What are the most important issues to you this election year?

[joe sixpack]

Recently there have been a number of threads about who to vote for president this coming election.
RKBA is for sure a top priority for all of us.
What other issues are most important to you? And do you feel there is any
candidate who actually addresses these issues satisfactorily, and if so
who?

cheers, ab

 

[deej]

Liberty.

 

[2nd Amendment]

Well that's all fine and dandy. Both candidates talk a good line about liberty. Which has the better(not good, merely better) record on that generalized topic? Of course, that might depend on who is defining "liberty" here, wouldn't it?

My issues? the 2nd Amendment, abortion and "sovereignty", whether that last is talking about rebuking the UN or preserving property rights here at home. On all of these issues John F'in Kerry sucks hind...whatever...

 

[JackC]

Gun Control.

I use it as a litmus test, you want to limit my freedom to keep and bear arms, and I'll get the feeling you just don't trust me.
You want to limit some of my rights now, how about tomorrow, which rights do you want to limit then?
Jack

 

[Delmar]

I'd like the government off my rear end generally, and out of my wallet so danged much particularly. And leave my guns alone

 

[LiquidTension]

The most important issue to me is that Kerry should retain only the significant power that he already has. If that guy gets elected it'll show a couple of things: 1 - giving in to terrorists doesn't work (that's his plan... a "more sensitive war on terror," 2 - the American people are much more STUPID than I think they are.


As long as everyone just writes me in for President, everything will be fantastic...



Unless you're a feminist (how cute), a flaming liberal, a homosexual (you get the SAME rights as everyone else, no matter that I think it's nasty - no, you don't get to change the definition of words like "marriage" when I'm King...err, President), or a gun-grabbing hoplophobe. Oh yeah, admitted war criminals (cough *John Kerry* cough) won't like me either, as they will be prosecuted.



But most other people are cool



Seriously - guns, taxes, not being a pansy re: terrorists. I can safely say that those are the three most important things to me in the coming election. Too bad none of the major candidates agree with my line of thinking....

 

[gunsmith]

hiya AB!

RKBA.
Illegal immigration and drivers license.
WoT.
Enforcing the "partial birth abortion ban".
Arming all pilots(see RKBA).
Getting Judge Moore his dang Ten Commandments back where they belong.
Stopping the flow of $$$ to idiots in other countries (like that stupid AIDS program in Africa).
Developing an "exit" strategy for Europe,they can fight they're own dang battles if they hate us so much.
Getting out of the U.N.
Getting the gov't out of marriage all together (it's a church thing)
gov't should only have "civil unions" for adults and if gays wan't to marry-fine- but we have to recognize the polygamous and others too.
Getting A anti C Christian L lawyers U union
out of public schools and re introduce students to Judeo-Christian values! ......
I could go on but it's late by for now and
Thanks AB!

 

[Treylis]

Well that's all fine and dandy. Both candidates talk a good line about liberty. Which has the better(not good, merely better) record on that generalized topic? Of course, that might depend on who is defining "liberty" here, wouldn't it?

Both? You seem to imply that there are only two candidates.

 

[Ransom]

The constitution as a whole. While I worry that John Kerry might limit my second amendment rights I'm downright scared of Bush limiting or outright taking away other contitutional rights.

 

[motorep]

I have a problem with anyone who would amend our constitution to deny rights or priveleges to a specific group of people. I believe that the Constitution exists to enumerate our freedom, not to put limits on it.

I think that our biggest - and unanswered - threat comes from our open borders. Those who live in border states can attest to the thousands of illegals coming into our country. I don't think that they're all migrant workers...

 

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

In Order:

*Restoration of American's RKBA under the 2nd Amendment

*War on Terror

*Elimination of Iran & North Korea as nuclear threats

*Border security and a severe crackdown on illegal immigration.

*Energy independence for the US: Drilling in ANWR, expansion of nuclear power generation.

*Tax Reform: flat tax or US VAT.

*Space Program: Big increases for NASA, manned missions to the Moon & Mars, SSTO vehicles.

*Environment: restoration of the Everglades, Chesapeake Bay, Florida Key reefs, Missouri River, Columbia River.

*Republicans learning how to fight dirty on getting Judicial Nominees confirmed.

*Shrinking the size of the Federal Government: Elimination of the Departments of Education, Energy, and Commerce, elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts & Humanities.

*Redirection of Federal medical research spending away from AIDS and back to diseases like cancer & heart disease which kill many more people.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

It is interesting that no one here has mentioned the Campaign Finance Reform law (McCain-Feingold), which has effectively stopped free political speech within 60 days of an election.

I know this is a gun forum and everyone thinks the 2nd Amendment is important, but McCain-Feingold is a much worse law with respect to the 1st Amendment than anything ever passed regarding the 2nd Amendment, including the NFA, machine gun ban of 1986, or the AWB.

If you plan on supporting Bush in November, remember you can also tell your grand children you helped abolish the 1st Amendment.

 

[Chris Rhines]

In some rough order:

- Tax reduction and repeal.
- Reductions in overall government spending.
- Repeal of the USA PATRIOT act.
- Pulling the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Ending the government assault on private property rights.
- Life, liberty, and property in general.

Needless to say, I'm not too impressed with either mainstream candidate.

- Chris

 

[Brett Bellmore]

I have a problem with anyone who would amend our constitution to deny rights or priveleges to a specific group of people. I believe that the Constitution exists to enumerate our freedom, not to put limits on it.

I have a bigger problem with people wh "amend" our constitution with court rulings instead. At least the states can refuse to ratify written amendments such as the marriage amendment Bush supports. We have no real defense against the Democrats' favorite means of attacking the Constitution. You can't refuse to ratify Supreme court rulings.

The Court, after all these years, is teetering on the edge of enforcing the Constitution again. But only teetering. The next term will probably see one or more "Justices" (What an oxymoron that title is!) resign, and if Kerry appoints their replacements, all hope is gone. We won't see an honest Supreme court in our lifetimes. If Bush picks them, there's at least a chance that he'll screw up, and appoint somebody more principled than he intended.

That's what's decided it for me, even though I think Bush stinks on ice.

 

[Shooter 2.5]

Getting rid of the evil, tax and spend, gun grabbing, socialist democratic party.

Then and only after the dem party is a poor third party should the libertarian, the constitutional or whatever they're called can become the second party.

 

[Thumper]

2nd Amendment and U.S. autonomy.

The Teeth of Liberty in conjunction with properly elected officials behaving in a way acceptable to their constituents (not some friggin' loony in Amsterdam or Nice)...

All Things Good naturally follow: Taken as a whole, U.S. History backs me up.

 

[mountainclmbr]

RKBA-The canary monitoring freedom.

 

[Bill St. Clair]

The elimination of every gun law, every tax law, every drug law, and every licensing and registration law in every city, county, state, and the nation. Once those are gone, then we can start the real work of restoring liberty to America.

 

[2nd Amendment]

Both? You seem to imply that there are only two candidates.

No. I flatly state as a matter of record and fact there are only two candidates AND every single person who votes is helping to elect one or the other. Doesn't matter what "nonentity" you actually pull the lever for you are voting for either Kerry or Bush by default. And, frankly, before you come back with a "rebuttal" to that, don't bother. Heard 'em all already and they are not merely all wrong but utterly illogical.

 

[Thumper]

Heard 'em all already and they are not merely all wrong but utterly illogical.

Illogical? You mean "sleeping better at night" is an emotional argument?

By God, you're right!

 

[Barbara]

Just the Constitution, no more, no less.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

\

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

 

[madcowburger]

The Bill of Rights, *especially* the Second Amendment, which is where the rubber really meets the road. There is no way to attack the RKBA without attacking *every* other Constitutional right.

I see the whole Bill of Rights as a single, seamless garment; any attempt to selectively attack this or that part of it soon unravels the whole thing.

I'm not at all happy with Bush, but I'd like to know *which* part of the Bill of Rights anyone thinks Kerry is more friendly toward than Bush?

Kerry is *for* the so-called War On Drugs, and all that it entails, such as ever-escalating violations of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth amendments.

Kerry was one of the main people who pushed for all these "money laundering" and asset forfeiture laws. He *loves* stuff like that.

Kerry voted *for* the Patriot Act, and everything in it.

Kerry *hates* the RKBA, no matter what poses he may strike. He has not only voted for, but actively promoted and/or sponsored, *every* piece of anti-RKBA legislation that has ever come up since he's been in politics.

He missed almost all his Senate votes this year, but he dropped everything, left the campaign trail, and jetted back to Washington, D.C. *just to vote for an extension of the AWB*. That should give some idea of how big a priority banning guns is for Kerry.

Bush is lukewarm and wishy-washy about the RKBA, but that sure beats Kerry's dedicated, fanatical hostility towards it.

MCB

 

[madcowburger]

The Bill of Rights, *especially* the Second Amendment, which is where the rubber really meets the road. There is no way to attack the RKBA without attacking *every* other Constitutional right.

I see the whole Bill of Rights as a single, seamless garment; any attempt to selectively attack this or that part of it soon unravels the whole thing.

I'm not at all happy with Bush, but I'd like to know *which* part of the Bill of Rights anyone thinks Kerry is more friendly toward than Bush?

Kerry is *for* the so-called War On Drugs, and all that it entails, such as ever-escalating violations of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth amendments.

Kerry was one of the main people who pushed for all these "money laundering" and asset forfeiture laws. He *loves* stuff like that.

Kerry voted *for*

 

[achadwick]

My top three in no particular order:

1. Gun rights: Let's eliminate all gun control legislation enacted since, and including, NFA.
2. Personal liberty: Government has no business intruding into how I manage my body, my children, or my private property.
3. Limited government: Let's eliminate all non-essential federal bureaucracies, including Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security, and Justice to name just a few.

Candidates in the upcoming election that credibly promise to move in that direction will have my support.

 

[Muzzleflash]

My most important issues:

One: I want to be able to own anything up to and including a tactical nuke.
Citizens should have the freedom to own anything the government has, the 2nd amendment tells me so.

Two: I want an amendment to make it legal to kill anyone for any reason as long as they are on your property. This would solve trespassing, burglary, and many other problems. I am serious about this.

Three: I would like to see polygamy legalized. (up to three people per marriage) With the mass amount of new weddings, the economy would be stimulated. Imagine all the money going to wedding planners, caterers, the clothing people, etc.

Four: Ban gay marriage. Pat Robertson has expressed my opinions exactly on this.

Five: Stop enforcing drug importation laws, but make it legal to hunt and kill drug users. I guess you could have a licensing system and a bag limit to make it fair.