[Kevin]

I'm a registered Republican. I agree with AlphaSigOU except, I don't think it's the "ultra-right wing" people. I think it's the religious right that has hijacked the party (John Ashcroft, George Bush, et al). I'm fiscally extremely on the conservative side. I plan to make a lot of money when I finish my education and really will be pissed if we return to taxes in the 70% range like we had during the days of Jimmy Carter -- and like we see with our more socialist allies today. I also do not believe in big government as in most government programs. I don't think the government should be getting into businesses that compete with the private sector (see: US Postal Service).

I really REALLY don't like the way the Bush administration has essentially co-opted the democratic agenda so they can try and have it both ways.

I realize that running up deficits worked for Reagan. We were fighting the Soviets back then -- we forced their government to go broke during the arms race. But we're not fighting the Soviets anymore. This spending spree has got to slow down. If we have to cut welfare programs, wasteful educational programs, social programs, science programs, so be it!

I can't stand some of the grandstanding they've done on things like stem cell research, etc. in order to appeal to the religious right. I wish they'd figure it out. The religious right will NOT vote Democrat no matter what happens! So why do we keep doing whatever it is the religious right wants?

I don't really mind the "cowboy" image worldwide. I personally do not give a crap what anyone in Europe thinks about my President or government. We have a better life here, they know it, and they don't understand why that is.

I apologize in advance for my rant.