep a few days later. We have to plan for it. Save for it. Ideas that are foreign to the American mind. So, foreigners fill our immediate need while we refuse to prepare for the future.

I suppose that , in a sense, this election comes down to what battlefield(s) we wish to fight on.

I guess the sanctity of life is my biggest battlefield. I abhor this nation's view on abortion. Especially partial birth abortion. And Obama is fully in favor of it. Why? Because he cottons to the female vote.

I have always been amazed that the women of this country are more in favor of abortion than are the men. A mystery. One would think that the maternal instinct would take over and be in favor of keeping the child. Guess not.

Another battlefield is the issue of God in our country. I see the liberals, in particular the Democratic Party, as doing everything they can to get God out of our communities. They strike at the very personal level of society. The small towns that want to have a Christmas manger on the lawn of city hall. The county courthouse that has a plaque of the ten commandments in its lobby. The schools that wish to start the day, or graduation, with a prayer. The community that wants to put up a cross at the side of the freeway where a public servant, a highway patrolman, was gunned down by some illegal alien drug smuggler.

They cry separation of church and state. What they get is separation of God and state. That's their real target. The Almighty. Perhaps the liberals feel they are above the Almighty. Their egos just won't let them acquiesce to a higher power.

And not one politician has every explained to me the connection between prayer and church. There is no connection. The only connection is between prayer and God. The problem is that if the liberals go after separation of God and state the country would rebel. Church is an easier target. The liberals don't really care about Church. They're after God.

They just won't admit it.

So, I come down on the side of the conservatives. Are they perfect? Of course not. Was Iraq handled well? Nope. Is George Bush a great president? Probably not. I'll let history decide.

But do the conservatives welcome God into our communities? Yes. Do they decry abortion? Yes. Are they in favor, as a general rule, of fiscal responsibility? Yes. Do they realize that the National Treasury is not a bottomless pit of money for every possible social service and special interest? Yes. Do they want to keep the Federal Government out of my life? For the most part, yes.

So, they get my vote. I'll let other things slide. I can only fight so many battles.

A lot of my battles have to do with putting food on my table, paying the rent, being nice to my neighbors, being a good dad, and so on.

And I don't look to the Federal Government, or any government for that matter, to help me. Just protect the borders and stay out of my way.

Barack Hussein Obama is on a freight train and he's headed for a head on collision with mainstream America. He shouts "Hope" and "Change". I hope he changes his mind. I hope the change we see is that Americans see through his shallow mantras and send him "barack" where he belongs. To Illinois where he is welcome to serve as a state senator.

That's where he will do the least amount of damage.

nuf sed.