At the moment it appears that the member base of America's Debate is sharply and fairly evenly divided over the issue of war with Iraq.

Do you think there is any correlation between the personal politics of the members and which camp they fall into as regards the war?

Are all the liberals and lefties anti-war, and all the conservatives and right-wingers pro-war? And if so, why do you think this is?

My own personal politics do not enter into my stance. At least not party politics. I believe we have done all we can to eliminate a serious threat without war. Hasn't worked, so war will follow.

I also believe that many of the anti-war camp are in reality anti-Bush. You see it in every protest and you definitely see it in the words written at sites like this. So many people who rant and rave today, were silent when Clinton was the aggressor. It's laughable to read the comments they made back then side-by-side with today's rhetoric. Actually, it's not laughable. It's sad. Sad because they are placing politics and personal gain above the interests of our nation. And they should be ashamed. Ashamed to call themselves Americans.

I am sick and tired of seeing you slag people who don't share your point of view. I'm reporting this post and every one like it as it offers nothing to the debate and only serves to lower the standard of discussion on these forums.

I second those sentiments!

Temporarily closed for Committee Review.

(I don't forsee this one being closed TOO long. Check back in 24 hours )

I am reopening this thread.

I hope all of you can remember that this is the Casual Conversation Forum and unlike all the other spots on this board, we don't really need to debate anything in here.

Let's have fun and keep it casual.

Here is the topic again:
(Sorry this took so long to reopen).

That's the type of wide paintbrush statements that tend to inflame instead of inform.

I voted for Bush. I vote for every candidate with an "R" next to their name regardless of what the position. I've never cast my vote for anything other than a republican.

I happen to think our government should be smaller. I want less government in our lives. I do not want to give away my hard-earned money to the lazy (or "disenfranchised" as the liberals would call it). I believe poor people don't create jobs, so business should be incentivized to create more jobs. I do not believe a woman has a right to choose to have her baby's head sucked out of it's head just before birth.

But, I also believe the Bush administration's position on the second amendment is fraudelant and gets people killed. And I also believe this war is bogus beyond description.

That doesn't make me anti-American or anti-Bush. It makes me an independent thinker who can't be manipulated by misinformation.

I really don't feel my politics have any influence over my feelings on the war. I simply feel that the UN has become simply a debating society without the gall to back up what it says it will do. Even if the US got enough votes in the security council, France would veto anything leading to war, and I honestly believe that even if a new resolution was passed giving Saddam 45 more days, then at the end of that period, another resolution would be passed. The resolution that was signed on by all 15 members of the council said Iraq must disarm or face "serious consequences" which in my opinion does not mean more deadlines and inspections. I honestly believe that the administration feels S.H. is a definite threat to the US and others, and therefore are moving to take him out.

I'm a small "l" libertarian Republican (former LP member, but not happy with them lately, foreign policy being the main reason) who's reluctantly supporting the war. My position on it isn't necessarily related to ideology; like some others here I'm an independent thinker on some issues and this is one of them.

I'm not at all convinced this is the best geopolitical strategy to be following -- my preferences would normally be isolationist/hawkish, not imperialist/hawkish -- but if we're going to do it, I say let's do it fast and hard and get it over with. So far as getting rid of Saddam, I'm all for that. My reservations have more to do with what happens afterwards. I'd want to just change the regime and disarm the WMDs, then leave, without the prolonged occupation and nation building, and without any neocon plans to use Iraq as a base to try to transform the whole Middle East.

I too only vote for somebody if they have a ® next to their name on the ballot. But having said that i really believe Saddam has got chemical and biological weapons stored, and fully intends to use those weapons as a last resort. This is a man who rules one of the most richest oil producing countries in the world and has an iron fist over the whole country. Although I deplore the sacrifice of American and Coalition troops, I feel we are fighting for a just cause.

I think there is much more anti-war sentiment here than is reflected in right/left politics. I suspect that the authoritarian/libertarian divide might be more illuminating - those of a more libertarian bent would be much more likely to oppose such corporate adventurism and nascent imperialism than those who never question authority. Real-time, I know many traditional conservatives who oppose the war effort - especially the Iraqi adventure - as well as many conservatives and real Republicans who can't stand Bush and the War Party. While I don't think there are many liberals who favor either Bush or his war, I think there are a lot of conservatives who also oppose both. And I think, to a large degree, that is reflected on this forum.

There may be cynical reasons for some opposition to this war (automatically opposing anything which Bush does for political reasons), but I think the majority of those who are against the war on both sides of the political and party divides - particularly this current leg - are a bit more principled than that. On the other hand, those who ardently support the war don't seem to be able to come up with much justification apart from parroting the misinformation which the White House has been trying to sell for months...

Since we seem to be weighing in with personal opinions as well, I am a liberal libertarian (both lower case) who has never voted along party lines in his life - and who is vehemently opposed to this war as well as being opposed to the Bush regime on principle for entirely separate reasons.

Years ago when i was younger i attended many peace rallies against the viet nam war. Ididnt believe we had any business being in south east asia fighting for a bunch of backward people that probably didnt care if they were communist or farmers. Now here i am at the magical age of 50, and we are now fighting in a war where with a bunch of backward people who dont care if they are oppressed or farmers and i believe we are doing the right thing by being there, ahhhhhhh aint getting older grand?

Older and wiser.

Foundation??

I'm extreamly liberal and not right wing but I support the War JB so I for one am an exception to your rule.