[tom406]

The history is compelling, and true enough-we fall into complacency easily. If we were guiding our military with clear focus through Afghanistan, trying to find Bin Laden, fighting new battles as we came to unfriendly borders, I would agree with you.

But we're not. We've taken on a poorly conceived, minimally planned and funded war to Iraq. Most high school social studies teachers knew that Saddam was true only to Saddam, and held no real appeal or support for Muslim zealots. He was a threat to his people to be sure, and our country was largely responsible for putting him into power, but this was the wrong time to put him to bed.

Bush seems like a nice enough guy, and his performance directly following 9/11 was truly grand. But he likes to see the world in simple terms, and he's surrounded himself with arrogant, self righteous vampires.

As for the future of my children, I worry just as much about the legacy of this administration on them as I do the Muslim fundamentalist movement. All this government secrecy, holding people for YEARS without trial, or even access to lawyers or family members is unbelievable to me. Mostly I worry about an endless stream of half a$$ed military actions across the Middle East for the next 20 years which will deplete our military to the point where they will undoubtedly be forced to draft my kids to try and keep the oil flowing.

Kerry's no ideal candidate, but everyone who appears to be under him is an improvement in my mind. I don't see a good outcome with the current administration, and I feel we need to try something different, so I'll be voting accordingly. I hope others do too.....