Dear George,

It was refreshing to read Mr. Sewell's remarks in all ways. I've offered a couple of thoughts in return.

Tyler: I think the quintessential Charlottesville Democrat should vote for Bush since he is expanding government at an unmentionable rate and just forked over more money to NEA. Don't get me wrong, I actually fancy myself an artist. I just don't think tax dollars should fund my vision. Any Democrats want to buy an original Tyler painting? Okay that was my Dennis Miller moment...The quintessential Charlottesville Democrat thinks that George Bush concocted the Iraq war to funnel money to his Halliburton Cronies. They see a definite conspiracy.

Joe: Well, can you blame them? After all Halliburton DID get some very profitable contracts from the war and Mr. Cheney was clearly a VERY IMPORTANT figure in their organization before he returned to take on the Vice President's role. It's actually amazing that they would so brazenly flaunt such favrotism - can you say conflict of interest? In Hollywood I expect it, in Washington, it reduces the Presidency to a large business deal between corporate support and federal power - corporations financially support politicians who make choices for them that favor them economically - even if it means destruction and death of innocent people.

Tyler: They are polite folks who believe that government can teach meaningful values.

Joe: If they are polite it would be a welcome relief from the rudeness evidenced in the smug tone of the above remark. One could also think of government as an inefficient way to look out for the common good, as most consevatives do. Treating government as the undeserving wife who should mop and clean floors while the responsible husband faces the nasty reality of the world.

Tyler: They believe their tax dollars are well spent and they believe organizations like Planned Parenthood do not actually promote abortion they just "plan parenthood."

Joe: Planned Parenthood disseminates vital information to young people who otherwise would remain in ignorance. Abortion is legal in this country and if an organization includes information about how to get one to women who are making that legal choice, we are fortunate for they are protecting those young people from organized "terrorist" organizations who would keep them in ignorance.

Tyler: They believe that there is a well organized and Christian Right to fear.

Joe: The Christian Right is one of the most organized, well funded independent lobbying groups in the world. They are real and they are powerful. Whether they should be feared is only relative to whether or not your Christian. If you are , you have nothing to fear. They ascribe to a set of moral laws and principles that they believe government should take into account when making public policy. I would say, since the Holy Roman Empire is over, that's a bad idea.

Tyler: Many drive their cars all over town but do not want roads and others think peace means not bearing arms.

Joe: It is harder to kill one another without them. We're kind of at the sticks and stones, bows and arrows level then and chances are there'll be fewer deaths.

Tyler: Some Democrats are embarrassed by American wealth, so they apologize for it and wish to redistribute it.

Joe: Their embarassment is less at American wealth and more at American spending practices. There is a difference between being embarassed by wealth and being aware of disparity and inequity.

Tyler: (This is especially cogent among artists who've gained great wealth, as they realize the talents from which they derive money are God given. This producers a sense of guilt.) Note: Democrats do not believe in Nation Building or taking preemptive military action.

Joe: They do not believe in "peace through worl domination". That recipe has failed so many times in the written history of mankind and yet it seems our current course.

Tyler: They believe the only nuclear weapon we truly possess is compassion. The ability to truly care for and support the growth and healing of other countries.

Joe: As for preemptive strikes, they surely recognize that police should not be allowed to hit citizens over the head with a billy club because they LOOK like they might committ a crime. Innocent until proven guilty. Fundamental tenet of our democracy.

Tyler: Many, one current City Councilor included, see welfare as a way off of life as opposed to a temporary condition.Now on the Iraq war, here's one man's opinion ( I got that line from Dan Rather. I love it.)Democrat hatred of Bush blinds them from seeing what I think is the likely and common sense scenario. It is that between TWA Flight 800 falling out of the sky and into Long Island harbor, 911 and CIA evidence that Sadaam had WMD, coupled with the fact that Tony Blair and George Bush knew that Saddam had gassed his own people, Tony and W were absolutely scared to death. It seemed reasonable to them that Sadaam would do business with Al Quieda and other Islamic terrorists because they had in the past, and they shared a common bond of hatred of Americans. And after 911, it seemed reasonable to Tony Blair and George Bush they attack the US or UK again.By invading Iraq, a nation that had previously maintained a functioning middle class and was led by a brutal dictator, they believed they could "upset the terrorist apple cart" in the middle east and also rid the world of an Evil man. If they built a functioning non Islamic democracy, they could then turn their focus to more reasonable states that harbored terrorists, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan and the Palestinians. These are states with which America and the UK could reason.Ironically, it looks like Sadaam was bluffing. Don't tell that to the BBC. And, if you are opposed to preemptive action you will always disagree.I note with a sad level of irony that David Kay said it was a lack of "human Intelligence" ... people on the ground penetrating terrorist cells that led to the intelligence blunder. Under who's administration was it decided that no American intelligence officer should penetrate or involve themselves with any terrorist organization that violated human rights?Bush and Tony were scared. They took action. I'm glad they did. Time will tell.

Joe: Another man's opinion: Bush, and Cheney knew about 9/11 before it happened. Watching this all unfold in front of the public is like watching a re-run of Columbo - the guy who is the prime beneficiary of the crime is person whose motive is strongest. Mr. Bush and his associated have clearly benefitted more than they could have ever dreamed.

Joe Clancy (electronic mail, January 31, 2004)