I have been a Republican all my life. I would actually characterize myself as a conservative and as such I think the Republican Party is the only home for me.
In fact, when I first registered to vote in Franklin County Georgia, way back in 1972, the clerk at the county courthouse told me the State of Georgia did not have a Republican Party. After insisting that can’t be true since there were Republican candidates’ and primaries she finally conceded.
I can only remember two specific occasions that I have voted for a Democrat, a US Senator in Oklahoma and a Congressman in North Carolina. Both times I later regretted voting for them.
I must say I’ve been pretty disgusted with the way Congressional Republicans governed like liberals from 2000-2006. This left me questioning as to how much difference there was between the two.
As this election season progressed I came away determined to no longer sit back, but it was time to let elected official know what I think. For whatever it is worth. With a blatantly biased media trumpeting liberalism how else are elected leaders to know what the people think.
After the election, a couple of web sites I follow, The Pickens Plan and American Solutions suggested sending emails to the President-Elect concerning energy policy. I followed through and did that.
Since then, on a weekly basis I’ve been receiving emails for the Obama transition site. I’ve never received this kind of attention form the Republicans. Which goes to show one of the reasons Obama won was how well his campaign embraces today’s communication channels.
I’ve recently received an email “your seat at the table” where they are soliciting the people’s policy opinions.
Another link is for the agenda. On this page you can click on a topic, the Obama policy agenda comes up for review with a link to comment on that particular topic.
I am encouraging you to let your thoughts and concerns to be heard. We don’t know how he will govern yet and this may be all for show. After all, socialist have always been good at running a propaganda machine,
I have decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and give credit where credit is due. I’m not going to treat this administration in the same way the liberals have savaged Bush.
At least there is a vehicle in place for the people to be heard. Time will tell what will come to pass. Agree where you can and disagree with civility.
"At least there is a vehicle in place for the people to be heard. Time will tell what will come to pass. Agree where you can and disagree with civility" Well said.... I'm starting to let my senators and congressmen know how I feel. Better late than near. Thank you for your post....
It is good to aproach things with an open mind. Now I have been voting for a very long time but do not call myself Republican or Democrat.
The reson is that I have changed sides quite often. It just depends on who the canidate is and the platform being run.
In as far as George Bush goes, I think most of the trashing he gets was earned.
Jay - thanks for sharing this, it is good to see someone else who is willing to give a person a chance. I will be more active in letting my representatives know what I expect and the directions I believe that my city, my state and my country should head are.
Herb,I've been pretty loyal to Bush, but I am greatly distressed with the near government takeover of private industry
Mike, thank you for being willing speak out to elected officials. I'm a UGA alum, how are things in Athens, haven't been there in a while
Lenn, I too am concerned about what laws will be enacted particularly with Reid and Pelosi. Energy policy is something I deeply concerned about. Even at today's oil prices we are sending around $100+billion a year to the middle east and Venezuela. To people that hate us and want to kill us. It needs to stop. I'm for alternatives, but we need to drill her, drill now!
Something that I have learned recently, a great deal from fellow REALTORS here on AR - is that most people will hold steadfast in their original positions and refuse to acknowledge any evidence otherwise. I am pretty sure that even is Obama gets our economy back on track, brings the troops home, and ends our dependence on foreign oil - there will still be people refusing to acknowledge what he has done, out of their inability to say "You know, he aint so bad afterall."
I'm glad you seem to have the ability to look at things objectively.
Jay - I agree with you. I have dialed back my campaign rhetoric and will wait to form my opinions of the Obama Presidency at least until he takes office. His transition management has been on a par with his campaign - which is high praise. I think his economic appointments are first rate, his national security team - not so much, and his environmental team seems to accept as gospel facts which are not in evidence. He has shown that he is seeking experience for his team - which is positive although not quite in line with the "change we can believe in" theme of the campaign.
He inherits problems that are not of his making, but he also receives the positive progress on many fronts for which the media has unfairly withheld credit from the outgoing administration. It is an unforgivable simplification that Bush has done no right as it will be that Obama does no wrong. The truth is much more complex.
In addition to his own considerable skills in communication, President Obama will have a fawning media that will begin to spin positive stories on the economy and the war starting with the afternoon editions of January 20. So the emotional component (the lemmings mentality) that has adversely impacted the economy will begin to heal immediately. There are structural problems that will need to be addressed, however - and rampant inflation seems like a certain result of the proposed stimulous plans.
A couple of years from now I will choose sides for the next Presidential season. But for now, the election is over - Barack Obama is my President - and I wish him well for the good of all of us. I will form my opinions of his performance by his actions and policies as they are revealed.
Ted, thank you for the articulate comment. I absolutely agree about the media. In fact they are swiftly becoming worthless. I don't know how any President could stand up to what Bush has received from the mainstream media. I think the good news is coming ahead the mechanism to go around the media is in place. Obama does seem to be a master at using today's technologies and he has the media 110% behind him.
I'm hold hope that Obama may be the best person to check the ultra-lib's in Congress. I am reminded of Nixon, the staunch anti-Communist, who open relations with Communist China. Or Reagan, characterized as a trigger happy cowboy, that negotiated a nuclear treaty with the Soviet Union.
I will agree where I can and disagree when necessary.
Even if Obama does "get the economy back on track' "bring our troops home" and "ends our dependence on foreign oil" he will still be a baby killer pro abortionist and I will still think him a failure as a human being. Sorry
Hugh, I share your pro-life views. Shortly after the election I went to a Bible Study where the lesson was reconciling. This was put in the context of you are not going to change someone's mind if you are constantly criticizing. That stuck with me.
Jim- thanks for your comment. I have been dismayed by the fact in so many people's eyes Bush can do no right. I think it is a natural reaction to treat someone I did not vote for the same. But two wrongs do not make a right. I've come to the conclusion that we should focus area in which we agree. If we only focus on areas of disagreement then little positive will be accomplished.
We are in perilous times. We must agree where we can and disagree with respect.
I started contacting my congress men and women a few months back when this financial crisis began and now feel comfortable with doing so, even more. California is in the midst of a financial breakdown and my representatives have been responsive to my questions and concerns by returning calls and emails. Even if I don't agree with the outcome, I feel better having voiced my concerns and opinions - I feel I have been part of the process.
I didn't vote for Mr. Obama, but he is my president now. I will show him the respect he deserves, unlike so many Americans that trashed our current President Bush.
Hope- congratulations to you for contacting your representatives. We can't rely on the media to provide a fair hearing for alternative opinion. We need to bypass the media and go straight to the sources.
Hi Jay, I too was disappointed with the Bush admin and even though I supported McCain I knew he was going to be a dissapointment for conservitives also. So Obama won, who knows how he'll lead, it may not be too bad after all. all we can do is sit tight and hope for a strong conservitive candidate in 4 years
Ken, certainly I agree. In the meantime, In my opinion we have to change the political debate. The focus seems to be centered on the areas of disagreement. Many times those areas are stark.
We must begin to center the debate upon policies which we do agree. The country is in a fragile condition. Positive action must be taken.
OK guys I know you are all trying to place nice and hope that this admin is going to do good things however.....
In all respect to the "Idealist" thinkers out there, most of you are not ready for Socialism as you have never lived and experienced it!
I have ....I grew up with it.......it sucks, so does Socialized Health Care, Union Power, and large Government control of your life.
People should fight for their freedom to speak, freedom to worship, freedom to get their own job, freedom to file their own taxes...that is right, file their own taxes....and have more autonomy in their choices.....not for big government spending on more government jobs.
I can never align myself with Socialist principles, regardless of who it is.........if we to rally with the President then he needs to be a Centrist that does not inforce Socialist ideas on me, or my family.
I watched my mother who was a small business owner pay high taxes, work hard and give most of her money...60% in taxes to lazy people who were quite happy to take government had outs...I have seen too much abuse of government money .....that's why the UK has so many immigrants......because of all their great Socialised systems......if we have an immigration problems now....just wait until we have a great government run Health Care System!!!!
Just see the standards of care go down too......( I was a nurse in the UK)
If you want to know how well it works go to the ER in Canada or the UK....if you want France's then you are going to have to pay even more hefty taxes.
Anne and Eddie, I've been trying to give Obama the benefit of the doubt. Been keeping my eye on the stimulus bill as it came through the house. It has not encouraged me.
I guess I'm tired (and have been guilty of) witnessing the trend of I hate Nixon, I hate Reagan, I hate Clinton (this is where I've been guilty) I hate Bush driving the debate. A trend of a particular President can do nothing right.
Again agree where we can and disagree where we must.
I am with you on disagreeing and being distressed with the move towards socialism.
It is so ironic to see Europe going away from Socialist ideals, and the US so far behind that we now feel like we have to embrace them when everyone else know it does not work!
It will be an expensive experiment.As in Immigrant, I came to the US to follow the American Dream of being able to work hard and have success......now I feel like why did I come?
I am sure there are many other hard working immigrants who feel the same.
I am always amazed as to how hard a knock on the head one has to experience before one opens their mind to possiblity that their working model of the world might need a correction. There is almost no limit to the severity of the blow; even to the point of death.
PS. Did we not have a surplus during the Clinton years?
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Jay,
Spoken like a true Republican Consevative gentleman...Who could argue with anything you've said here!!! Thanks, Fran