The same could be said about your position, ironglow. If you don't get how the Republicans have used scare tactics to manipulate you by now, you never will.
1) Is the left fascinated with the UN? I dunno. When I look at the UN, I see an organization that can't find its butt with both hands and a flashlight, so I guess I don't much care if they are fascinated or not. And no, the last I looked, blue hats are not running the US parks or national landmarks. What you are probably talking about is the World Heritage Site designation of some places here in the US. The designation is symbolic, not authoritative, and nothing in the treaty prevents them from being managed by the US through our local laws. The National Park Service has this to say about your fears:
"Under the terms of the Convention, each nation retains full sovereignty and management authority over its sites. For more information on the World Heritage Convention and a complete list of US World Heritage sites, please visit the website at:
http://www.nps.gov/oia/topics/heritage.htm"
Go to the link and you'll find this:
"Each signatory to the Convention maintains sovereignty over its sites, is responsible for their protection, and pledges to assist others in preservation efforts. Direct authority over individual properties remains with the national, state, tribal, or local government or private organization in charge."
Seems like the National Park Service sees no diminution of local authority.
2) Explanations of votes by citing international decisions is not the same as basing one's vote on those decisions. Dicta are not part of the decision itself, as I understand it. And you might want to consider that of the three judges (O'Connor, Kennedy and Breyer), who are the Supreme Court judges that have used this argument from international law most in their explanations, two were both appointed by that ol' leftie, Ronald Reagan (gasp!!) Maybe we should be keeping an eye on the right, eh? LOL!!!
3) Last I looked, the ACLU wasn't running for anything. Neither were any other liberal organizations. I don't support these organizations, either.
4) How do I feel about women as priests? I don't much care one way or the other, personally. However, I recognize the example set by Jesus when choosing a replacement for Judas. He had an opportunity to make Mary Theotokos one of the Apostles. He did not. Here is the most honored woman in history, the Mother of God himself, and he choose not to make her an apostle. I find that to be pretty persuasive that other duties in the spreading of the word of God are set aside for women.
What does that have to do with anything? If you are suggesting that somehow, the US Congress is going to pass some sort of law saying that Catholics must accept women as priests, I guess that all I can say is "who told you such nonsense?" Seems to me the First Amendment kinda stands in the way.
5) Kyoto? Well, I don't support Kyoto. I support the RGGI approach (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative). Clinton would have signed it but Clinton isn't running for President. How about we wait until the Dems actually develop a platform before condemning them for a position? The 2004 Democratic platform never mentions Kyoto. Sounds like another boogeyman being conjured here.
6) The oath Michael New took also says "I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and those officers appointed over me." He was given a lawful order and refused to obey.
7) You think that only the Republicans will protect our soldiers from the International Criminal Court? Guess again. The US was one of only seven nations to vote against the "Rome Statute". When did this happen? 1998. Who was President? (drumroll please!) CLINTON!!! Maybe there is bipartisan support for protecting our soldiers?
Don't make me laugh about how Democrats somehow cut the legs out from under the Vietnam War. First, Nixon was elected in 1968 promising a "secret plan" to get us out of Vietnam in a short time frame. Kissinger spent years trying to work out a deal. Seems like maybe Republicans wanted out as well, so tasking the Dems with losing the war is ridiculous.
9) Taxes. Well, Dems used to be called "tax and spend liberals". Seems better than the "spend spend spend but put the bill onto the next generation" Republicans. Pick your poison, both are bad. Setting one up as superior to the other is downright funny.
10) The Second Amendment. Well, I live in a state that is pretty danged restrictive insofar as gun laws go and I still have plenty, so I'm not that concerned. Just not a big issue for me because I live with more restrictions than almost any other state so far as I know and no one has come around yet to tell me to hand it over.
I don't have a dog in this hunt. I vote Libertarian. However, I just love the way these campfire ghost stories get played out this time of year. Honestly, I think you guys should sleep with the lights on!!
BOO!!
