Whew! Where to begin? First, my profound respects to CTO, and the challenges to you and yours. I'm sure there is no one on CTF who does not hope and pray for only the best for your little one's future. My little caveat is not intended for offense; just an observation.

The one slight wrinkle in the ointment here, is that while most people do, indeed, support the concept of stem cell research, most also get a bit queasy whense reminded that it is EMBRYONIC stem cell research we are talking about here; i.e. the used of Aborted fetuses/babies! Public support drops precariously, when people are reminded of this one, salient point. I, get nauseated at the thought, myself. But Dr. Mengele would be so proud!

HenryL, Where the hell have you been hiding? I feel like Custer at the Little Bighorn!!!I don't mind fighting the Liberal Indians, or even going down in a blaze of glory, but it was gettin' a mite bit lonesome, here! Welcome to the fray, mein kameraden!

Mr. sKerry's record on 2nd Amendment issues, is abysmal, at best; downright treasonous, at worst! Much as I enjoy, and support, hunting, that ain't what our Founding Fathers had in mind when they wrote the Bill of Rights! Nope. I don't hunt with a banana clip or a bayonet when I hunt; but it is what I defend my home and hearth with!

(Want my guns, "Neo-coms?" Fine. Come and get 'em; anytime. One small problem.....you get 'em ammo first!)

Libs have their litmus test for canidates; I have mine. Any "gummint" man who does'nt trust citizens with their guns, I don't trust; it's that simple. I'll vote for Bush on 2nd Amendment issues only, need be. Fortunately, there will be other reasons.

As to the issue that we sold Saddam his WMD's. Any American who may have sold said WMD technology to the Iraqui's has been, or will be, prosecuted. It was illegal to so, and was never Government policy. However, our less-than erstwhile "allies", Le Francais und Der Deutsch, had no such scruples! They did! No wonder they oppose us ever step of the way! Pierre and Fritz shudder at the thought of this fact being revealed. And the UN & Koki Annan and his Oil for Food Scandal? The final chapter has yet to written on that debacle!

N2S, my fellow American, said Hmmmmmmmm.......Reckon we should tell that to the Krauts and the Japs?

I might also respectfully suggest you read up a tad bit more on Saudi history. The Islamic religious fervor we Westerners refer to as Wahhabism, was embraced by the new Saudi regime, starting in the '20's. (Ibn Saud, of the Arabian interior, wrestled power away from Husein, the Grand Sherif of Mecca. Ibn's great-great- grandfather was an ardent follower of Abd-el-Wahab. Hence the name "Saudi" Arabia, and the state doctrine of Wahhabism.. Husein was no fanatic, although he was a direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammed.)

The present government would like nothing better than to distance themselves from Wahhabism now. They are finding it extrordinarily difficult to extract themselves from their self-imposed tar-baby. Any attempts must, of regime survival necessity, be slow, gradual, and cautiously undertaken. but they're making an effort, and that's a good start. No one every said reform, in the interest of geo-political stability was going to be easy!

Yes, the Saudi government can seem rather duplicitious, at times. But, as stated, sometimes it's difficult to change a system of your own making! It shall be a long, precarious road to change. It is in our, and the worlds, best interest to support them in their endeavor. To label the Saudi regime as fanatic and extremist, is a grave overstatement.

The best interests of America dictate that we become energy self-sufficient. While alternative sources of energy, (wind, solar,geo-thermic, etc.), are all fine and good in the long run, we still need oil, for the foreseeable future. Reasonable and responsible domestic oil/coal production is still necessary, (yet seems to opposed by the Neo-lefties at virtually every turn). This may well be in the Bush family's interest, but, since it is also in our nation's, frankly, I don't give a hoot!

We take a great risk in our present adventure in the Middle-East. But, should we actually succeed, the rewards will be many, and quite resplendent. Some say "F" Bush! Others say, "F" Kerry! I say, "F" the Frogs, "F" the Krauts, and "F" the Terrorists, all reactionaires to a brighter, democratic future!