<p>I consider myself well versed in politics and up on current news, but had just been thinking about one huge ideological hole that I see in the Republican view. If conservatives support a capitalist market, low taxes, and the free will of citizens, why the heck would they support the invasion of Iraq. Iraq drains our resources, increases taxes, and if you look at the supposed goal of the Bush administration it was to free the Iraqi people from a brutal regime and give them democracy. So, basically what I'm saying is: how could conservatives be OK with spending $/raising taxes to invade a foreign country and give freedoms to its people, but not allow government intervention and spending in our own country to help Americans in need (i.e. full health care reform)?</p>
<p>I think that the action is found preferable due to the idea that it would provide security for America.</p>
<p>I’m not a Republican or Democrat, but I can explain.</p>
<p>First, not all Republicans support the Iraq war. Also, taxes were cut during the Bush administration, although that may have not been the smartest choice due to the high amount of deficit spending that occurred at that period. So, the reason why many Republicans support the Iraq war now is because they believe that the US needs to finish the job or it would leave a horrendous situation in the middle-east. Both Republicans and Democrats who supported the initial invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan thought that the invasions were going to be quick, decisive invasions as promised. We now know that this has not happened, and need to find a new plan. For some, including the aforementioned Republicans, support finding a new strategy to stabilize both nations. Others support withdrawing due to the high amount of resources that have been used.</p>
<p>Hate to tell you, but the last time the Republican party had a consistent platform was in the 1860s when it was nothing but anti-slavery pro-industry.</p>
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<p>Monday, April 7, 2003</p>
<p>Q: Do you support or oppose the United States having gone to war with Iraq? </p>
<p>% support
Conservative Republicans 99%
Republicans: all/men/women 95
Moderate Republicans 92</p>
<p>I think the bigger question on Republicans is- if they support the free will of people and small government, why do they continue to regulate damn near every aspect of our lives? (Marriage, adoption, legal rights, etc). </p>
<p>But I digress. </p>
<p>The main reason is that the Republican party has been hijacked by the far-right wing fringes of America. That is, the people that are solely interested in one of two things- wealth or ideology. </p>
<p>The Iraq War created lots of money for some businesses. Now, they can just blame Obama and the Democrats for the deficit. </p>
<p>It’s a shame really because I like the principals behind the Republican party, I just can’t support any of the positions they stand for.</p>
<p>TCBH, you know I hate to disagree with you, but that poll is 7 years old. At the time, Bush’s approval rating was also through the roof, and well… we know how that ended up.</p>
<p>Damn seconds… blah
Really? Still not done. Cmon CC</p>
<p>… Neoconservatism is the view point that supports all the war stuff.</p>
<p>Just like any other ideological system, conservatism has different factions within it.</p>
<p>yeah, things were different when the twin towers were still smoking. People will do a lot of irrational things when they think their lives are on the line. I was in favor of the war when it looked like Saddam was going WMD, but now that hasn’t proven itself… But now that we ARE in there, we need to do the job right, or we will simply have replaced a bad dictator with a chaotic terrorist breeding ground… Let’s not abandon them and give them even MORE reasons not to like us…</p>
<p>^ I pretty much agree with that. </p>
<p>We can’t forget that the wasteland we call Afghanistan is the way it is because the United States left too quickly back in the 80’s. I’m completely opposed to the ideology of the war, but I think leaving now would be the worst thing do do. It’s a really hairy situation, and if we were to leave it would aggravate all the problems they have.</p>