So now that the republicans have announced their position, they would seem

to be powerfully allied with the christian right's agenda. As a result, the

platform calls for an end to all abortions and for a constitutional ban on

gay marriage.

For those of you old enough to remember the horrible circumstances for

young, particularly poor, pregnant women in america before legalized

abortion, I wonder what your attitude is considering the republican's call

to roll back the clock to the 1960s. Do you find this position defensible?

As far as the gay marriage issue, what the hell does it matter to the

republicans? This is one of those emotional issues that is more flash than

substance considering the issue affects society very little in the long run.

The question is, why is this on the platform if not to pander to the

exaggerated fears of middle, christian america?

I, for one, were I a republican, would be somewhat embarassed to see a

basically moderate guy like Bush endorsing a platform that is crafted so

cravenly to gain the support of the lowest common denominator of the

republican constituency. That's not the 'courageous fighter' leitmotif that

Bush wants to portray. I wonder what he says to his daughters.

Andy