Last week, those with the stomach to watch were subjected to the vitriol of the Republican Presidential convention. The overarching theme could be summed up with the motto "War is our friend." Which is rather ironic considering George W. Bush and Dick Cheney did everything possible to avoid serving their country. This lack of service did nothing to prevent them from questioning the patriotism those who did serve.

If Republicans really want a war president they should vote for a candidate that has actually been to war. John Kerry has been to war. Killed people, got shot himself, came home and denounced the violence as the mess it was. Talk about flip-flops. When one looks beyond the nuance of international politics and renewable energy, John Kerry's national security platform varies little from that of the Republican Party.

Lest we forget, Senator Kerry voted in favor of the resolution to give George W. Bush the authority " To disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, if we cannot accomplish that objective through new, tough weapons inspections in joint concert with our allies."

John Kerry has always endorsed regime change in Iraq. His testimony on the senate floor October 9, 2002, should be enough to convince hawkish republicans that he would defend America against foreign threats.

When George W. Bush declared himself the war president he was correct. That's all he's got. The declaration of war is the constitutionally defined responsibility of the U.S. Congress, to date Congress has not declared war on Iraq just as they have yet to declare war on terror. The United States is at war, because the Bush Administration has brought us there, and is determined to keep us in the crosshairs for political gains.

It should also be noted that with all the warnings about a John Kerry presidency parroted during the Republican convention, Osama bin laden was not mentioned once. No one mentioned that the Bush war on terror is made the world a more dangerous place. Nor did anyone mention the Bush administration's undermining of the Palestinian peace process, masterminding a coup in Haiti and undermining democracy in Venezuela.

Watching the Republican convention it was clear another 4 years of the Bush Administration would result in 4 more years of war and terror. Another Bush term would also mean a federal government further crippled by aggressive tax cuts and the cost of waging a global war. Unemployment and poverty will increase as well, considering George W. Bush actively supports the outsourcing of jobs to developing nations and offshore tax shelters.

During his nomination acceptance speech George W. asserted, with beady-eyed confidence, Americans knew where he stood on issues. For once he was right as rain. Anyone who reads knows the first appointed President of the United States stands firmly in the Machiavellian camp of might makes right.

Surrounded by Christian zealots, warmongers, and corporate polluters, the Bush administration has only one thing to offer America, fear. Fear of dissent, fear of homosexuals, fear of trees, fear of fire, fear of education, fear of science, and most importantly fear of government. George W. Bush wants you to be afraid, because if Republicans aren't terrified, they will soon discover George has nothing to offer other than a police state, a world at war, and crippling debt.

My contempt for those supporting George W. Bush has evolved into what can only be described as malevolent pity. At this point I am convinced a persons unspoken fears can be measured by the rhetoric they employ in defense of a President and presidency that has failed on every level other than environmental destruction, the dismantling of civil liberties, and the politics of ignorance.

As a man capable of changing his mind when faced with new information, I expect the same from the leader of the free world. So, if the choice is between a nuanced flip flopper, and a simple-minded ideologue, I would go with the "flip flopper' every time.

Let's face it folks, the only thing the Bush administration can claim is a climate of corporate plunder and dead Americans in New York, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Vote!