gandalf: I couldn’t agree more with what you said. Only exception would be with the Eisenhower as president observation; it was before my time, and that period in US history will probably go down as one of the most properous and peaceful, I just don’t know how much of it is attributable to Ike. That leads me to another point regarding prosperity and economic cycles: In many instances, a president is given credit or blame where it isn’t earned or deserved.
I don’t equate Democrats with communism, and I don’t consider liberal a bad word. I think there is a fairly pervasive element on the far left of the Dems, and I think the same applies to the far right of the Repubs. I don’t like or agree with the Ann Coulter element of the right, nor do I like or agree with the Al Franken element of the left.
The problem you face as a middle ground conservative is the same one faced by middle ground liberals: The respective parties have been hijacked by the fringes. As a conservative, nothing is more abhorrent to me than Mike Huckabee claiming to be the standard bearer of conservatives within the party, and then saying we need to change the Constitution to bring it more in line with the Bible. WTF?!? That sort of thing chills my blood.
Geopolitically, it is much the same. I like Obama’s optimism, but fear his inexperience. McCain has the foreign policy chops, but there are way too many skeletons in that particular closet. As much as Hillary would like to tout her foreign policy experience, I don’t think it holds up past a casual scrutiny.
I do agree that we need to turn the page. Problem is: Who is carrying the book?
