June 23, 2008

  • Voting For Obama

    I am planning on voting for Obama.

    I have been thinking about it for the last few months.  I have never voted for a Democrat for president before.  I tend to vote based on a social conservative agenda.  I am not so much a fiscal conservative.

    I always try to look at the candidate as a whole.  I couldn’t bring myself to vote for Bill Clinton because he was morally bankrupt.  So I voted against him twice.  I say I voted against him because I really wasn’t voting for the first Bush or Bob Dole.

    I voted for George W. Bush twice.  I felt that was a good vote at the time.  I liked Al Gore (I know I give him a hard time on my blog but he does make it easy).  I even liked John Kerry.  But I felt good about my vote for President Bush.  I have always felt that President Bush was an honest man who was doing what he thought was right.

    I have not been as supportive of President Bush in the last year or so.  I just felt he could never admit he was wrong or that he would make mistakes.  I guess his job is tough.  I still think he is honest and in his mind tries to do the right thing.

    But I am done for now with the Republican party.  I don’t really like John McCain.  I get the general feeling that he thinks the country is going in the right direction and that we should stay the course.

    As a social conservative, I think Obama is a good match for my vote.  I think he shares some of the same values that I have.  I realize he is pro-choice so it will be my first time voting for someone who is pro-choice.  For me, that has been the biggest hangup.  But I think that you will see other Conservative Christians switching over to Obama too.

    I am convinced that Obama is what our country needs.  I know he is less experienced but I want to point out that he showed he is a strong politician by beating Hillary Clinton.  She is a tough candidate.

    I am 36 years old and I never thought I would vote for a Democrat.

    I will still make fun of Obama on my blog in the next few months.  I tend to be the toughest on the people I like.  But I have a good feeling about Obama.  And I am going to vote for the candidate that I feel good about.
                      
                                                                                                         

Comments (501)

  • Hooray for calling a spade a spade

  • @another_rebel_without_a_cause - What he said.

  • i’m actually pretty republican, but i think i’m going to vote for obama as well. he seems to have the right stuff for the job.

  • Neat entry. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. =)

  • Bravo, bravo.

  • Well, oh well.

  • Btw, thanks, Dan, for enlightening us on your views for once!

  • Well, you gotta do what you gotta do. I, on the other hand, am sitting this one out, or writing in somebody. Cause, to me, neither candidate’s worth it.

  • You, me, and about a millions of others

    Plus, this is my first time voting and i am so glad that THIS vote is IMPORTANT for promoting CHANGE

  • Name just one area were Obama is a social conservative? Better yet name one area were obama is not a social leftest?

    You are so deceived. No informed and intelligent conservative, can vote for Obama based on his positions or record.

  • I don’t like either candidate very much.

    I like to joke about my apprehensiveness towards throwing my lot in with McCain or Obama by sayng I’ll vote Nader. I just can’t say I’ll vote Nader without laughing.

    In all honesty, I like facets of Obama’s alleged policies. At this point, we can’t take their mission statements seriously; that’s for the job to show us. After all, Dubya said he would cut foreign involvement and stop the policy of nation building.

    ahh, well.

  • It seems you’ve thought this out, and I applaud that.

  • Mhmm…thanks for sharing your opinion. I’m excited for the election this November :) I love being 18 in 08.

  • I think this is probably the first race in which the choice of running mate for both candidates is going to be a vital consideration.

  • I was thinking about voting for Hillary in the pass, now she’s off the race  I’m slowly shifting towards to Obama.  Hope he doesn’t let us down if he wins.  Oh yeah, Dan I’m shock you voted for George Bush twice.  Not once but twice!!!!  I really want to give him a piece of my mind.

  • @nochorus - No kidding! lol
     
    I have a feeling Obama’s going to win. The debate’s will probably resemble that of Kennedy vs. Nixon. People listening on the radio will feel that McCain won, because he’s an intelligent man who knows his stance and how to debate it, and people watching on TV will feel Obama won, because Obama is very handsome and can present himself as a man of confidence and victory.

  • I think I’ll write in Ron Paul just ’cause. I’m not thrilled with anybody. 

  • I would ask you to make fun of me, but I am kind of empty right now.

    I am in mourning.

    The internet didn’t fall silent, but I did, and that was all that mattered.

    I think I need to leave xanga for seven days, like that God myth built the world.

    My imaginary world died on Thursday. If you can’t relate I don’t give a fuck. Who here cried for the earthquake in China?

    Love is real, and it is in me. I must rest now. I will be back.

  • thanks for speaking your mind, dan.

    i really like obama too.

  • Well, the first time I was able to vote I voted for Carter, so Dan, you are entitled to make a mistake voting for Obama. Thing is, depending on who McCain gets for VP, I may not vote at all. No WAY I can vote for Obama, sorry Dan, thats crazy, if he wins, you’ll see, And I’ll be the first to point it out to you.

  • Well I’m for Obama as well.

  • i don’t like any of the candidates– i’m GLAD i can’t vote yet.

  • I still believe there’s a chance we can get Steven Colbert back in the game. But if all else fails, a sensible man like Obama would be a nice change from the greedy white guy we usually vote for.

  • obama is good!

  • I was going to say I’m not voting, but yeah, writing in a vote sounds like a good idea.  It may not make a difference but it would at least allow me to express my opinion honestly.

  • Would have you vote for me if you had a good feelings about me???  I have been able to vote the last three times but never did. I refused to vote because it is my fear that if I had voted, the person turned out to be bad, and it was my fault…

    God chose me to have something else to care about. The last three presidents SUCKS ass… Sure they problaby did an okay job…. but not in my opinion. I hate governments.

  • Dan has seen the light.

  • O B A M A ! ! !

    I voted for him in the primary, and he still has my vote locked in for November!!!

  • I’m pretty much with you on this one point for point.

    Except for the part about liking John Kerry. I don’t think even all that many Democrats liked John Kerry. He was the completely forgettable anti-Bush.

    I think in the end America will be better off with Obama as President (assuming Iraq doesn’t completely disintegrate) Or at least has a better chance of moving forward.

  • I find your opinion interesting, especially considering that I am also not thrilled with the Pro-Choice stance Obama has and I also tend to vote conservative. I guess it would be interesting to see you delve into the topic a little deeper and maybe hit upon some of the other issues at hand. I still haven’t completely decided who to vote for….so right now it’s just interesting to hear the different points of view. Thanks for sharing.

  • I probably won’t vote for Obama.
    I just want someone who will get us on the right path as far as renewable energy, signing the Kyoto Protocol, and someone who can do something about health care.
    I hate McCain and don’t think he really stands a chance.
    I’ll never vote for a Republican. I’m pretty much a Green Party member.
    If Bush died today I’d round up all my friends and have a huge party.
    I remember after the results of the election of 2004 throwing things around my house that Bush had one and wishing someone would just take him out in the coming days. I hate it didn’t come true….
    In any case, I’m socially VERY LIBERAL and fiscally moderate. A lot of government is wasted in surprising ways.
    The people shouldn’t be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of their people.

  • @GhostBenjimon - what?

  • if i could vote, i’d vote for him, too.
    it seems like george w. bush is a really nice, sweet, pleasant man. just not a very good president. but i’d like to be his friend. heehee

  • There I was, following along, my interest piqued, when suddenly I learned that you voted for Bush not once but twice and have always thought he was honest (fool you twice, shame on you). Say no more.

  • nice…

    check out this video about the difference between democrats and republicans:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5txNeVfLS0

  • I must admit that I agree with just about everything you said. Obama definitely looks like a good option. 

  • Really?  I’ve been thinking about moving to Scotland and watch the US go down the tubes within the next four years.

  • Bleh. I don’t like Obama or McCain. 

  • Obama could smoke a pack of camels and club a baby seal during a speech and the Media would fix it. They’ve clearly “fixed” you and a collective tribe of others. They’ve created a Cult of Personality. (They done the same thing with Bush, except in the opposite direction).

    Feelings, nothing more than feelings. And that is a HUGE problem in your thought process. Ashame. It really really is. I FELT good about Carter. That is typical of Obamaites, to FEEL. Chairman Mao, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Che Guevara, Fidel Castro …the list goes on and history is full of charasmatic figures that lead their countries and often the globe into hell. Feelings had a lot to do with. I see Sen. Barack Obama as fool. Seriously. The man is naive. His wife is worse. She will be worse than Hillary with her behind the scenes agenda.

    I think they should raise the voting age to 40. Under 40 and you’re good for only taking orders, being guided. Case and point the guidance of the mainstream media. One should at least have to take a test showing they are capable of understanding or have some basic knowledge of political philosophy. Thats all been “entertained” out of us. Common sense is TRULY uncommon. Just go to Yahoo!. Its been a worship service for Sen Obama. NBC is pratically a campaign headquarters for him not to mention the quasi-liberal media as a whole licks the man’s shoes. Serioulsy. One to take a whole different narrative from the available information and caste Obama in a more negative realistic light. That won;t be done ….because of FEELINGS. He has a nice smile …he wants “change” …follow the bouncing ball.

    I always see people talking about “Big Brother” and pointing to the wire tapping, the government. Orwell was brilliant when he came up with idea of Big Brother in his book 1984 – which every school kid is probably taught wrongly about. In our free society, Big Brother is NOT the government. Big Brother is the Media, they are the ministry of propaganda. You are falling for it. They all went to the same Leftist Minded journalism schools. They don’t have an agenda …they have a syndrome. The only island of counter-culture is FOX and Talk Radio. What you are getting is the picture they want you to have, of Iraq, of oil companies, of Christians etc. And, that is what you are getting with Obama, the wrong narrative. You are falling for it. But, I would expect many to fall for it. How can a postmodern mind not fall for it. Its conditioned. The bait is set. One of the conditions is a collective guilt. Postmodern American “white” people have so much unearned guilt over slavery they see this as their chance to “set things right”, which is absurd.

    Obama is the perfect canditate for all our weaknesses. What people think is a cure will take us further and faster down the road to God knows what. I think Bernard Goldberg is right in his book “Liberal Fascism”. We are about to get something akin to Naziism only its going to be “good for us” like “preventing climate change”. The old term is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Only in our age the wolf doesn’t know he is a wolf and the people can’t recognize one …further more one is probably going to be called a racist for simply pointing out a wolf – and I have a cave full of ammo to shoot that idea down. Anywayz….What we have today is Smiley Faced Fascism in Sen. Obama’s dazzling smile. Too many are blinded by it.

    I am extremely disappointed in your choice. No choice for a candidate should be based on feelings. I’m also overwhelmed by your casualness about the whole thing. These are monumental errors you are making but by the tone in your entry you seem to use, I don’t think you thought deeply about these matters. It’s of no more consequence to you than deciding on a comedy or a drama tonight. Oh well, we saw a serious movie last time, lets go for something more light. I hope others or not like you on this matter.

    The race is not over. I promise, that if Obama wins, this country will suffer unnecessarily. Things will get worse. But, you won’t know it. Well, unless you break out of the Matrix, you won’t know it.

    I’m voting for the grown up choice: McCain.

  • If these comments are any indication, it looks like Obama will win in a landslide. I would like to hear your response to Trunthepaige’s comment.

  • Obama in a nutshell:

    FOREIGN POLICY
    Take Obama’s foreign-policy pronouncements, which promise a break with the unhappy past. Two doctrines are most prominent. One is to engage our enemies and be nicer to our allies. The other calls for leaving Iraq on a set timetable.

    The problem with the first is that key allies like the conservative French, German, and Italian governments — unlike the days of rage in 2003 — now embrace pretty much the same policies that we do. Britain and the European Union just called for imposing tougher sanctions on Iran, while both France and Britain promise to send more troops to Afghanistan.

    In February 2007, Sen. Obama called for American troops out of Iraq by March 2008. But in the last four months since that proposed final departure, violence is way down as the U.S. military and Iraqi army have stabilized much of the country.

    The world in January 2009 will not be the same as it was in February 2007. So would a President Obama really engage Iranian president Ahmadinejad just as the Europeans are isolating him, or give up on Iraq when the American military may well graduallydraw down in victory, rather than defeat?

    ENERGY
    Gas prices are soaring. Americans are frustrated (and a bit ashamed) that we continue to beg the Saudis to pump another half-million barrels a day on their soil and off their shores to ease global tight supplies, when we could pump much more than that in Alaska, off our coasts and on the continental shelf — and thus save hundreds of billions of dollars.

    Yet Sen. Obama’s change probably wouldn’t include more drilling; more nuclear power plants; or fuel extraction from tar sands, shale, or coal. Instead, his strategy emphasizes more conservation; mass transit;and wind, solar, and alternate green energy. All that is certainly wise and could be a winning combination by 2030, but right now it won’t fill our tanks.

    TAXES
    Sen. Obama also wishes to raise trillions in new taxes by upping the capital gains margins, restoring inheritance taxes, raising the income rates on the upper brackets and lifting the income caps on Social Security payroll taxes. Such an old-fashioned soak-the-rich plan will please a strapped public tired of overpaid CEOs and Wall Street jet setting.

    Yet forcing the affluent to pay even more won’t necessarily reduce annual deficits of the last eight years or pay down the huge national debt — not when Obama promises more vast entitlements in health care, education, and housing and current aggregate federal revenues were increased by past tax cuts that spurred economic growth.

    Overall, Obama’s announced policies are sounding pretty much the same old, same old once promised by candidates like George McGovern, Mike Dukakis, Walter Mondale, Al Gore, and John Kerry. Of course, a return to the standard big-government nostrums of the past may well be what the angry voters want after 20 years of the Bushes and Clintons. But it is not a novel agenda, much less championed by a post-racial, post-political emissary.

  • Go Obama!

    You’re 36? HA HA. I had it in my mind that you were some old man with nothing better to do =O ::flees::

    Sorry!

  • I’m so proud of you! Soon you will be able to enjoy many of the benefits that we liberals enjoy like more money, increased intelligence, more attractive women…

  • I get the sense that the Republican party needs to go find what they stand for again. They deserve to lose to anybody and that is a tragic thing for a party that used to stand on principles, many I agreed with…

  • I’m voting Obama, too.  My brother actually left the Republican party and registered independent over disgust with the Bush administration. This is a MAJOR step for him. My father is probably turning over in his grave.

    I know Christians don’t agree on everything, but all things considered, Obama appears to be more Christian than McCain. Especially, if you look at their lifestyles and behaviors. (You know, the by their fruits you shall know them thing)  That he is Christian is not why I’m voting for him. But, his values and policies are.  This may even be the first year we actually send money to a candidate.

  • i know that i am not voting obama.  that being said, i would still appreciate it if someone explained what exactly the man means when he promises “change”…

  • because it’s all about how we feel.

    and because beating a candidate makes up for real experience.

  • @PoeticSilences - Yeah, and he’s always talking about a plan…um, what’s the plan then?

  • @BelinaRising - Obama is more Christian than John McCain?  You’ve got to be kidding.  He belonged to a church for 20 years that gave an award to Louis Farrakhan, honoring him as some type of man of the year.  Louis Farrakhan!  What Christian church do you know of that gives this type of award to a man that denies the diety of Christ?  This was before all of the Rev. Wright controversy.   

    Obama is not only Pro-Choice, he is Pro-Death!  Would you consider his stance on abortion Christian?

    “Whistleblower Jill Stanek, a Chicago nurse, described the practice of killing babies in what is now known as “live-birth abortion.” Illinois tried to stop the practice. But in 2002, as state legislator there, Obama voted against the Induced Infant Liability Act, which would have protected babies who were “accidentally” born alive during attempts to abort them.

    “I could not bear the thought of this suffering child dying alone in a soiled utility room, so I cradled and rocked him for the 45 minutes that he lived,” Stanek told the U.S. Congress, describing one such case. “He was too weak to move very much, expending any energy he had trying to breathe. Toward the end he was so quiet that I couldn’t tell if he was still alive unless I held him up to the light to see if his heart was still beating through his chest wall.”

    After Stanek’s testimony even N.Y. Democrat Jerrold Nadler, who says he is “as pro-choice as anybody on earth” supported and spoke in favor of the bill.

    But for the abortion industry and Obama, opposing the right to life has meant uncompromising dedication to a counter-principle. For Obama, protecting the unstated principle “unwanted children do not have the right to life” is the only way abortion can remain legal. That has led him to exclude another category of human being from the right to life: the unfit.”

    Here’s the rest of the article:

    http://ncregister.com/site/article/14928/

  • ? who really cares about the election anyway?( no offense intended so if this offends u im sorry and ur a cry baby if not were cool…k?)

  • Obama on increased gas prices – he doesn’t have a problem that they have risen so much, the problem is with how fast they have risen.  His solution?  TAX the oil companies.  Do you see that as lowering gas prices?  They will recoup that money somehow, that tax will come out of your pocket.   

    Obama – “free” healthcare for everybody.  People mistakenly believe that the rich will pay for this.  Really?  Take a look at the tax rates in countries that have socialized healthcare, it’s not just the rich that are paying.  Take a look at the quality of care received.  The rich come to America for quality healthcare. 

    Here’s a link to articles from many different sources on many different countries and their “free” healthcare.

    http://www.liberty-page.com/issues/healthcare/socialized.html#canada

    We have the BEST (although not perfect) healthcare in the world and people want to ruin it.  It needs tweaked, not changed.  Steps need to be taken to make it more affordable, not to make it government (read red tape, run-a-round, paperwork nightmare) run.  Just look at the tax process.  Do you want to deal with paperwork like that for healthcare?

     Just as usually liberal countries, are now voting in conservatives, countries with socialized healthcare are starting to move away from it. 

  • @EarthsAzureLight - Dan has been blinded by the light.

  • I have always considered myself a democrat, but this election, I really don’t care too much who wins. Honestly, I think they’re both pretty competent guys who are capable of working across the aisle to get things done. So either way, I think I’ll be all right with the outcome. Except that I’d, you know, prefer Hillary.

    Still, I will most likely be voting for Obama.

  • @happenstance8 - Both are capable of working across the aisle?  Obama has the most liberal record in congress.  Show me where he has worked across the aisle. 

  • Like wise Obama. I would of voted for George Bush as well. Although he is considered the worst president and people are trying to get him life in prison. The other People who was running at that time just didn’t seem like a good choice, so i would say people settled for him really, Oh well He has his fame now 

  • A good decision!

  • nice opinion

  • I agree with nochorus… it’s rare that you actually take a stand on something. I think you’re showing your true colors more and more, keep it up!

    ~M.E.

  • Well thats pretty cool. I would have say, I believe I am going to vote for Mccain, but I am not sure yet. However I would not be upset at all if Obama won. Haha :]

  • are you going to vote for him because he speaks nicely or are you voting for him because of the issues he stands on?  because most people i have heard like his speaches and don’t know what he stands for.

  • I am NOT voting for Obama.  I’d rather throw my vote away, and write in Chuck Norris.

  • GooD, WelL

  • I’m glad you’re doing what you believe in. Do you believe your belief?

    Nader.

  • Lemme guess.  You’re really voting for Obama so that HE will become the worst president ever, thus taking the pressure off George W.  Now it makes sense…

  • My current plan is to vote for Bob Barr.

  • I’m taking a long hard look at the third-party candidates this year.

  • I’m a little horrified by your past voting record, however I’m glad you’re with us on Obama. He’s a good guy. The Republican party have yet to find a single grain of dirt on him aside from his former Reverend being a jerk…

    …But McCain has publicly called his wife a “c*nt”. For real.

  • P.S. While Clinton was president, unemployment was at the lowest rate ever, and gas was 89 cents per gallon. I think the man deserves a blow job for that. 

  • I would vote for Obama because I am not a fan of McCain.  However I see him as morally bankrupt.  He is being called the “infanticide candidate” because he was against a ban that would make the killing of babies born alive during partial birth abortion procedures.  He is also not merely pro choice, but he is adamant about blowing the issue wide open and expanding the “rights” associated.  He would also make it so that Catholics and Christians would be footing the bill for this atrocity.  I could never vote for a man who is in favor of killing live children.

  • amen amen to every single thing you said. i feel the exact same way about Mccain, and although I liked bush as well, this country needs a change or we will be heading quickly downhill.

  • welcome to the dark side!  it’s more fun here anyway :)

  • I am not quite sure what stand people are trying to make by not voting at all. That’s silly. If people don’t vote, their future complaints become null and void since they opted out initially. We aren’t going to find a candidate we agree 110% with—ever. All we can do is look at the entire platform and vote for the whose views match ours the most. I wish more people would do that rather than opting out. With the way our election system is set up, not voting accomplishes nothing.

  • In my opinion, he’s okay, but I’ll probably vote for him also, as it’s time for the Democrats to make a comeback.

  • I do understand having problems with the GOP, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you vote for the democrat. There are other candidates available.  And not all GOP are even alike.
    I also do not think McCain represents what the majority of republicans, or even republican leaders feel and believe.  He seemed to get this far mostly because the better candidates canceled themselves out with votes, as their votes were split between them..  And that gave MCCain the upper hand.
    Anyway, you say you feel good about Obama.  Well, that’s fine. But what actual beliefs or policies do you agree with him on?  You said you vote for who you “feel good about.” Well, what people actually believe, say and do, is what really matters.  I can feel good about someone, but that does not mean they will do a good job.  That seems to be leaning towards voting for symbolism over substance.

  • I’m surprised your view on the policies favors Obama. I always vote for whichever person is closest to my views. I am convinced that Obama will institute what they are calling hate speech legislation and I will no longer have a job because most non-profits and churches will lose their status. Tough for me to consider, but it is happening every day in Canada.

  • @Creed_of_Kings - So you would raise the voting age to forty and require a political philosophy test in order to vote, thereby disenfranchising an enormous segment of the population that doesn’t vote the way you want it to.  That shows how much you are concerned about democracy in this country.

    Dan, you’ve come to a great decision!

  • Obama didn’t win the primary election in Oklahoma, but he did get 9 out of the 10 superdelegates. 

    In the primary he carried 31% of the vote; so how did he get 90% of the superdelegates?

    I am so disgusted with the system!  arrrrrrgggggg

  • he is not a social conservative, he is a socialist! Plus why does he think he needs 265 million plus to run his campaign?

  • I met Obama about seven years ago, before he was the popular man he is today. I had a chance to sit down and talk to him as a man, not a politician. I can honestly say that he was the most geniuine and sincere person I have ever spoken to in the political field. I have also met both Clintons (and their daugther) as well as Bush Sr, and I have really no positive feelings towards them.

    When I met Obama way back when, I loved him. He talked about his views on the world, and even then, without the political juggernaut of the Democratic Party, he had a good sense of what was wrong and what to do to improve the party.

    So yes Dan, we can pick our canidates by our feelings. I am. And with Obama, I honestly feel that a nominee will rise to make a difference on a global level. Anyone who can inspire a nation like he has already (not even being a high up political person) should be taken notice.

    And for those who think he lacks political experience, take a look at JFK’s response to those who said he did not have enough experience or that he was too young:

    “to exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44, would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution, and Christopher Columbus from even discovering America.”

  • You will be voting for someone who supports murder.

  • I will NOT be voting for Oboma. He is not qualified, AT ALL.

  • As long as you are not voting for John McCain, I won’t hate you. :)

  • i don’t trust him . i think he’s a communist !!

  • for the most part i agreed with republicans in the last elections (although I am still pretty young to remember)

    I agree with you on Obama.

  • I still don’t think I could vote for an outspoken pro-choice guy.  But, McCain doesn’t make me want to wave a flag. 

  • Good for you, Dan. :) I think Obama is what our country needs as well (other than Ron Paul). I think you are making a good choice.

  • @Soultender - well i have duel citizenship with canada so if anything goes wrong…zip I’m there

  • @LA2SF_HWY - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8SVSmkc7Kw

  • I don’t like or agree with Obama or McCain, so I can’t in good conscience vote for either of them.

  • I turned 18 just in time to vote for Clinton when he ran for his second term. I remember how proud I was to do that.

    The very next election, of course, involved Gore and Bush. I voted Gore but wasn’t so happy.

    Then we had Kerry and Bush. I was stalling about filling in my absentee ballot and wound up losing it. That was kind of a relief. Right, I voted for neither.

    Now we have Obama and McCain. I was thrilled to vote for Obama in the state primary but my enthusiasm has waned. I fear that he will, in the end, not win over the meat-and-potatoes vote- people such as my father who don’t like anything that isn’t pure emotional manipulation. Not enough American flags in Obama’s camp… not enough repetitions of the Hail Liberty prayer. America first, right? Like any president puts America first. A Republican politician is no different from a Democratic politician, in that regard. Our economy sucks, the country’s infrastructure is coming apart like a rickety antique and we’re fighting a war on two fronts with threats of a third on the way. I don’t really expect either Obama or McCain to love America as much as we do.

    But I’m voting Obama anyway.

    Because McCain scares me.

  • Holy Cow!  I was waiting for the sarcastic part, but I believe you’re serious here.

    First, thanks for sharing.  Second, I share your frustration with the Republican party, but I think I’m jumping ship in the other (libertarian) direction.  I think Obama seems like a delightful and charasmatic human being.  But one, he doesn’t really talk about anything –he’s like a motivational speaker.  And two, he’s very, very liberal.  Socially and economically.

    But see, I know that the swing voters (and some of us Rep.) are going to vote for Obama.  So that frees me up to vote Libertarian.  The Republicans are going down anyway, and I really don’t think I can bring myself to vote for McCain.  Like you, the ONLY thing that makes me want to vote for him is that he has been consistently pro-life, but other than that, I don’t really favor him over Obama.  So I think a “protest vote” is in order.  I haven’t decided for sure, but that’s the way I’m leaning. 

    . . .Gosh, sorry to write a book. :)

  • @Krissy_Cole - Wow indeed. I’m a Christian but I don’t have a Christian username (you know, like Creed_of_Kings). Is it just me or do the people with the most Christian usernames seem to be the most angry and aggressive?

  • @innerblondness - Actually, voting based on your feelings is not a good meter to determine who would be the best president. Say you have two candidates. One is charming and charismatic, the other is slightly taciturn and a bit harsh. Your feelings might tell you to gravitate to the first – after all, he inspires good feelings!  But the first is making decisions that will destroy your life as you know it while the other is giving up his own desires to give you every freedom you could possibly imagine. If not looked at with a certain amount of logic and common sense, you could be helping make a decision that will ruin the entire country.

    Discalimer: This in no way is a covert commentray on current candidates or rundown of my own political views. It is simply an example of logic vs. emotion.

  • @Krissy_Cole - All we can do is look at the entire platform and vote for the whose views match ours the most. I wish more people would do that rather than opting out. With the way our election system is set up, not voting accomplishes nothing.

    And if their views don’t match ours at all? Are we supposed to blindly say eenie meenie minie moe at that point? I can’t speak for anyone else, but I am not trying to “accomplish” anything by not voting. Obama or McCain will still be president. I simply cannot and will not vote on two men who are so far removed from my moral and social views.

  • Very good entry and I agree with pretty much everything you say. My husband will probably vote Obama, but I’m still not sure……. I’m not happy that Bob Barr is the libertarian candidate, that was kind of my last hope. 

  • my grandfather is going to be 90 the end of July and he will be voting democrat (I think) for the first time…

    thank you for sharing your opinion, Dan!

  • I think knowing your opinion on the current election is fascinating, Dan.

    My support has whole-heartedly been behind Obama for awhile now, but I am still not totally out on voting McCain.  I’m looking forward to learning about the vice presidential candidates, that may very well swing my vote.  I’m socially liberal, but I’m more fiscally moderate which makes me feel a little uneasy about Obama.  However, I do think he is Kennedy-esque in that he can lead this country to do great things, like the great things that have been missing from our history in the last 40 years.  I’d hope under his leadership we would see some restructuring of our cities, public transportation (where I live, all of our public transportation is run on renewable energy– it CAN be done), and alternative fuels that are successful in many European countries. 
    I’d also like the opportunity to balance the Supreme Court with another “liberal” judge.  The Guantanamo Bay case of recent was a little too close to make me feel good about our court, and Roe v. Wade would have major negative impacts on American women if it were to be overturned. 
    If you want to keep telecom companies out of control of the Internet, Obama is the candidate to choose. 

  • I’m not entirely sure who I’m going to vote for, althought right now I’m leaning towards McCain. 

  • im voting for obama as well!

  • Oh, this was a great entry.  Classic.  I’m hoping it was intended as the humor I’m seeing in it.  Most people who commented here don’t seem to think so… but there’s no way you would be so, uh, in line with the average voter – and then admit it.  ha.

    @dropsofjupiterihh - So sentencing thousands of American men (not to mention Iraqi men, women, and children) to die in an unnecessary war- that’s no pro-death at all?

    @Creed_of_Kings - Oh, my.  I can see why you might want people to take a test to vote, but setting the age limit at 40?  I hope you’re joking.
    And that media?  Where do you think they get the power or motivation to act as they do?  Media and governmnet are intimately intertwined in this society, and that’s the problem. No, your precious Hannity, O’Reilly, Coulter, and Limbaugh are no less biased than the worst leftist propagandists.  They’re ALL out to shit you, and by taking sides, you’ve proven yourself to be just as bad as the leftists.  McCain and Obama are the same candidate, and they’re going to do the same fucking things.  Until you realize that, I wouldn’t call yourself a grown-up.

    And creating/expanding a welfare state is still less expensive than being at war with half the world.

  • @Krissy_Cole - Actually, I don’t believe in government at all. By voting, I’d be sanctioning the oppressive tyranny of government, particularly if I vote for a winning candidate.  I don’t believe in voting because I don’t believe in theft, which is the basic principle upon which government is founded.

    @somthingsgottagive - If you can’t spell the candidate’s name, I’m sure you’re probably not qualified to be voting for him, either.

    (If this was an honest typo, apologies, but my god, you have to admit it was ironic.)

    @innerblondness - Columbus did not discover America.  Just fyi.

  • @FemmeMrbd08 - ”I probably won’t vote for Obama.”

    Not to support Obama, because honestly he sucks, but so do your politics (in my eyes) and well Obama is your man. he is more than left wing enough o be green party member. Don’t let his campaign season bullshit fool you., No he agrees with you on almost everything

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - Oh good god that was such an obvious typo.  I thought being a bitch was my thing

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - Yes, you’re right.  We should’ve left Saddam in power to torture his people, let his sons rape women in front of their husbands, feed people through shredders, electrocute them, cut off their hands,  steal their food to build castles, spread poisonous gas on whole towns and build up his strenghth to take on others.  Silly me.  You’re so worldly and I’m so naive.   

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - You’re right, because our country is doing so well right now.

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - Funny how you care more about their people than ours and our country’s well being. There are dozens more countries that do what Saddam was doing, should we invade all of them too?

  • I’m sick of this.  I just may start living in a remote cabin in a sparsely populated area in Canada or join a contemplative religious order.

    Good thing I don’t watch a lot of TV, or the ads would really get to me.

  • That’s it Dan, why follow informed judgement when you can follow your feelings.

  • What I like about Obama is the extent to which people will put aside their personal issues to fight for him. He has that ability to inspire people to be less wrapped up in their own lives, which, in today’s egocentric society, seems very important to me.

  • I don’t have a good feeling about any of them..

    AH! I want to move to Japan! Or New Zealand! Maybe Canada!

  • Wow. I have read your blog for kind of a while now and did not see this coming. I was under the impression that you were going to hold out and see if Mitt Romney was chosen as VP.
    Well…high five. Cheers!
    -David

  • @EarthsAzureLight - 
    @dropsofjupiterihh

    My problem with that line of reasoning, “stop dictators who persecute their citizens” is that Saddam, while he was clearly guilty of genocide, was not and has never been the worst dictator. If you think it’s a good thing that we did that, then we had best declare war on half the world where citizens are persecuted daily (North Korea, China, Zimbabwe, Iran, etc.) You’ll see quickly that we cannot play world police.
    -David

  • No Obama

  • How can we compete with the stunning intelligence of the average Obamaite? We must surrender. Only a fool would try to combat such cerebral agility.

  • @Direshark - David …I apologize. I’m nearly stupified by the herd of ignorance and dull wittedness I see from the Obamaites. Case in point  your comment. You might be a smart guy but you are woefully lacking in common sense. He that is good with a hammer mustn’t think everything is a nail. There are HUGE geopolitical factors involved contributing to varying degrees in how countries deal with each other. You show incredible narrow thinking when you think every dictator should be treated exactly the same. Go play with your hammer. Bang bang …smash smash …

  • @CoffeeRevolutionary - 

    “What I like about Obama is the extent to which people will put aside their personal issues to fight for him. He has that ability to inspire people to be less wrapped up in their own lives, which, in today’s egocentric society, seems very important to me.”

    LOL

    I can’t decide who is the biggest egomaniac Barack Obama or Bill (William) Ayers

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxoiZdBSi-g

  • o geez just you wait…he is not what our country needs…neither of them are, but the change obama is talking about is not what we need…at all.

  • @Creed_of_Kings - Your blunt hostility and insulting isn’t really necessary, because I think you misunderstood what I was saying. In fact, I was actually referring to a line of reasoning which I view as a logical fallacy. Saying that we should have gone into Iraq because Saddam is evil is not a valid argument because there are many other dictators in the world who are worse than him. So using that as an argument, without discussing the geopolitical factors as you mentioned, would mean stopping all dictators worse than Saddam. I was not digging deeper than that, the real reasons for and against Iraq is an entirely different discussion.
    -David

  • @Creed_of_Kings - Even if your statement had any objective evidence supporting it, it would still be besides the point.

  • Dan, Dan, Dan – epic fail :(

    Obama is a socialist with politics similar to Hillary’s. I’m not saying I like McCain (and I especially don’t like where the Republican party is at) but Obama is going to take us down the same road if not further.

    But as you said, you’re 36 and it’s your decision. That being said, don’t you wish we had other options?

  • well go with wat u belive and i think it is a great idea…

    love

    georgiabulldoglover101

  • @Direshark - David, if you have many problems with your car, do you not fix any of them unless you can fix them all at once or do you start somewhere? 

  • @EarthsAzureLight - Funny how you can judge what I care about.  You really don’t have a clue how much I care about and fully support our troops, their mission and our country,  or what actions I take to show it.  As for the 2nd. part of your comment, I refer you to my comment above.  Geez. 

  • @JessicaAshley7 - I never said that I was voting on him ONLY based upon my feelings towards him. I am voting for him because of his economic policy, pro-choice stance, and his past votings and dealings with the Senate and Illinois politics.

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - I didn’t write that speech. Read the whole comment, it was a quote from a speech from JFK.

    I dont know your background, but you should look up Rosseau, the philosopher, and his views on human exsistance and the necessity of laws and regulations. It’s called the social contract.

  • @EarthsAzureLight - Huh?  What is that even a comment about?  You think our country would do better under Obama?   He wants to take this country to the far left.  Funny how liberal countries are now voting in conservatives.  Seems as if they have learned their lesson, the hard way, as they see their people being tried for hate crimes who offer a differing view on Islam, as they enter lotteries to get a family doctor, as they end up pulling their own teeth because they can’t get in to see a dentist, as they travel to AMERICA for quality healthcare, as they see their taxes skyrocketing.   

  • @innerblondness - In regards to your last paragraph.  Here’s a great article on JFK’s inexperience and the major problem with it.

    http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/05/obama_should_rethink_jfkkrusch.html

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - You do know what people consider conservative in Europe is what we consider liberal like? Usually their governments are even more liberal than that.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland

    Very conservative. This on the other hand: “as they end up pulling their own teeth
    because they can’t get in to see a dentist, as they travel to AMERICA
    for quality healthcare, as they see their taxes skyrocketing.”

    Is just plain false.

    Scandinavia is doing very well on the “far left”

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - Not if you don’t have the means to do it and you kill yourself trying. To complete your analogy. This isn’t our car to fix, this is trying to fix the neighbors car.

    This isn’t our problem.

    But by your rationale, you really don’t care for the troops, because you would send them to every country with a dictator in it =

    Imperialism doesn’t work. Ask Rome.

  • @EarthsAzureLight - Wikipedia – a nice reliable source.  You know the candidate that you want is to the far left?  Again, other countries are moving to the right. 

    Just plain false huh?

    Someone needs to tell these people.

    http://www.liberty-page.com/issues/healthcare/socialized.html#canada

    Your comment about me not caring for the troops is ignorant.  Tell me, what are our troops for?  Did they enter the military because they don’t want to protect others?  Were they forced to join the military?  There are many many reasons why we are in Iraq, I’m not going to go over them, if you don’t know by now then you’re more naive than I thought.  Not supporting our troops AND their mission is aiding and abetting the enemy.  The majority of the troops will tell you that.  The time to protest a war is before it starts.   

    Isolationism and appeasement don’t work.  Just ask Europe and the victims of Pearl Harbor. 

  • I am a citizen of Hong Kong so I have no right to vote in the US presidential election. But I envy you because you have the right to choose your leader. Here in Hong Kong, there is no universal suffrage. We are still fighting for this right.

  • I’m voting for Obama this year as well.  I don’t have set political party myself, I only vote for the canidate that seems the best for the job at the time.  I voted for Bush the first go around, but for Kerry the second go around.  It’s nice to not be set in a box that I have to vote for a certain canidate.  Yet I have to say, I’d love to see how our country does under a Democrat after 8 long years of a Repulican.

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - I don’t know where you are getting the idea that america has the greatest healthcare.  perhaps for the wealthy.  For a western country, the infant mortality rate and the life expectancy alone should give you a clear indication that something has to change.  That america does not have universal health care is scandalous.

  • I don’t like the idea of partial birth abortion any more than the next person, however, in my opinion, it would be far less humane to let a child who is that premature live with medical problems and suffering for their entire lives than just to let nature take its course.  I am pro choice, but I think that there should be restrictions on how late in a pregnancy a person can have an abortion like there are here in Canada. That would likely solve the problem.

  • @soul_survivor - I agree that our healthcare system needs attention.  I do not agree that socialized medicine will make it better.  There are many factors involved in these rates, not just the healthcare provided.   Our eating habits compared to other countries is just one of them.

    On life expectancy: 

    “Christopher Murray, head of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said, “Something’s wrong here when one of the richest countries in the world, the one that spends the most on health care, is not able to keep up with other countries.”

    According to Murray, improving access to health insurance could increase life expectancy, but predicted that the U.S. ranking would not improve as long as the health care debate focuses on insurance. Murray said policymakers must direct their efforts to reducing cancer, heart disease and lung disease. Murray supports additional efforts to reduce tobacco use, control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and regulate blood sugar.

    Sam Harper, an epidemiologist at McGill University, said, “It’s not as simple as saying we don’t have national health insurance. It’s not that easy.”

    Paul Terry, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Emory University, said, “The U.S. has the resources that allow people to get fat and lazy,” adding, “We have the luxury of choosing a bad lifestyle as opposed to having one imposed on us by hard times” (AP/Arizona Daily Star, 8/12).”

    As for infant mortality rates, there are many other factors involved as well.  Education, mothers smoking, taking drugs, drinking, under age pregnancies and also irresponsible fathers.  All of these issues need to be addressed.

    In regards to your comment on abortion – you consider abortion as “let nature take its course.”  Abortion is natural?  Do you stand by that comment enough to go up to someone with a handicapped child and tell them they should’ve aborted their child?  Do you know how many amazing children there are that were born with birth defects?  Using your reasoning, is it inhumane to birth a child who will grow up in poverty?  Or should we “let nature take its course”?

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - Did you even bother to read them, its perfectly public information, these countries are far far far left and their economy is better, life expectancy longer and crime rates lower than in the US.

    Sure they signed for the military, that doesn’t mean you needlessly send them to endless war.

    As for Canadian healthcare, I’m confused what point you’re trying to make. That you have to wait to get it? Better than not getting it at all.

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - Oh and btw, Switzerland seems to be doing fine without starting any wars.

  • Perfectly public information that anybody can go in and edit.  Other economies may be better because they are not contributing to fighting something with the potential to take over the world.  Crime rates lower?  Because they are prosecuting people for hate crimes?  You know, like the Christian men passing out Christian pamphlets in Muslim neighborhoods in Britain, like Canada trying to prosecute Mark Steyn for writing a book called America Alone? 

    If you think what our military is doing is needless, then you have a lot to learn. 

    If you don’t understand that website, that not only lists Canada but many other countries’ problems with socialized healthcare, then I’m afraid I can’t explain it to you.  Seems to me that you didn’t even look at the site. 

    If you don’t understand the need to stop evil, perhaps you will when you’re forced to wear a burqa.  You really need to do some more research to see what’s going on in the world, the big things and the little things that are slowly being implemented, not only in other countries but here also.  Mark Steyn’s book is a good start.  Hope you’re not in Canada. 

    I’m done.   

  • This would be my first time to vote Democrat also in the forty years that I have lived in this country.  More power to you for this great post.

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - You do note a very valid point, and a world being completely fixed of evil dictators does seem like a good plan. But here is my deeply philosophical problem with that plan: How much power should we exert in telling other countries what they can and cannot do? And if that’s the case, are we trying to rule the world? Because in some Middle Eastern countries, the reason women are looked so far down upon is because of Islam and their overall culture. Can we be so self-righteous to say, “You’re treating women wrongly, and that’s wrong!” to people from another culture? I mean, that’s a message that many just don’t understand in the Middle East, thanks to religion and culture. That’s not the case with North Korea, and surprise! I’m not entirely against shutting them down, though that is my more emotional side speaking. But that is because Kim Jon-Il is so terrible that it appears nearly impossible to have a good life in North Korea. And places like Zimbabwe already have democracy, it’s just a muttled system, so must we be a police force to areas with broken democracy? Anyway, ideas worth considering.
    -David

  • @VaultESL - Me, I have no idea on how people view them. I’m not even American! What the heck???

    On the other hand, I vote for the Potato Empire! POTATO!

    :shakes butt vigorously:

    LALALALALA!!!1

  • im not sure yet

  • im sorry you feel that way. im not even republican. ive researched all three main candidates, hillary, obama, and mccain and ive come to the conclusion……we’re all doomed anyway i guess.

  • i agree.

  • While this is an important election I don’t like our choices at all but rather than sit it out I will do a write-in…I am somewhat conservative but might have supported Hilary…aaarrggghhh…Obama…just too much bullshit has come out…McCain too old and too….I can’t think of a word right now…anyway…As I said I will do a write-in cause I want the right to Bitch…lol…Cheers…good post…

  • Here’s my opinion, as conspiracy-theory-ish as it may seem:

    If we are truly honest with ourselves, a large percentage of this election will be based on these factors:
    1. Media Representation
    2. Image
    3. Eloquence
    4. Image
    5. Let’s try that other party for this term!
    6. Image
    7. Media Representation

    Somehow I don’t think this is how our nation’s forefathers intended our elections to be based.

    What are everyone’s thoughts on this?

  • In light of my previous comment, I would like to ask you this: Why are you “convinced that Obama is what our country needs” even though you “know he is less experienced”?

    I ask this only out of curiosity, not to make a statement of any kind.

    And also, as a side note, though experience is definitely useful, Abraham Lincoln had significantly less political experience than many of our other presidents, and he did a fantastic job.

  • Plans have a way of changing.

  • That made no sense to me. You liked Bush but not McCain for essentially the reasons you like Bush? And as a ‘social conservative’ Obama is a good match for you? Care to elaborate? You lost me at ‘Voting for Obama’.

  • One important thing to remember is this: You elect an ADMINISTRATION, not just a President. Who is Barack Obama, really? Does anyone know who he will bring with him to the White House? At least with McCain, we pretty much know what we’re getting. He has far more experience than Obama, which in this world setting is far more important than the ability to give flowery speaches.
    No Experience – Nobama.

  • Obama. =D

    & I’ve actually noticed a lot of People who supported Bush through both election but now leaning toward Obama.

    @UnworthyofHisgrace - & I think if Obama does win everyone will give him a hard time just because he has promised a lot and it all takes time to change a whole country & get it back on the right track (:

  • You got featured again, huh?

    That’s gonna tick some people off. =:p I love reading the comments when you’re featured. Hahahahahahahahahaha.

  • I personally plan on voting McCain.  He’s got more experience by far, and frankly I trust him more.  I think the Democrats picked the wrong candidate with Obama.  Hillary was, in my opinion, a much stronger candidate.  I think I still would have voted for McCain if she got it, but I don’t think it would have upset me too much if McCain lost to her.

  • Oh, and I’m against abortion (pro-life isn’t really the right term, if you ask me).  So that’s another major reason for my preference.

  • I am republican. I would vote for McCain if I was able to.

    Now first of all, Obama seems like he might be a good guy. But something, to me, seems awfully fishy with the democratic party. Almost like they are using Obama for some reason.

    Also, I don’t like that Obama wont wear the Flag pin, and that he changed the presidents seal for his campaign. I think it’s just too weird.

    I am not racist in the least bit, but I think there are too many people that are in this country, and and that there would be an outcry if he was elected president.I have even heard people speaking about not being surprised if there was an assassination attempt.

    I will stick to my own party with this one.

  • Unlike some, I am not obsessed with ideologies. If what this country needs right now is someone who leans more to the left because the conservative approach is not working right now, I will not blindly vote for someone just because of they fit a conservative ideology. (And even when I was much more left leaning, I never voted for someone merely because they fit a strictly progressive ideology). I tend to be a pragmatist that way, which is why I’ve voted for both Democrats and Republicans.

    I don’t agree with everything about Obama (notably the pro choice stuff), but in my mind, he does present himself better than McCain does. However I haven’t fully made my mind up yet; I actually like McCain and would consider voting for him if I felt he would do a better job running this country than Bush does or than Obama would. So far, I do like some of what Obama has to say and I am noticing the way he seems to pull people together.

    I also notice the tenor of some of the rhetoric against him which actually builds him up in my mind. Maybe if arguments were presented against him that were strictly factual or policy based, and not race/religion or ideology based (you have to do better than “he’s a socialist” just because he’s a liberal Democrat), I’d reconsider my opinion of him.

  • Did you all even think about what these two candidates stand for when it comes to US, the AMERICAN PEOPLE? HOW THE NEXT PRESIDENT WILL DEAL WITH OUR DAY TO DAY NEEDS? Did you THINK ABOUT and KNOW what they stand for and will do to help remedy the American’s rising prices of gas, food, stagnate wages, less jobs, and high taxes we have to pay? It’s NOT ABOUT HOW THEY LOOK ON TV OR SAY ON THE RADIO? (BTW…The speeches are written for them!)

  • Obama is a s morally bankrupt as Clinton.  Personally, neither Obama nor McCain are going to get my vote, as I trust neither of them.  I do plan to vote, and, if the ballot I am sent has this option, plan to do a write-in.

  • I don’t know why I comment, considering what I say will most likely not change the opinions of so many of the headstrong people on here. Falling on deaf ears, if you will.

    First off, being against pro-choice is unpatriotic, and destroys the whole notion of “Freedom” that this country is based on. I’ve seen a few people making comments about being Pro-life without giving a reason for it. Though I’m most certain the reason is religious. Which is a problem in and of itself.
    ———-
    Also, I’ve seen comments on here stating that we can’t judge Obama based on his speeches or the way he carries himself. Which is foolish.

    Yes Obama might be a fraud, but you are ignoring human limitation. THE MOST a human can do is judge a person based on their character (Which I assure you is one of the proper ways of judging someone). The character of Bush,Clinton,McCain,Obama and pretty much everybody in the entire world, leaks through the person themselves. Their character is given through their speeches, through their actions, through the very way they carry themselves.

    Yes, people are very well able to fake all of these things, but as people. We are struck by our limitations. Judging on Character and taking these canadiates at face value is the best that we can acheive. To pry into the minds and to discover what these people REALLY THINK, would require some kind of unnatural power, that we just do not have.
    ————–
    So now to adress you, Theo. Your resume doesn’t say much good about you. You could have made yourself look worse by saying “I think FoxNews is fair and balanced”.

    I’m glad you’re voting for Obama, but I’m uncertain if your voting for him because you genuinly agree with his stance, or if you’re picking him because of the “Lesser of two evils”.

    alas, I’ve been having the urge to tell people about “Instant Run-off Voting”. The more people know about these the bigger the movement can get.

    Instant Run-off Voting will turn america into a REAL Democracy. Look into it on Youtube, or just go to Fairvote.org

  • Thanks for the post but I will NOT in any way vote for this man! I would rather write someone in or vote for McCain than have this man get my vote! Have you not read the Federal Indictment Charges that Loom over Obama’s head??? Tell me what you think after you read about it. To me I don’t believe in anything this man says. Have you read his book??? You should you would learn more about the man of this suppose “change.” I’m sorry but to me he doesn’t say America!

    Good post though.

  • Obama is good

  • I am fervently hoping that a lot of Republicans share your views on this. I have a fair share of friends who have voted Republican in the past, and are strongly conservative in their beliefs. However, they see the way our economy, environmental policy, and foreign policy are taking our country, and the fact that John McCain agreed with and supported a strong majority of Bush’s policies does not sit well with them.

    “I get the general feeling that he thinks the country is
    going in the right direction and that we should stay the course.”

    That point I feel, is the one that’s going to win (hopefully) Obama a lot of votes this November. Very inspiring post! I plan on linking you!

  • You voted TWICE for Dubya and you still think he’s an honest guy? Ok, I can’t have respect for people like that. Sorry.  That fucker needs to be impeached, and I seriously doubt he’s as innocent as you portray him. Gawd, I never thought you’d be this naive.

  • I am deeply disturbed by his anti-gun ownership voting record. It seems that he would like to initially constrict and then ultimately eliminate this important civil right of ours, this combined with his duplicitous claim that he is in favor of the Second Amendment when obviously he is opposed to that aspect of our Constitution. It sounds like you base your voting decisions on your feelings. Please don’t forget to analyze the facts because those are what truly count the most. 

  • I have always said that the first thing I look for in ANY candidate is whether they can support human life.  As much as I want to vote for someone other than McCain, I can’t vote for Obama.  Unless someone steps up to the plate, I don’t see myself voting for either.  And no, color is not even an issue as I voted for  Keyes in the last couple of elections. 

  • @trunthepaige - Right, you have a monopoly on bitchiness.  You can’t tell me that wasn’t terribly ironic, and I’m a sucker for irony.

    @dropsofjupiterihh -  we put saddam in power in the first place!  Go America, right?  Why don’t we just let the people who created the problem foot the bill and the casualties for this war?  Oh, right, now I remember – high-ranking politicians never pay the price for their costly decisions.  As noble as it sounds to save the world from tyranny, we don’t need to create some of our own to do so.

    @innerblondness -  Congratulations! You are the 10,000th person to recommend Social Contract Theory!  I appreciate the suggestion, but I’ve studied Rousseau (both in English and the original French), among others, and I’m not convinced.  Just because my neighbors agree with a tyrannical regime, and even if they refuse to overthrow it with me, does not mean that I as an individual sanction the government.  The problem with social contract theory is that it spits in the face of individual rights – according to social contract theory, if the 99% of the population wanted to brutally slaughter the remaining 1%, that 1% would be giving their consent to their own slaughter, by failing to overthrow the majority.  Government is the same thing, except replace 1% with 10%, 99% with 90%, and slaughter with theft.

  • i like Obama too
    I normally vote Democratic, but like you I do not solely use the party to choose who I am voting for
    as for what you said about Bill Clinton
    sure he isn’t a great person, but personally I think it was more important that he was a good leader
    I would like to have a great person and leader as president, but that is rare

  • I would urge you to seriously consider and research Obama’s stand on social issues, if you have not already done so.  I think you will find that he is definitely not a good match for your vote, if you are truly socially conservative.  He is the most liberal candidate to ever run for president, in all of his positions.

  • @UR_MUSE - I understand that gun ownership/control laws may be an important issue to you, but some voters may feel that the current state of the economy, environment, and foreign affairs have a heavier weigh on their vote. Which is their right, and opinion. Everyone has different issues that affect their vote.

    I do respect your opinion and ideas, I would hate for you to feel attacked.

    -Amanda

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - Wow. A bit angry are you? My comment was in no way directed to undermine you so dont make it seem like it was. No one can change who I am voting for, and no one can change your belief that all government is terrible. I was just suggesting something that you might not have known about… because I DONT KNOW YOU. Take a deep breath and just let it be. This post was days ago.

  • Wow you’re younger than I thought. You’re actually only 9 years older than me!

    Anyways, I can’t vote for Obama because he voted against the “Illinois’ Born Alive Infant Protection Act”. His reasons did not suffice for me. I only really know this because I live in Illinois. His voting record is unkown in the rest of the country. Here are his reasons.

    Just remember it’s never too late to reconsider!  :)

    P.S. I’ll be voting for McCain. Overall I think he’s a patriot and is right for the country right now.

  • I like Obama as well. After he gave the speech at the democratic convention ’04 I was convinced that he would become president one day and now that seems to be a reality. Thanks for sharing your political views. It will be nice to see the Obama blogs in the near future.

  • I think if I were to vote for Obama I would only be doing so because he’s popular.  He’s just way, way too liberal for me and I have to admit, I’m a party girl.  I always vote strictly Republican. except for when I voted for Ventura a few years back (he actually had a really good platform!  Honest!).  To be totally honest, I think Obama’s going to win, but it won’t be because of me.  

  • I suggest you read my post for today.

    Plans have a way of changing.

  • I applaud you for using your own head and not letting bipartisanship overrule your judgement.  While I am admittedly a Democrat, I voted for the first Bush (no offense, but I still have a hard time understanding how the second Bush got a second term, but I digress.).  My point is that sometimes voting for the individual is more important than voting for the party.  Anyhow, I actually liked McCain once upon a time, but he is not the same person he was 8 years ago.  I hope Obama turns out to be all that he seems to be.  There’s a real chance for America to make some great strides in the next several years.

  • I’m voting Democrat for the first time as well (although I have considered myself to be an independant for quite some time.) I am pro-life. However, I have come to believe that the pro-choice platform prevents more abortions than the pro-life one does. I became alienated from the pro-life movement when it began to encompass anti-birth control and anti-education sentiments: I understand why critics refer to it as anti-choice. I think that if Roe v. Wade was repealed, women who were desperate for abortions would just have dangerous illegal back alley abortions instead. The best way to prevent abortions is to educate people about contraceptives, provide them with contraceptives and as a society, make it less difficult to care for a child (i.e.- better child care options, provide pre-natal care to low income mothers, and healthcare for the childen of low income mothers).

  • It’s funny my reasoning is the exact opposite of yours but draws me to the same conclusion. I would never vote for anyone just because I “felt good” about them. Rather I base my decisions solely based on policy propositions that fit with my beliefs even if I think that person is a jerk.

    Of course that means I’ll be voting for Obama too because I agree with him much more than I do McCain.

  • I’m still not sure who I am voting for.  I feel like I haven’t studied the candidates enough, but most likely it will be Obama.  I can’t see myself voting for McCain.  I can’t believe there are people on here who aren’t voting because they don’t see the point/it’s meaningless/etc.  If that’s somebodys view point they have absolutely no right to bitch about taxes, gas prices, politicians or anything else because if you don’t care about voting then obviously you don’t care about any of that.  Maybe these aren’t perfect candidates, and nobody is going to fit your narrow definition of perfect, but we get to look at who is in line for the vote, find who suits us best, and vote for that person. It really irritated me that people are choosing not to vote.

  • nice post.  i’m a socially and fiscally conservative democrat and am vascillating between mccain and obama.  at first i was gung-ho about obama, but now i’m not so sure.

  • yay!

  • Um, you did hear about his federal indictment, right?

  • It is disturbing that you would vote for the candidate that you “feel good” about.  I think you would be much better served by using your noggin rather than your heart to choose your candidate.  Have you seen this:  Federal Indictment Looms for Obama

    Gotta’ use the little grey cells when selecting the next president … not what “feels good.”

  • me too.

  • Right on.  No real informed conservative or liberal can vote for McCain.  If you see how much he has been playing politics and shifting his “views” you know he is not going to lead us in the right direction.  Obama?  Who knows.  I know he’s a lot of rhetoric and teleprompters, but I think he’ll at least give us more credibility with the rest of the world.

  • I also believe that I will be voting for Obama come November. I actually like John McCain and thought that I would vote for him or Mitt Romney when the candidates were first coming together early last year.
    However, I don’t like McCain’s stance on the war, and I think that it will be his undoing (last time I checked, the large majority of Americans are sick and tired of Iraq and Afghanistan). He pretty much supports business as usual, or an increase in troops and involvement with even more countries (e.g. Iran), as well as increased power to the presidency (sometimes even beyond what kings in the 1800′s had). As someone who recently joined the military, I don’t want someone involved in a number of offenses that I view as essentially misguided.

  • i’m voting for sir walter eadie. what a hottie. <3333

  • This is kind of a tough one for me. I’ve always claimed to be disillusioned with politics (yet, I was sixteen in and listening to Green Day’s American Idiot in 2004, so how could I have claimed to know shit about shit?), but eventually thrown my support behind Democratic candidates, even though they’re all more conservative than I am :D

    At the ripe old age of twenty, I’m coming more into my place in the world, and being cynical seems to be a part of that. I was prepared to sit this one out, as a general protest (even if no one noticed) against the various ways we are all manipulated by forces well within our control into picking one asshole or another.

    When I was in Ireland, however, virtually everyone I talked to was excited about Obama. This election is not about “experience” – which is bullshit anyway – to me. It’s about America’s place in the world. You can either go with a crotchety old man who, despite his war record, still sees war as a joke (“bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran”), or someone who may actually have a chance of gaining back some kind of the respect that has been thrown down the shitter for the last seven years. Obama’s recent speech on religion was a pretty courageous thing for an American politician running for national office to do.

    Before, I felt like voting for Obama would have been a vote against McCain, but I don’t feel that way now. I’m still not sure if I’ll vote, but if I do, I’ll feel more confident about it.

    I must also add that my conservative friends who utilize the logic centers in their brains also support Obama, because to them he represents a move away from the military police state George W. Bush has been so keen on creating.

    On that note, I must also add that it is monumentally embarrassing that, in this country, our elected legislators are OK’ing spying on us by the government. As a nice white kid I probably have nothing to worry about, but I still think the architects of the Constitution on which George urinates daily are rolling in their graves.

  • i don’t know who to vote anymore. =/

  • I would vote for Obama, but unfortunately I am one year too young.

  • good for you, but i could never vote for him. his voting record and his questionable close contacts with rather corrupt and dangerous individuals causes me to believe he’s dangerous. sure he’s charismatic, sure he’s young and fresh, sure he’s attractive, but that’s not what gets my vote. i don’t care for his views on many issues and i couldn’t vote for someone i was that much in disagreement with. It’s got nothing to do with his party- I’d vote for any party’s candidate so long as I agree with their politics. In my estimate, a vote for Obama would be a vote against myself- to thine own self be true, right?

  • You can be pro-choice and still not support abortion.I think it’s better now without having abortions be a blackmarket.  People don’t sneak off to get them and not talk about it or think about it first.  Pollution also kills by causing cancer and abortions so I vote environment.  McCain says he is an environmentalist but missed all of the pro-environmental votes this year and got a 29% rating from the League of conservation voters.  His environmentalism comes from liking nuclear power and that is about it. I like Obama.  Not perfect but a person who obviously cares about humanity. 

  • Ohmigosh….this post could have come right out of my head.  Who would ever guess that the two of us think alike.  Had no idea you are so young.  I could be yo’ mama; heaven help you.

  • You’re going to vote for the candidate you “feel good about”?!  Voting should be done with the mind, not the heart.

    You’re convinced that Obama is what our country need, but you don’t give a single reason why you think that.  No defense of his policies, nothing more than an endorsement.  That’s not a good way to vote my friend.And why would xanga feature this weblog?  Maybe if I write one endorsing John McCain but giving no defense of his policies, I’ll get featured too!

  • hey thank for that thought,

    man i real support obama as one person that stand for our country  to bring country to high level  

  • I’ve been thinking the same thing.  I could support Obama but not McCain.  However, I can’t bring myself to support the democratic party.  I still may write in Huckabee just for the heck of it. 

  • i love how you are making an educated decision and are willing to look outside of your regular party view.  there are too many people in this country that base their vote solely off of whether some one is male or female, black or white, conservative or liberal.  thank you for choosing a candidate that you relate to and feel good about.  everyone in america should be following your example, then maybe we’ll select the candidate that’s truly right for the job.

  • What exactly does Obama say of any substance?  He talks in very broad terms about change and says very little about what he means by that.  If you look at his voting record as a senator he was rated as “The” most liberal of all senators, including Ted Kennedy. Besides the fact he is the most inexperienced and untested person to run for president, he shows he thinks like an elitist.  He says he want to take over the oil companies.  He says he is not opposed to the high price of oil, only that he wished the price had gone up more gradually.  He wants to increase taxes dramatically, which will mean the government will have more control and the people will have less of their own dollars that they work for.  He wants to socialize our health care system which will further bankrupt us and the future generations.  Please take time to look past his nice demeano
    r and coolness and look at what he will do to change this country into being more socialistic, and less free. If you care about the pro-life issue, there is no one more pro-abortion than Obama.  He voted against the partial birth ban, which even some who consider themselves pro-choice think is too brutal, to kill babies who are actually viable outside the womb when they are killed as they come down the birth canal.  McKain is not my first choice, but when I think of the alternative I feel he is the better alternative.

  • I’m very impressed…for a couple of reasons.  Your candor and insight are a couple of things.  I respect you and so do many others on xanga.  Many, many read and follow you.  I am sure that it took a lot of consideration before typing these words.  But, I thank you for sharing.  People need to understand that sometimes, you have to go with the lesser of 2 evils in situations. 

    It is virtually impossible to agree with everything that someone else believes.  One of the beautiful things about America is the ability to have so many views and sides to things. 

    I, too, believe our country needs a change.

  • I always knew you were smart

  • well, you’ve succeeded in making MY day! I hope that whomever you all vote for
    you carefully think it out. Voting is very very important…as it is our right !
    Obama ’08!

  • I do not know that much about the parties,  though I’ve read a ton these past few months.  This will be my first vote. :)   I do not know.  I think, with my present mind and thoughts at the time, that I would have voted for President Bush last election, but I do not think that I am Republican.  As far as the last year or so, I don’t know.  He seems really stressed, and he’s lost a lot of weight, so maybe he’s just tired and needs some serious coffee.  As far as Senator Obama is concerned, he seems alright.  I will vote for him, I believe, but perhaps my hopes are a little different.  I’m certainly not voting for him because he’s neon pink.  He seems like a good person for the job :) 

  • Does it bother you at all that Obama’s middle name is Hussein?  I am not for McCain, either.  But we know soooo little about Obama.  It scares me to swing to the unknown.  But, thanks for sharing your opinion.  I don’t know yet how I am going to vote. Ugh.

  • Ok Dan, but he’s not just pro-choice.  Yes thats a huge hang up, but he also believes in partial birth abortion.  And worse than that he believes that if a baby who was supposed to be aborted, but survived is born- then the Dr’s and nurses have the right to kill that child- after they are born!!  His morals are in the gutter.   He is a 100% politician and is blinding people with his well-mannered ways.  Check out this video as well- disturbing!!!  http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2036

  • I’m not old enough to vote yet, but my family would vote strictly conservative – except McCain is a stinker. Also, I’m not impressed with Obama. I guess if I could vote – dido with awth44. It’s like, I could choose from bad, worse, or … you know. I know that it’d be AWESOME if Condoleeza Rice would run. Sometime. Maybe when I actually am old enough, there will be a decent candidate up for votes.

  • Obama 08! 

  • It’s really awesome that you aren’t married to a party like a lot of your commenters- and myself, I imagine- are… I think that’s pretty awesome.

    As for the abortion issue- I don’t think you should really let it bother you enough to sway you. There will always be abortions happening, legal or not… That’s the terrible truth- whether people like it or not.

  • @trunthepaige - My thoughts exactly! I have never encountered a single Obama supporter that has ANY clue what his politics or views are. Is everyone that easily fooled by some youth and good body language?

    No worries though, I won’t be voting for Juan McSame either. I’m still crushed by Ron Paul not running as a Libertarian.

  • @Tomaret - Can I ask why his middle name bothers you? Because he shares a very common middle eastern name with a dictator who killed someone? Did you know there was a murderer once named “Scott”. That’s my middle name… Should I be worried about my moral fiber?

  • xd

  • @innerblondness - I was sincerely thanking you for bringing it up, and more joking than anything else on the rest.  I’m sorry 
    that there’s no real way to determine tone on the internet.

  • Excellent Post!

    Obama ’08!

  • I’m not totally on board with Obama on every issue either, but since McCain isn’t really conservative either, and I don’t agree with him on a lot of issues as well, it seems Obama is a better pick. Weird, I could have written this entry myself, I’ve never voted for a Dem….but here is to first times!

  • i voted for bush twice too… and like you, i do think that he’s an honest man who genuinely believes that he’s doing what’s right (despite how much people dog on him).  yeah, i like obama holistically, but i’m iffy b/c of his stance on pro-choice… but personally, i think he’s the better candidate than mccain.

  • I find it really annoying that xanga never features any right-wing view blogs.

  • I’m voting (and volunteering and phonebanking) for Obama, too.  I don’t agree with everything that he propses, but I do agree with his leadership style.  He is the only candidate I’ve seen who focuses on bringing people together and using that unity to change the nation.  In my involvement with politics, I’ve come to realize that policies that presidential candidates propose don’t matter as much as how they lead.  It takes the CONGRESS, not the president to get laws passed, and if you can’t get Congress to stop bickering you don’t get anywhere anyway.

  • @trunthepaige - Hey Paige, why will you be voting for McCain, or are you voting for Ron Paul?  I’d love to hear your side.

  • Obama? Hmm.  I think America will regret voting for him.

  • @MackyM - I KNOW!!!!! I love love love Ron Paul, but I can’t vote for him because he’s aligned with the party of religious fanatics.  I wish he’d start a new party called the constitutionalists or something like that.  Go back to civil liberties and small government.

  • Obama?  No.  He’s a socialist.  He may be a very sincere man, but his policies will be very bad for America. 

  • I’m at a complete loss as to how you consider Obama socially conservative.  He is a standard far-left candidate in every policy category we have a name for. 

    Let’s be honest: he makes you feel better than McCain does, so you’re going with your gut, not your head.  While I can sympathize with the feeling, I just won’t allow myself to vote for someone who thinks unplanned pregnancies are punishment and that law-abiding gun owners constitute a threat to society.  Not to mention the fact that a leftist president with a Congress in the hands of other leftists is a recipe for long-term fiscal disaster.  While McCain is completely nutty in his own economic policies, at least there will be an opposition party controlling Congress to keep him in check.

  • @MackyM - You can add me as the first one then.

  • i am surprised that you identify yourself as a “social conservative” but your vote would go to obama. a great deal of his campaign is actually built on rather lofty ideas and many a conservative would argue that you cant lead a nation based on dreams alone, but i think the reason so many are inclined toward him (democrat or not) is because he’s offering something we, as a nation, haven’t seen in awhile; change. 

  • I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic again but good, Obama is a great choice. :D

  • me too!

  • I am sick of hearing the word “change”. do you know why the obama campaign uses this word so frequently? its something all americans can relate to. of course none of us want things to stay the way they are now, everyone wants change in some shape or form. the problem is barack never fully explains what changes he plans to make, or how he plans to make them. and most voters are becoming so blindsided by his charisma and the inflated sense of hope he conveys that they shut themselves off to the true issues at hand.

    barack never gives an alternative to his iraq plans. its all about bring the troops home and make good with the leaders. what happens when diplomacy fails? think about it. how long has the united states been disputing with iraq, iran, and other parts of the middle east? what makes you think that the leaders of these countries, who have come out publically and decreed that they hate the united states, are going to shake hands and make peace with obama? if diplomacy fails, will barack have the experience necessary to guide military action if its required?

    you can’t just think about “change that works for you”.

    sometimes, you can’t get what you want.

    americans are so focused on changing to fit their needs that they haven’t considered how those changes will not only affect the country as a whole, but the repercussions that will result later on.

    barack is like a chamoleon. he will say whatever fluff appeals to what people want to hear in order to gain support, without much experience or any real defined plans to back his claims. the majority of americans don’t invest time into researching candidates or issues. they tune into the media, forgetting the fact that the media is a business driven by money and biased in what it represents for the most part.

    its a wave obama will ride to november 4th.

    what happens when he is elected and suddenly the plans are called upon to be enacted?

    when his words are nothing more than empty promises and he can’t hide behind his smile?

  • @joli_oiseau - Obama’s smile is McCain’s war record.

  • Seems like a lot of people, including some of my Christian friends, are voting for who they “feel” is best. Personally, I don’t trust my feelings. I trust facts. The facts show that neither Obama nor McCain can be trusted.

    Unfortunately, this also means that when it comes to Presidential candidates, I am screwed, as my state (SC) does not allow for writing in a Presidential candidate. I’m tired of voting in moderately conservative Republicans just to keep a totally liberal Democrat from winning. It’s not good enough anymore.

  • I still dunno who…haha im a conservative christian too but this will be the first time i can legally vote…

  • Excellent choice.

  • OBAMA SUCKS! YOU PEOPLE ARE SOO STUPID YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE IS SAYING OR WHAT HE PLANS TO DO TO THE UNITED STATES! HONESTLY! READ ALL OF HIS SPEECHES AND EVERYTHING ELSE HE HAS BEEN APART OF OR SPOKEN FOR. The man is PRO ABORTION. NOT TO MENTION HE WANTS TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION. HE’S HINTED ON THAT FACT MORE THEN ON OCCASION.

    Think about it more, and you’ll see he is an idiot.

    not to mention his wife and just as ignorant and deprived of acual thinking capabilites as he is.

  • As a social conservative, I think Obama is a good match for my vote.  I think he shares some of the same values that I have.

    I think you should add some things in which you agree with Obama on; otherwise it sounds like you’re voting for him based on “taking the country in the right direction” and “he beat Hillary”

  • Dan, I think I love you.

    :D

  • @zebrapointeshoes - DAnd do you think that writing in caps is really going to make anyone take your opinion seriously?

  • I, too, am fairly conservative, and never thought I would vote for a Democratic candidate. Lo and behold, I just love the way Obama carries himself and have every confidence he’ll make a great president. That, and I just can’t respect McCain as a president, as a politician, or even as a human being. He just disgusts me. And I’m a conservative!! :)

  • Interesting. It’s not great that you’re voting for a candidate that doesn’t agree with you on abortion, but personally, I think there are more important issues to take care of right now. I doubt that Obama is even going to pay a lot of attention to such an issue in the first place. There’s so much more to deal with in the country, and I really hate it when people make their choice based on one or two single issues.

  • @zebrapointeshoes - Obama wasn’t my first choice for a candidate, but wow, that comment gave me a good laugh. Thank you.

  • You seem like a moderate when it comes to the political world. I would say that if you were truly a social conservative, Obama would be the last person you would vote for. I to am going to vote for Obama, but I am a liberal and that is not odd. I applaud you for your switch in votes despite not agreeing with Obama about pro-choice. However, Bush may be an honest man, but ignorance is no excuse for the actions that he has put this country through. We need honest, good and smart. Not anything subpar on any respects.

  • I do not know how someone that calls themself a Christian in their right mind can vote for Obama. First to be a Christian means to be Christ like. If you are truly Christ like you would not be for someone that was for the murder of innocent children. Obama is pro-partial birth abortion (which is barbaric) and promises to appoint Supreme Court justices who will rule any restrictions on it unconstitutional. He espouses the abortion views of Margaget Sanger, one of the early advocates of racial cleansing. His spiritual leaders endourse homosexual marriages. Obama is on record as being one of the most liberal senators in the senate.

    To say you have a good feeling about someone without considering the facts about someone is just plain stupid!!!!

  • @TheTheologiansCafe:

    I am with you to the T on everything you said.  I’m tired of the Republican party.  I want to vote for Obama because he does seem like a good guy, but unlike you I have not been able to make it over the hump on the issue of abortion.  Something in me still needs to use my meager vote to attempt to guard the most vulnerable among us against violence.

  • Neither of them seems to have a plan that will work concerning energy independance.

  • For the first time in my voting life, I may not vote. I just can’t vote for either McCain or Obama with a clear conscience.  

  • Obama in 2008. Change is what we need. Change is what I feel we will get if we vote Obama.

    McCain is more of the same. I fear if we maintian the same path that we as citizens will suffer more and more.

  • Socialism is not beneficial.

  • well I’m sorry to here that. Although John Macaine deffinitly isn’t a GOOD candidate he has to be better than Obama. After what his pastor said there is absolutely no way I would vote for him. Am I the only one that saw his parting company with his pastor as a political move and nothing else? Wow I really thought people were smarter than that. If you sit uder a man for as long as he sat under his pastor there is no way in this world you would not at least Chave a little influence from them. Come on people. If anyone would like to talk to me more I would be glad to have you come to my site and read my Obama update that I wrote called Racism and politics. Comment me if you’d like I’d be happy to discuss it with you.

  • I do like it when you post about what you personally think about issues like this even though I don’t agree with you on Obama.

    So many people I’ve talked to have told me that they’re voting Obama because he is someone they feel good about.  Problem is, feelings can be manipulated.  I’m afraid that the media does all it can to manipulate the masses by painting candidates and presidents in the light they wish for them.  Just as they covered for Clinton, made Bush out to be the worst villain and traitor, now they’re creating a smoke and mirrors image for Obama.  Once you work past the media’s portrayal of Obama, his promises sound empty and his extreme liberal slant is just that…extreme.  I was going to vote for him at one point, but that’s before I started digging deeper.  Now, even though I don’t care for McCain, I know that I could not vote for Obama because he doesn’t stand for the things I value at all.  I agree we need change, but not change for merely the sake of change. 

  • you know that obama was raised muslim and his name used to be Barry obama and he had it changed.  He also is trying to raise our income taxas and social security taxes and allow our social security tax to go to other people.  Anytime anyone comes against him he says it is an “attack” and goes back to his raise when that is not the case.  Its an election and this is how things should be..we should look into his past and life and what he believes.  You should listen to Michael Savage.  you can look him up on the radio or online and he talks about a lot of the things going on in the election and with obama that no one else is talking about.  make sure you are truely educated before you make a vote.

  • I don’t like McCain, either, but vote for someone who support infanticide and the treaty of the child–not to mention socialism?  Sorry, I don’t think so.

  • @awth44 - Yeah, I think I’ll vote for Ru Paul too.

    There aren’t enough trannies in government.

  • @Celesta - And make sure you are “truely” (sic) educated before spreading lies that you got forwarded in an email from one of your redneck buddies.

    Do your homework: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_barack_obama_muslim.htm

  • @Tomaret - Only a jackass would be bothered by a man’s middle name. Something he has absolutely ZERO control over. You don’t know what he’s about? Then pay attention to facts. Not to scaremongering emails, blogs and websites.

  • Both of the candidates are jokes.  Perhaps the biggest issue we’re facing is the declining dollar, and neither of the two major candidates is even DISCUSSING monetary policy.  Instead, we get talk about a “gas tax holiday” and rants about “change” that have little substance behind them.  I see McCain as being a disaster on foreign policy, and Obama a disaster on fiscal policy.  I voted for Ron Paul in the primaries, I’m I’m thinking about voting for Bob Barr (the Libertarian candidate) come November. 

    Like yourself, I voted for Bush twice.  However, after a lot of study and reflection I’ve been moving more and more towards the libertarian side of things (after being more of a populist/Southern Democrat in high school, to a conservative during my undergrad days and early grad school, to the current right-leaning libertarian stance today). 

  • I’m glad I don’t need to vote…’cause both candidates don’t impress me. I actually do like Obama more than McCain, but heck, he’s pro-choice — and that disqualifies him as getting my vote right there! God help America!!!

  • @xoxokissme - I like the way John McCain “carried” himself while a prisoner of war.  He was offered freedom if he would just give information about the other prisoners, he refused and was tortured for it.  His valor and courage puts most of us to shame.

    Doesn’t make him a great polotician, or a great president, but quite honestly you don’t know him as a human being.  Why you feel the need to personally insult and denigrate a veteran and hero like him is beyond my comprehension.

  • You’re kidding, right? You know you will have to answer to the Creator of the Universe for this awful thing on that great and terrible day if you do this. I don’t like John McCain at all, but, as a Christian, I could never vote for Barack Hussein Obama Jr. To say I am disappointed would be putting it lightly. I would hope you would pray about this before you join with our enemies to elect a heathen president. So much of what you said was so wrong I kept thinking, “This is a joke. It has to be.” If this is really the way you feel, God have mercy on your soul. Remember Luke 12:48 says, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever muchisgiven, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

  • For this, I am using my credits for the first time to give you 1000 eProps for 1000 credits.

    YES WE CAN!

  • You ignorant fool…

    Obama McCain Kerry Bush…. There is NO difference…

    Obama is not a savior…

    They’re all on the same page…. They all want the New World Order. Wake up people!

            -Sam

  • I thought you Republicans were bitter Conservative idiots who dissaprove of all religions that are not Christian or Protestant.  I disagree on your opinion about Bush.  Bush is a bitter idiot who attacked an innocent country for oil, aka the Iraq War. The Afganastan War I am neutral because it’s a search for bin Laden but it’s not the country’s fault, its Al Quida, so the war shouldn’t be against Afagansatan the country. In addition, George Bush cheated in the 2000 election, in Florida. Obviously, his brother made the ballots confusing because the state has mostly elderly residents. Finally, Al Gore, is/was a better candidate that Bush.  Gore had social ideas that help poor people and those in poverty. 

  • @EarthsAzureLight - So I take it you’re a Marxist then?

  • @RUSpeshul - i have and you can listen to micheal savage as well and do your homework

    urban legand is wrong

  • Thank you for making a decision not based on garbage!

    I’m tired of people saying they’re voting for someone because of superficial reasons (i.e. color, sex, age, etc).

    It doesn’t matter who you’re voting for as long as you feel it’s right in your heart (and you do some research)! If you do that, then it doesn’t matter if people agree with you or not; you know that you did the right thing.

  • @Celesta - Um, yeah. Okay. Whatever you say. I’ll just take as gospel the blanket statements of a semi-literate racist.

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - me again.  I obviously didn’t explain myself very well with respect to the abortion issue.  I’m in no way suggesting that handicapped children or those with birth defects should not be born. I didn’t think it came across that way. What I was saying was that if a person chooses to abort their fetus and that is their legal right to do so (some people do choose to abort when pre-testing shows that the child will be handicapped but that’s an entirely different issue from what I am talking about, when I was pregnant with my son, I was told that he was going to be deaf, blind and mentally handicapped. I chose to have him anyway.) then allowing an extremely pre-term baby to live in pain and suffering is inhumane.  The child is unwanted.  Who is going to take care of it and who is going to pay for the medical care because certainly that’s an issue in the US.  [I'm probably making this worse.]  It’s not an issue of whether handicapped children should be aborted.  The fetuses were being aborted in the first place.

    As for whether it is humane to bring a child into this world who will live in poverty?  What do you think?  Take a look at those third world countries with babies with distended bellies from starvation and tell me if it is better that those children be born or if their parents had used birth control.

    I wonder if any of those mothers who have to watch their children suffer, starve and die of disease would have chosen to abort if they had known or if they had the choice.  I suppose that you think that “letting nature take its course” in those situations would be better than the fetuses being aborted.

    Partial birth abortions are horrendous, but preventing late term abortions is the only answer, not completely taking away women’s right to choose whether to have a child or not. 

  • @MackyM - No, refer to this post

  • Go Obama! 

  • @ficklemistress - McCain, not out of love but out of pragmatism. But then it is a rare thing for me to wholly agree with any politician.

  • I actually get the complete opposite….a very bad feeling about Obama. hmmm.

  • it’s going to be my first time to vote this year and i’m voting obama

    Go Obama!   lol 

  • Hey TheTheologiansCafe – great entry – although I am not a political buff myself I do have some very ujique political perspectives that I am sure you’d be interested in – just check out my latest Xanga entry:

    http://www.xanga.com/L_O_R_D_X101/662975878/voting-for-no-parties.html

  • Obama = Bush, a dark horse candidate who is popular because the public is reactionary to the administration in power.  We don’t need change, we need somebody who knows what the f*ck they’re doing.  Experience >> charisma or passion.

  • Honestly, I don’t see any actual plans Obama has for the change he’s suggesting. Sure, he’s charismatic, yeah, the girls think he’s hot, and I’ll agree he sounds impressive. But all I’m seeing is a lot of smoke… and no fire.

    McCain is old. Older than I’d like a president to be. However, he’s not going to withdraw our troops from Iraq without winning, he’s going to give babies a chance to live, and he has opinions on homeland security I agree with.

  • You voted for George Bush twice? It took you that long to realize they abuse the Christian faith of their followers to put forth a facist agenda?

    Please don’t vote – we don’t need people like you.

  • @TimChris - Totally agree with you.  Read this, an essay he put out in Foreign Affairs when he and Romney looked like they were the front runners.  He basically says he’s going to make things better by making things better.  Reminds me of a famous Texan we all know.

  • woohoo obama!

  • If I were old enough to vote, I would vote for Obama as well. What I like most about him is that he is not owned by big business as the others. And I’m interested in all this change he’s been preachin’ about. Great post. Congrats on getting Featured. :]

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - ”we put saddam in power in the first place!  Go America, right?”  You’re going to be saying this about Obama if he gets elected. 

    Hmmm.  Currently endorsing Obama

    Khadaffi

    Ahmadinejad

    The leader of Hammas

    Kim Jong Ill

    Bashar al-Assad

    Who’s next?  OJ?  Charles Manson? 

  •    I think your past voting record speaks volumes for your endorsement of Obama. This post was simply  spectacular.
    What interested me most about your obviously well thought out decision was the complete absence of discourse on any specific policy. I only wish more people would stop worrying about policies and start worrying about what really matters! I also like how little you discussed social issues, it was very refreshing. The only issue you did address, abortion, was an issue you said you didn’t like Obama’s stance on! This is the kind of flexibility that’ll ensure that candidates never have to really fight for votes, and who likes fighting?
          I’m so glad you’re voting, and at least you bothered to spend a few minutes figuring out which candidate you Liked. That’s more than most. What a model citizen you are!

  • Sounds like you’re at least voting for him for reasons other than that he’s good-looking (barf). As for me, voting for someone who favors killing babies just wouldn’t let me sleep well at night.

    Blue

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - You misunderstand me.  I dislike Obama as much as I dislike McCain.  I would never support either.  I’m just pointing out that your argument against Obama (in favor of McCain) is flawed because McCain plans to spend at least of your money as much as Obama does.

  • @soul_survivor - I don’t believe it is our choice to make to take an innocent life.  I’m fine with birth control but believe that life begins at conception.  In America there are people waiting in line to adopt babies, I only wish the same were true for older children too.  I don’t think aborting babies will change that.  What if one of those babies aborted was the one that was destined to come up with the solution to world hunger?  I would be willing to bet that most abortions are performed due to irresponsibility, not birth defects or an endangered mother.  I’ve seen it myself, I’m sure everyone has. 

    Babies starving to death in third world countries are most likely starving to death because of their corrupt governments.  My wish is that every free person in the world was onboard to change these situations.  Unfortunately people don’t think that we should “police” other countries.  Someone has to stand up and call evil just what it is.  If the whole world did this, if the whole free world stood up to dictators that are starving and torturing their people and did something to change it, then there would be peace.  Unfortunately some people have the misconception that America is the problem.  They say that we are not to judge what other cultures find acceptable.  To me,  relativism does not come in to play when people are being starved, fed through shredders, stoned to death……..Someone needs to take a stand.  Americans should be proud that our military is providing hope to millions of people, instead, they condemn them and our government.  God help us if we are ever in that position where we would need help.  I’m afraid that’s where Obama will lead us. 

    Sorry, I got a little off topic.  I’m just fed up.

  • i’m voting for Obama too. :)

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - McCain was not my first choice, but his plans do not compare to Obama’s.  McCain is for cutting earmarks, spending and taxes.  Obama is for raising taxes, if you think it’s just on the rich, you’re wrong.  I can’t predict what either one will do when in office, but what from what they are campaigning on, McCain doesn’t come anywhere near Obama.   

  • When thinking of the 2008 race, I think of the old saying that it’s easier for one to be wrong with a group than it is to be right and alone.

    Obama, with the shady/leftist/corrupt characters he has surrounded himself with in his personal and professional life, and with how he criticizes McCain for voting with his party when Obama himself has never bucked his own party on any notable issue (as McCain has on several), he just strikes me as the type of man who would always choose being wrong with a group over making any choices that would cause him to lose the world’s approval or making choices that are right but which might be unpopular with some segments of his constituency.
    McCain, on the other hand, I think is a little too in love with his media-created image of being an independent, or a maverick who makes his own choices and doesn’t care about shoring up an ideological base and shies away from taking shots at his opponent to avoid appearing “partisan”. Wheras Obama, I believe, will choose being wrong with a group over being right and alone, McCain seems more likely to be one who prefer to be wrong and alone if making a right decision on something would make him look less independent, or would lump him in with people he doesn’t like.
    I’m definitely not voting for Obama, and though I don’t feel good about McCain, I’d pick him over somebody like Bob Barr, who may as well be a poor man’s Ron Paul, and who doesn’t differ positively from McCain in ways I care about, but does differ from him negatively on a few.

  • Have you looked at his voting record? http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=9490 I just find him to be as liberal as Hil C.

  • Are you serious? Obama is a lying hypocrite. He says he wants to tax the rich and give to the poor. When he made millions on his published books, guess what he did. Put the money in TAX FREE bonds. And I can guarantee that 0% of the 400,000 dollars that he will make each year as president will go to anybody except for himself.

    And what happened to using the governments capped campaign spending. It’s smart to campaign yourself and he made the right decision, but don’t lie about it.

    Do you really agree that the government should give poor people all of the money in the world? Where’s the motivation to get a job?

    Frankly, your a dumbass and don’t vote for Obama

  • i know i’m too young to vote, but i’m still interested in this type of thing. in school, they never tell us anything about the canidates unless you are a senior, so i’m half clueless about where the canidates stand.. i mostly know the real things that come up on the news about what they’ve done or are doing. (such as hilary lying about her trip in asia where they had to “dodge bullets” getting off the plane when she really was smiling and waving and went up to hug the man). so my actual questions are: what views does obama share that persuade you to cast your vote his way? and what views does mccain possess that persuade you not to vote for him?

    i personally don’t know who i’d vote for if i could, and that’s mostly because i don’t know where the canidates stand on the issues.

    thanks (:

  • @Creed_of_Kings - While I might agree with some of your viewpoints, I have to ask how you reconcile telling someone to vote with the belief that we should have the freedom to vote at all?  That would be like Xanga featuring three pro-Obama posts and no McCain posts.  Granted, I am under 40 and so apparently do not know what I’m talking about yet, but when I critique Obama I do so on his blatant lies from how he funds his campaign and his relationships with terrorists and those who support them, the obvious contradiction even with his declarations about his pastor of over 20 years, his contradictary statements on if Cuba, Iran, etc. are dangerous, and so on.  I find his character suspect.  Furthermore, I look at issues such as abortion, taxes, energy, war, healthcare, the global warming scare, illegal immigration, govt. size, foreign policy, and the list goes on.
       What I would like to know from SOMEONE… ANYONE… would be to ask them about what would make one vote for Obama based on the issues.  I honestly want to know.  A point/counterpoint would be great.  In the end, just as Voltaire said, I may hate what they believe, but I would defend to the death their right to believe it.  I am left feeling I HAVE to vote for McCain because he matches up better on the issues than the other candidates.  I do not like him.  I do not trust him.  I trust him more than the other candidates.  I agree with him more than the other candidates.  If he wins I must be vigilant to make sure my voice is ever heard to keep him from turning.  With Obama, I do not find one thing I agree with when it comes to the issues.  My advice would be to ask a person WHY they are voting a particular way and see what reasons they have.  Perhaps then they will be more receptive to your arguments.  But then, what do I know?  I’m not even 30 yet.

  • This is my first time voting, but I’m certainly voting for Obama. He’s the best canadiate, at least in my opinion.

  • there’s nothing socially conservative about the man. and as far as what you wrote, have you done any research on either person. because, quite frankly what you wrote is just fluff and a feel good piece that goes on for two paragraphs to long. you seem to get alot of comments. that’s all well and good but where is your moral compass with these comments? 

  • @Kai34 Haha, yeah, except the famous Texan definitely made changes.

  • I really like Obama a lot but I still love to make fun of him…mainly about his name. o-bomb-us. hahah. im lame.

    if i could vote i would vote him.

  • Honest.

  • Yay for Obama!
    Didn’t know you were a Republican… thinking about it, makes me think twice about liking what Republicans have to say now.. :)

  • @trunthepaige - you really do speak the truth  Paige

    I have accepted at Obama will probably win.   I just hope he can’t manage to turn us into a socialist state in 4 years  and that we don’t have a big turn over on the Supreme court.

  • How many people here have actual Green Party experience? The stuff people will say about how liberal somebody is without actually knowing what a liberal really is… It’s just silly. An example: the Santa Fe branch of the Green Party refuses to endorse city bond requests when the city doesn’t come up with adequate explanations of what the money is for. The city can plaster its campaign with all the left wing propaganda it wants, and the Green Party wants nothing to do with it if there isn’t a budget and scope of work attached, which is almost never. I am frankly shocked more people don’t vote Green. It’s the only bunch of people who actually require thought about the issues, and reject emotion based decisions. Seriously. Just attend one of your local chapter’s meetings. If it’s anything like the ones in Santa Fe, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

    And all the communist and socialist comments don’t even deserve a response. Unbelievable. A philosophy based on caring about your fellow community members has been unfairly trashed because a bunch of egomaniacal dictators used it to oppress people rather than empower them. There is nothing wrong with communism or socialism except for the fact that people are inherently selfish and can’t live up to the standards of such a philosophy once they’re in the position to call the shots. And the very idea that anyone in this country could profess truly communist or socialist views and even be a serious candidate for the Democratic party, oh puh-lease. This is just mudslinging! What are you all willing to share with your fellow citizens? Where is the line for you? Are you willing to share the costs of road construction? Isn’t that a rather communist idea? Give up this ridiculous label.

    @Creed_of_Kings - Dude, you are so upset, your typing is suffering.

    The very idea that any politician at that level is a “grown-up” choice is ludicrous.

    And the media? Except for the mindless drones at FOX who always favor
    the right, even when they are so very wrong, the media are in the
    pocket of whomever they think the people favor. They care about the
    ratings and advertising bucks and that is all.

    The only politicians worth this kind of agony are your local
    politicians. Don’t expect change to come from the top, unless what you want is
    more money thrown into the bottomless pit of national defense, cuz
    that’s a guarantee no matter who gets elected.

    And does no one understand why renewables aren’t viable? Because nobody
    will give them any serious funding! 2030 is on its way, and it’s time
    to think seriously about getting into rehab and kicking the oil habit.
    The technology isn’t going to invent itself. We had that chance with
    Carter, we threw it away with Reagan, and now we are feeling the
    addiction hard, and digging up Alaska doesn’t solve anything! We need
    to move on this, not continue to stall.

    @dropsofjupiterihh -
    Most liberal record in congress? What? Why do people pull that phrase
    out and apply it to anyone other than Ted Kennedy? Come on! Just cuz he
    has a brain tumor…. (And opposes an off shore wind farm because he
    owns Cape Cod property that might be devalued, ummm, the most liberal
    guy in congress is still not liberal enough!)

    @nicolexanna - Nice.

    @la_faerie_joyeuse - Right on.

    @CoffeeRevolutionary -  That’s exactly why I like Obama, too.

    We can’t go around expecting everyone to agree with our side, or expect that by debating things, people will come to our point of view since we are so obviously right about everything, we just need to find the magic words that will make them see the light. No. That is not what America is about. It needs to be okay for people to have different ideas about things, and Obama is a rare candidate who seems to welcome that very thing, the epitome of not Bush, which is what is so desirable these days.

    Okay, I can’t handle anymore. What an interesting bunch of people over here. Thanks for the ride. I wish I could read it all, but I’m getting computer screen fatigue.

  • obama ftw!

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - it seem you are not paying any atention to both candidates voting histories and their very different proposal.

    You are simplify wrong on this one

  • @DarkLordPenguin - A well thought-out comment.  Thank you!  Of course, I’ll have to argue the particulars.  While you’re absolutely right that most democrats have no idea how far politicians are from their ideals, these ideals themselves are hardly noble, practical, or beneficial to humanity.  On many issues, I respect the Green Party’s position, and I’d sooner vote for a Green than a mainstream R or D, simply because people in the Green party are more likely to be independent thinkers who are not caught up in the mindless cesspool of corporate-religious-government tyranny.

    However, the political philosophies of socialism and communism do suffer some severe logically inevitable setbacks – which could culminate in a good argument against such political systems (note that I didn’t say anyone here DID offer such arguments, but they easily can be made).  If you’re curious as to what arguments I have in my mind at this moment, stop by my weblog – I just typed a long monologue out to you, then realized that you probably didn’t care, so if you should choose to continue this (and provide some much-desired criticisms of my arguments), it’s up just for you.  If not, I won’t be offended, promise.

    Finally, while I agree that we will eventually need alternate fuel sources, I firmly believe that a free, unregulated market would be the best and most efficient way to adapt.  This is a whole additional ball game, and I’ve actually gotten tired of my verbose responses thus far, so we’ll save this one for another time.

  • If you needed convincing on why to vote for Obama you should have just let me know and I could have shown you this.

    http://photo.xanga.com/Ironstove/d7c0a195662546/photo.html

    http://photo.xanga.com/Ironstove/4cde0195662532/photo.html

    See, it would have saved you months of fretting about social and fiscal policies. That’s why I’m voting for him.

    Joking of course. I don’t vote. I like spending my time doing more productive things, like eating sawdust.

    P.S.
    If the pictures get deleted, I was kidding.

  • Voting with Party

    Barack Obama has voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues
    96.5% of the time during the current Congress. This percentage does not
    include votes in which Obama did not vote. See a list of his votes against his party since 1991, a list of all Senators in the 110th Congress with a similar score, or a full list of party voters.

    Just so you know where he stands…

  • @ohsnap_inc - The Issue Dictionary is a good place to start.

    @trunthepaige - Actually, surprise, I do know what I’m talking about.  I’m very familiar with the voting histories and campaign promises of both candidates.  However, the practical influence on my life (and the lives of most people I know) would be equally bad with both candidates.  Obama is going to raise taxes, stay in Iraq, fuck the dollar, expand the welfare state, and encourage abortion.  McCain is going to exponentially increase the deficit, stay in Iraq, fuck the dollar, expand the military, and burn alive anyone who disagrees with him.  No practical difference.  (half-satire, in case it wasn’t obvious enough)

    @dropsofjupiterihh -  Increasing taxes on the middle class doesn’t really affect me, as I’m rich.  That said, I don’t want taxes for anyone, because I think they’re ethically wrong.

    If you really don’t have any idea how campaign promises correlate to
    actual actions in office, take a look at the past couple of decades of
    presidential campaigns (and the actions of presidents within that
    period) and see how well that turned out.  Spoiler: politicians lie.

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - I can except that as satire, but one with very little truth in it

  • Presidents last for 8 yrs at most.  But the supreme court justices that they choose last a long time.  A democrat will put in a liberal, a Republican will put in a conservative.  Please rethink your position.

  • @Creed_of_Kings - You’ve got a real thorn in your balls about this, you slack-jawed yokel.  The media is not controled by some nobody left wing journalism school graduates, it’s controled by the Council on Foreign Affairs.  A wealthy group of people, both Democrat and Republican.  I’m surprised in all your staunch logic and lack of emotionalism that you were unable to see a third possibility.  Doesn’t sound too adult to me,  only willing to get your ideas from one source, be it church or Limbaugh or whatever.  Here’s a tip: if emotionalism is something you abhor, you should try and stay away from argument that is full of statements like “Under 40 and you’re good for only taking orders.”  You should also keep God out of this pathetic tome you call political commentary because God is not a Republican, Democrat, Liberitarian, Green or anything else. None of them have your best interest in mind, they never did. They’re all hanging out together at Bohemian Grove or the Trilateral Commission building, or wherever having a good laugh that you’re so worked up about something that’s already pre-determined. 

    Maybe they should keep the voting age the same, but higher the qualifications for IQ.  That way your WWE schedule won’t be interrupted come voting time.

  • I’m glad you’re taking a chance on Senator Obama!

  • Wow Dan – people have been really harsh – no wonder you only ask questions without stating a opinion. I hope you have a thick skin – I don’t think I will ever be cut out to take the volume of comments you recieve that are negative or mean without taking it personal.  

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - Thank you having the objectivity to say “I think neither are great.”  Like if you don’t support McCain you’re enjoying socialist abortions over your satanist altar, or if you don’t support Obama you’re that fat lady from Jesus Camp.

    I think it’s HILLARIOUS you so often provoke the most narciccistic, brainwashed, and completely unattractive ones,  But in the same breath, they continue give DRIVER’S LICENSES to these people, so I fear for my own safety and the safey of others.

  • @Cassiopeia- That was a typical liberal move to resort to name calling when someone doesn’t agree with you.  Usually the conservatives have a little more class than that.  And ZERO control?  No one in America has zero control unless they choose to have zero control. That’s one of the greats of being American. Anyone in America has control over a name which is often proven as many muslims do change their American names.  Just understand that to me 911 is still real and to me this middle name thing is comparable to a German running for an election after the World War having the middle name of Hitler.  Am I calling for him to change his name?  No, it just BOTHERS me.   

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - I say that Obama is the most liberal in congress because he currently is.  Taxes will be increased on the rich too, you’re not immune. 

    I know exactly how political campaign promises work, that’s why I made the comment.  Geez.

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - The liberal record was meant for someone else’s comment.  Sorry, you probably read that and wondered what I was responding to.

  • @DarkLordPenguin -  I say that Obama is the most liberal in congress because he currently is.

  • Good for you!  Barack the vote!

  • i don’t believe in voting for a candidate just to make sure another one doesn’t get elected. If there are no candidates that I like, I still vote, but it tends to be a write in vote. I’m liking Obama too, if Obama and Clinton would just work together I think they would make a great team and help change the country for the better.

  • lol.  you’re voting for Obama even though you tend to vote socially conservative. 

    lol.  i have to tell this to all my polisci friends. 

    i, personally, don’t have a good feeling about obama.  from the moment i first saw him on television, and from the moment i read the first page of his bestseller, i didn’t like him.  i liked him even less when he declared his candidacy after  oprah.  OPRAH!

    at first, i decided to vote for mccain because i was voting against obama, but mccain has really started to grow on me the last few weeks/month. 

    something about obama just makes me feel rotten inside.  i don’t like the guy, and i’m surprised so many people ‘love’ him. 

    well, either way… we all get to vote on november.  so, best of luck. 

    i dont think that mccain sees us going in the right direction; i think that mccain sees the direction that we’re going in, and he wants to change directions responsibly, ex. instead of pulling out of iraq in less than a year.  (another thing i don’t like about obama’s policies) i can add in plenty more examples if i reviewed the articles i’ve been reading for the last seven or so months…

    i also dont like the idea that obama is looking for quick fixes to our price rise problems.  obama is the quick fix man… i’ve come to notice. 

    and also… what’s up with his ‘reverse’ supreme court decisions policies on his website?  it’s so annoyingly stupid and repulsive to even think that he would want to mess with the balance of things.

    and… i dont know enough about him to really support him.  he’s only been a u.s. senator for how many years?  *oh yeah, he’s only in his first term. 

  • He seems like a very likeable guy but…I definitely would NOT vote for him.

    His foreign policy is simplistic and quite dangerous and he totally lacks experience and thinks like a 6th grader…Providing for the National Defense would definitely not be something that I feel secure at all that he has any clue.

    His economic policy , especially the constant raising of the minimum wage….the taxing of corporations..both disasterous and very simplistic ideas.  Everytime the minimum wage goes up, people lose jobs and the cost of living just increases.  Taxing oil companies sounds like it would put these big greedy guys down a peg or two but what it would do is hurt all of us relying on retirement incomes.  The Ohio state Teacher’s Retirement is only one of the many pension funds that would be affected.  Well, there’s more reasons …many more reasons. 

    It would be a relief to have a break from all of the political venom and hatred but I believe that it will only get worse if Obama gets elected.  Why would he stick with a church that spews out such racist venom…

  • @Creed_of_Kings - Well said!  The most intelligent comment here.  Although I’m not certain about waiting until 40 to vote since I know a lot of older folk who still drink the Kool aid and have been conditioned to hate Bush…the man who repaired the economy after Clinton’s fiasco , after 9/11 and has kept us from another terrorist attack.  People who swallow the propaganda of  the main stream media and George Soros funding.  Another thing Obama would do is take away our freedom of speech by doing everything he can do to quiet the voices of conservatism with the so-called fairness doctrine.

  • I’m older than you and I have also never voted for a Democrat.  Not until this  year.

  • Conservatives who vote for him will regret that action sometime down the road if he is elected.  No vote would be better–at least that way you would not have had a part in electing a Marxist!

  • I disagree with a lot of what you said, but yes, Obama is US’s best choice, in my opinion (well, Gravel and Kucinich were, but ah well).

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - me
    again again.  You hit a nail on the head.  No person is GOING TO adopt
    a severely handicapped baby. People don’t even want to adopt older
    children or children who have high needs due to previously abusive
    family situations because they are “too much trouble.” You have just
    reinforced the argument against keeping those accidental souls alive.

    Your stance on abortion is a separate issue.

    If
    you don’t believe in the freedom of choice then no matter what the
    circumstances, you will disagree.  You say that many if not most
    abortions are the result of irresponsibility.  Okay.  Is it more
    irresponsible to bring a child into a drug or alcohol addicted or
    poverty stricken, unwanted world?  Or to stop things before the fetus
    is more than a one inch lump in the uterus?  Should she have the baby
    when she knows that she is an addict?  Should she have the baby when
    she knows that she is an alcoholic?  Those things are not ….”oh just
    stop” sorts of things; they are addictions.  Especially with the lack
    of health care and more specifically PREVENTATIVE health care, which
    covers your earlier quote on life expectancy in the US, guess what…
    no-one is going to adopt those sick babies, those crack addicted babies
    or those FAS babies.

    Saying that the starving children in third
    world countries are so because of government tyranny is useless.  It
    does not change the status quo and millions of dollars of aid that we
    have sent those people has not changed it.  Do you really think that we
    can change that in every third world country?  By doing what?  Starting
    more wars like the United States has done wherever it was the most
    beneficial to them?  I guess Africa has diamonds.  That will be next. 
    The US will be starting a war over diamonds instead of oil, maybe
    diamonds will buy the friggin oil or something.

    Bush obliterated Saddam Hussein.

    Was
    it worth it?  Were all of the lives lost in that endeavour worth it? 
    Osama bin ladin was not even IN Iraq.  All Bush was doing was trying to
    finish what his daddy started.  He was determined to go to war with
    Iraq.  NY was just the reason he needed.  I’m still not convinced that
    he didn’t orchestrate it.

    Something that many people seem to have
    allowed to pass unnoticed is that Obama has said that he will get the
    troops out of Iraq but he has not said he will do so in Afghanistan and
    in fact, has stated that the efforts there should be stronger.  So all
    of those war hungry republicans out there should be thrilled if they
    even listened.  Obama is just against the war in Iraq, not war in
    general…

  • I voted as you did, and for the same reasons.  I too have become disappointed in Bush.  The only reason I’m not voting for Obama is because he hates America, and I sir, am a patriot.

    Good luck to you.

  • Not that our votes matter in a presidential election, but I am going to be writing my vote in. I can not support either candidate and I think a two party system needs to be a 4,5,6,10 party system. 

  • it’s more about the candidates themselves, not much about the political party background anymore, huh?

  • sounds kind of scary to vote based on emotions.   “change we can believe in”  HOW?  on what record?   anyone can talk.  He worries me.  How come ALL these friends are so off the main stream? 

    Mc Cain has stepped across the aisle many many times.  His book, “character is destiny”  is pretty good.  He is a real military man, and though tortured for YEARS in the end, he denounced the usa.  It was awful for him.  He felt like he betrayed our country.  He had to work all these things out.  i can resepct him on this.

    I respect cyndy, too.  She runs a huge company – he doesn’t take any of her money!  interesting.  He can respect a strong woman, and has enough self confidence to create himself.  and leave her alone too. 

    I think there is more to McCain than most people give him credit for.  We shall see.

  • @ficklemistress - Actually I don’t think an I.Q. test would be all that great. What we need to test for instead, is Critical Thinking, and other things such as if the person is too Prideful to apologize or to acknowledge when he/she is wrong.

    A person being able to admit they were wrong is one of the many things that seperates Children from Adults. I don’t think bush will ever admit he was wrong, and worse yet, he’s going to try and smooth it over for as long as he can, at america’s expense.

    @Tomaret - You’re pretty annoying. Saying things like “Typical liberal”. You are like many people out there in politics. You seem more concern with winning the race than you do the actually issuse.

    Like this is some game or something. People are going to be effected by all of this, you know?

    Also, judging a man’s character solely upon his name. Even if you aren’t judging him all by his name. It’s still an incredibly shallow thing to do.

    @josaju - Please don’t feed the troll. His remark on “people under the age of 40 are only good for taking orders” should have been proof enough that this man wasn’t qualified to have an opinion.

    @ehowton - I’m guessing you’re one of the fools that think America is “God’s country” and that “Freedom” has nothing to do with this nation?

    Or maybe you think “God’s country” and “Freedom” can be in the same sentence without there being a contradiction?

    My first choice would be Mike Gravel, but since we have a joke of a democracy. It’d be better for me to vote for the guy that gets the most media attention and that I MOSTLY agree with. Which is Obama.

    I want my vote to count after all. And compared to McCain, at least Obama won’t go senile from being so old.

    @DraigStudio - Check into a thing called “Instant Run-off Voting”. The more people know about it, the better.

    @niez_cho - As it should be. Though, I’m not such a fan of the whole “basing it ALL on feeling” idea.

  • Everything you need to know about McCain

    http://www.kskirby.net/mccain.html

  • Dan, I may have suggested this before or not. I can’t remember. But given you political leanings I really think you would enjoy reading “Crunchy Cons” by Rod Dreher. It really challenged me and I loved it. Among other things – it opened my eyes to the fact that being a Republican was not the same thing as being a Conservative. It’s a thoughtful critique and really gave solutions to the problems that Conservatives are up against. (Admittedly, the guy sounds a little bit self-righteous at times) If you do read it – let your readers know what you think. : ) 

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - No, I knew what you were talking about, but I was responding to your response to someone else, because I was bored and wanted to procrastinate on sleep.  Hope you don’t mind terribly – if you do, just disregard.

  • Personally I perfer maccain. At lesat he is EXPERIENCED

  • I too am voting for Obama.  I am voting against McCain.

  • Good to hear. Vero Possomus.

  • Ugh.  I hate it when people vote FOR people just to vote AGAINST people.  That’s why we need a “None of the above” on the ballot.  I think you should only vote for people if you want them to become president, not because you don’t want the other guy to become president…

  • Yeah..I would like to see your opinion of what makes Obama a social conservative???

    Always voted Republican but am seeing that  they just aren’t in tune with their consituency at all. Can’t even hold my nose and vote for McCain. Will vote for Alan Keyes–great man–may not make a difference to the vote in America but it means something to me!

  • Yeah, I’d vote for Obama too =)

  • @Elegant_Evil - I served this nation and our flag.  He refuses to wear it.  Fuck him.

  • Then you’re voting for an idiot.

  • I’ve been considering Obama as well. I also never thought I’d vote for a Democrat. But, my social views have changed a good bit to the left. I am strong for the rights of gay couples (though I don’t know if Obama will help too much with that) and I no longer view ‘pro-life’ as a viable way to end the horrors of abortion. To ease your thoughts on this. Statistics world-wide point to there being little change in the amount of abortions when performed legally or illegally. This is consistent over time and over what country it is. The only thing that seems to make any significant difference in abortion is conception rate, which is only effected by contraceptive education. I feel pretty good with Obama’s stance for this… but I felt better with Rudy’s position. But hey, he got screwed by the primary system… so, whatever.

  • Nice.

  • @ehowton - 

    Have you put Obama in a “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation?

    it seems to be a common practice to accuse someone of hating amerca, when that person points out the flaws in america.

    This country really isn’t number 1# at anything, not anymore anyway. Just because somebody points that out, doesn’t mean they hate this country. It means they acknowledge that there is a problem, that should be addressed.

    Ignoring the problem, is obviously not going to solve it. Saying there isn’t a problem, when there IS, isn’t going to solve it either.

    I think, with most Americans that point out the flaws of america, that Obama just wants to fix this country up, so that we are back up to number 1# in something.

  • If i was old enough to vote& registered, i’d vote for obama =]

  • thanks for keepin an open mind and not sticking to party loyalty.  it’s all about who is the best for the country and the world.

  • I think agree with the people that say Obama is exactly what this country needs:  regardless of his policies, he is a young black man with a different background than any other candidate in the past.  This alone will bring about much needed change.  He brings something different and refreshing to the plate, and I like that.  I also have a good feeling about Obama, and it’s rare to get a good feeling about most politicians.  Nice blog :)

  • I spent the primaries in Latin America, and it was really interesting to watch politics from that vantage point – Latin Americans do tend to vote for the candidate that les cae bien (they like) without a deeper analysis . . . that’s how they end up with so many populists and demagogues that eventually turn into dictators.

    I’m not saying people shouldn’t vote for Obama.  I’m saying that choice of president should be based on more than a good feeling.

  • There’s alot I don’t agree with Obama about, but good lord, I can’t help but like the man; he speaks so darn peretty about improving the economy and cutting of foreign dependency on oil that, at the moment, he seems to be the one earning my vote over any other. If I vote.

    That and if McCain makes it, the rest of the world might point at America and say we are STILL a racist country only putting white men in the Oval Office.

  • Its so great to read this and see someone actually thinking about what and who they want for a president… not just red or blue. Good post!

    @trunthepaige - You shouldnt say that someone is decieved when they decide to listen to both sides of the story, and end up agreeing with the one you dont like. Open your mind. Its quite an adventure.

  • I think that Obama is definitely the person for the job. I would never, in a million years, vote for a Republican. But, I suppose that’s the same thing you said about voting Democrat. John McCain just seems like a Bush clone and that’s the exact thing we don’t need.

    If only I could vote… I’m only 15, though, so I still have three years. Darn it.

  • @Elegant_Evil - I understand your concern, and its admirable.  However, there’s a right way to do things, and a wrong way to do things.  And choosing to be openly unpatriotic while vying for the position to lead this nation is not the right way.  The flag of this nation represents so much more than you’re willing to give it credit for, and despite your view of this nation, we remain a formidable superpower.  Obama wants change, but to date has been unable to articulate how that change is going to take place.  And while its true that “Just because somebody points that out, doesn’t mean they hate this country.” its also true that many fight for that freedom while others do not.  Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m thankful to have been able to serve this country for your right to have a differing opinion.  Don’t say, “Thank you” as the passion in your words is thanks enough for me.  Thankfully I also live in this nation, where if I choose to not vote for a candidate who disrespects the US Flag there is nothing anyone can do about it.

  • @ehowton - 

    Well, as long as you came to that conclusion through reasoning and have acknowledged all the information you’ve been given, Then it’s fine if we disagree on some things.

    Having a reason, is more important than anything, when making a decision.

  • i cant vote yet, but my parents are thinking of voteing for John, or Hilary .
    Either way, im fine

  • Obama is black.

    /discussion.

  • wow. i never thought i’d agree with someone who voted for bush.

    but you know, i have to give you leway, i think you may be right about bush’s intentions. but i still thought he was wrong overall.

    i am rooting for obama for the same reason. i can’t explain it. but outside of the speeches he gives, i feel good about him. 

  • @AndromedaCat - 

    Troll better dammit. Practice in /b/ if you must.

  • Democrats, Republicans- hey man they are ALL the same!!!!

    Shelby Stone….The Gelding by Mystic Moon epress 6.20.08

  • I can’t believe the amount of Christians replying to this thread that are playing Jesus and judging people. You are NOT GOD. You don’t have the right to point fingers and tell people that their choice isn’t God’s choice, but yours is. 

  • That was a little eccentric but…he’s a freak.

  • definatly voting for obama

  • All I have to say, And dont comment back on this. Comment back on
    xanga.com/Skinandbonesbeauty
    Is…If you vote for a democrat. They will put democratic judges in the Supreame court, WHo will make liberal decisions for many years to come. Which means no chance that Roe vs. Wade will ever be over turned. Which i know you dont care would crush my hopes and dreams. Since I am a prolife politcal activist…*sigh*…For the sake of my heart I hope obama doesnt win.

  • Obama simply will not get my vote He is a obvious Marxist.   Take the teleprmpter waya from Him and he has nothing to say.  Nothing new with this guy he thinks children are a punishment.  and the list goes on and on and I am sure there will be even more reasons not to vote for him by the time i cast my ballot.

  • It’s all about change.  I don’t know if you’ll look at this, but here’s another Republican switching his vote:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/why-this-fifty-five-year_b_105061.html

  • What could possibly be more important than voting against someone who would continue to support and endorse the Killing of unborn children?  I do not think any true conservative follower of Jesus would vote for someone who thinks the killing of children should be legal.

  • How could you suggest that we should vote for someone who want to continue to support the murder of children that is not change.

  • I think Obama and his Anti-American church can … *ahem* oh well.

  • I can respect anyone’s CHOICE in who to vote for as long as it is well thought out, a carefully considered decision, and reflects the desires of that person for the leadership of our nation (or any other elected position). You seem to have done that; and whether I not I agree with your choice is pretty much beside the point. You get your vote, I get mine. We don’t have to agree. Neither do all of your commenters, it seems.

    But, in case you’re wondering, we do agree on this one; but for none of the reasons you’ve stated. I have my own reasons.

  • @Titus3_5 - You are trying too hard to troll.

    people who are Pro-life are usually the ones making Parenthood a punishment.

    Pointless to argue with you, I know. If only because you’ve already proved a huge flaw in your reasoning. The same reasoning I’m sure, you subject yourself and others to.

    @farewellstaypretty -

    Guilt by Association, eh? by that line of reasoning I’m to assume you won’t be voting for McCain either? Since he associates himself with Bush.

    Sure, you could tell something about people based on who they flock around, but you CAN’T TELL EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM.

  • @Titus3_5 - He thinks children are a punishment?  Where does it say this?  Did he just announce this?  I haven’t heard any of this.  I think that is a big assumption to make since he does have children himself.  Just because he’s pro-choice doesn’t mean he recommends every woman get an abortion.  But, either way, I’m not going to get caught up in a discussion on whether or not abortion is “right”.  I just believe Obama is an excellent choice. 

  • Good call, although I am the opposite of you–mildly social liberal, more fiscal conservative. I used to be a Republican, until the current administration convinced me to become an independent.

  • @JimiRy - at least mccain has military experience. barack has only been in the senate for a few years and did nothing significantly notable that gained him the popularity he has now. the reason obama has caught momentum is because of his image. he is a charismatic, articulate, good looking black man. people confuse articulate and being able to speak well with being highly intelligent and therefore being able to succeed in empty promises. if you took away his image, if it was left up to having clear plans for how he would bring about change, he would fall flat on his face. his intentions may be good but they mean nothing with no action, no legitimacy, to back it.

  • cool

  • 1.  i’m voting for obama because i’m completely against mccain.  so it’s a negative vote.

    2.  you’re 36?  huh.

  • A general comment. It dismays me greatly the number of people who are willing to use political labels as epithets. Does no conservative understand that a liberal/leftist/communist/socialist is motivated by compassion, no matter how misguided or arrogant you may find it, no matter how self-serving it ends up manifesting? I certainly don’t see conservatives as the ignorant rednecks that some of my fellow liberals would like me to believe. I think it’s a great idea to reduce government spending and reduce a lot of the regulations that limit the choices people have about how to live their lives. I would almost be for abolishing taxes completely since the people spending the money obviously can’t be trusted with it, but I will not go so far as to say that taxes are inherently unethical. There are things we need to do together as a community, and those things need to be paid for. How else do we generate the group funds to pay for them? Until we devise a moneyless economy, I got no better ideas than taxes.

    @la_faerie_joyeuse - Thanks. I’m glad I didn’t attract a bunch of nasty “you dumb liberal” replies, at least not so far. Frankly, I don’t care to argue for communism or socialism, I know about the flaws, (but I’ll read your rant anyway) I’m just tired of all the people who seem to know nothing of what they are, nor that political views are a spectrum, not a box, and insist on throwing such words around when they really have nothing to do with the subject at hand and serve only to push people’s buttons. Just look at the comment preceding my previous one… An Obama win = socialist state in 4 years? Whether you like Obama or not, that idea is ludicrous, and that’s not the only person throwing that word around as if it meant something at all in American politics, which it doesn’t, McCarthy saw to that, and McCarthy is also why it gets used as a convenient epithet by people who don’t know any better and who obviously don’t care to have a real discussion. Which gets me back to the Green Party… but anyway…

    And, since you bring up the free, unregulated market issue, I really need to point out that this is not what we have. We have an energy industry where those dominating the market benefit from significant government subsidies and lobby to keep them and make sure they are denied to their renewable competition. I am all for a truly free market with a few limited pressures in place with the intent to encourage development in beneficial directions. The obvious tricky part here is finding a mutually agreeable definition for beneficial… I mean, I have to say I support banning the sale of lead based products, for example, because it’s a serious health issue and that has to come before profits/economy. I’d use other examples, but I’m trying to stay non-controversial to illustrate my points. I suppose I could go so far as to point out that lobbyists are so clever, they manage to get the laws to go just far enough to avoid controversy while still leaving their employers enough of a window to still make a profit while doing their evil deeds. We can’t sell lead based products here, but we can still manufacture them here and sell them to other countries. The same goes for DDT. This kind of stuff really irks me. It’s these subtleties of policy where on the face, hey this law is good, but underneath, everybody’s in it for the money, even Obama.

    Local elections. You want real change, pay attention to your local elections. Participate in your immediate community. It’s the best way to educate yourself about what policies mean to you and your neighbors (including the ones you don’t like!), and these are politicians you can actually talk to and argue your views to and who might actually listen. And it creates a trickle up effect when the greater government isn’t paying a bit of attention, because when a bunch of little regions start moving in similar directions, it starts to become a big enough issue for the big kahunas to start paying it some lip service.

    @dropsofjupiterihh - This Obama is the most liberal guy in congress schlock is no less ridiculous than the first time you said it. Kerry had that “title” last time around, even though, as a former resident of Massachusetts (uh oh, have I revealed too much?) I know that Kerry does not hold a candle to Kennedy. It was BS last time, and I’m not buying any of it this time. “Because he is.” Give me a break. If Clinton were the candidate, you’d say the same thing about her because it’s fun to say and it pushes people’s buttons, but there is no value to it at all. It’s like Obama is produce and all you have to do with him is place him on a scale. With what units does one measure liberalness?

  • Barack Obama is as socially conservative as Karl Marx is.  Any true “conservative” that says they can make an easy switch to Obama does not know what conservativism is.  At least you are voting?  Let’s just not get a blog in a few years about how you can’t believe socialism is back.

  • @Onigiriman - Why would the current administration convince you to be Independent.  Of all the Republican presidents this nation has had, George W. Bush is the least conservative.  If anything he would make a Republican more conservative.  If you don’t like the current admin., well heck, neither does the RNC.

  • I can’t vote yet. I just don’t like Obama’s stance on Pro-choice. 

  • la_faerie_joyeuse:  right on.

  • @DarkLordPenguin - Ah, yay!  You quite rightly pointed out that we do NOT have a free market right now.
    “I suppose I could go so far as to point out
    that lobbyists are so clever, they manage to get the laws to go just
    far enough to avoid controversy while still leaving their employers
    enough of a window to still make a profit while doing their evil deeds”
    That, too, is absolutely true.  I can think of quite a few additional examples, one of the best of which is Monsanto a few years back.

    The only problem with local politics is that I don’t really have a local area right now.  I have my college town (which I’ll be leaving in three years) and my hometown (where I never am, and won’t be returning after college).  You make a good point about it though.

    This is why I get along so much better with die-hard communists than with republicans (*cough*fascists*cough*).

  • @la_faerie_joyeuse - Well, I’m not a die-hard communist, I’m pretty sure, but this has been a lovely exchange. Much more enjoyable than some other ones, particularly what I am due to receive from dropsofjupiterihh shortly, given the dismissive nature of what I just wrote. Ah well.

  • @trunthepaige - It is. Wait till you’re old.

  • @lannathepirate - Sorry anyone saying they are a social Conservative and voting for obama, is ether a liar (not really a social conservative) or deceived. That is just a fact.

    In your case I am guessing you are  ignorant of what a social conservative is, and what they believe.  Dan is not ignorant, but he very well might be lying.

  • Wow sounds like you haven’t taken the time to really research the facts before deciding your vote will go to Obama. I heard not one reason why you think ‘he will be good for our country’ other than the ambiguous ‘he is a good politician because he beat Hillary’. Huh? We are looking for another ‘good politician’ to run this country?

     I am of the conviction that we have way TOO many of these ‘good politicians’ in power who know how to win elections but have no idea what real leadership looks like. They look around, stick their finger in the wind, and speak to what they think the people want to hear at the moment. ‘Good politicians’ are what is wrong with our country so don’t be swayed by them.

    You say you are a social conservative. I’m glad you are as am I. I would challenge whether you actually have and real social conservative convictions that mean anything to you or that you stand up for.

     Barack Obama is the complete enemy of everything conservative. I can not even find one issue where he is close to conservative on so it’s perplexing how you could say what you did.

    Barack Obama is one of the most outspoken defenders of partial birth abortion. He defends the right to kill a baby whose entire body other than the head is outside the mother by gouging a sharp obect in the back of it’s head.

    He has actually come out on the side of infantacide which you will never see in the media. Don’t take my word for it. Do your own research by googling abortion bills in Illinois.

     I think you have good intentions but to say you as a social conservative will vote for Obama because he represents your views is to be frank, laughable. He is a pure big government socialist who believes in more taxes, more government beauracracies, and more abortions for all.

    There’s nothing conservative about Him.

  • @JJ_Ames - I think things swing back and forth and in the end, it’s not really so bad. We had democrats in power for awhile, then republicans. Things go up, they go down. As little as I know in a lot of ways the presidents and the parties they belonged to sometimes had circumstances help or hinder them.

    We have had a really bad 8 years with republicans recently. A lot of shady things have happened. Obama will not tank the country, but the country may tank on it’s own or it may not. Somehow that image of “perfection” that the “new” policies will bring about, well that’s when the rapure comes or when the oceans rise from global warming… either way, not much we can do about it.

    Maybe it’s time for the junior republicans to start getting ready for 8 years from now, and keep their noses clean learning from the mistakes the past 8 years have taught them.

    The more we find out about what this administration has done, I hope the biggest lesson for everyone is acting on…. PASSION.

    9/11 caused a lot of people to act on emotion, and a lot of people in power to exploit that. I think that is what got us where we got now.

  • Obama is not a knee-jerk liberal. He has nuanced positions that affirm
    many “conservative” values, like the importance of parenting and the
    responsibilities of fathers, support for veterans, service to one’s
    country in some form, support for the work of the 9/11 Commission, the
    importance of returning to more fiscally responsible budgeting on the
    federal level. He also does not present a divisive message, and talks
    about his opponents in respectful terms. I believe that it could be
    possible for a conservative, black or white, to decide to give him a
    chance.

  • @Mistee815 - I want people in the rural south to be able to afford healthy food when gas is so expensive and jobs are so far. I wonder what I can dig up about either candidate on that issue!

  • I’m glad you’re going with your gut instincts, they’re the next best thing next to a mom’s intuition. =D

  • I’m not voting for a president who has a motto similar to Bob the Builder.   In all good humor, of course.

    We can change it, yes we can

    But seriously, I have major religious issues with the guy.

  • Scifiknitter I really wish we could keep color out of this. I absolutely despise racism and will be the first to point out the ignorance behind racist sentiments. Barack Obama being a different color than myself has absolutely  no sway one way or the other on my vote.

    What sways my vote is the fact that he is THE most liberal senator in office, trying to paint himself as a centrist which is a little easier to do with the help of friendly press. He is in fact not even close to center and has proven it over his short political career.
    This is only one example but it shows the huge differnece in his and my views. He said during the primary that he ‘doesn’t want his daughters punished with a baby because of a poor choice they may make’. Typical liberal diatribe. First of all to call a baby a punishment is reprehensible, second of all it shows the ignorance of someone who thinks he can teach responsibility without letting the consequences of bad choices ever happen.

    Ghostbenjimon: I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I am not a defender of this adminstration on 75% percent of the issues. I could care less which party controls power. Neither one represents me. I vote for individuals not parties. Call me crazy

  • @scifiknitter - 

    You do of course know that in place of issues, you listed a bunch of vague concepts all of which John McCain would agree with. But Obama’s methods have nothing conservative about them, nothing at all.

    “fiscally responsible budgeting on the federal level.”

    You put that in for the comedy value is my guess.Or you have not read Obama’s tax and policy proposals. Massive new spending and huge tax increases.His proprosals would increase the deficit. that is if he keeps his promises, which is a very big if.

  • @trunthepaige - ditto

  • Good post…Obama is too wishy washy for me…he’s changed his religion too many times..he has changed his stance on several issues …. I cant figure out what stands for because he changes it so often…I can not vote for a man like that to run America…I think he is a joke.  I feel like he just says what America wants to hear..no matter how contradicting it is.  I dont want him to lie to appease me I want a candidate that will stand firm and not falter no matter how many others disagree.  He needs to grow a pair and stand for what he really believes in…

  • @frontpage101 - Most liberal Senator in the Senate? More liberal than Teddy Kennedy or Bernie Sanders? I gotta chuckle on that one. Here is a quote for you:

     ”Voteview.com, a site created by political scientists that plots lawmakers on a liberal-conservative scale based on their voting patterns, calculated there were nine senators more liberal than Obama in the current Congress.

    “Obama is a liberal, but he’s not the most liberal,” said Keith Poole, a University of California-San Diego professor who runs the site. By comparison, McCain is the eighth-most conservative. Ratings from Congressional Quarterly also provide a mixed picture.”
    http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jun/16/Obama-lefty/

    One publication – National Journal – called him the most liberal. Not all other publications agree. The most liberal magazine I know, The Nation, has endorsed Obama, but  not with a great deal of passion, and a great deal of suspicion that he won’t turn out to be all that liberal in the end.

  • Neo-Conservative is what you are Dan.  No actual conservative would even consider voting for Obama.

  • @DarkLordPenguin - Congress is rated by how they vote on the issues.  They are given a conservative rating or a liberal rating.  Do some research.

  • @trunthepaige - My comment was intended to agree with Dan, the owner of this site, not to be a tightly argued and referenced post. Yeah, it was general.

    Re: budgeting – when I check McCain’s website, what I see is a long, long list of tax cuts, but the only spending cuts mentioned are earmarks and “wasteful spending” – which is pretty darn vague. Eliminating earmarks sounds great, but they were only 1.92% of the federal budget in 2005 (source: Harvard Law Review Federal Budget Policy Seminar). You could get rid of them all, and we would still have a huge deficit and deepening national debt.

    Obama proposes many fewer tax cuts. He proposes allowing tax breaks for the wealthy to expire. And, yeah, he says the same things about earmarks and wasteful spending that McCain does. Guess that’s the fashion this year.

    You might find this article to be interesting: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/the_budget_according_to_mccain_part_i.html

  • I do not like either candidate. My husband has even been talking about not voting at all.

    I do tend to vote conservatively, although I have voted for both parties. Like yourself, it depends on the character of the nominee.

    Personally, I think Obama is just as “horrific” as all of the other
    politicians he professes to be *apart* from. He is charismatic and for
    that, many will vote for him It’s sort of like the Bill Clinton thing.
    Alot of women voted for him because they thought he was, hott [yeah, I
    know, I'm wondering where that came from too]. && so that is pretty much all that he has going for him.  Another thing I don’t like about him is that he, like every other candidate is talking about “this administration” and how wrong it is, furthermore he keeps talking about “change” but he never gets specific. And, that, Dan really worries me.

    McCain is not even republican. && He’s not a democrat either. He’s middle of the fence and for that I detest him as well. His policy on the war has changed so many times it’s ridiculous. He’s out of touch with alot of voters as well. His age is going to hurt him as well. He just seems “out of it.” Like he should be sitting in a rocking chair at a rest home on the beach.

    If there was one thing I’d like to say to the candidates, then it’d be to pick an issue, be specific on what you like and don’t and go for it. All of this flip-flopping BS is absolutely absurd and just continues to hurt you more through the election process.

    Okay. I’m done. :-]

  • If you’re voting for Obama based on a “social conservative agenda”, you’ve certainly are misguided.  There’s nothing conservative about the guy.  I guess the only thing that makes him a social conservative is the fact that he has been going to Trinity in Chicago for over 20 years, home of the extreme racist pastor Jeremiah Wright. 

    In your post, you haven’t posted a single thing to persuade people to vote for Obama. 

  • @scifiknitter - 

    Actually i find it absurd that a major tax increase is called “allowing tax breaks for the wealthy to expire”

    Wealthy my ass it effects anyone paying taxes. That “tax cut” has been in effect for 7years rescinding it is a tax increase,a huge one. And a stupid move during a recession.

    But the real point, Obama has not one platform position that could appeal to anyone who honestly could be called conservative. I have nothing personal against liberals, i just don’t care for liars.

  • @Xbeautifully_broken_downX - that is because Dan couldn’t make this case to safe his own life. I wonder if he really believes it. or if his politics are anything resembling what he just claimed they are.

  • @trunthepaige - re: expiration of tax cut – that is the way that the tax cut law was written. Bush and the conservative Republicans DID NOT create a permanent tax cut. They created one that would end after 10 years. If they didn’t want the tax cut to end, they should have written it differently in the first place. They had the power at the time – they controlled the executive branch and both houses of the legislative branch. You might want to ask why they did not honestly pursue their goal of permanently lowering taxes.

    Obama’s plan calls for the tax cuts to stay in place for everyone who makes less than $250,000. I don’t happen to know anyone who makes $250k or more per year. Do you?

    I’m just going to accept the fact that you and I are going to cancel each other out in the voting booth this fall.

  • @scifiknitter - no that is how they had to write it to get it to pass. It is called politics, one must compromise, he was trying to make it permanent from day one. it looks like you wre not following that issue, I was.  It is still a major increase if it is rescinded. If you don’t believe me, just look at your taxes after it is done. Yep they will go up. Asuming you have an income that justifies owing  payrole taxes. oh I almost forgot the income level needed to start owing taxes will drop. That is one of the “tax brakes for the wealthy” you were talking about. And yes it will be rescinded. I suppose he could write a know tax cut if you trust him to do it.

    And yes i do know somone making that much, my father is a dairy farmer.  he makes much more than that. But now we are going much further into tax law that you would care to hear about

  • Wow! What few times I have read your blogs, this decision of yours to support Obama, quite frankly, shocks me!

    I believe with all my heart that Obama is a wolf in sheeps clothing! 

    Time will tell.

  • I’m a social liberal who has a hard time supporting Obama because of his more conservative policies.

    But McCain is pretty awful too, and as a fiscal conservative I am THROUGH with the damn Republican party. Thanks, George.
    Congratulations for thinking outside party lines on your vote. And Bill leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

  • @GhostBenjimon - I certainly wouldn’t argue that the past 8 years have been a train of logic. But that’s why I also think Obama is a bad choice – I don’t think people are voting with their brain but with anger towards Republicans/Bush. And voting against Republicans for being dumbasses has only put in place the most useless Congress to date.

    If we’re lucky the oceans will rise high enough to sink D.C.

  • @Creed_of_Kings - You are one of the most ridiculous Xangans I’ve ever come across… I mean, changing the voting age to 40?! You’ve got to be kidding me! And obviously you’ve been bashing Obama on his policies and plans but please expand on how McCain will do any better:

    The cornerstone of McCain’s campaign is foreign policy experience, and his opinion is that we should stay in Iraq as long as it takes to “win.” Outside of the Iraq issue, he believes that Russia should be kicked out of the G8 and China shouldn’t be allowed in either, believing that the world should be governed by democracies and democracies only. He thinks that the UN is obsolete and wants to replace it with a “league of Democracies.” He is rather moderate on the subject of Iran, saying the US should only attack them if they get nukes or attack Israel, but the US shouldn’t have diplomatic talks with them. McCain also takes a stance of supporting the Patriot Act.

    On health and social issues, McCain has gotten more conservative over the years. He is opposed to universal health care, opposed to abortion, and opposed to gay marriage. He is also a supporter of teaching creationism in schools. And most of McCain’s economic and social positions are centered around cutting social programs such as social security, medicare and medicaid.

    Economically, John McCan has yet to put forth a very coherent policy, as he says that he doesn’t understand the economy as well as he should.  McCain is in favor of keeping the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, and he supports any and all free trade, including NAFTA, CAFTA, and MEFTA.

    When it comes to environmental issues, John McCain leans right on many fuel issues. While he opposes drilling in ANWR, for instance, he has voted against the vast majority of bills put in front of him to increase fuel efficiency during his senate tenure. He opposes the cutting of fuel emissions by 40% by 2025, and believes the solution to our energy problems is nuclear power.

    And with the issue of immigration, McCain heavily votes for Republican policies (border fence, Enlgih as official language, deport millions).

  • Out of the two options for president, neither seem to be a good choice. Obama is too socially involved for me, and although his charisma is a large part of his personality, it seems we’d be getting another Bill Clinton in the White House. I haven’t read up too much on his policies, but from what I have seen and heard, nearly all he speaks of is “change,” change what, exactly? The way our country runs? The “administration”?

    McCain, looks ready to keel over the podium at any given moment or perhaps, spend a weekend soaking up the sun with a tequila in hand. Not run for the presidency. He’s too wishy-washy on his views and policies.

    Ugh.

  •  I would never vote for any of those people.  Theyre nothing but a bunch of evolutionary UN sycophants.  They all frighten me with their fiscal policies, immorality, and their weird treaties.  I dont want anyone who will facilitate a one world government.  Also can’t stand how they work against Israel.  I also hate the way the Republicans have become progressively more liberal.  They seem to be peopled with neo-cons and liberals rather than true conservatives.  But voting for a communist is far more foolish than voting for a neo-con.  I think you have been duped by the media propaganda that continually tries to trump this guy up as being a new Jesus, when he’s really nothing more than a puppet waiting to have his strings pulled.

  • @frontpage101 - Actually, the fact of the matter is that when you vote for an individual, you essentially vote for the party.  This is because of that thing called “the (Insert Name Here) Administration”, which is invariably made up of party affiliates.  Thus, in the end, your vote actually goes for the party, not simply the individual.

  • @Keilanilove - Well, aside from some of Creed_of_Kings’s assertions, as well as some of his un-polite/disrespectful rhetoric, he does have a few good points that would be good to dig out.  Be forewarned: this may require setting aside some personal biases, which is difficult to do in these kinds of discussions.  I do not want to comment on who I support in this election. However, I do agree with his assessment of the following three things:
    1. the “Cult of Personality” that follows Obama;
    2. the dangerously misguided use of feelings in this election; and
    3. the controlling role of the media in our culture.
    No matter who a citizen supports, we should all be disturbed by these developments.

    And yes… I think we saw these types of things over the past 8 years, and yes, I still think they are disturbing.  It’s just that… well, it seems that they have increased dramatically in this election.

  • So, Dan, what you are saying is that you will vote for a man who has less experience than Dan Quayle had? Plus, you’re going against your grain and are planning on voting for a person who, let’s call it as it is, is a pro-death to babies contestant?

    Becker

  • Obama is the candidate for CHANGE.

    CHANGING WHAT? I still don’t think he’s specified.

    You’re making a mistake. McCain is a FAR better candidate than Obama

  • it’s slim pickins this election season. :)   obama is appealing, that’s for sure.  thanks for sharing your thoughts.  i can’t bring myself to vote for him since he has laid himself wide open to the possibility of war with iran… and a few other details as well.  writing in Ron Paul  because I believe I should get to vote for the candidate who I believe would be best, not just who they tell me to vote for. (mccain or obama) :)

  • dan- obviously you haven’t heard some of the scary stuff about obama that i have. i fear for this nation if he gets elected. mccain isn’t the greatest but i think he’s the lesser evil. i wish newt gingrich were running – i’d vote for him in a heartbeat.

    @trunthepaige - awesome. being conservative gives any girl +50 points in my book, lol.

  • If I was old enough to vote I’d vote for Obama. :D

  • thats great! fantastic!

  • If you’re a social conservative, Obama is the worst choice for you (and I DO NOT like McCain either). Obama was ranked the most liberal senator in 2007 .. and not just on being pro-choice. 

    Check the articles on this website http://www.anyonebutobama08.com 

  • Obama c’mon please this man is trying hard but obviously is not presedential material.  Either is McCain for that matter I am seriously considering writing someone else in.  We have not voted for a senator for more than 20 years there was probably a reason for that.

  • @Eustace_The_First

    JOHNSTOWN, PA, April 1, 2008 In a comment deemed insulting to single mothers and their children, presidential hopeful Barack Obama announced during a town hall meeting on Saturday that he did not want his children “punished with a baby.”

    Following comments insisting that information on contraception be included alongside abstinence education, Obama stated, “I’ve got two daughters, 9 years old and 6 years old.  I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

  • As CrazyXBeautifulXDisaseter said you gotta do whatcha gotta do… I understand your feelings, but I have to disagree with you thinking that Obama is a social conservative and recommend reading his 66 page agenda on how he plans to reshape our society.  However, we all have a choice and I respect your making a decision.  If he is elected we deserve what we get.

  • Obama = change. And that’s definitely what our country needs right now.

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - Research done. Your scale is relative and uninformative and I stand by my assertion that your claim is bunk. I have editorial backup on this perspective. And I stand by my assertion that Ted Kennedy is way more liberal, which is obvious from the simple fact that the Democratic party would never even risk considering him as a candidate for president, and hasn’t for decades.

  • That may be the most insane piece of political non-thinking I’ve ever heard.  You believe in American values… yet you want to vote for the most liberal Senator (bar none) in Congress?  Have you done any research at all as to what this man stands for?  How he’s voted (when he’s even bothered)?  With whom he’s associated?  The statements he’s made and never refuted?  The absolute dearth of experience and leadership he’s known for?  I could go on and on. 

    Don’t judge this man by his slick speeches, sound bites or the endorsements of liberal politicians and journalists.  Don’t judge anyone, liberal or conservative, by those.  Dig for the facts… the true ones.  Take the time to acquire an informed opinion based on those facts and your idea of who would best uphold the interests and heritage of this nation, as defined by the Founding Fathers and preserved by the blood of American fighting men down the ages.  THEN vote… as a loyal and competant American should.  

  • Ignore the angry people telling you what to do or telling you that you’re making a mistake. It’s good that you’ve made a choice based on honest opinion and are sticking with it. You go man.

  • @soul_survivor - There is no such thing as an “accidental soul”. 

    Orphans: Moses, Alexander Hamilton, Herbert Hoover, Aristotle, Edgar Allen Poe, George Washington Carver, Johann Sebastion Bach, Leo Tolstoy.

    Handicapped:  Helen Keller, Chris Burke – Actor with Downs Syndrome, Jhamak Ghimire – Nepalese Poet and Writer born with Cerebral Palsy,  Jeff Healy – Blues guitarist – born with a rare form of cancer that left him blinded,  John Foppe – Counselor and Motivational Speaker – Born without arms,  Brett Eastburn – Motivational Speaker – Born without arms or legs, Gaby Brimmer – Born with a severe case of cerebral palsy.  Composed a few published novels with her left foot. 

    David Pelzer – Pulitzer Prize nominated Writer,  Has been on the NY Times Bestseller’s list for 13 years,  Veteran, Honored as one of The Ten Outstanding Young Americans, Honored as The Outstanding Young Person of the World, Motivational Speaker, Counsels troubled Children, Father. 
    At the time, David Pelzer was the most horrific case of child abuse in California history.   Born to a mentally ill, alcoholic mother. 
    So my question to you is:  Which one of these people do you think should’ve been aborted? 

  • @dropsofjupiterihh - I’ve read David Pelzer’s books.

    My answer to your question is “none of them.”

    Since I can’t seem to make myself understood, I’ll just thank you for the discourse and leave things be.

  • http://www.eyeblast.tv/Public/Video.aspx?rsrcID=2036

    for those who don’t keep up with politics the real way, and just vote for someone because you hear people saying they’re voting for this person. watch that video. me as an american am worried. especially the part about his mentor and how he disrespects our national anthem. thanks

  • @xthatdealx - The video has a few good points.  Obama’s voting record, or more accurately stated, his lack of a voting record… Obama’s association with certain influences that are questionable… Obama’s “typical white person” statement contrasted with his “Just words?” speech… these are valid points.

    However, a large portion of the video is just a smear campaign.  For example, the flag pin comment… totally taken out of context.  Obama meant that instead of trying to make people think he’s patriotic just by wearing a flag, he prefers to do be patriotic through his actions.  Here’s a quote: “My attitude is that I’m less concerned about what you’re wearing on your lapel than what’s in your heart.”  (Click here for reference.) There’s a difference between wearing patriotism, and living it out.  One person wears a pin, another person enlists as a soldier.  One person sings a song for a moment, another person works as a civil servant for their whole life.

    How about the “national anthem scandal”?  Smear.  Obama probably should have put up his hand, but it was probably more of an accidental occurance rather than an intended un-observance.  How many MORE pictures are there that show him with his right hand over his heart during the national anthem or pledge of allegiance?

    Click on the following links for more information:
    Link ONE     Link TWO

    Look: I neither like Obama’s “Cult of Personality”, nor his messiah-like status of “He who ushers in the glorious era of HOPE and CHANGE”.  I have HUGE problems with the ignorance of people who blindly follow his “Cult of Personalty” and super-star image.  Personally, I am really skeptical of the guy.  However, I have equally large problems with those who disseminate lies, encourage stupidity, and distort the truth — no matter which side of the political spectrum they are on.  Please, don’t quickly believe everything you hear about EITHER candidate.  Instead, fact check the videos you watch… and particularly those you send to other people.

  • Obama is a secular humanist BOLSHEVIK!  Good luck with your “feelings” Dan.  I’ll vote on facts and he is on record as a far left loon.

    He’s Jimmy Carter and Neville Chamberlain rolled into one and will be an absolute disaster for America.

  • well, I appreciate the fact that you’ve expressed your decision in a manner that is not demeaning to either candidate. That seems to be a rarity with the sensationalism prevalent in today’s media and “blogisphere.”

    Personally speaking, I’m planning on moving out of the country next year, but I do intend to vote, because it’s not just a right, it’s a responsibility. However, I am undecided. Since you are (I assume) an informed Obama supporter, may I ask what “change” is being promised that is great enough for you to overlook the abortion issue (something that you admit is a sticking point)? I’ve heard his entire campaigning about “change” but I’ve heard nothing from his camp concerning what direction that “change” is in.

  • I’m not really a fan of McCain, I get the feeling he’s a war monger, and I really don’t like Obama, he just seems too unexperienced and doesn’t seem to listen to military officials, I don’t really like any of the candidates, but of course I won’t be old enough to vote come november, at first I actually kind of liked Obama, but as time went on and I listened to him speak, I just got this feeling that he’s not right in his heart, and that he’s got some other agenda.

  • I remember reading an article in Time magazine and it comparing experience versus the outcome of a successful Presidency. It surprisingly had no correlation whatsoever and they had covered all of the Presidents throughout U.S. History. At times, some of the most experienced ones had the most unsuccessful terms in office. Other Presidents, such as a Abraham Lincoln had little experience, and he was one of the most successful among the group. 

  • What is in that pipe man? As any kind of conservative you have nothing in common with Obama! I am usually skeptical of people who claim never to have voted for a party but say they are doing it this time around. What about Obama even suggests social conservatism? His pro-abortion stance? His pro welfare stance? Honestly some of the fiscal and social issues cannot be seperated. Is it okay to steal money from one working group of people and give it to others who do not work?

  • yay go Obama :)

  • Great, let’s just spend ourselves into oblivion and bankrupt ourselves. When the chickens finally come home to roost, I’m going to short the entire stock market.

  • Dan, you see Obama as a way of change, well let me lay some changes he made on you:  he gave up his Muslim   religion because he knew that it would not take him to the white house.  He may give other reasons but no American is going to elect a Muslim.  He still will not wear the American Flag.  How can we as a nation expect a man to stand for us and support us when it is against his ideals to wear our national symbol?  Come on people, do your homework.  Revelations told us that he would be coming.  And we are not heading the warnings that we have been given.  Those are just a few of the problems that I have with the man.  

  • Hey GroovyJules would you please stop giving us conservatives a bad name? Seriously I’m tired of being tied into the conversation with uh ‘non thinking individuals’ like you. Liberals are more than happy to cry racism and call anyone who doesnt vote for Obama a bigot. Stop giving them ammo by being one of a small group of crazies.

     Trust me there’s MORE than enough of his policies to debate about and show Americans how harmful they would be. We don’t need to give credibility to idiotic rumors and emails that are without basis. Thankyou

  • @xXDemolition_LoveXx - The article’s here.  It’s hardly proof experience doesn’t matter.  All it says is some experienced presidents screweded up and some inexperienced presidents did quite well.  The authoer doesn’t analyze every president, simply the prominent ones in his memory.  There is no statistical correlation.  He doesn’t even define success.  It’s an eloquent non-statement, if you ask me, nothing less, nothing more.  Pretty much what I’ve come to expect from Time.

    GroovyJules, how is Obama a Muslim?  He went to a Christian church for 20 years–and suddenly decided during the primaries that his pastor was racist and quit.  Rofl.  What a two faced little b1tch.

  • I personally think that the choice is a simple matter of priorities… and you have obviously set your issues with the republican party as a higher priority above your priority that you have placed on right to life (it just sounds more real than pro-choice… kind of like the difference between manslaughter and murder) and your priorities on the homosexual agenda… again, to me there was no choice except not to vote…

    I beleive in second amendment rights… but it is a lower priority than my convictions on abortion and the homosexual agenda…

    I want our troops out of IRAQ… but it is a lower priority than abortion and homosexual agenda…

    Bottom line as a professing christian, (only God knows the heart and I am not a judge)… you have to reconcile your vote with your beliefs on moral issues and your priority that they play in your mind and heart…

    I want change too… but everything has a cost and my thoughts on Obama is that the risked possible costs are to high.

  • i agree too!

  • I’m not a political person but no one excites me more than Obama.

  • @Kai34 - Well, I read it in December…and that’s not the same article that appeared in magazine itself because that was written in February.  

  • @GroovyJules - 

    Oh people like you annoy and anger me to no end. The ONLY reason that people think that Obama is Muslim is because of his middle name, which is a COMMON middle name among certain cultures.  Don’t you remember the big stink about OBAMA’S PASTOR who said some really nasty things?  You know, the pastor he has known for years and years, before even getting into politics?Really, I don’t care what party you like, just use your brain.  You know, the grey and white thing inside your head?My last name is Pike, does that make me a fish?  *rolls eyes*

  • In other words, you think Bush is a just a moron who some how ended up becoming our president?

    Anyway, so far, I’m for Obama.  I as well, do not agree with abortion, but I can’t assume that every woman thinks the way I do.  However, I think that a program should be started to let women know that there are other options out there.  One that will educate them and help them out where needed.  Sometimes they chose abortion because they can hardly afford to feed themselves.

    I’ve strayed from the main topic.  I do not want McCain in office at all for the same reasons as you.  However, I am going to keep an open mind about other candidates.  Obama most likely will be our next president though.  Most Americans don’t like where our country is and is going.

  • As for what you said about not having as much experience, I think that is a great, great thing. We need someone who hasn’t been tainted by the system. Someone with new and fresh ideas. That’s where ‘change’ comes from. It’s much harder to bring about change when you are stuck in your ways. McCain scares me. My boyfriend has even mentioned wanting to move if he becomes president. I’m hoping Obama continues to inspire and people realize how truely inspirational he is.
    -L

  • Interesting

  • only 36?  i thought you were at least old as the guy in the profile photo…
    you and i are voting for obama for completely different reasons…

  • Barack Obama is a breath of fresh, fresh, honest air.

  • I look forward to many debates on this topic…

  • “As a social conservative, I think Obama is a good match for my vote. ”

    You need to do some more research into the truth of Obama and his claims.  If you still like him, great.  But dont discredit your intelligence by using phrases such as that to describe Obama.  Even the most cursory research will reveal that you cant equate anything in the definition of “conservative” with him. 

    (For the record, I am not totally satisfied with McCain either.  At this point, we are dealing with a lesser-of-two-evils scenario.)

  • In all your thinking of voting for Obama, did you research his beliefs. He talks one way, he votes another. He says one thing, believes in another. Look at all his exceedingly “sketchy” associations. Sorry, but that is certainly not change I can believe in.

  • ‘Hope for change’. That’s Obama’s campaign slogan and I find it ironic because if we are so unfortunate as to have him elected, we will all be ‘hoping for change’ cuz change will likely be all thats left in our pockets when he is done with Universal health care and all the other inflated out of control big government programs he is talking about.

     Mmmmmm taxes

  • @trunthepaige - spread the truth!

  • All you people out there who think that voting for McCain is the right thing to do you better think long and hard about driving to wherever you want to go whether its a rode trip or its visiting your sick grandma then think of the gas prices that will be $15.00 a galllon if you vote for McCain

    If you want to go to college but you broke and aint got no cash the best thing to do is vote for Obama because though you may not like him now he can help your kids l8er

    plus it would be a breakthough for the african-american race of having the first black president of the USA

    NOW YOU SOAK ALL THAT IN!

    God BlesS

  • I’m not old enough to vote and I’m kind of glad because neither candidate seems worth it. But one good reason NOT to vote for Obama is his lack of judgment. 

  • obama!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Yes, vote for a guy who wants to be president, but refuses to salute the American Flag or wear an American Flag pin because he “…doesn’t want to appear to be taking sides, since the American flag is regarded as a sign of hostility in some countries.”

    Barack Obama says he’s
    gonna go out and campaign in 57states.  Well, I have information from a website called the International Humanist
    and Ethical Union . Here is how the second paragraph of an
    article on that website begins:
    “Every year from 1999 to 2005 the organization of
    the Islamic conference
    representing the 57 Islamic states presented
    a resolution to the
    United Nations commission on human rights
    called
    combating.”

    Obama
    said he’s going to campaign in
    57 states, and it turns out that there
    are 57 Islamic states.
    “Every year from 1999
    to 2005, the organization of the Islamic conference
    representing the 57
    Islamic states,” this is from the International Humanist
    and Ethical Union . And
    the title of the piece here is, “How the Islamic
    states dominate the UN human rights council,”
    and there are 57 of
    them.

    So did Obama just lose
    his bearings, or was this a more
    telling slip, ladies and
    gentlemen?

  • NOBAMA for me

    I’m voting McCain

  • This is a great post.  I like the lack-of-flame-throwing thing :)

    Honestly, some of the responses, though, are crazy.  Barack Obama getting into office is not going to disintegrate our nation into some closed off island with people eating grass and his picture pasted up on the side of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, or anything.  Neither is McCain going to unleash nukes on the Middle East.  It seems to me people are getting a bit dramatic . . . do you watch Glenn Beck?  I believe what he says . . . there’s hardly a dime’s worth of a difference between Republicans and Democrats anymore. 

    As for gas prices and the economy and so on and so forth, things sure aren’t looking too good right now but there’s not much the government can do other than shuffle taxes around.  We have a capitalist society, meaning the economy rights itself; it goes through periodic ups and downs.  We haven’t had a major slide in over twenty years so because of technology boom and all that; one’s been in the forecast for awhile.  I don’t think either candidate will be able to turn this boat around, so to speak.  They can soften the blow, maybe . . . and Obama would probably be more willing to do that than McCain.

    I like Obama because he’s an activist.  This has a bad side and a good side: bad, he doesn’t know exactly what to do.  Good: he’s going to do something.  FDR worked just like that, he compared himself to a quarterback on a football team calling plays.  If one didn’t work, he tried another one.  This isn’t always the right agenda, but it was then when people were hungry for change and it is now.  Bush’s abuse of our intelligence levels has made popular opinion swing largely away from Republican policies . . . or at least made citizens raise their eyebrows a little.  I don’t think he’s Satan Incarnate or anything like that; Bush just wasn’t the man for the job.

    Several things about Obama worry me, however.  1) Pulling immediately out of Iraq would be suicidal.  2) He’s pro-choice and pro-gay rights, and 3) He doesn’t have as much experience, but this also means he doesn’t have an agenda.  Despite all that, he has the passion and drive to actually bring about change.  Good or bad is something the country appears to be willing to gamble on.  And anyway, comparing him with charismatic leaders such as Fidel Castro (who led a revolution) and Hitler (who illegally took control of the Nazi party and forced his way in as dictator) is just ridiculous.  Does that mean every leader gifted with speech has to use it for evil?  I surely hope not.  It is the duty of an informed democracy to judge this . . . which brings me to my final point.  Not voting accomplishes nothing.  The whole point of our government system is to cast your ballot.  You aren’t making a stand by leaving the line blank . . . you’e making it easier for people you completely disagree with to override your proportional share in our future.  I mean, come on, I don’t want to get all idealistic and stuff, but soldiers have died to give that right to you.  You aren’t going to find a god from Mt. Olympus in the political circus these days, but choose the man – or woman – that seems best to you and vote!  Then, at least, you have the right to demand change if things get screwed up and the right to satisfaction if things get better and the right to always, always work for the greater good of your country no matter what.

    Vote, people!

  • very well…i think i would go to canada if it wasn’t so inconvenient.
    i quit being interested in politics until after the election. nobody seems to know what they’re doing.

    as for obama, he’s more of a motivational speaker than a guy that knows what he’s doing. what he’s motivating us about, i’m not sure. change, but not necessarily change for the better.

  • I’m voting Obama as well. 

  • here, here! Although I never liked Bush; I give you props for your choice. Obama is the way to go. He is honestly what America needs. For more of my opinion on this matter go to my site and comment back with your view. Cheers!

    peace.

  • McCain’s a “RINO”, so it may just be better if Obama wins and the republican mark isn’t moved closer to the democratic side…idk, I would probably have to pick the lesser of the two evils (McCain), but since I’m not old enough to vote anyway, I don’t have to make up my mind.

  • Obama is fake change. He has never really described the change he wants to bring, I have never heard him talk about his plan for change or describe it in detail.

    Politicians are contollred by the masonic brotherhood of darkness of the illuminati.

  • Hilary was better, but we’ll take what we can get.

    I applaud you in your decision.

    Something I have never understood, and don’t feel like I am criticizing you because I am not… i just truly don’t grasp this, is how some people are so strongly prolife. Those who believe it’s wrong can refrain from getting abortions. They are unaffected by the legislation. Men are almost entirely unaffected by the legislation… not to say they aren’t at all, but their bodies do not go through the grueling 9 months a woman’s would. That primarily men write the legislation for abortions truly bothers me. To me this isn’t about prolife/prochoice, but a woman’s right to privacy- to make a decision on her own and not be controlled by men. 

    But it’s about destroying an innocent life for many of the social conservatives. I almost understand it… in fact after a certain point I almost completely understand it. At the beginning though, before the child has, and pardon my reference, fingernails I fail to see any issue. And as I said before, those who do can just have the little thing. Live and let live. It’s a controversial issue so let the single woman make her choice. There isn’t a wrong answer, everyone woman is different.
    OBAMA ’08 WOOHOO!

  • as to the person who posted above me I agree- he doesn’t have a plan like Hilary did.

    But he’s better than McCain and I think he’ll do at least some good.

  • I do not want to question your vote, vote how you like, however I am curious as to why you are voting for him? A “feeling”, is that enough to give someone that much power?

  • This will be my first election that I’m voting in… and I will be voting for Obama as well! . He’s what our country needs.

  • Democrats and Republicans are just two groups of equally stupid people. Both groups have their own way of tearing the U.S. Constitution to shreds.

  • Obama is going to be the way for me too.
    And It is the first presidential election I will vote in.

  • Quiz: Who was the last president who wasn’t related to another
    president, vice president, or senator?

    Good luck with that one.

    Just to cover the more recent: Bush and Kerry are cousins. Cheney and Bush are cousins. Bush and Cheney are both cousins with Obama. Obama is cousins with six former presidents, as well as Robert E. Lee and with Winston Churchill. Hillary Clinton, besides her husbands relation to multiple former Presidents, is cousins with the wife of Prince Charles. 34 U.S. Presidents are related to France’s Charlemagne, 19 are related to Englands Edward the Third. According to Genealogists, sinse the first presidential election in the United States, the Presidential winner EVERY time has been the candidate who had the most “Royal” bloodline.

    Call it a slight of hand.

    A trick, but..

    We live in royalty, ladies and gentlemen.

    Before you dare call it crazy, do the research.

    Even SOME of this is admitted in the mainstream, it’s just kept on the backburner. Don’t be afraid of reality, do something about it. Together.

    “The Americas have always been owned and governed by the same royal families of Britain and Europe that conventional history states as being among those defeated during the wars of so-called ‘Independence.’” -Michael Tsarion, “Astrotheology and Sidereal Mythology”
     
     
    (I’m writing myself in, at least i can live with that.)

  • Oh, my word.  I could have written this post.  I am a social conservative who is realizing more and more how fiscally liberal I am.  I have never voted for a Democrat and am taking a ton of slack from my family and friends.  I can’t believe how accurately you expressed my feelings in this post.  Wow.

  • I’m sorry to see that you’ve fallen for the very liberal Obamessiah.

     Both the Republican and Democrat candiates suck this year. That’s why I’m voting for Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate. I think you’ll find that he aligns much more with your social conservative views than Obama.

     If everyone who’s sick of the Republicans would vote for Barr, he would win in a landslide. People need to quit whining that they’re tired of the “lesser of two evils” and VOTE THIRD PARTY.

  • @jaydedheart - The money is the real difference in politics. How often does the person with the most money win the election? ALWAYS. It has nothing to do with your genealogical mumbo jumbo.

  • @HeavyThinker - The two are one and the same. You can always trace the money, no doubt about it, won’t dispute it. When the proof is in the pudding, the proof is in the pudding. And the proof says that our system(and much of the world) operates along bloodlines. It’s all royalty, it’s all a show. Fake conflict, whether it be party versus party, gender versus gender, race versus race, religion versus religion, to keep us apart while they toast in their shared wealth.

  • i really hope that you all have done your research. i cannot see voting in a man that is for:
    a. abortion
    b. contraception use by teenagers
    c. gay marriage
    and so many other issues that cannot be discussed. look into it.

  • @BelinaRising -  Woah woah woah!!!   How can you tell me that this man is a Christian? Not judging.  Just calling a shot here.  This man set under a racist for 20+ years, and this man calls himself a Christian makes me ashamed.  He goes by black liberation theology. 

    On the other hand, Dan I am VERY disappointed in you.   I am not too particularly fond of McCain, but I much rather him in office than Obama.  He’s against (as media calls him) the most liberal candidate in the US Senate.  Do we really want that?  Even John Kerry questioned him on his motive on voting in the Senate.  Im sorry, but I am going to vote for McCain in November.

  • Im not for Obama, but if he wins Im behind him all the way. I dont like any of the canidates. Im waiting another 4 years for our boy Ron Paul to come through for us.

    make revenue from advertising on your blog, sign up!

    at the bottem next to the search bar.

  • I have to respectfully disagree with you that Obama reflects the values of a Christian conservative. Obama’s statements that the word of God should not even provide guidance in the making of public policy is scary. If each of us have a set of beliefs, can we say that the beliefs that we have will have no influence in the our decision making process? But rather, our decision making process will be dictated by a meeting of the minds by many? I am personally looking for a candidate with strong Christian beliefs, and who will stand firm in those beliefs in the face of criticism that comes from a anti-Christian media. I don’t know if McCain is that person yet. But as of right now, Obama is doing a great job of showing to me that he is not that person.

  • Why do you feel good about him?  Because he’s going to raise the capital gains tax?  Or because he’s going to raise the dividends tax?  or because he’s going to raise income tax?  What specifically has he said that you can really get behind?

    Don’t take this offensively, but it seems to me that so many Obama supporters can’t actually explain what it is about Obama that they can get behind except for this vague notion of “change.”  But what if the undefinable “change” you’re looking at is a deeper recession and a downward spiral of the economy because of a candidate that has proved an inability to understand the basics of taxation and it’s economic impacts?

  • @Sunrie - you are fucking retarded

  • @LanaMia - i dont care if he doesnt know this shit. if he can hire a smart economic adviser who knows it better than anyone else, then thats all he needs. 

  • I’m a democrat and I have always voted that way.  Actually truth be told, I’m probably more of a Socialist.  OoooO–I said a dirty word!  Sorry to offend anyone!

    I can’t in good conscience vote for McCain.  I fundamentally disagree with his stance on a lot of things.  I think that Obama will make a good president in 5 years.  Right now, he’s a baby in national politics and he needs more experience.

    Being married to the military, I believe that McCain would probably be the best person right now.  Since I’m not voting for either of the candidates (but I will be exercising my right to vote) that only leaves an independent!

    There are people that say, “Why bother voting, then?” My reply is the same.  Because women haven’t always had the right to vote and I will exercise my right to vote (there were too many women who walked this earth before I that fought hard for suffrage) how ever and for whom ever I please.  I also believe that if you don’t vote, you don’t get to complain later.

    I don’t know who will win.  It doesn’t really matter.  Things in this country won’t change that much with either candidate.  The wars in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan will still be going on regardless of who’s president.

    On the note of wars, however: I seem to remember a time when the Congress was Republican majority.  Now, it is barely a Democrat majority.  They PROMISED their constituants that they would change policy and pull out of Iraq.  The way I see it is this:  The dems said we needed a timeline.  Nothing changed.  They made that timeline for their constituants so that they could show them “they are trying” but at the end of the day, policy was still the same.

  • social conservative?  Are you kidding?  He’s the farthest left on social causes that you can be.  The MOST liberal voting record in the entire Senate.  Left of Kennedy no less.  Sorry to hear that you listen to spin instead of seeking out facts.

  • You can not be serious. Oh boy, the world, if this man is elected is going straight to hell in a handbasket. So, he beat Hillary, but have you listened to his foreign policy? Or his out and out lies? Have you ever heard of wolves in sheeps clothing? 

    This man is arrogant beyond belief, and he wants to have a sit down with our most powerful enemies. These are not people you just sit down with to have a friendly chat. Too bad so many people are leaning this way. God help us all.

  • Um, yeah. Not only is he pro-choice, but he’s for partial-birth abortions.  Tell me again how that is even remotely socially conservative?!  I understand being disappointed in the Republican party; I myself am socially and fiscally Conservative.  But running blindly to a guy who has no experience, no substance and can’t even talk without a teleprompter doesn’t seem to be the right answer, either.  One would hope you will consider.  4 more Jimmy Carter years doesn’t sound appealing…  ~Andi

  • i am honestly so scared of my future after this upcoming election.  I don’t think America should roll over like a little puppy saying oh its okay. You killed thousands of our people but its okay. Go on doing all the hideous and mortifying things you’re doing, we’re just going to sit in the corner, pretend nothing is happening, and just look the other way when it happens again. But I also don’t agree with other things that are happening under a person who supposedly thinks this way also. I’m just a young, confused teenager, who will probably just cast a sympathy vote to someone from an independent party, or write in their deceased grandpa who deserves the honor.

    America is a young, young country.  It has many things to learn.  Its like that really precocious kid who grows up way fast, goes to college at 12, but can’t make any real friends or have a relationship because they’re so awkward because of they’re adolescence being shoved into  a fraction of the years it should have been. 

    I vote on a move to Canada. Or anywhere.

  • @khawsoicowboy - Haha, that is awesome. Very true.

    Honestly, I agree with Creed_of_Kings.

  • @trunthepaige - Well said and accurate!  Thanks for this!

  • @Oh2BTigger - Socialist.  OoooO–I said a dirty word!

    Well yes as a matter of fact i think it is. a form of slavery really, the product of your labor is public property an not your own. A political system based on envy. A great system for the lazy and envious.

  • I live in Hong Kong but I always heard the news of Obama……He is really topicality all around the world……

    (I hope my grammar and spelling are correct)

  • i feel none of the candiates are options, they both hold the same policy when it comes to Osama although Obama differs from McCain in McCain will hang Osama upon capture and Obama will try him first then hang him. McCain has no idea about the economy and has fully stated this not to mention he is old. Obama lacks experience, boasts about the wonders he has done for Chicago but Chicago is not nearly has diverse as the rest of the country and not to down play chicago as not being important with real issues that face real people, when you take chicago they tend to have the same or similar issues then say the East coast to the West coast and anywhere inbetween. Then not to add insult to injury Obama belongs to the Kill Whitie church. He claims that he doesn’t go anymore but views are views. Nazi’s live amongst us on a daily basis and you would never know unless they started to express there views. Both lack strong foreign policy knowledge and this past administration is a piss poor example.

    I am glad to see that you are going to vote. that’s good, you should then when things go a rye you have the right to bitch and complain where as someone who didn’t vote and was eligiable to does not. Kudos.

  • hmm…i’m an australian and i seriously think both candidates have their ups and downs. The question is, who has the ‘right’ ups for the situation america is in now?

    and i hope ppl arent voting Obama for the sake of making history, of having a black president for the first time… although i hope he wins. McCain is a safe choice. nothing much will change with him as a president. Obama as president carry some risks, but there’s also a chance that something ‘good’ will come out of him being America’s leader.

    As a bystander, go obama!

  • I cannot believe how ignorant people are these days. Obama, oh boy. He resigned from his church only because it was giving the church to many problems during his campaign. Have you actually listened to the rhetoric that his church spouts, and that he supports?

    This individual will not salute the american flag, yet wants to be president of America? He is leading the blind only the blind cannot see.

    He has no plan! Tell me if you know just what his plan is?

    For the person who wrote that it is time for the democrats to take charge, WAKE UP, who do you think runs the house and the senate? Gee, did you skip that day in class? The democrats are in control.

    For the people who say, I’m just not gonna vote, then you best be packing your bags, and moving to a country where the citizens actually do not have that right, and believe me, you will be wanting to come back here.

    At least some of you make sense. I say NOBAMA. Learn what he stands for people, or does he even stand? He seems to slant every which way to me.

  • I wanted to have a chance to vote for Guiliani, but that wont be happening now >_< I was going back and forth between McCain and Obama for a long time, but I have finally decided that Obama will be getting my vote as well.

  • Well it’s like I always say, abortion is not the biggest problem this country faces and those who continue to vote on that issue and that issue alone are doing more harm to this country than improving it.

    Welcome to the dark side.

  • @JTHJTHJTH - Swing and a miss.  I get the feeling that’s the best you can come up with, though

  • I agree with you and this upcoming election will be my very first time to vote. If it doesn’t bring “change” to the United States, it sure will for me. Ooh yeah!

  • A philosopher asks “why?” and sets out to come up with the answer and/or a new way to do things, though little more than mental exertion is involved.  A theologian asks “why?” and studies God to discover the answer and it (should) prompt him to act on what he finds.  Perhaps a more accurate title for your xanga site is The Philosopher’s Cafe.

  • Keep drinking the Obama Kool-Aid…

    He sure talks a lot, and I want to like him, but he just doesn’t have anything really significant to say.

    If he would spend more time talking about his purposed changes and the actual things he intends to do to make this country better, instead of beating a dead horse by trying to convince us all that America needs change.

    I agree we need change, but I honestly cannot see Obama as the one bringing the Correct Change! (I use correct instead of right so that those on the left don’t misconstrue what I am saying).

    I don’t think McCain is the right candidate either.

    It is too bad the media had so much influence in the way the nominations turned out.

  • How can anyone say that McCain’s foreign policy is “better” than Obama’s?

    BOMB, BOMB, BOMB, BOMB, BOMB IRAN

    Is it really so naive to think that the leaders of Middle Eastern nations are human beings that we can sit down and talk to? Twenty years ago, the conventional wisdom was that the IRA could never be a part of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Ten years ago, as a result of the Good Friday Agreement, they called a cease fire. Five years ago, they disarmed completely and their political wing, Sinn Fein, became totally dominant.

    But hey, maybe it’s just because they’re white Christians that they were able to come to their senses, right? Even if they are Catholic.

    Jesus Christ, people.

  • Think about your vote.  Check this out.  http://www.eyeblast.tv/Public/Video.aspx?rsrcID=2036

  • i don’t like either candidate myself. so i am voting with this in mind: whoever we vote for as the next president will have the responsibility of choosing our next supreme court judges.

    those judges will be making decisions for a lot longer than the next president. therefore i will cast my vote to whichever candidate i think will choose judges that will best represent my values.

    it’s just something to keep in mind for any of you out there who can’t seem to choose the lesser of two evils. at least your vote will still count for something.

  • Yeah: finally Dan gives an opinion of his own. yay!

  • I also admire you stepping outside of the conservative box to be honest with this election in particular. I can’t express how awful it is to hear a college student say he will always only vote democrat or to hear my father call Obama trash.

    As for the pro-choice subject…IT SHOULD BE A CHOICE! How dare you make a law telling someone they must do this with their life? It sure beats having kids raised by unsupportive and poor parents (excuse me usually just one parent).

    Religion and government should have never been related. A candidate cashing in votes on their “religious morals” is unfair and manipulative.

  • Sickening.

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