So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish: A Warhawk Flies the Coop

[EarlG]

Apologies if this is a dupe... got it via email from Mark Crispin Miller this morning.
____________________

I start on a personal note. I would like for the record to show that, today, I formally disavow the Republican Party as well as my past support for the Second Gulf War.

Now, let me be frank: This is something I didn't see coming a year ago. I only saw things through a prism of GOP allegiance back then. I'm a year older now -- a year wiser, I suppose. It shouldn't be easy for an op-ed writer to admit when he's wrong. But I was. And it is. And in light of George Bush's latest State of the Union, saying goodbye to the Republican Party is the easiest thing I've done in quite some time.

This doesn't mean I've gone Democrat, though. Quite the contrary. But let me explain.

There was a time not long ago when the president could do no wrong in my eyes, a time when I was willing to write, as I did in September '02, "I have faith in President Bush." That time ended last summer, however, when I finally got fed up with his fiscally ridiculous ways. Indeed, John Kerry calls the Bush White House "reckless," and when it comes to our wallets I tend to agree. And while I never thought I'd say this, the way Bush spends -- and spends, and spends -- I'm beginning to miss Bill Clinton.

*snip*

Jonathan David Morris

http://mensnewsdaily.com/archive/m-n/morris/2004/morris012704.htm

[gWbush is Mabus]

1. that's a pretty good read...thanks.

[mhr]

2. At Least He Finally Woke Up! Let's Hope More Do!

eom

[x-g.o.p.er]

3. Ditto

I, too, am a disillusioned Republican (NOT repuke). I am active military, fought in Afghanistan, voted for Bush in 2000, and am now an avowed ABB in 2004. Right now I lean Libertarian, but I might vote for a certain democrat if he gets the nomination (won't name names since this is general discussion). I welcome any comments, good or bad--as long as their respectful.

Hope I didn't violate any post rules--this is my first one.

[AverageJoe]

4. Welcome aboard, xgoper!

What was the straw that broke the camel's back for you?

[x-g.o.p.er]

5. The drunken-sailor spending dpree

I supported both wars, and unlike most folks here, I thought they were the right thing to do. Let's just agree to disagree on that issue, ok? I CANNOT STAND the profligate spending that is going on, nor can I stand the violation of the Bill of Rights that he has presided over (campaign finance bill, which violates free speech--free POLITICAL speech, which is what our country was founded on), and other things. But mostly those two issues

[tom_paine]

7. You supported and support the Iraq invasion though it was based on a lie

How many good men and women have died for this lie, that Saddam was 45 minutes from nuking us and all the other lies which made up that BIG LIE?

What happens when we REALLY need our military for something other than fraud and theft from the Iraqis and us at the same time to flow into Imperial Coffers?

I absolutely supported the Afghan Invasion, but I think we should have stopped there and really helped the nation, while at the same time using the good will of the world (which we no longer have...the world hates us like we used to hate the Old Soviet Union...and I am sorry to say that for once they are correct to do so because WE are rapidly becoming a Free-Market version of the Soviet Union, overseas at first, soon to be visited on us citizens at home once the Imperials have secured their power at the top...read a history of Imperial Rome to see historical precedent for Emperors sabotaging Republics and the order of freedoms removed).

But the Iraq Invasion has been a disgrace, and has more than a few disturbing similarities, (most significantly invading on false provocations the invading nation made up out of whole cloth and unsubstantiated by any evidence both at the time of invasion and beyond) to the Nazi invasion of Poland.

All our brave fellow servicemen, dead for a lie, for no good reason, at the same time the Emperor cuts Veterans benefots left and right (check it out if you think I'm lying).

And further, all this from a cowardly Emperor who ran away from combat as afst as his coke-enhcaced legs could carry him.

Don;t beleive me? Try this site:

www.awolbush.com

(it's written by fellow vets like you and me)

[Robbien]

9. I agree, the spending spree is reason alone to switch leadership

Yesterday and today the Senate is passing legislation for airlines and other transportation giants to be able to raid their pension plans requiring a taxpayer bailout. Each day Congress is in session the average citizen has to shell out more and as a result, corporations are showing bigger profits.

[tom_paine]

6. Welcome aboard, x-g.o.p.er!

:toast: :toast:

Many DUers are centrist or True Conservatives. The Imperial Famiuly Bush and their Stooges are NOT conservatives, and many True Conservatives like yourself are starting to notice.

The Busheviks are Totalitarians, plain and simple. The only interest they have in the Constitution and Bill of Rights is in dismantling them with "upsetting the Filthy Little Nobodies" like us.

What makes me say that? Simple. I've watched what they did. And I have NEVER in my life, seen the absolute and utterly Orwellian disconnect betwen reality and the lies the Imperials tell.

(if you haven't read George Orwell's "Animal Farm" you should do so because it is what the Imperial Family is turing America into...take a wild guess who Comrade Snowball is and who Comrade Napoleon is...I think it will be qute clear)

Myself, I'm a moderate who could have easily lived the rest of my life without getting involved in politics. I'm also a USAF veteran who loves his nation deeply and could NOT sit on the bench and watch the nation I love be turn into an Imperial Footstool by King George, (who has more in common with the LAST King George to rule us than the men who fought to be free of him so long ago).

So welcome aboard, x-g.o.p.er! There's nothing wrong with you and everything right for you to be thinking this way. Contrary to the Party-Loyal Bushevik Sub-Media's lies, many people who oppose the Imperial Family do so out of deep love of country.

Further, we most of us are most decidely NOT nosering-wearing hippies.

You stand with the True Patriots here, whatever our policy disagreements. And you are most welcome.

:toast: :toast:

[DinahMoeHum]

8. Are you familiar with the libertarian-oriented website

www.antiwar.com ???

Lots of fine articles and blogs there. In particular, try out the link for www.lewrockwell.com and get ahold of the stuff written by one
Lt Col USAF (Ret) Karen Kwiatkowski. She's a former Pentagon insider.

Also good: Charley Reese's columns.
David Hackworth's columns
(for those, just type in their names in the search box)

And welcome to DU !!

:toast:

[x-g.o.p.er]

10. Yes, but not the others

Thanks for the informative websites. They are filtered out here at my office, so I'll check them out when I get home. And I love Hackworth!! Glad to be here, thanks for the warm welcome

[tabasco]

13. Welcome and congratulations for seeing the light.

You are on the side of the people now. There are plenty of vets here on DU.

[KG]

11. quite the epiphany.

[Plaid Adder]

12. Well, JDM, can I just say that being against Bush...

...means never having to say you're sorry.

Man I'm glad I don't have to apologize for the shitload he's apologizing for!

Not that I don't fuck up from time to time...but dang.

Ah well, better late than never,

The Plaid Adder

[chiburb]

14. Yes EarlG, it is a dupe...

But I know the Admins at DU and I can put in a good word for you...

Original thread from Wed.:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=31815