These comments are not meant to talk you into voting Republican or Democrat.  Nor is it meant to create hate or focus on one group over another.  It is simply the views and opinions of an old Vet that is tired of seeing our country head in the wrong direction.  These comments are intended to focus the tremendous voting block of American veterans that believe America should remain strong.  Today there are over 26 million veterans out there that can have a positive impact on the next 2008 election.  We need politicians that put America first and not the needs of individuals or political parties that will do anything to maintain power. 

There were many of us in the last election that were so tired of the spineless politicians we either didn’t vote or voted them out. We were sick of the politicians that didn’t have the backbone to make the right decisions to protect our borders, fight the war on terrorism and stop illegal immigration.  Well we got change but I don’t think it was the change we were looking for and unfortunately it seems to have backfired with the antics of Co-president Pelosi and Senator Reed.  Now we have the power hungry bleeding heart liberals in control and they have twisted the election results to serve their own personal mandate for pulling out of the war.  It is this old Vet’s opinion that even a young child can understand the importance of fighting this war on terror.  So why are they trying to lose the war? It also doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that our country cannot continue to have an open door policy no matter what nationality they are.  Unfortunately many of today’s immigrants are coming to the US to live off the system rather than contribute.  If something is not done to stop the hemorrhaging we will soon be in the same dilemma as the Europeans. 

The following paragraphs are meant to express my personal opinions and to bring attention to our current state of affairs.  If something is not done, America will destroy itself from within. 

Consider this when you vote in 2008:

·         If we do not stop terrorism our children and grandchildren will suffer and we will be fighting them here in the US.  This isn’t speculation the terrorists have stated it on numerous occasions.  They will not rest until they destroy our way of life.

·         If we start a war there is only one outcome.  “We win, they lose.”  I served four tours in Vietnam and know what it is like to fight a war without the support of the country that sent you there. As in Vietnam there are too many senior officers that are too political rather than win oriented.  The president is only as good as those supporting him.  The liberals have tried to divide the country and this plays right into the hands of the terrorists.  If you don’t believe in the war at least you can support those who are willing to make the sacrifices to protect this great country.  Politics in Washington have become a business.  We need patriot’s not self-serving individuals that are only there for money and power.  Term limits seems to be the way to go.  The argument is that it takes time to learn the ins-and-outs of Washington.  It has been my experience that most politicians I have observed are not the brightest light on the street and if they can learn the system, so can their replacement. The politicians that would put themselves first must go and we can change it by voting the right people into office.

·         The borders need to be secured; and there are many ways to do that.  We are trying to drain the water out of a flooded basement without stopping the leak first.  The Mexicans need to work and should be able to work, but there should be a legal process for them to come across the border to work.  That does not mean they have a right to citizenship.  We cannot continue to sustain the rate of immigration that we currently have.  Look at the problems they're having in Europe.  Europe has certainly set an example of what not to do.  I think Theodore Roosevelt says it best and those who choose to earn the right to citizenship should remember the following:

“Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance. But if he is heartily and singly loyal to this Republic, then no matter where he was born, he is just as good an American as anyone else. The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities.” (Theodore Roosevelt)

·         I believe that I should have the right to work and I don’t believe I should be excessively taxed in order to support those who choose not to work or feel their standard of living should be higher. 

·         I believe the less fortunate should be given a hand-up, not a handout.  I think everyone of us knows someone who spends more than they make, works when they need to, and always has an explanation as to why they never saved anything.  Social security was meant to supplement our retirement income not maintain a certain life style we feel we are entitled too.

·         I believe the illegal aliens are placing an excessive burden on our tax dollars and that congress on both sides have lost control of spending.

·         As veteran, I believe you should respect the office of the President no matter what party they represent.  If you disagree with his views, you have the opportunity to vote him out during the next election.  I am sick and tired of the liberal news media and press disrespecting the office of the president.  We have a small, loud vocal liberal minority impacting the way our country is heading because the Republican party does not have the backbone to stand up to them.  There are small groups like “Gathering of Eagles” that are starting to make themselves heard.  We need to support these groups when we can.  We need to talk to our children and grandchildren and show them the values that made this country great.

·         There are many issues that can be debated but I don’t think they should be weighted heavier than a “Strong Secure America”.  If we are not strong and secure it won’t matter, they will soon tell us how to think. I want you to remember one thing.  If President Bush is wrong, there will be a change in 2008, that’s the way the process works.  If the liberals continue to gain power there may be a point where they weaken us so much that the greatest nation on earth cannot recover.  Below is an excerpt I think says it all from Warren Hackett’s book It's Your Choice, where he quoted Arnold Toynbee which appears to have the same relevance as the highly contested statement of a Scottish historian Sir Alex Fraser Tyler (1742-1813):

"The release of initiative and enterprise made possible by self-government ultimately generates disintegrating forces from within. Again and again, after freedom brings opportunity and some degree of plenty, the competent become selfish, luxury-loving and complacent; the incompetent and unfortunate grow envious and covetous; and all three groups turn aside from the hard road of freedom to worship the golden calf of economic security. The historical cycle seems to be: from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to apathy; from apathy to dependency; and from dependency back to bondage once more."

Veterans have the voting power.  Whether you are republican or democrat, vote for the politician that puts America first.  Don’t be surprised if they are hard to find.