To: TN Independent
I'll concede that my characterization of you as a "neutralized conservative" was inaccurate. However, in my defense, your characterization of yourself as a "conservative (mainly, but not totally)" left enough interpretational room to drive a truck through.
You obviously have your own views on war-any war. That's fine-I'm not criticizing you. But those views are a long way from "conservative", and this may account for some of my misimpressions.
It can be argued that FDR secretly and diligently pulled us into WWII, against the wishes of fully 80% of the American people. However, once we were attacked, he never had to deal with qualifications like"Let's kick tail and get out", "I'm just not sold on the fact that Hitler is a threat to the US" , or, "Let's put FDR's sons and daughters on the ground as combat troops and see if his attitude changes."
There is a distinctively conservative mindset towards national defense. You don't negotiate with an enemy from a position of weakness. You kick the shit out of him until he ceases to be a threat. You negotiate when he comes to the table with his hat in his hand. Any other approach-any attempt at appeasement-is dangerous and irresponsible.
I doubt that many conservatives are slavishly pro-Bush, or of the "Republican party line, right or wrong" persuasion. I, personally, have more than a few problems with both President Bush and the party. However, they are enough in line with my views that I consider them the safer bet. Perhaps all of us need to be careful about blanket characterizations.
I'll concede that my characterization of you as a "neutralized conservative" was inaccurate. However, in my defense, your characterization of yourself as a "conservative (mainly, but not totally)" left enough interpretational room to drive a truck through.
You obviously have your own views on war-any war. That's fine-I'm not criticizing you. But those views are a long way from "conservative", and this may account for some of my misimpressions.
It can be argued that FDR secretly and diligently pulled us into WWII, against the wishes of fully 80% of the American people. However, once we were attacked, he never had to deal with qualifications like"Let's kick tail and get out", "I'm just not sold on the fact that Hitler is a threat to the US" , or, "Let's put FDR's sons and daughters on the ground as combat troops and see if his attitude changes."
There is a distinctively conservative mindset towards national defense. You don't negotiate with an enemy from a position of weakness. You kick the shit out of him until he ceases to be a threat. You negotiate when he comes to the table with his hat in his hand. Any other approach-any attempt at appeasement-is dangerous and irresponsible.
I doubt that many conservatives are slavishly pro-Bush, or of the "Republican party line, right or wrong" persuasion. I, personally, have more than a few problems with both President Bush and the party. However, they are enough in line with my views that I consider them the safer bet. Perhaps all of us need to be careful about blanket characterizations.
