I've decided how I am going to vote.

[MeterPig]

A strong military is essential? How big does it need to be? 15 carriers? Occupying every country in the world, dropping bombs at the drop of the hat?

Sorry, I used to be on the "strong military" train. It is not sustainable and only service to rile up other nations. It needs be cut back (over time) to about half of what it is today. That is unless the Tea Party crowd is willing to raise taxes a full 100% of what it is now to support the budget devouring military.

Originally Posted by TinkerinWstuff

There was a lot of support for Paul in the party and that would REALLY have been a shellacking. People need charismatic figures to get behind and he's like that old boring college professor.



I think I would agree with all that and find myself being more libertarian. Early on, I thought Palin could be a breath of fresh air and a "regular folk" people could relate to. Boy was I wrong and the more she speaks the more I run away screaming. But I do find her hawt when she's not talking.

That is why the movement has purposely not picked a "leader" or tried to become a party. It's always wanted to be a philosophy. When you pick a leader then there is a face to the movement that can be attacked and divided. Which is precisely what you see here as Palin is out there speaking and becoming more of a defacto face of the movement.



I don't understand what you are trying to say?

But here are the principles:
1. Illegal aliens are here illegally.
2. Pro-domestic employment is indispensable.
3. A strong military is essential.
4. Special interests must be eliminated.
5. Gun ownership is sacred.
6. Government must be downsized.
7. The national budget must be balanced.
8. Deficit spending must end.
9. Bailout and stimulus plans are illegal.
10. Reducing personal income taxes is a must.
11. Reducing business income taxes is mandatory.
12. Political offices must be available to average citizens.
13. Intrusive government must be stopped.
14. English as our core language is required.
15. Traditional family values are encouraged.

[TheDudeAbides]

Originally Posted by MeterPig

How is the tea party different than the libertarians?

Other than:
Keep government out of my healthcare (except my government run medicare)
Cut back government spending! (except my social security)
Cut government spending (except road funding for my state)

Once the hypocritical tendencies of the TP were shown, I realized that while they meant well, there is just way too much funny in there. If you like the tea party but want to forgo all the hypocrisy, just go libertarian or constitutionalism.

I'd be happy to opt out of both Medicare and SS if they'd let me keep that money each month and let me invest it as I see fit.
I've never met a Tea Party supporter who wanted the Feds to give us more money for our state's roads, so not sure where you're going with that.

[TinkerinWstuff]

Originally Posted by TheDudeAbides

I'd be happy to opt out of both Medicare and SS if they'd let me keep that money each month and let me invest it as I see fit.
I've never met a Tea Party supporter who wanted the Feds to give us more money for our state's roads, so not sure where you're going with that.

He obviously doesn't agree and doesn't have facts to support his points so I'm not going to bother with a response. I'm working here on basic principles we can agree on and he's jumping ahead to the divisive stuff of how many carriers we should have on the water.

[ironbrewer]

How is how big should the military be not important. It is a giant part of our budget. Do we really need to spend 20% of the entire worlds military budget on ours.

[TheDudeAbides]

Originally Posted by ironbrewer

How is how big should the military be not important. It is a giant part of our budget. Do we really need to spend 20% of the entire worlds military budget on ours.

Seems about right. We make up 25% of the world's economy (as measured in GDP)

[MartiniUp]

Originally Posted by ironbrewer

How is how big should the military be not important. It is a giant part of our budget. Do we really need to spend 20% of the entire worlds military budget on ours.

It is not a giant part of our budget. Large, but nothing compared to the unjustified entitlements.

[TooFast]

It's about time the U.S. stops bombing/rebuilding/occupying foreign countries...who appointed us as the world guardians anyways? Once we leave they return to their centuries old ways of killing each other, we can't change that!!!

Did we really need to fly B2 bombers from Missouri to Serbia, drop bombs and return to Missouri ?

Parking 1/3 of our navy surface ships would be a nice start....keep the subs...one ICBM can take out a whole battle group

Since the Russians are selling LF side looking radar arrays capable of detecting our latest stealth aircraft to anybody, we need to reevaluate our latest mega dollar aircraft and mega maintenance costs

BTW, correlating GDP to the military budget as justification is total nonsense

[FatChance]

Originally Posted by MartiniUp

It is not a giant part of our budget. Large, but nothing compared to the unjustified entitlements.

As a social security recipient (still about 2 years from getting Medicare) who was forced to pay FICA taxes for 45+ years of working in the private sector as an employee and employer (instead of having the opportunity to invest my earnings on my own) I have to ask which entitlements do you consider "unjustified"? I am taking benefits from insurance policies I was forced to purchase. If you had an accident on your motorcycle would you not take the insurance payments to repair your bike on the motorcycle policy you had paid for or would that be unjustified as well?

[whitewater18]

Originally Posted by TooFast

It's about time the U.S. stops bombing/rebuilding/occupying foreign countries...who appointed us as the world guardians anyways? Once we leave they return to their centuries old ways of killing each other, we can't change that!!!

Did we really need to fly B2 bombers from Missouri to Serbia, drop bombs and return to Missouri ?

Parking 1/3 of our navy surface ships would be a nice start....keep the subs...one ICBM can take out a whole battle group

Since the Russians are selling LF side looking radar arrays capable of detecting our latest stealth aircraft to anybody, we need to reevaluate our latest mega dollar aircraft and mega maintenance costs

BTW, correlating GDP to the military budget as justification is total nonsense

When Liberia had their civil war 8-9 years ago, the people were begging for US Marines to come in and protect the people. There was great anger at the USA for not sending troops in. Seems we're damned if we do, damned if we don't.

[Wannabeeuro]

Originally Posted by ironbrewer

Beer is good.

Hell do you use vanilla scented two stroke oil.

I think Wannabeeuro uses jasmine scented.

Leave me out of this, don't you know what your own shaving cream smells like!

[ironbrewer]

Originally Posted by Wannabeeuro

Leave me out of this, don't you know what your own shaving cream smells like!

What the heck you doing up at 3 in the morning?

I never said anything bad about it.

[Wannabeeuro]

In Albuquerque, on the way to Baja. To excited to sleep!
Shaving cream makes great Chain lube btw...

[Gordy]

Originally Posted by Wannabeeuro

In Albuquerque, on the way to Baja. To excited to sleep!
Shaving cream makes great Chain lube btw...

WTF?

[TheDudeAbides]

Back to politics....

Couldn't decide wheter to put this here or in the Amendment 64 thread.

Either way, one of the best (and funniest) political songs ever made.

[HellSickle]

Originally Posted by MeterPig

A strong military is essential? How big does it need to be? 15 carriers? Occupying every country in the world, dropping bombs at the drop of the hat?

Sorry, I used to be on the "strong military" train. It is not sustainable and only service to rile up other nations. It needs be cut back (over time) to about half of what it is today. That is unless the Tea Party crowd is willing to raise taxes a full 100% of what it is now to support the budget devouring military.

A much smaller, highly trained tactical force is more economical.