That was well said. I understand you completely and agree with the vast majority of what you said. It is truly a great experience to share such a delightful exchange with someone on this site.

Now while I am from Cali, and we do STOOPID stuff out here (like elect an action figure as governor)we are also a diversified bunch. Some of the state is quite conservative while other parts are waiting for agents Mulder and Scully, yet still other parts are middle of the road. I too have problems with extremists on BOTH ends of the spectrum. I truly became interested in blogging after hearing about some of the terrorist activities of groups such as ELF, ALF and PETA. These people would pass a sick or dying human on the street but ran into traffic to save a blind cat. Their bombings of homes and cars, along with the idea that collateral damage (including children) is pathetic. Right-winger who expose racist views are another blight on our country. We are graced with some of those people, here on this very site.

The immigration debate is tough for me. Here is a problem I can’t seem to digest. If the status quo holds and we pay for the education of undocumented students from elementary school through high school, how much does that cost u.s. taxpayers? I don’t know. what i do know is that if you take that figure and multiply it by the number of such students in California, the number would be staggering. To be sure, teacher jobs and other school postions are tied to these students. But, wouldn’t it be prudent to allow these students to go on to college, get an education, pay back some $ and become working and tax paying citizens?. I know the argument, but what is the alternative? Do we round them up (like we did to the Japanese) and place them in concentration camps? Do we deport them? Do we fine the employers such a high dollar amount that they either go out of business or comply? If you lose the L from your business model’s P&L, what happens to the business? Now personally, i would like to see an end to illegal immigration. But as long as one party benefits from cheap labor while the other one is garnering future votes, we will have a stalemate.

Lenders, Wall Street, and Congress

I am not in the industry but it is my belief that brokers and agents played loose and free with the rules and lenders played ball. What kind of $#1T is “income stated” as a means of verifying income. Greedy Wall Street companies and others reached their grubby hands into the sub-prime lending markets (via stock purchases or lending)and pulled out a whole lot of green until the pump ran dry. I do blame deregulation to some extent, but also sheer greed.

Iraq and Afghanistan
Personally, I have NEVER viewed S.Hussein as a threat to America. He was sold to us as one. We went inot Kuwait to protect oil supplies. That was fine. Sadaam was better kept in the box ALIVE. Sheryl, we are nation building in a place that has at least 2 very significant factions. I won’t even consider the Kurds, yet. I think it is too early to tell the outcome of our “war.” We know that it is not a victory, for victory has NEVER been defined there. If we leave it will fall apart, if we stay and keep paying not to fight, we won’t change a damn thing between Shia and Sunni. It’s a big crap sandwich that America is going to have to eat all by itself. to say that is was good to free the people wuld mean that we should continue doing so all around the world. I know for sure America isn’t having anymore of that!

Finally, Left V Right

On the polar extremes of the polical spectrum, the fringe groups are all about taking away the rights of the people. On one side they say no laws, let me be me (don’t restrain us)! On the other side, they are saying, we must have laws to protect (restrain us, to help us). I will admit that I am an addict for a good debate. However, when I see 2 educated people dance around questions on Sunday morning talk shows, I do miss Tim Russert! I have faith that the discernment of human kind will win-out over MSM or Vigilante talk-shows.

My version of the leftist, (not the liberal left pursee,) are those who have agenda’s other than what is right for the country per the constitution. Those in political life who do not necessarily have the best interest of the country at hand but are beholden to particular “groups” of individuals. Like Peta, the enviornmental extremists, hollywood, and the New York elite for example. These groups have much to say about what goes on in the country, and while their views are important, our laws and how we live our lives should not be influenced by them. I can give you one example regarding the car companies for instance. I am in MI, the government regulations put on the car companies have been ridiculous and are a major reason we have been regulated out of the county. More and more “green” regulations are put on us,some necessary, but most are over the top and the environmental extremists are huge lobbyists and in Nancy’s district. She will always be elected over and over again. It is the power of these groups that are dangerous.

While this country welcomes immigrants as we were founded on that principle, you should enter the country legally through a process, the “leftists” want to eliminate that process all the while we support them with our tax dollars and insurance benefits etc. I support the Presidency period regardless who is in office. My issues with Obama is the government intervention in many areas and I am completely against government run health care. The government ruins everything it touches ie the mortgage industry for one. Lenders wrote the loans per the government regulations(I am in the industry) that were placed on us in the 90;s the chickens have come home to roost so to speak. Now they are trying to eliminate those regulations so that the banks can lend to whom they see fit and not the government.

I do not consider GW Bush to be a conservative. He has allowed much government intervention and spending that was out of control,but keep in mind the Democratic congress went along with it as well. I stated I support the presidency, so I respect him and know he did what he felt was right. He stuck to his principles and not the polls.The new president wants to spend even more.

I would say for instance Sarah Palin is a conservative and Michael Steele, and Michelle Bachman of MN for example.

I have no problem with the war in iraq, supported it from the beginning, and continue to do so. Rumsfeld should have gone sooner. I will support the New President as well should he make that decision. We have been dealing with Iraq for many years and we always knew we would have to deal with it at some point. We new Sadam had WMD’s because he used them on his own people and on our troops in the gulf war. During the gulf war for instance the first Bush had an entrance and exit plan… In hindsight we probably should have finished the job then but he did not bring that to the American people, and he stuck to his word. The people of Iraq thought in the gulf war that we were going to overthrow Sadam, and sided with us and gave us information. We left them… Sadam slaughtered all his people that turned against him. Part of his surrender was to let us in to check for weapons, and he continually denied us.. For a whole decade under Clinton, we sanctioned and threatened him, and he had ample time to hide the weapons. We have done a great thing in Iraq. Iraq has a very long history with us, the war was not sudden. He stole from us in the oil for food program, and starved his own people. My opinion.

I have no problem with social groups such as gays, minorities, etc.. I do have a problem with the one sided media, and find it dangerous we no longer have a free press.. No matter what we believe, we are entitled to both sides.

You’re brilliant. Why didn’t I see it? How could I have been so blind? They are the TRUE Obama lovers. They can start an article or comment without using phrases such as “The One”, “The Messiah” and now even “Lord”. You are right, they are so excited (sorry Pointer Sisters) and they just CAN”T HIDE IT! I bet they even have Obama T-shirts they were to go shopping! Come out of the closet you Obama lovers!