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A short comment, before my reply:
We're not after a contrary, artificial atmosphere. We're after what we've always wanted. TFP is a discussion board, and Tilted Politics should serve that purpose. Discussion is as much or more about the replies that follow than it is about the OP. Threads that are not created to generate discussion don't belong here. That's what blogs and journals are for. You've got a journal here. I was under the impression that you had some sort of situation at KOS that provided a blog outlet. If you want a blog outlet from us, let's talk about it. Maybe something is possible. But the forums are for discussion. This isn't about how much information there is, it isn't about tone, it isn't about how extreme an opinion is. It's about all of the above and how it fits into the context of a discussion forum.
I'm sorry that's so long. Here's my response to your thread.
I voted for Bush in 2000. What can I say -- it seemed like a good idea at the time. Between Bush and the Al Gore that I saw in 1999 and 2000, Bush was the lesser of two evils. In a flush economy, I believed that there were two possibilities that were consistent with the purpose of government. Pay the debt down (thus satisfying existing obligations) or reduce the tax burden because the current obligations were being met. Bush is the only guy who talked that way.
Obviously a lot has changed. To an extent, Bush turned to never have been what I thought he was. Whether or not he's the guy I wanted fiscally, his implementation of compassionate conservatism never ended up being a tool of unity.
As trite as it is, I have to acknowledge that 9/11 changed all of us. It changed me and it changed Bush. That's the crux of the difference between then and now. The war in Afghanistan seemed a reasonable and justifiable response to 9/11 as we understood it at the time. The invasion of Iraq was less so, but based on the story that was presented to us, it was within the bounds of things that I disagree with but can understand.
However, the aftermath of Iraq -- the quagmire-like situation, the mismanagement of restoration and rebuilding, the lack of planning regarding insurgents and actual governing has changed that entire equation, to say nothing of the fact that it seems that we went to war on false premises, intentionally. The focus on fear here at home, the erosion of civil liberties and the ethical compromises we see made in our names don't sit well with me.
That's why I'm no longer a Bush supporter. It's why I didn't vote for him in 2004. I'm still not decided on what I'm going to do in 2008, but McCain doesn't seem likely to break from Bush's policies enough for me.
I don't think there are as many out-and-out Bush supporters on this forum as you might believe. There are plenty who aren't democrats, some who are willing to give McCain a chance, and some fence-sitters. However, I'm not sure that there is some population out there that can respond to your thread discussion why the did, now, and plan to continue to support Bush/McCain. I doubt there are more than 5 active posters in politics who could make such a post.
And why would they bother to try?
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Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam
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