Patriotism does not mean supporting BIG GOVT...

[dbeach]

I love my country BUT I don't trust the govt particularly the illegal govt of occupant bush..whom I consider to be no friend to Liberty ,much less the pursuit of happiness

http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin229.htm

"PATRIOTISM DOES NOT MEAN SUPPORT OR LOVE OF BIG GOVERNMENT
A strange metamorphosis has taken place in America, especially among conservatives. From its original definition of love of country, especially love for the founding principles of the country, patriotism has morphed into a love for bigger and bigger government. It seems that to most conservatives today, if anyone dares speak against any federal program or initiative, he or she is categorized as being unpatriotic or even ungodly. Many conservatives even equate a person's support or lack thereof for our President as being a major determinant of his or her spirituality.

However, this over-infatuation with a president, any president, is diametrically opposed to the principles upon which this country was built! In fact, America was established upon a deep and (until now) abiding distrust of governmental leaders.

Conservatives need to re-familiarize themselves with the words of President Theodore Roosevelt when he said, "Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else." "

VN Veteran 1969 101st Airborne

[Clark Bayh 2008]

1. Well there is Republicanism South & Republicanism West

The southernors prefer intervention when it suits them.
The westernors want government to get the hell out of their lives.

The next fight seems to be over the independent deficit hawk & libertarian votes.