What happened, or didn't happen, 30 years ago is not the issue the
American electorate should be concerned about, but rather what will
happen in the next four years.
It is for that reason that voters should support Bush and grant the
president a second term in the highest office in the land.
The candidate best suited to guide the nation in the next four years
cannot be determined by a Swift boat or yellowing memos from the
National Guard.
Voters should look at each candidate's track record and support of
issues that truly matter. If the electorate does that accurately
and
fairly, Bush will once again take the oath of office that he has upheld
strongly and effectively for the past four years.
Ever since the fateful day of Sept. 11,
2001, the role of the
president of the United States changed drastically. We believe
the
ongoing war on terrorism is the central issue in this race, and the
president has more than proven he is up to the challenge.
America's
commander in chief must be decisive, forthright and strong in leading
the war on terrorism. Since America suffered its worst terrorist
attack
on its home soil, America's military has conquered the Taliban regime
and deposed a murderous tyrant, Saddam Hussein, who represented a
threat to America's national security. The threat of Osama bin
Laden
and al-Qaida remains, but the ability of this band of thugs to harm
America has been greatly weakened, and they will eventually meet their
fate. The president deserves credit for taking a stand and
protecting
America. Kerry, on the other hand, plays both sides of the war debate,
citing votes granting the president authority to invade Iraq but then
criticizing the war effort. When it comes to the war on
terrorism,
there is no place for Kerry's notorious flip-flopping.
Closer to home, when it comes to taxes, the differences
between Bush and Kerry are even more apparent. While the national
economy continues to rebound under Bush, who inherited a sagging
economy from his predecessor, Kerry wants to take back the tax cuts
that have allowed taxpayers, businesses and corporations to keep more
of their own money. Tax policy can be debated endlessly, but the
truth
is as simple as this: Under Bush, Americans will keep more of their own
hard-earned money. Under a Kerry administration, the federal
government
will take more out of every American's paycheck and then decide how to
spend it. Which tax policy is preferable?
Terrorism and taxes are the two main issues, but there are
other secondary issues that favor Bush over Kerry. In the 2000
presidential campaign, Bush favored privatizing Social Security, and
the president continues to support this promising initiative despite
Congress' unwillingness to even address Social Security's future.
Education, under "No Child Left Behind" legislation Bush championed,
now has some semblance of accountability and national test scores
indicate public school students are benefiting.
It is only September, and there is a long way to go until Election
Day,
but the performance, capability and record of both candidates is out
there for each and every voter to see and digest.
When these characteristics and qualifications are considered, and
not
erroneous campaign propaganda, George W. Bush is the clear choice.