Bush and Liberty (a comparison)

[MicroBalrog]

Where Bush is good for inividual rights and freedoms:

Tax Reform: Bush has repealed the estate tax, promises to keep it that way. Has endorsed replacing the income tax with a sales tax, which is good from a civil rights standpoint as it will stop all the IRS snooping hopefully.

Gun Control: Will not push for any new garbage bills.

SCOTUS: Promises to appoint constructivist, rather than fundamentalist, judges.

Veto: Will sign ANYTHING, so if a CFR repeal bill comes about, he will sign it.

Where he is bad:

Gun Control: Will sign ANYTHING.

Medical Marijuana/10th Amednment: Opposed to medical marijuana as a states rights issue.

Patriot Act: Self-explanatory.


Any other ideas/comments on the next four years?

 

[hpj3]

Bush Agenda

MicroBalog - this is not addressed specifically to/at you, just thoughts in general on this subject ...

I am often amused/concerned when too much emphasis is placed on what any President will/will not do. He is constrained to a large degree by the whims of Congress. As a result of 9-11, Iraq, et al, GW knew he was going to have a tough time this Nov. I believe he felt that his AWB "support", for example, was geared mainly to swaying some the fence-sitters - in addition to realizing that there was little or no chance that it would ever get through Congress and to him. My feeling is that we're going to see a difference this term - less implied compromise, less negotiation - a stronger, less conciliatory stance.

ALL politics is at the local level, and works its way up the ladder. It starts with your local "leaders", progresses to your state legislature, followed by your state rep's to Congress. These are the people we need to be most concerned with. They are the ones who set the agendas - and the associated policies. The next most important (and tied to the preceeding) is the judiciary - we MUST make our feelings known to our legislatures when openings occur - at all levels.

We gained a little in the Senate - to 55 now. However, we needed 60 to ensure passage of anything significant. We pretty much own the House. The ONLY way to push our agenda is to work from the bottom up - organize and work on your individual state laws. At the same time, keep current on Federal issues concerning our rights. When NRA, GOA, 2AF, etc., send an action alert the most important thing we can do is make the calls, send the e-mails, send the letters. This is what our elected representatives take notice of. We didn't lose our rights overnight, and it will take the concerted effort of ALL of us to prevent more erosion, to say nothing of improving our current lot.

As an activist here in SC, I am dumbfounded at the number of people I meet at gun venues that don't have a clue - and do nothing to assist in our battle. There are many fine organizations in many states that promote our cause, and these are the best place to start. For example, check out scfirearms.org, the GrassRoots SC site.

Just some random thoughts...

Howard