"Every year we waste enough to feed the ones who starve We build our civilization up and we shoot it down with wars but with the Carpenter on the seat away up in the capiton town the USA would be on the way prosperity bound"-Christ for President"-lyrics by Woody Guthrie

Not a single one of the Republican candidates emobodies the character, or the charisma of a Ronald Reagan. There isn't s single one who can say that they previously stood for traditional conservative values either. They are, for the most part, a disappointing lot of charletons who are trying to re-invent themselves as they go along. I cannot blindly follow that sort of thing anymore, and remain silent in the process. My party, it's leaderdship, and it's members have become exactly what they once stood against. They have become the war party, the party of bigger government and wasteful spending, and moreover, they have become the party that surpresses information about possible lawlessness within its' own ranks. Gone are the days when a Barry Goldwater would walk into the White House and say "Mr. President, there is a cancer growing on the Presidency....." Now, the G.O.P. does all it can to protect liars, thieves, money launderers, bribe recipients, influence peddlers, and (of all things) pedophiles. I cannot stand for these things anymore, and that is why I will be voting for the opposite party's candidate(s) in 2008. It pains me to say this. But, I didn't leave my party, the Republican Party left me!

For the most part, I agree with "A Republican Who's Voting 'Dem' in '08." The Republicans today are, for the most part, not conservatives, and they have lost most of the core principles they rode to power. Republicans need to nominate a true conservative--a believer in limiting the national government, maximizing liberty, and not obsessing over the "Religious Right' and their moralist crusades. A reincarnation of Barry Goldwater would be nice, but I'm not sure there's one left out there. I hope there is, because I'm totally uncomfortable with the current crop of Republican candidates. But voting Democratic isn't the answer, either--there doesn't appear to be a one of them that isn't either a closet Socialist or, at the very least, so enamoured of Big Government that he/she can actually reduce the size of the beast (they all seem committed to some form of nationalized health care, more domestic spending on things that aren't within the scope and function of the general government [read: educaztion, housing, welfare, etc.]). Given the situation today, I fear (and mourn) for the future of the country and the Constitution.

To "A Republican Who's Voting Dem in 08", it's refreshing to see a Republican who finally sees (and admits)what his party has done and said the last 6 1/2 years, to this country and the American people. One who no longer is blindly going to support and believe the lies and corruption spin, policies and decisions of this White House and the GOP. We are long over due for a President and Administration that works for what's best for America and its citizens, and not the lobbiests and corporate interests. The 2008 elections cannot come fast enough.

Yes you'll be much happier in the party that elevates liars, thieves, money launderers, bribe recipients, influence peddlers, and (of all things) pedophiles.

"In the Politico, Elizabeth Wilner writes that Republicans are “now searching for a candidate who embodies the principles for which they elected Bush, but not the policies of his presidency." Re-stuff and re-string him. Republicans don't care if they vote for a card board cut out.....An American: NO - he said he was LEAVING the Republican party.

Richard - You hit the nail right on the head. I'm not a huge fan of the current crop of choices on the Republican side. However, that certainly doesn't make me want to vote for a Democrat. I think most of the problem lies in the "compassionate conservatism" of George Bush. This is basically an excuse to increase the size of the federal government while cutting taxes. You had "tax and spend" liberals and now you have "cut and spend" conservatives. Neither work. I am interested in Steve Forbes' endorsement of Rudy. That tells me that Rudy is probably a "traditional conservative" on budget and economic policy. I will be anxious to watch the debate on Thursday and see what happens.

Republicans are searching for a candidate who embodies the principles for which they elected Bush, but etc etc etc. He gave the national surplus to the cream of the elite, he placed two corporate stooges on the Supreme Court, he started a war that greatly benefits a few dozen major corporations, he all but dismantled the middle class. What's not to like? His personality? If they're looking for someone who embodies the aforesaid principles, but maybe with a bit more gravitas, how about Richard Simmons? Not prissy enough?

Ryan--I'll be watching the outcome of republican Party maneuvering closely over the next couple of months to see what shakes out. But I feel strongly that the Republicans have gone way "off base" with their Reaganesque preoccupation with cutting taxes (without controlling spending), coupled with their moralist attitudes on almost everything else. We need tax REFORM (as in a "flat rate tax" with an enhanced standard deduction and fewer gimmicks and other loopholes), a LARGE reduction in government spending (a "core function analysis" of what the Federal government should do and can do under the Constitution is WAY overdue), AND a commitment to individual liberty (without worrying about religious sensibilities). Only after those things are done can we really address what government revenue levels should be and can be. Don't hold your breath, though--the Democrats won't do any of this, and the Republicans are too caught up in their concerns about bedroom habits and tax cuts to even look at this now. Rudy may be a "traditional conservative" on budget and economic policy, but I don't see him (or anyone else in the field) as being committed to shrinking the reach of government. And, unfortunately, that's sad.

"Some call you the elite, I call you my base"-President George Bush

"Some call you the elite, I call you my base"-President George Bush

"Some call you the elite, I call you my base"-President George Bush

Why does everyone say that liberals are tax and spend. I look at the republican party and the 2 largest spenders in history are Ronald Reagan and George W Bush. Funny, both of these presidents spent money like it was free, but nowhere did they ever pay for all their spending. These 2 presidents will leave the largest deficits in history to the presidents that follow them. What is tough about being a republican president. They are never responsible for anything they do, create massive deficits, and then leave without having to solve any problems. Funny, it ends up being the democrats that actually run a government like Clinton. At least Clinton hired the most qualified people for the job: republican or democrat. Government ran lean and mean when Clinton was in office. Every year Clinton was in office, we spent less money to run government. Then a typical republcan gets elected, and now we have croonies every where, over 1 million new government jobs have been created since W took office and have a government that can not take care of it's own citizens. What is it about republicans we like. They spend like idiots, start wars to define their presidency, or hire croonies to do jobs they have no skill for. So yes democrats might raise taxes , but this is to pay for all the republican spending we endure when they come in office. Democrats are responsible and try to do what best for America. Republicans hate americans and only care about themselves and corporations. Can anyone remember the last time you ever seen any republican legislation every help their fellow poorer americans. All republicans do is shout at their fellow americans and try to tell them what to beleive and that they are unpatriotic if you disagree with them. I was Goldwater republican until Reagan, then I say the republican party for what it is. Republican party will say and do anything, and denigrate anyone to get power. Republican party only cares about power. As we have seen, they will say, do, or denigrate anyone to keep that power.

Yep, the Republicans have a real choice: A Mormon, a moron and a mayor.

Steve forbes and gulliani are the rich elitists dream team, unfortantly if you do not fit into that category they are as about a poor a choice as anyone could possibly dream up.

To: "An American," There is always fallout, rhetoric, and rancor when someone like myself has had enough, and has the audacity to speak out about it. I'm not going to change my political affiliation. But, I cannot vote for this party's candidates again until some very drastic changes are made from within. If you can vote for our party's candidates after the last six years, and still look your loved ones, your spouse and your kids, in the eye(s) then go for it. But, I can't, and there are others out there who likewise cannot "pretend" anymore. This is not my Father's Republican Party. To: "Lee in MV," Once again I stress that I did not leave my party. The Republican Party left me.

Ryan, Richard, don't drink Rudy's kool-aid. There is more poison in it than Bush's!. He is running on being strong on terrorism because of his big day on 9/11. However, he was the mayor of NYC for many years leading up to that fateful day but never did a thing about the communication problem faced by the first responders even though it was widely recognized after the first WTC attack. Furthermore, it was his decision to locate the headquarters of the NYC emergency response office in that same building, ignoring the fact that it had been the target of a terrorist attack just a few years before. Not to mention the fact that many NYC victims, or their families, are extremely upset that he allowed construction of the new Freedom Tower to begin when we are still uncovering the remains of survivors 5+ years later. Don't think McCain won't make mention of this Thursday night.

To: Richard Fifield, Easton, PA, and Ryan, Michigan; Unfortunately, voting for opposition candidates is the only tool I have available to make my party listen to me. If I were to look for an independent conservative candidate and to vote for him or her, it might help one of the current crop of Republicans get in office. We simply can't afford that after the last six years. Our party must return to its' core values and its' traditional standards of strict constitutionalism, and above all, respect for law and order. It would be better to turn over the reigns of the executive branch to the opposition party for one term, and let them sink or swim; than it would be to allow another pseudo conservative to drag this party through the mud, and fix it so there won't be another Republican President for another decade. (That may have already happened, by the way.) We asked Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for Reagan in 1980, "for the sake of The Union." Now, it's time for us to put our country, before our party, and our pride. We need to put Patriotism first, and personalities second. The current Republican candidates are simply bad for the country. Giuliani and Romney represent the same thing Bush Jr. stood/stands for. A "new breed" of Republican who suddenly remembers his party's platform and principles when he wants to become our nation's chief executive. Only trouble is, they forget all about those things again, after they get elected. Thanks, but no thanks. I got sucked into that trap twice with "W." Fred Thompson might be a viable alternative. But, I think the people who want to draft him, are thinking that his status as an actor will conjur up memories of Ronald Reagan and that sort of thing would backfire very easily. Furthermore, his support of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby will most certainly be exploited by the Democrats. My Dad always told me to split my vote. Things became so polarized after the 1994 election, and again after 2000 that we were told (and some of us believed) that wasn't the right thing to do. Well, I just can't "carry water" for this party anymore, waiting for and expecting things to change. I am going to take action to force that change, and if it means crossing the aisle, I'll do it. There are a lot of other Republicans like me too, who arent't happy with what the last Congress and the current President did with the power we gave them. I'm sorry but my country comes first guys.

To"a republican who's voting dem, " I agree whole heartedly with you. It looks like both of us saw what happened with Reagan as president. I voted republican up and down until 1984. I only voted for Mondale because he was from my home state but all else republican. 1986 is when I started having issues with the direction the party was heading. When they sacrificed civil rights to get elected in 1988, I vowed I would never vote republican again. The drug testing is where the line was crossed. The republicans wanted government to check up on americans with drug tests. They used Willie Horton like a hammer against Dukakis and this was the first time they used fear and smear to get elected. Drugs were the cause of all problems in the republican world. Basically from that point forward with supreme court decisions their way, the government can have access to people's bodily fluids. Once you start down this road, it won't stop until the government is given all the power to protect us. Civli rights be damned, we the republican party are the only ones to protect you. The republican party has to create fear and boogie men because that is when they are most effective. They found that out with Willie/Drugs in 1988 and have been scaring americans ever since. Fear is power to republicans. If you are not afraid, republicans have no power over you.

To"a republican who's voting dem, " I agree whole heartedly with you. It looks like both of us saw what happened with Reagan as president. I voted republican up and down until 1984. I only voted for Mondale because he was from my home state but all else republican. 1986 is when I started having issues with the direction the party was heading. When they sacrificed civil rights to get elected in 1988, I vowed I would never vote republican again. The drug testing is where the line was crossed. The republicans wanted government to check up on americans with drug tests. They used Willie Horton like a hammer against Dukakis and this was the first time they used fear and smear to get elected. Drugs were the cause of all problems in the republican world. Basically from that point forward with supreme court decisions their way, the government can have access to people's bodily fluids. Once you start down this road, it won't stop until the government is given all the power to protect us. Civli rights be damned, we the republican party are the only ones to protect you. The republican party has to create fear and boogie men because that is when they are most effective. They found that out with Willie/Drugs in 1988 and have been scaring americans ever since. Fear is power to republicans. If you are not afraid, republicans have no power over you.

Bob, put down the hash pipe for a minute and listen. today John Edwards proposed the biggest tax increase in American History, even bigger then Bill CLinton had on his watch. Now I will give Edwards credit, he did say this while running for president. Mr. Hillary Clinton did this after he was elected, one of the reasons why the GOP revolution started in 1994, because people were tired of being taxed to death.I give Edwards credit though, he is telling the truth about what he wants to do, which makes him less and less dangerous as a liberal canidate. Hillary and Obama would have to have to have rocks in their heads to say that now.

So does McCain think he will get George Bush's endorsement?

jerry, don't forget Bush I said it after he had said, "Read my lips. No more taxes," when he was running for president. I think the people who make more than $200,000.00 a year really don't need to keep the tax cut they got with Bush II. Ending that tax would bring money in to pay for the neverending war in Iraq, I mean war on terror. Sorry, I misspoke. It just seems this "misspeaking" is happening a lot lately.

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