I just started reading your blog yesterday so I don't have much expereince with what you have to say. I enjoyed your comments and from the sound of this post maybe somewhat similar as far as politics go. Thanks for being open to whatever I hope that most people could be like that. One party is not the end all of politics therefore if you blindly follow one party all the time, you are bould to be wrong at least once. ;)

-Matt

I like it here, have been visiting regularly for a few months or so. I think Stephen has a lot of common sense, a good sense of humor and a nice turn of phrase, a combination you don't find to often these days.

I also enjoy living vicariously through someone whose day-to-day life is so completely different from mine. I wish I had been sipping something alcoholic during the debate; I'll refrain from telling you the unfortunate incident I had to attend to, instead.

I don't think I'm crazy. I find people who can think and express themselves clearly great fun to hang out with, even if I don't agree with everything they think or say. Partisan sites bore me. That has yet to happen on VodkaPundit. Everybody wins!

wow, nice talk.

I'm like you, except with beer.

wow, nice talk.

The truth hurts.

Ya know, I'm a "laid-back libertarian-ish guy who wants to see terrorists blown into tiny chunks and to be left alone on social issues" too, and I'm sometimes surprised at how many of us there are out here.

I am a right of center guy. I think we are in the midst of a political shift where Libertarians fill the void left in the wake of the demise of the Democrat Party and social conservatives will reside in the GOP. Look on the bright side, if we survive the tremors of the coming shift, we will once again have two parties who have the best interest of the nation in mind rather than regaining power. I really believe that the treason lobby has taken over the Democratic Party. This fight is greater then partisan politics, greater than my team versus your team, this is for the future of the country! Will we elect a leader who wants a "Global test" or a leader who, regardless of your disagreement, still wants a strong, sovereign American. I must agree with Steve, Man I wish Lieberman was in this race. Even through I disagree with him on many issues, I do not question his commitment to this country. Instead, we have a fight for the character and future of this nation. Man I picked the wrong election and the wrong state(PA) to get involved. Boy I wish I lived in an uncontested state.

Will we elect a leader who wants a "Global test" or a leader who, regardless of your disagreement, still wants a strong, sovereign American

Your assignment for today, should you choose to accept it: get your news from somewhere other than freeperville.

It will be tough for you, but it will be worth it.

I guess when it comes down to it, it depends on what is more important to you; a strong military, somewhat limited spending, with cultural issues strangled by moral criteria or less military, spending out the wazoo, but with a liberal social agenda type of government.

What you seem to be describing are either liberal Republicans or conservative Democrats. At present there seems to be much more liberal Pubbies than conservative Donks. I think what has happened is that the Donks have lurched wildly left leaving many conservative types to seek a home in the Republican party. It has made the Democrat party damn near worthless and the Republican party a lot more willing to spend money like a drunken sailor to maintain power.

The Democrat party is now being run by the harebrainedest of left wing idealogues. During the eighties right up until even today the left has accused the Republican party of being controlled by extreme fundamentalist Christians. While the Christian right did exert some pressure it was far from being in control of the party whereas the left-wing nutcases do run the Democratic party now because most conservative Democrats have quit or left the party. For instance it would be impossible today for a Democrat to become President without supporting the bizarre practice of partial-birth abortion where leaving the head in the bith canal is a medical procedure but removing the head the procedure becomes a crime. To the left it has nothing to do with human rights or morals but is simply a matter of distance or semantics.

Stephen:

After bagging on you over the years for your political whorishness, today I feel like a proud papa. I'm actually hopeful that Lawguy's scenario plays out and you can go back to a semisensible Democratic party & hang with the social liberals. Nothing would make me happier. But I think we're talking many years, if not decades before the rot that currently infects our second great party gets exorcised.

In the meantime, I honestly think that an objective assesment of policies advocated by most thinking mainstream Republicans will yield grudging agreement on both sides of the libertarian/social conservative divide. Think vouchers, gun control, welfare reform, even striking down Roe v Wade. The "Leave us alone" coalition delineated by Grover Norquist makes a lot of sense.

We Love ya, baby!

Stephen - I just started reading your stuff this past week (and haven't perused any archival stuff) - so I can only comment on what I've seen lately.

Kudos.

Trickster

P.S. to felixrayman - do you have anything of substance or value to add? Taking cheap shots is easy. Adding value to a conversation is not. Try it, though, you might like it.

There are more of us than you may realize.

But when the democrats give us ABSOLUTELY NO WHERE ELSE TO GO and nominate an empty suit, a despicable fraud, and get into bed with the likes of Michael Moore, and are transparently seeking to subvert the election in an attempt to seize power...

What's a hawkish, libertarianish semi conservative good government indpendent supposed to do?

I think there are a lot more of us out here than anyone realizes. We really need to organize into a (viable) third party, because both major parties have so much baggage that I think there's little chance of either one morphing into something I can support without holding my nose. I can always dream, anyway.

Stephen, I appreciate your hard work. It helps me find my way in the world, too.

As the saying goes: "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Dem leadership is showing they want power for the sake of it, then they'll figure out how to run the country. That makes them a bigger slut than you Mr. Green. Weller's and diet for me thank you. Cheers.

I agree with other posters here that there are more middle of the road folks than the dems and republicans think. I hate what the democratic party has turned into, and I agreed with every word steve posted yesterday. I too will be voting republican across the board Nov 2 as a protest vote not only against the dem's but the MSM.
they are more dangerous to this country than the terrorists. In my opinion they are manipulating this election and tearing this country apart. They've given our enemies ammunition to use against us.

It seems as though it's 1971 all over again.

keep up the good work Steve! every time I have a martini I put in an extra olive for you.

I liked 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series and Arsenal won the double! Yep, a good year indeed, well for me anyways.

A "smart Democratic" candidate? Yeah, right. The only one of those pulled about 4% in the primaries. The only other smart Democrat I'm aware of was speaking at the RNC Convention. Looks like he knows where the future lies.

There's nothing more dangerous than telling the truth, Stephen. Even if it's only about your own opinions. I'm sure you were ripped to an exponential degree on the lefty sites above what you saw in the comments section. But anything that provokes that kind of reaction from partisan lefty idiots has to be a good thing, and I suspect that a growing number of voters feels the same way.

Kerry/Edwards is the worst presidential ticket I've seen since I've been alive. They are negative, pessimistic, divisive, exploitative, lack vision, live in denial of 9/11, and can't tell the truth about their ideas. The greater arena of liberalism is even more odious. These people just can't be allowed back into power.

As long as you keep telling the truth, you're going to end up on the "right" side more often than not, and that's enought for me to keep reading.

Here's yet another vote of confidence for Stephen from yet another "laid-back libertarian-ish guy who wants to see terrorists blown into tiny chunks and to be left alone on social issues" (not to mention, another Stephen.;) ) Keep on doing what you do.

I think where I identify most with Mr. Green is that a sovereign USA is paramount above all other issues. Old Europe is creating the EU which has the distinct possibility self destructing because it doesn't respect the member countries sovereignty. The UN has been trying to control the USA for years. The terrorists are going to use our freedoms to hurt us. But above all that is the danger that our self destruction begins with us.

We really need to get a grip on what is important. Simplify our lives. We have so much and yet live so little.

I am registered Republican, but that isn't who I am. I am a American first. That is what I was born as and that is what I will be when I die.

I don't agree with Mr. Green on everything, but I know that I could discuss and debate, laugh and drink with respect.

Personally, I like your writing best when you are drunk.

Ahhhh. Another "laid-back libertarian-ish guys who want to see terrorists blown into tiny chunks and to be left alone on social issues" type here.

For many years I kind of thought I was the only one. It's been tough being an outcast. In high school, I helped found both Democrat *and* Republican affiliated student political clubs, and left each in disgust. After that followed many years of apathy, 'til you probably know when.

Good to know I'm not alone. It's a shame it's so against the nature of smart, well-meaning people who just want to be left alone to live their lives to organize and get into politics.

Well, I'm probably what you'd call a "right-wing religious conservative," because I'm pro-life (at least, that's what they call me here in NYC). But this blog is great, and Stephen is more than welcome to have drinks with me anytime.

I my opinion, I'd trace the decline of the dems to their abandonment of all morals in requiring all national party leaders to swear fidelity to the death sacrement of abortion. But that's just me.

P.S. Has *anyone* been able to figure out why big-"L" Libertarians have such a strong tendency toward mental illness?

It kind of makes us "laid-back libertarian-ish guys" look bad.

It's not "self-important crap." It's just important, and it's too bad others don't see your point.

I'm tired of all the numbingly predictable partisan b.s. I'm tired of being told that my candidate has no vices while his opponent has no virtues. I'm tired of seeing pundits on "my side" twist the truth for what they must perceive as a Greater Good...or because "their side" does it too.

When did we stop being serious adults? For what have we lost our integrity? (Please pass the scotch.)

You simply tapped into a vein of disgust many of us who aren't partisan hacks feel, Stephen. The Democrats this year seem to be seeking a "higher truth" that essentially means any lie or rank bullshit is valid if it hurts the other side.

It gets scary, too. This "higher truth" manifests itself in the belief that anything goes, including voter fraud, and the destruction of institutions to obtain power. The gratuitous mention of Mary Cheney probably wouldn't have caused nearly the revulsion it has if it hadn't happened against this backdrop.

I decided to vote for Bush simply because I think he has a better grasp on the war on terror. I disagree with him on many other issues. However, even if I had leaned towards Kerry I would have been forced to vote Bush because of the Democrats' outrageous behavior this year. I can't help but notice Joe Liebermann has all but endorsed Bush at times as he ostensibly stumps for Kerry. I suspect he and other rational Democrats share this disgust.

I think "higher truth" is the mantra of those who believe their party is dying. In an odd way, they may get exactly what they fear.

I think I might count as a "laid-back libertarian-ish guy who wants to see terrorists blown into tiny chunks and to be left alone on social issues". I am voting for Bush and republicans this year because the republicans are the only ones serious about foreign policy this year.

I like Bush personally, but the big domestic spending annoys me greatly. As much as I do not like them, however, I can live with deficits and big government. I can't live with a government that does not go around blowing up terrorists into little bits. Nothing in John Kerry's actions in his 20 years in the senate or the past year convinces me that he even thinks terrorists need to be blown up. That makes the choice of who to vote for pretty easy.

I'm a not so laid back libertarian who wants to see terrorist blown up into little bits.

At age 24, I've only ever associated with the Republican party, because while they might not be all sun and roses, almost every stance made by the Dems has disgusted me.

Sure, theres one or two things right now, but I get the feeling they are only saying one thing when Bush is saying the other.

Sure, the Patriot act has problems. But come on, its nothing compared to Carnivore. Thanks Al Gore.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&q=raptor+carnivore+email+government&btnG=Search

"It's a shame it's so against the nature of smart, well-meaning people who just want to be left alone to live their lives to organize and get into politics."

Good point, Greg.

"I know, let's form a political party that encompasses the sensible heart of America. Our platform will be to love and defend our country and what it stands for, only have government do the things it has to, and let people live their lives as they choose so long as they don't hurt anyone else."

"Nah, I'd rather drink some beer, grill some steaks and watch football."

"Okay, sounds good."

Stephen,

I have been reading your stuff, almost daily, for about 18 months. Obviously I do not agree with everything but I have read nothing that was not enlightening.

I am a Christian and consequently a social conservative. A fiscal conservative. A libertarian.

I do not believe in the right to abortion. I just don't think it is any of the government's business. I also don't think it is the government's business whether I wear a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet. I don't think it is the government's business if I drain the swamp on my property. I should not have to buy federal flood insurance on my office if I don't want to.

I think the government has too many programs that are outside the responsibility of government, believing that government programs should be primarily limited to public safety. Government regulations are very expensive and distort basic economic instincts. (Medicare is the government's price fixing mechanism that distorts medical costs into escalating beyond normal inflationary pressures.) It is bad public policy for the government to try implement programs for which its effectiveness will always be suspect. Good public policy requires those programs that the government is involved in should be effective. (Who wants a military that is not effective?) Being a fiscal conservative does not mean wanting only efficiency in government, it means only wanting programs that are needed and then spending on them what it takes to make them effective.

And of course being a libertarian, requires being practical, after all anarchy is bad public policy. That is why some regulation has to be accepted. A traffic light here and there. Texas already has a legalized drug program -- its called methodone(sp). A three day waiting limit for a gun purchase. Overall the food and drug programs are good public policy. Licensing programs for professionals. So, some limitation of abortion does not seem so unreasonable. Public education is wonderful idea in that I believe an educated populous is good for the country.

So which polictical party wants me?

The recent activities of Democrats such as the election law shenanigans. The Senate's minority membership behavior in the Judicial Committee reflects rather poorly on good governance and good public policy (withholding approval of some judge until a certain case was through the appeal process).

It seems that the Republicans win by default. Oh, and the war.

Absolutely right -- if spewing vitriol every day of the week is not your style then don't do it just to get hits.

Instead, you could write about the kick-ass St Louis Cardinals. You do have a StL connection, right?

I have become a frequent reader over the past couple months and intend to remain one. Granted I will join with beer in hand (wife keeps me off the good Vodka and I won't drink the nasty stuff). Your insight and your links make my brain cells actually work - I appreciate the insane amount of time you must spend providing this great page. Who knows, you may become MSM in the next year or two? har har har - Thanks all your entries, here & TechCentral.

I'm finding out that I'm a libertarian too, although I always thought I was a strict republican (except for the laws governing my freedom of choices). I come to your site because I agree with alot of it, and I like reading that I am right more than reading I'm wrong :)

But more importantly, as the vodkapundit, what kind of vodka should I be drinking?

Kevin: try some Stoly

I firmly believe that all the world's problems are caused by people who desperately need a drink and refuse to take one.. that is the main thing that I question George on.

As a member of the Democratic Party for 30 years, I can confirm that any time the propagangsta Michael Moore and intern sniffer Bill Clinton are put onstage with the party's next presidential candidate, the Treason Gang has taken over the demmie party. I will stay a Democrat, since I have been one for 3 decades. I will NOT vote for ANY Democrat in the future until the party recognizes and changes its ways. REALLY changes its ways. I'm voting for W.

I am so sick of seeing Lurch on TV with his donkey teeth smile. I didn't need the debates or ads or the stupid media and all the polls and spins to help me decide who to vote for. All I needed to know is that there is a man who was handed a horrible, tragic day in the early part of his first term, but stands firm in his resolve to protect our Country and our freedom and will do what he can with what he was handed from the previous president.
I guess I could be a "laid-back libertarian-ish gal who wants to see terrorists blown into tiny chunks and to be left alone on social issues". Not that I don't care about social issues, but there are more important things to worry about at this moment.
But the big thing for me is that there was a self serving man who betrayed his country and his comrades by throwing his medals away, consorting with the enemy,etc., while my friends were being blown away, imprisoned and maimed, physically and mentally. The so called anti-war protesters destroyed our country and enjoyed doing it. For that I will never forget or forgive them and certainly not vote for a party that lies, cheats and desorts the truth.
I'll have a double vodka martini, dry, with a twist and a olive. Kitty

Oh, felix:

Will we elect a leader who wants a "Global test" or a leader who, regardless of your disagreement, still wants a strong, sovereign American

----

"I'm an internationalist," Kerry told The Crimson in 1970. "I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations."

Kerry said he wanted "to almost eliminate CIA activity. The CIA is fighting its own war in Laos and nobody seems to care."

-----

And as a reader at Instapundit pointed out, how can we pass the test when the graders have already decided to fail US?

----

He hasn't changed.

And he still has a thing for the North Vietnamese.

Somewhere buried on LGF is a letter he wrote in the 90s in support of a NV teaching a class in a MA private school, sorry, didn't save the link.

Some other choices wer SV, some who fled (and you wonder why over 80% of SV are pro-W). Lawsuit filed.

Because of diversity, we must have diversity of opinion. FWIW and IIRC, which I might not have.

Hasn't changed.

Commie sympathizer, appeaser - NK/Iran/nuke policy alone and for what little money I have, appeaser.

Again I agree 100%. Unfortuneately I think the chances of a sane democrat getting a nomination are close to 0. They used to say that about Pro-choice repubs like guiliani, but I don't think its true anymore. It seems that as the dems lose power they go more left instead of to the middle.

Time for a third party! Bring the bullmoose party back!

I'm another "laid-back libertarian-ish guys who want to see terrorists blown into tiny chunks and to be left alone on social issues." With one exception, I've voted Libertarian where possible with Republican as a fallback position; the exception was when it looked like Ross Perot would take my state's electoral votes (I was living in Utah; he came in second, ahead of Clinton). I used to read Liberty and Reason and hang out over at reason.com a lot.

True story: I came home from college for Christmas in, hmm, must have been '84 and my father accosted me:

Dad: You explain it to her! Tell your sister that she's supposed to vote for one of the major parties or she's throwing her vote away!

Me: Who'd she vote for?

Dad: She voted Communist!

Me: But, Dad, I voted Libertarian!

Dad: Stomps off in a huff.

I can't read Libertarian literature more. Since 9/11 the vocal Libertarians have become anti-war and I can no longer put up with the Libertarians. So I find myself turning Republican. Plus, I moved to California; I can vote Republican and still feel like an underdog.

Keep punchin' Cochise...with this article, your thoughts on the reckless Democrats in this particular campaign...I'd say for the last seveal years are lunatic...and your email from the Battalion Commander from my US Army, I'm checking in every day.

I've been enjoying your site for several months now. How can you not click a link with the word *vodka* in it? While I might not always agree, it's nice to be able to go somewhere to read intellectual posts and conversations. It's also nice to have a place where you aren't afraid to admit you're a registered Republican.

I am equally passionate concerning the right to bear arms AND the non-establishment clause...I'm for both. Besides, in the south we have a state religion called SEC Football : )
I'll tell ya'll like I tell my dad, I don't like Bush that much myself. But, I wouldn't vote for John Kerry if it harelipped hell and half of Georgia. He's a buddyfucker; he figurativly fucked over every member of the US armed forces that served during the Vietnam era. And I believe Islamofascism (and uncontrolled nukes in rogues' hands) are the two biggest threats facing us. Therefore, Dubya's the man.

If you don't mind, check in the freezer and if you have some Stoli, just pour some right in this here shotglass. Thank you.

Good work, sir. Continue to be true to yourself and the page hits will always be there.

Wow! what a hornets nest you stirred up yesterday! Including myself! A good writer can do that. Kudos.

Also, while I'm here, I'd like to say, while I have always been 'liberal' on social issues and 'conservative' on fiscal and defense issues, I have never considered myself a libertarian. The libertarians have always been isolationists. It wasn't a realistic option during the cold war and it's not a realistic option now either. Like it or not, we are the world's pre-eminent power and the only result we will obtain from burying our heads in the sand, is getting our asses kicked.

There used to be democrats who were more hawkish on defense, indeed the whole democratic party used to be more hawkish on defense. Remember the likes of 'Scoop' Jackson and Kennedy's 'pay any price and bear any burden' for freedom speech.

Also, there used to be more liberal republicans too. Jacob Javits, Nelson Rockefeller come to mind and even the 'father of so called 'modern conservatism' Barry Goldwater, who when asked about gays in the military quipped, " I don't care if a soldier's straight, but if he can shoot straight."

Both sides could stand to broaden their ideological horizons. Especially the democrats, who have gone over the cliff to the left.

As much as possible, we ought to keep social issues out of politics. Or at least let them be legislated in more appropriate venues such as state legislatures, if they must have legislation.

Despite all the leftist caterwauling, I don't see anything like the alien & sedition acts that Wilson used to stifle dissent in WWI. Neither do I see the internment of Arabs and Muslims like occured for Japanese on the west coast, during WWII. A move that was created and carried out by Earl Warren, another liberal icon.

I hope that after this election a little sanity returns to everyone.
Meanwhile I see Bush, like him or not, as the only viable candidate.

And.... good site! Keep up the good work.

Well,it's why I keep reading you! Us libertarianish-terrorist stomping-leave the social issues alone-types should form our own party. Of course, we need a shorter, catchier name...

Saying "what a load of self-important crap" gains Steve automatic membership in the Orthogonal Self-Awareness Party.

I might note, for some of my fellow commenters (the LBLIGWWTSTBITCATBLAOSIs), that fewer than five hundred people nationwide could take over the Libertarian Party. Attend a handful of local meetings, one or two state conventions, and one national convention. Total time required: a handful of evenings and two or three weekends over 2 years. Total cost: less than $1,000.

Now, more than ever, I feel politically homeless. I've always skewed to the right, but despite my Christian upbringing, I don't want my religion in my politics (which is why the ill-named Constitution Party got about 3 minutes of consideration from me). I bailed the Repubs to go Libertarian. Didn't last long; now I'm a Decline to State. I'm for a tiny, Constitutional government, RKBA, strong borders and nat'l defense, and leave me the hell alone. Where's my party?

Thanks for the lucid comments. And thanks to the rest of you for making me feel not so alone.