Upcoming Elections ...

[Kevin Hall]

OK ... I know this is political, but, it's important.

I would never tell anyone "how" to vote (other than my wife and kids ;)) ... but, we all need to be informed of each candidate's position on certain issues -- namely gun control. Anyone of us (hunters) that knowingly votes for an anti-gun candidate is slitting his own throat! What's the quote ... "We shall hang together ... otherwise, we will hang separately".

Republican Senate Race -- Mel Martinez. Take a look at his website ... http://www.melforsenate.org/

His page about the 2nd Amendment & gun rights is here:
http://www.melforsenate.org/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.Detail&Issue_id=21

There is also a National organization for voting/gun rights ... I just noticed an ad in the latest issue of Field & Stream. http://www.voteyoursport.com

<personal rambling ...>

Lately, I've been hearing a lot of people say "anybody but Bush". Has anyone stopped and thought about how dangerous that attitude can be? Believe me ... it can be very dangerous! A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with my Father-in-law, discussing this very subject.

The last time that this attitude surfaced was in 1958-60, and it caused major political changes that we are still having to deal with on a day to day basis. The attitude surfaced in Cuba ... except that it was "anyone but Batista". Well, we all know what happened ... Batista left the country, and Fidel Castro took over. Talk about "out of the frying pan and into the fire"!! At first it wasn't too bad, then all firearms were confiscated. Castro slowly took away other freedoms - religious, speech, and dissent until finally government controlled every facet of people’s lives. How much freedom do Cuban citizens have today? More that they used to ... sure ... but they do not have the freedoms that we (US citizens) have.

If you hear someone say "anybody but ______", please caution them about how dangerous that attitude can be.


OK ... I'm through rambling. I just had to get that off my chest. ;)

[CAPT. CHRIS]

Kevin,I go along with this line of thought. We all know that Kerry is scary on most all important issues. We must do our homework on the House and the Senate,both State and Federal.I heard,the other day that someone offered a Cardinal,no not Stan Musial, a Roman Catholic Cardinal $ 1,000,000 if he would declare John Kerry a Saint. The Cardinal thought about it and took the money and his answer was "Compared to Ted Kennedy- John Kerry is a Saint. " And the beat goes on..." Take no prisoners! "GIT 'ER DONE"

[novaalex]

Kevin did you ever travel to Cuba before 1959. I am sure that not many of us on this forum have. I can tell you that my parents left that country in 1959 because they did not want Castro. My mother was for Batista and my father was not. You cannot compare the U.S. to Cuba in any way shape or form. First of all Cubans do not have more freedom today than they did before! My grandfather was a sports journalist and boxing promoter. My mother's father was the town butcher. Guess what, even the town butcher who had 9 children, had a summer home on the beach. When my parents left the island in 1959 they left without their homes or horses, or 57 T-Bird, or any other material posession. They did bring their honor and dignity. My parents were the first wave political exiles. Anyone who stayed in Cuba after the 60's was a commie *******! Those that arrive on our shores since 81( Mariel boatlift) till now are not political exiles they are economic immigrants. They come because they are starving! They come because at a younger age than your daughter girls are being *****d out on the streets to tourists. So please don't make that comparison! I know who I have to vote for and it's anybody that isn't aligned with a F.CKING kENNEDY!

[Kevin Hall]

I have not been to Cuba ... ever. I do know that my wife's parents left Cuba with only what they could carry on a plane ... which, as you said, it isn't much ... except their honor and dignity. That was in '59.

The reference to "freedoms" was comparing the late 60's and 70s to present day. It was not meant to compare the Batista era with the present day ... sorry, if it was misunderstood.

I dunno ... maybe using Cuba was a bad example ... I was simply trying to get the point accross that the "anybody but ____" attitude can be catastrophic. :o

[novaalex]

To us Americans that were born here and know no other way of living anything can be catastrophic. To anybody who has travelled abroad and seen other cultures and conditions not too catastrophic. To people like my parents and your inlaws not catastrophic at all. W is still my man!