My friends-

The main problem that we face in the world today is an understanding of reality. Democrats and Republicans are both delusional. The Republicans think everything can be solved with bombs and tax cuts and rhetoric. Democrats think everything can be resolved by legalizing gay marriage, abortion on demand and eliminating any mention of God in the public discourse.

Both paths ultimatly lead to chaos.

The DIFFERENCE between the TACTICS of the two parties are astoundingly clear. Republicans are EXCELLENT at politics and terrible at governance. The opposite is true of Democrats (excellent at governance, terrible at politics.)

The fact is though, politics TRUMPS governance, so the Republicans will continue to get and keep power and continue to wreck havoc on the nation and the world.

Democrats will continue to be marginalized by side issues (abortion, gay marriage, Hillary's hairdo) and never again hold the presidency.

So, the war will continue, legends of Syriana will abount, Neocons will profiteer, and you, my friends, will be uterly rivited on my mention of gay marriage and abortion on demand, and continue to miss the simple fact that as we debate who can marry who, your country is being bankrupt, sold to China, put in peril of nuclear, chemical and civil war, and soon, Islamic rule.

Folks, I am a Christian and I voted for Kerry- even though he's for policies I'm not for (such as abortion), because I care about the NATION and the WORLD, not just my opionion.

How about you? Are you really ready to watch another ten years of war, another ten years of tax cuts for the rich and less investment in children and the poor? If you are, then by all means debate side issues, continue to be marginalized and ignored by the press and the voting public.

IF you really want change, you have a choice to make. If you really want to end this war on Iraq, the poor and our economy, you have a choice to make.

The choice is really quite simple- emulate Republican tactics in regaining power, and bring back Democratic effectiveness in governence. But you HAVE to put aside, for the moment, your rabid, teeth-clenched grip on side issues (gay marriage and abortion)- get elected and help the MAJORITY of us who just want to lead peaceful lives in a country not broke.

How about it? A New Year's Resulotion to get BEHIND simple American, Human values of taxation that's fair, protection for the poor, getting OUT of Iraq. Let's find someone who we can get behind on that and vote TOGETHER.

How about it?

Murtha voted for the war and he's had no problem criticizing it. The problem now isn't that we went to war - the problem is we have totalling botched it and can't figure out how to get out of there!

We need to come up with some concrete ways to get the security under control and get our troops out asap. Murtha's initial plan, as I heard it, was to withdraw our troops outside the borders of Iraq, keeping a ready strike force in the surrounding area to step in if needed, and letting the Iraqi government run the show.

We need to get the Arab nations to step up and assist the Iraqis in forming their government instead of barricading themselves against the "coming civil war."

The current administration won't leave Iraq because it won't leave the oil. But you'll see them moving some troops out before the 2006 elections, I'm sure.

We have to get the media to stop criticizing the Democrats for not having a plan to get out of Iraq and to start pressing the administration for the specifics on their plan and their timetable. The Democrats didn't get us into this mess, even if they voted yes on the war powers. The incompetency and arrogance of the Bush administration created this fiasco.

It's time to "throw the bums out."