The Republican party is the rich people's party, thoughthey are very adept at pretending to be for the people. They're for some of the people, perhaps-the rich people. They care only about business and they do not care about the individual. They're responsible for palming off on the American public the Bush dynasty, who in their presidencies have proved to be poison for this country. I don't think it's coincidental that whenever a Bush is in office we're in a pointless war and the economy is in a shambles. While I think George Senior has his good points, it is obvious that neither he nor his son is in touch with the ordinary man-who perhaps did not go to Andover or Yale or did not inherit a fortune. The Republicans never hesitate to mudsling either. They engineered a conspiracy to harass Clinton while he was president and connived to run him out of office. I think if the Democratic party was not splintered by so many special interest groups Americans might see that the Democrats are really the people's party. The Republican party started out with high ideals as the party of Lincoln, now they are a party with no ideals that furthers the interests of the wealthy. towards corporate interests, and Bush's tax cuts for the rich. UPDATE: Well, the election is over, and you know what? I still think the Republicans suck. My prediction: Not only will Bush wreak more havoc in his 4th term, but he will become more and more irrelevant.

Yes, the republican party does stand for freedom and forward thinking ideas, but, in my opinion, the space program is the biggest waste of time and money anybody ever thought up. Also, just because you include more minorities in your administration doesn's say anything about your policies on civil rights. I DO, believe that the republican party is more on the money as far as civil rights, but only because they are (for the most part) against things like Affirmative Action, which, in my opinion does naught but hinder those it was intended to help. I do agree with you that they run on a platform of optimism rather than complaint, which is essentially why Bush won. However, is their optimism warranted? Are we going to be a better country tomorrow than we are today? Only time will tell.

Four years ago, I used to think republicans were idiots. Now, I know the truth. Lately, the republican party stands for liberation, freedom, and forward-thinking ideas--as well as our glorious return to the moon and Mars. And, lately, unity between all people seems to be key with more minorities than the Clinton admininstration (already two African-Americans and two Hispanics). Finally, they run not on a platform of complaints--but one of optimism. And, optimism is essential to living life--and liberty--to the fullest.

The election is over and I don't how bashing Bush helps anything, he is our president.We have to hope that he will do what's best for us in the next four years, we have no other alternative. Either we could bash him and make his job harder, jeopardizing our lives, or we can make the best of the situation we've been dealt with and pray that he has the common sense that God gave him.

Out of tune w/ the times says Keep Trying! A majority of voters apparently disagreed with you! Perhaps the OTHER party is out of tune with the needs of an average voter!

Not perfect by any means, but more inclusive than any other party in this country, with the exception of the LP. I am registered Replublican and in the U.S. Navy. They support my values and my family. They have passed numerous bills in the last four years to help farmers, veterans, legal immigrants, minorities. Do you hear this on MSNCB or CNN? No. They have done it. Go to WWW.PROJECTVOTESMART.COM and find your Congressman and see how they voted. You will notice many bills supported by Republicans that help the middle class and support education and the economy. They are more in touch with middle and poor America than the DP is. More minorities who are now receiving equal education are seeing this for themselves that the DP has lied to them for decades and that the RP will give them a chance at the American dream. Bush got about 9% of the black vote in 2000. He got about 18% in 04. A successful black doctor and political analyst in Oklahoma City said in 2008 or 2012 there will be more black voters deciding who runs this country, but they won't be Democrats they will be voting Republican. The RP is progressive, inclusive, and ready to lead America in the 21st century.

Most interesting message coming from a new series here shown by the respected producers of BBC2, involving The New Yorker, Sunday Times, 60 minutes and looking at The Power of Nightmares. It is stating and I'm quoting: Historically, politicians promoted the ideals of a better world, but now they are trying to keep us wrapped up in fear, notably through international terrorism, an idea that has spread unquestioned through politics, the security services and the international media. At its heart is the story of two groups; the American neo-conservatives and the radical Islamicists. Both sets are idealists born out of the failure of the then 'liberal' dream of building a safer world. Neither group sees the world progressing in the direction they would like and so both have created the nightmare vision for us all of terrorism and attack, which the neo-cons have found has restored their power and authority in a disillusioned age. Those with the darkest fears become the more powerful, if we let them. There is a thinking on both sides that modern liberal freedoms somehow erode the bonds that hold 'society' together and both movements have set out in their different ways to rescue their societies from this decay. The neocons have turned to fear in order to pursue their vision. Firstly it was the Soviet Union, then Vietnam, North Korea and now Islamic Jihad. And that is total anathema to the Jewish lobby in control of the White House. The Islamicists, for their part, believe that the whole world would be better off if infidels could only 'see the truth'. Their power is threatened by a more liberal western society and the men in control can't get things their own way unless the world is taken over. The crux of the matter, it is said, is the 'End of the Days' scenario whereby Christian right-wingers (Bush and co) fervently support Israel's apartheid-esque policies because they believe it is playing out the biblical story; the Bible says that there will be a war at a place known as Armageddon (now Iraq)In this war, two-thirds of the Jews are killed but the rest convert to Christianity upon Christ's second-coming. Fundamentalists believe this and are an incredibly powerful lobby in the US providing huge funding and pressure on America's political machine. Add to this Blair (also a fundamentalist) and you see what's developing. Now this may be the daddy of conspiracy theories of all time, but it is certain that religion has been hijacked. The problem with religion is that there is no counter argument. 'God is on our side' is a mantra used by every army the world over fighting for their cause. A scary thought for reasoned and intellectual persons and the message that this war is Christianity against Islam is one that certainly has to be acknowledged. Interesting stuff, isn't it?

The only thing worse than a republican is a poor republican, I will never be able to understand how someone can vote for a party whos agenda is to take care of the rich at the expense of the poor. I mean seriously!!! Not to mention the fact that their pro-buisness to the end stance is what got us attack on September the 11th. Overthrowing democracy's to better ourselves financialy would make our founding fathers vomit. Was once a centrist party, but unfortunately has been high-jacked by right wing radicals. Now it pushes a moralistic agenda with a utopian vision of an America dominated by its own military and dominating the world. They want an America where the barriers of the Consititution don't apply and they can censor any speech they wish. This party is trying to lead our country to a dark future; they are trying to unravel the Republic. Our values and government have been under siege by these insidious, divisive, zealots for the last four years; lets all hope that Kerry is able to turn the tables and restore the America we were all once proud of.

One of the most hiliarious misconceptions of the Republican Party is that it is The party of the rich...white...male.Colored people, women, and anyone making less than 6 figures annually need not apply (TriSec). I'm confident that the average person (who has a functioning brain) has the knowledge to dispell this myth. Afterall, wasn't it the Republicans who believed that the inslavement of colored people was wrong and could not be allowed to spread? Wasn't it the Republicans who fought for the rights of all human beings by protesting the inhumane murder of abortion? Wasn't it the Republican party that incouraged tax cuts that benefited not only the top 1 percent, but all Americans who were burdened with the tremendously high taxes that the Clinton adminstration put on the American people? Meanwhile, the Democratic party insisted on covering up it's real agenda of far-left radicalism that surely, if it were not for the Republicans, would demolish every single principle that America was founded on. And it did it by simply giving no regard to our countries future and just giing quick fixes to whoever could vote for them (that's why they want to murder unborn babies- they can't vote for them). UPDATE: scarletfeather, BruceRS is completely right in saying that democrats have promoted class warfare. Look at John Edwards with his two America's (lol), and look at how the DNC has made you think that America is run by coporate intrests under Republicans (DNC talking points!). The truth is that the Democratic party has nothing to show for it self except for it's failed policies and ignorant ways of thinking. So to run against republicans they have resorted to cheap shots (or blanket statements) so they can get in office.

Just a puppet of the neo-conservatives, the Vulcans, now. They are also selling-out America. Truly a despicable gaggle of anti-American pukes. Our down-slide into a third-world nation is their unstated goal. They will be remembered for being a principle player in the destruction of America.

I hate every poltical party out there. They are all about conspiracies and other stuff. they are all ful of bs.

Awful leadership at present .. and for the last 25 years or so. They (Bush, Rumsfeld, the late Reagan, etc.) are the fuel that keeps Islamic terrorism alive. Just like man needs air to breath, Al Qaeda needs these guys to thrive. In addition to their wars on Arab nations, the Bush admin. has also neglected the poor and made the rich richer. The economy of the US has also suffered under the current regime. Get them out in November.

Newsflash for Ralphieboy: Class warfare arguments died when the rocks came tumbling off the Berlin Wall. The only place they survive is the fantasyland of academia where people who never created anything except a good complaint develop reasons to hate full classes of society and lobby to steal from them. Here's a lesson for you: Almost 40% of the people in the lowest income bracket are below the ages of 25 even though they make up only 10% of the population. They literally haven't had the chance to make any money yet or accumulate any wealth! The largest majority are either still living with their parents or actually going to college on HUGE GOVERNMENT AID OR LOANS and others have their tuition being paid directly by their parents. A college kid getting huge government benefits and parental assistance is poor? The biggest problem with class disparity arguments is that they assume the numbers (and individuals representing those numbers) are static. They are NOT. Human capital accumulates as rapidly as individuals' age and others fall out of the labor market due to retirement and death. The global market is rapidly expanding and demanding additional labor. The market competes for that human capital! In America a poor person is out of poverty in 3-5 years and into the middle class depending upon the strength of the economy. (This year it is humming at over 4.6% rate of growth- the highest in 20 years!) Over 80% of the poor are out of poverty in 20 years and that would include a multitude of variables to lengthy to discuss here.(i.e. reasons for stagnant poverty) Either way all individuals gain human capital that they simply sell on the open market to the highest bidder. People simply accumulate skills with age that is just a fact. Furthermore the rich were the only ones that saw their wealth decline over the years 2001 to 2003 (main reason for the increased deficit cause you are taxing less income) while the middle class, if you are using static numbers, actually increased its wealth by 4%. Simultaneously the wider market brings down the price of products that were previously considered luxuries for the middle class and poor to utilize and improve their standard of living. It's not hard to notice that someone in the 50's had a much harder time accomplishing day to day tasks without the appliances we take for granted today (Ralpie would have been screaming about how milk men were being outsourced, or how the ice truck drivers were losing their jobs to the mean technologies of refrigeration and corporate CEO's) -washers ,dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, DVD players, home computers are all available to POOR people now improving their standard of living. These are all still luxuries for the middle class in socialist Europe. Over 50% of America's POOR own their homes!!! Home ownership is at its highest level ever here in America. Over 72% of POOR PEOPLE OWN CARS! The poor are actually getting richer here in America! The rich also overwhelming burden the load of taxes. The top 1% pays 40% of the taxes. Top 3% almost 50% and the top 10% almost 65% of the taxes. Dubya's tax breaks actually removed 14 million of former tax paying middle class from their tax roles all together. The BIG problem Ralphieboy has is the income gap. And I say to that- WHO CARES!? Ralphieboy if everything was static and you just by a snap of your fingers could double everyone in the world's net worth and income would you? Prices would stay the same- everything would stay the same -but you could just double everyone's net worth and income would you do it? My guess is you wouldn't cause that would actually double the income gap as well! Bill Gates would actually be worth almost 90 billion oh no!!! *********as for the Republican Platform and its adherance to the founding principles of our declaration I am all for it. Rights do not extend from social contracts and human desire. They are endowed to us by our Creator. To Whom we have an obligation, a responsibility to uphold certain moral standards for the liberty to be free. **** Ralphieboy, I was proudly raised by a hardworking single mother. Shows how ignorant people like you assume that all Republicans are born with silver spoons in their mouth. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've embraced the freedom this country and the Lord has afforded me. I feel no guilt for that whatsoever.

The approach of the Republican party is best summarized in its oath: I believe that the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well by individuals, and that the most effective government is government closest to the people. I believe that good government is based on the individual, and each person's ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility must be honored and recognized. I believe that free enterprise and encouragement of individual initiative and incentive have given this nation an economic system second to none. I believe that sound money policy should be our goal. I believe in equal rights and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex, or national origin. I believe that persons with disabilities should be afforded equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunities as well. I believe we must retain those principles worth retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideas with an outlook broad enough to accomodate thoughtful change and varying points of view. I believe that Americans value and should preserve their feeling of national strength and pride, and at the same time share with people everywhere a desire for peace and freedom and the extension of human rights throughout the world. Finally, I believe that the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

The party of the rich, white, evangelistic, male. Completely out of touch with real people and the majority of Americans. Colored people, women, and anyone making less than 6 figures annually need not apply.

there are some bad Republicans but. There are no good democrats.

can you say extinct

While I do believe in the principle of small government, low taxes, and widespread freedom, I think the republican party is more lip service than actual action. They say they will shrink government size, but as soon as they are elected, government spendings and deficit go through the roof. Republicans like Bush are also extremely hypocritical. They accuse Clinton of being a liar and say they will bring morality and integrity back to the White House. What a joke! They spread fearful propaganda, lie about Iraq's so called WMD, and then go to an illegal war against them. How can you not feel some sort of guilt by ruining people's homes and businesses and killing innocent people? Some of their principles are downright detrimental. They advocate an extremely hostile military and foreign policy, they advocate faith based initiates (religious welfare), and they show contempt toward gays. I'm not so much anti-republican as I am anti-two-party system. Democrats are just as bad toward other issues. Thats why I'm voting third party, likely a libertarian. In response to Fresnopip: Paying taxes is the most patriotic thing you can do. Paying taxes in America is actually unpatriotic. The founding fathers never envisioned taxation in America. The income tax was enforced in 1913. This outraged Americans, even though it was only 1% of income at the time!

Only care about the wealthy. I notice republicans who like Wubya almost always mention something about God. Didn't God say thou shalt not kill. If Wubya is a christian why does he support the dealth penalty. Oh yeah; I forgot he's got personal messenger and god tells him who he can or cannot kill. MY BAD. The economy is crap, we are headed for record breaking debt, cuts to the mental health and education fields. And you people like him because? Most of you crackheads will give me some lame answer about how the president is doing God's work, that he is protecting us from terrorism and blah blah blha. You are all sheep and people like you should not be allowed to breed.

Once a respectable political party, over the last 25 (and especially the last 10) years the GOP has degenrated into an Enron-type cartel that thrives by fooling poor and working-class whites into electing rich, amoral scumbags intent on exploiting their own constituents. The Machiavellian fixers who make this magic trick work (Bush guru Karl Rove, FOX News-head Roger Ailes, RNC-head Ed Gillespie) and the plutocrats who pay the bill for propaganda (Richard Scaife, Rupert Murdoch) hold your average Republican party memeber (and often the very officals they help elect) in complete contempt. The GOP's complete failure to overturn any of the liberal social legislation of the last 25 years, contrasted with its huge success in union-busting, raising regressive taxation, lowering taxes on the rich, pludering the environment, and generally screwing 99% of their own party members and everyone else-shows where the real priorities of the GOP leadership lie. Yet the lemmings are happy to vote for them, provided they pander to their deep-seated racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-intellectualism and/or pathetic, hopeless desire to join the wealthy Republican elite. Unless there is an outright revolution in the Republican party, one that returns it to the honorable principles of Lincoln, TR and Eisenhower, it won't be long unless the party goes off a cliff-and takes the country along with it.

God bless the GOP! Less taxes and less government control!

Many republican legislators are good people who care very much about America, but this party has too many members abandoning their principles in order to win. In Cal. in '03 they backed pro-abortion, pro-homosexual Arnold Schwarzenneggar over the much more highly qualified and conservative Tom McClintock, because Arnold had a better opportunity to win. This year they backed pro-abortion Arlen Specter over pro-life Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania. And while Bush is better than Kerry, Bush did lead the biggest increase in fed. govt. spending since LBJ. If the GOP would have stood on principle, there would have been no need for a party such as the Constitution Party.

Paying taxes is the most patriotic thing you can do. Lets pay them and quite being Un-American.

While certainly not perfect, they offer by-far the better of the (sadly) two choices. They've been tagged with a multitude of descriptions like; religious zealots, money grubbers, war mongers, etc., but these are only the sad monikers of the uninformed and ignorant. Not to say Republican opposition is always wrong, nor always right, but in a world where US national security has become a politcal issue against international foreign policy, I'd rather side with a group that has actually and honestly proven, without a doubt, that US national security comes first.

Could be better, could be worse! I just don't like a 2 party system but the GOP beats the alternative of tax raising, politically correct donkey.

Rat bastards who'd sell out their own mothers.

Refer to my comment on the Democratic Party.

A party for big business and the rich among us. This party has not sympathy for the middle or lower-clesses. What this party is to country is a moral outrage!

Absolute hypocrites. They're for less spending, smaller government and state's rights...yet when they're in power they spend like there's no tomorrow, increase the govt to unprecedented sizes and propose constitutional amendements. And even the most loyal GOP supporter has to be completely embarassed about the WMD fiasco (sorry, but this is a million times worse than fooling around with an intern). It's time for republicans to start owning up to their mistakes and get out of cover our asses mode. I don't care what countries thought Iraq had WMD; they didn't invade Iraq. What ever happened to the buck stops here?

The problem with the Republican party is that they are frauds. They TALK about a lot of good things-- lower taxes, less regulation, getting government off our backs. But watch what they do when they're actually in power: taxes go up, spending goes up, the size and scope of government increases. I almost have more respect for the Democrats: they talk like socialists, and sure enough, they govern like socialists.

Bible-thumping fascists (i.e. are in favor of John Ashcroft's police state, and use of preemptive force abroad).

You can see how much the Republican party has changed since Lincoln's time. It is now filled with greedy, power-hungry men anxious to hijack the U. S. government (they already have) and all America stands for.

a little bit conservative for me on a number of issues, but the only place where i feel as if i have a home.

I vote independently, but more often than not my independant oppinion leads me to vote for the candidate from the Republican party.

Just awful since it has fallen under the control of neoconservatives and religious fundamentalists. A detriment to our country.

Pharisees.

Profits before people and nature, eh? Disgusting.

I'm not republican. I am a registered democrat. But I have seen many good republican presidents. I would have rather voted for George Bush than Al Gore anyday. What I don't like about republicans is their religious righteousness and pro-censorship. Oh, and I also don't like that they defend racism in many cases. But then again, They do defend freedom of speech and the seccond amendment sooo.....I do respect them. And unlike Franklin F*cker Roosevelt, George Bush didn't put minority Americans in concentration camps!

Republicans are for the corporations, not the people. Plus the whole crusade against anything having to do with Clinton really turned me off from this party. He got a b.j. and lied about it, big deal. It's not like he secretly sold arms to the Iranians or broke into his competitor's headquarters. Plus, what happened to the fiscally conservative, small government republican party? Now our government is growing bigger than ever and the republicans are spending more money than Clinton ever dreamed of.

I would be a republican if it weren't for their marriage to the religious wackos. . .I like the fiscal plans of the party plus their foreign relations strategy (although the present war has been botched) but the religious zealotry has been a serious anchor to this party for years.

Republicans are the only people in this country that can save morals and values. Face it if in 2004 a democrat is elected, this country is doomed. Democrats seem to be letting homosexuals and women's rights take over the country!! God help us!!! George W Bush in 2004!!!!!

While I disagree with the Republicans on some issues, for the most part I favor the Republicans. I'am a strong supporter of Bush. The fact he's honest (don't lecture me about the war in Iraq 'lie' nonsense) and will not bow down to pressure, makes him a good leader. Yes, I know there are some bad apples in the Republican party, but hey! Is'nt corruption found in all parties?

So where are the WMD's? Our kids are dying in Iraq and for what? If intelligence was faulty regarding Iraq, then can we trust it to invade Iran, Syria or North Korea? What was the rush to invade Iraq if they knew there was no nuclear threat? Why did our military have to use cluster bombs on Iraqie civilians? Why are they using depleted uranium in the missle war heads and bullets and not telling our soldiers? Why didn't they have a plan for the aftermath in Iraq? What's going on in Guantonomo Bay? What about the Geneva convention? Where is Bin Laden, Hussain or the anthrax killer? Why don't we hear about Afganistan anymore? Why won't the GOP release the 9/11 report? Where's the homeland security plans or funding? Why is Cheney so secretive about the energy plans? Why weren't other companies allowed to bid on Iraq recovery? Why won't Bush/Rumsfeld ask Nato or the U.N. to help rebuild Iraq? What are they doing about illegal immigration? Whats happening to our civil liberties? Can they really arrest me and hold me indefinately without proof or cause? Where is the corporate corruption accountablity? Why are so many people unemployed and corporate CEO's keep getting richer? Why does the republican congress keep passing laws that favor corporations and undermine the workers? Why did the republican congress vote away Veteran's health benefits? Why won't the republicans fund education for children? Why is our country nearly bankrupt and yet the republicans continue to spend and spend on what? How does Bush expect to pay for the $15B African-Aids bill? Why do republican politicians say one thing and do another and why do they demonize people who don't agree with them? Why does the rightwing find hate-mongering on Fox News so refreshing? Is it true the christian-conservative-right are pushing for armegedon in Isreal? Is it true that Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Pearle and a host of other GOP's are really Utopian anarchist and believe in a Machiaevelian, Leo Strauss philosophy and seek global domination thru pre-emptive war and elitist control? What is the AEI? Can the rightwing republicans answer these questions honestly for themselves? I hope so.

Government and Religion are two seperate entities. This country was founded on the principal of freedom of religion and freedom of man. The "G.O.P." promotes extremist christian morals and closed minded views regarding abortion, sexual orientation, and to a lesser extent race relations. I also disagree with the philosophy of trickle-down-economics. How a nation of people was brainwashed with this crazy-idea is beyond me. The Republican party is the most likely to give back to those that donate generously to campaign funds. I refuse to accept that giving the 10% richest people in this nation a $400 refund check is going to stimulate anything. When someone has a $1 Million of liquid assets, $400 is not going to suddenly inspire them to give their employees a raise or buy a new television. Overall this political party offers nothing to me socially or economically.

Repubs have it mostly correct. They get into trouble in my book, when they don't follow through with their own ideas (lack of tax cuts, and over spending). They also get into trouble when they try to dictate others lives * usually* through religion. Government should only exsist to protect individual freedoms! Vote Libertarian!

For the Dems here that say Bush stole the election, it was never proven the Gore won either. I vote Republican because of lower taxes, less government, stronger military, they do a better job of fighting off our enemies(the modern Republicans).

Republican for life

The party of the 3 G's: Guns, God, and Gays is unabashedly for the ruthless rich, only. Don't give me that Abe Lincon crap - this party is a far cry from where it was 150(!) years ago. I hope, for my children's sake, the country can recover from this administration's looting of the Treasury (historic tax breaks for the wealthy - during wartime, no less, to "stimulate the economy". Gimme a break!) End double taxation on dividends! I know that's on the forefront of my mind. Yeah - now that $14.68 I earned in dividends last year won't be double taxed! Okay, we just spent 80 BILLION for a war/'pre-emptive srtike' (read act of aggression) - during a recession no less. Now MR Bush, where exactly ARE those weapons of mass destruction? Oh, we're "liberating the Iraqi people" now instead, I see. (Including Iraqi soldiers, over 1000 people lost their lives, by the way...) Went to an affair last week, a dinner party - 4 out of the 6 heads of household (men) were out of jobs. No lie. All hard working, educated folks. Oh - and and one guy couldn't make it because the former accountant/CPA was stuffing inserts into newspapers - the only job he could get after a recent lay-off. And, yes - the economy is the priority/responsibiliy of the govt. because they set the economic policy. Don't tell me this was "inherited" from the Clinton administration. I would advise the Rep. pundits not to even go there, as they're starting to. Our memories are short - but not that short. How can people be so stupid?

the aprty of Lincoln still stands for something

Would you like a hateburger to go with those "freedom" fries?