Confessions of an ABBer

So here's the deal. I am not a Democrat but I have counted myself as one for the last year or so because their stance on the issues appears to line up with mine at this particular moment in my life. So I've been thinking, what exactly is it about GWB that I find so unacceptable as a president?

The economy? Not really. Though I am concerned about the lack of fiscal responsibility and the shrinking middle class, that's not really it.

Bush's personality? No, not that either. Though I don't like his macho swagger it's nothing I couldn't get past.

So what then? And so it comes down to these.

Iraq. It was bait and switch. The idealogues that were given power in this administration were determined to do this from day one and they used the excuse of 911 to accomplish it. Which leads to the next one...

The placing of extreme idealogues in positions of power.

The war on 'terror'. Leaving aside the utter absurdity of its title, it appears to be an open ended assault on something whose definition is constantly morphing. And thus a never ending battle.

The rejection of multilateralism.

The disdain for separation of powers and congressional oversight. The return to Nixonian secrecy. The sheer creepiness of Dick Cheney. The feeling that, deep down inside, these people don't believe in the democracy. The idea that a military dictatorship would be okay if only General Bush were the leader. Ok, that might be over the top, but watching the convention I couldn't help but feel that. The willingness to divide the nation along whatever lines necessary in order to obtain and retain power.

There's no question that Bush is an effective leader. But my deepest fear is that he'll lead us off a cliff. And so it wouldn't matter to me if Kerry were snorting coke as we speak, I'll still vote for him as the only viable alternative to what I see as a dark time to come for our country. And God help him if he actually wins, because it could take many presidencies to undo this one.