] Voting for president used to be so easy, at least for a
] conservative. There was the Republican candidate. You
] knew he generally stood for lower taxes, less government
] spending, giving fewer powers to the government, lower
] deficits and a zealous regard for individual privacy.
]
] Then, there was the Democrat. You knew he generally stood
] for higher taxes, more government and deficit spending,
] and a zealous regard for civil liberties.
]
] ...
]
] Now we have the election of 2004. For the first time in
] my voting life, the choice in the race for president
] isn't so clear And, among true conservatives, I'm not
] alone.

[ Bob Barr takes the president to task. In all the categories that represent the best side of conservatism - fiscal restraint, unintrusive government, privacy, environment and security - W fails the test. Barr points out some of these, paying particular attention to fiscal policies. From large increases in nondefense spending to Homeland Security funds misdirected into Iraq, any true conservative is without a candidate, just as any true progressive is.

Kerry certainly doesn't offer much for conservatives, and I wouldn't suggest that he does. I can only hope that Bush's mistreatment of what should be his base ends up lending some support to a multiparty system beyond the Red vs. Blue we're stuck with now. -k]

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