Dissent in the Ranks

A Republican-near-and-dear-to-my-heart-to-remain-anonymous took issue with my praise of John Edward's speech and the theme of the Democratic Convention in general.  To wit:

"This two Americas stuff is bull.  Consider that for eight of the last twelve years, we had a Democrat president and supposedly this wonderful economic growth, and I'll give you that. I thought the middle class was doing okay. 

"The problem with the middle class is that we buy really big houses that our parents would have neverthought to buy because interest rates are so low that we can afford the 'payments.' We buy expensive cars for the same reason, so when things do go bad, and, God forbid, someone loses a job or has a major health problem, we're so strapped in debt that we have to file bankruptcy. That is the greed of the middle class,  not the fault of the politicians.

"On other issues, the USDOE under Bush spends more on education than ever before -  so what is this "two American schools" issue?  No Child Left Behind is addressing the issue and giving parents and kids the knowledge and choice to control their educational decisions, and that is what the establishment hates. 

"I can't argue too much with raising the minimum wage for certain people, although I suspect it will hurt small business and cost jobs in the long run. I think they should exempt people under 18, although that probably raises legal issues.

"Finally, what is that mole or bump on Edwards' lip. It was very distracting.  :)"