One of the most common complaints about the Bush administration that I hear when arguing politics with friends is that America should only use war when diplomacy and simply talking to our enemies fails. Why is it that everyone is so quick to forget the years spent by the United States and the U.N to negotiate inspections with Saddam Hussein? We went above and beyond our responsibilities when it came to diplomacy with Saddam and Iraq!! Inspectors were continually kicked out of Iraq and the U.N continued to put generic timetables on Iraq to comply or face the consequences. However, Iraq continually failed to comply time after time and new timetables were then set for Iraq to comply. There comes a point when a person or country must face the consequences of their actions or inactions!! The Democrats want to rush to the aid of everybody and claim that for the United States to remain the super power of the world we must make other countires stronger as well. Why, then, oppose the war? We tried to talk to Saddam and he ignored our requests to negotiate. At some point, talking only prolongs the inevitable and gives too many opportunites for dictorial corruption to infest itself further into the situation. If the Democrats claim of making others stronger to further our role in the world is correct, why oppose the war? Is Iraq not a better country without Saddam at the top of the political pyramid? I, for one, think that they are!! Our country is too infatuated with quick, overnight results. However, turning a lifetime of dicatorial leadership into a democratic society will probalby take more years than I will be privledged to see. The point is that we can help the Iraqi people achieve this if we are diligant, patient and unrelenting when it comes to our goals and the goals of the Iraqi people! We must be patient, America, and put aside our own selfishness when it comes to this issue! I think of this war like this; If I can sacrafice some of my own desires and lifestyle for a greater cause, maybe my children and grandchildren can grow up in aworld that is free of dictatorship and terrorism. Isn't that the cause of each of our lives? To make the world better off when we leave it than  it was when we came into it? Most soldiers seem to realize this, as do many ordinary citizens of the world!!! Why don't the Democrats? Will they ever?

Rush Limbaugh was quoted yesterday as saying to John McCain......."Do not try to reach out to me." Hey Rush, news alert, he's not. Very few people care what your thoughts on the country are, and the ones that do blindly follow you do not have the backbone to make up their own minds!!! Until you are on the ballot as a Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate, myself and many others could care less what you think the best path for the country is. This may come as a surprise to you, Mr. Limbaugh, but most of us Americans make up our own minds on what is best for the country, and this year John McCain is right on most of the issues. All of the issues? No, but who is? On the issue of the Iraq war, McCain is correct. On the issue of campaign finance reform, John McCain was and still is correct. On the issue of reaching out to the Democrat controlled side of the aisle, John McCain is correct. After all, one party cannot change the world. However, a team effort and shared views on the most important issues facing America can, indeed, change the world. John McCain is right. Not because I think he is or because he is a Republican, but because he understands that voting on a straight partisan agenda does not work. It did not work under either Bush, it did not work under Clinton, and it would not work under Hillary or Barrack!! The often overlooked shame in all of this is the fact that because of our parties (Republican) straight partisan ideas and views of the last thirty years, the public does not fully trust us anymore. They think that if John McCain is elected, we will be in for another four or eight years of straight partisan voting that will get nothing accomplished other than many fillabusters and many speaches by Senators to a completely empty Senate floor. This, Rush Limbaugh, is where you have failed our party. Most Americans do not view themselves as Republicans or Democrats. Everyone, however does view themselves as Americans. That said, John McCain is the candidate in this race that offers the nation a chance to transcend modern day politics. Forget voting straight Republican or straight Democrat on issues the affect the nation as a whole. Vote American in 2008. Vote John MCain and change the way not only America is percieved, but how the Republican party is percieved. As the party of the people!! Just like it was under Ronald Reagan!!

All of this anti-McCain rhetoric being spewed by "Republican" radio and t.v talking heads absolutley discusts me! Why, Rush Limbaugh, would John McCain "destroy" the Republican party? Is it, my friend, because he is more towards the middle on many issues? Is it because he has worked so passionately for campaign finance reform? Why all the negative attacks? John McCain represents many of us Republicans, and represents us quite well. You do not have to be on the far right side of every argument. That is a Republcan falsehood that is spread by people like Rush Limbaugh, in my view, because he is scared of losing his own far right power. Campaign finance reform is not a Democratic or Republcan issue, my friends. It is an American issue! Most Americans are sick and tired of this country being ran by corporate America, and John McCain was the only true Republican to speak out on the issue. Too many other Republicans, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are just two examples, are scared of losing the big financial contributions that the corporatrions pony up to the Republicans. For the first time in my lifetime, granted I am only twenty-six years old, a Repulican has said enough is enough. We will run a campaign based on issues, and not based on the selfish, self intrest corporations. John McCain, keep on campaigning the issues and ignore these power hungry, scared of change, far right wingers. They do not stand or speak for the majority of us Republicans. You do, however, and for that the Republican party thanks you. Just as a side note, Barrack Obama recieves much of the attention for running a campaign based on change. The Democrats support that. However, I would argue that in John McCain, we Republicans also have a candidate that can help change the way politics in this country are viewed. McCain in '08!!!!

Here's the deal people. I am sick of hearing "true conservatives" talk about sitting out the election if John McCain wins the Republican nomination. The only thing that is true about them is their fake, childish, whiny attitudes. Rush Limbaugh says he may not vote if John McCain is on the ticket and says that it will mark the end of the republican party. Hey Rush, I didn't see you on the ticket. John McCain may not think exactly the way I do, but at least I know, or knew where he stood on the issues. His recent change of positions due to conservative pressure is what has me the most upset by him. Granted, I don't agree with his stance on immigration but hey, we can debate that later. I know one thing for sure and that is the fact that our country would be better suited with him in the office instead of Hillary or Barrack. That is why, at the end of the day, I will be voting for John McCain!!!! Sorry Rush!!! Grow up and shut up!!!!!!