The Weird Kid
Monday, October 20, 2008
Who should I vote for?
I'm a Libertarian, the party whose ideals amounts too, "Leave me the hell alone." I like that.
But I am willing to like either Obama or McCain. I listened to their third debate, trying to decide who to support. My problem was, when each man spoke, I would nod my head and say, "Yeah, yeah, totally. This guy is someone I could be proud to get behind."
And so on. Each man sounds sensible when they talk, each sounds dangerous when the other talks of him.
So I tried to focus on my own wishes for the country. What's important?
-Keeps guns legal. (McCain)
-Keep abortion legal. (Obama)
-Out of Iraq, let my social security go into an account in MY name, legalize pot, restrict borders, oil independence. (Draw, utter dismal draw, none of it is even hardly mentioned but the last.)
So, why do you like the guy you're voting for? And for some reason, I'm thinking, you are all voting for Obama. So, specifics, if you have them. Don't tell me "Obama is going to CHANGE things," because all I hear when you say that is, "He's handsome, charasmatic, black and not Bush and I want to kiss him." My husband says he is a substance-less shell, every move in his life made only to progress his career and therefore can't be trusted. Also, he's going to "spread the wealth around". Creepy, Atlas Shrugged kind of thing.
I need help. Who is the lesser evil here?
PS No Rants!! I'm looking at you, Kate girl!! Only I may rant.
But I am willing to like either Obama or McCain. I listened to their third debate, trying to decide who to support. My problem was, when each man spoke, I would nod my head and say, "Yeah, yeah, totally. This guy is someone I could be proud to get behind."
And so on. Each man sounds sensible when they talk, each sounds dangerous when the other talks of him.
So I tried to focus on my own wishes for the country. What's important?
-Keeps guns legal. (McCain)
-Keep abortion legal. (Obama)
-Out of Iraq, let my social security go into an account in MY name, legalize pot, restrict borders, oil independence. (Draw, utter dismal draw, none of it is even hardly mentioned but the last.)
So, why do you like the guy you're voting for? And for some reason, I'm thinking, you are all voting for Obama. So, specifics, if you have them. Don't tell me "Obama is going to CHANGE things," because all I hear when you say that is, "He's handsome, charasmatic, black and not Bush and I want to kiss him." My husband says he is a substance-less shell, every move in his life made only to progress his career and therefore can't be trusted. Also, he's going to "spread the wealth around". Creepy, Atlas Shrugged kind of thing.
I need help. Who is the lesser evil here?
PS No Rants!! I'm looking at you, Kate girl!! Only I may rant.
posted by Imez at 5:54 PM
9 Comments:
I'm with you on the lesser of two evils decision we have to make. On the other hand, as my friend Birdie pointed out, there are 7 other pairs running for election as well; who's to say one of them wouldn't be a better pick? It's throwing away a vote, most likely, but what's a voter to do? Let me know when you have all the answers, okay? :)
This is really brief, but here's the deal as I see it. #1 Pro-choice is a big deal for me. Obama's okay with that, McCain wants to over turn Roe v Wade. #2 Obama will not raise taxes if you make under 250,000. Period. I like it. #3 Obama will not get rid of guns; whoever said that is not listening. #4 Health care for all - Obama rocks...now, with Obama, he has the Government deal with it. That's okay, as long as I get health care. McCain wants to give everyone a 5,000 rebate but the problem here is that most private AND employee insurance will go up, so that 5,000 doesn't amount to much. #5 Also, McCain seemed really angry during that last debate and he scared me. If a simple debate can make the man seethe, then how will he handle foriegn policy with someone REALLY different than him? I DO believe Obama is a good man. So, obviously, I sound biased. Also, as I mentioned, I feel really strongly that no man or government should tell a woman what to do with her own body. Just my two cents. Good Luck!!!!!! Also, go to snopes.com if you have any questions.
McCain always looks like someone shoved a pickle in his pants during the debates. He is so angry and...angry. And on the defensive and attack all the time.
And for God's sake, I can't take 4 more years of Bush, I just can't.
And no, I don't want to kiss Obama, thanks.
I'm voting for Obama, although I think either is a better alternative to Bush.
Abortion is a big issue for me, and I like what Obama says, that no one is FOR abortions, so it's important to increase sex education to help minimize the need for abortion, overall. (As opposed to relying on abstinence... which just works oh so well.)
This election is also important, because the next president will be nominating new judges to the Supreme Court. Having MORE ultra-conservative judges on the Supreme Court is terrifying. Goodbye Roe v. Wade is just the start.
I also think McCain and Palin are incredibly short-sighted with their "drill baby, drill" ideas. A) It's going to be a decade (at least) before we really see the benifits of setting up major drilling offshore and in the ANWR. B) It's still a finite resource. I believe Obama has the right idea, that some drilling may be necessary, but thinking long-term, we really need to be focused on alternative energies altogether. Solar, electric, even nuclear could be much cleaner for the environment, and would be something we could generate here in our country.
I'm also betting that the next president, republican OR democrat, is going to raise taxes. At least Obama's admitting it, and putting a plan into place that sounds rational, and can be something we can anticipate.
Everyone said all the stuff I was thinking. And ditto about the gun control issue.
I get frustrated with people that think Obama is a Change Machine. Like that's all he can say, with no substance. It just takes a minute to look at his website, where he stands on each issue, but people only listen to his huge rally cries, which, to be honest, are more aimed at the lowest common denominator.
The same with the direction of McCain's campaign (aimed at lowest com denom). I don't think he's a bad guy, despite the "terrorist" junk he's throwing around. Looking at his website provides a clearer picture of his agenda. He's too conservative for me, period. And his selection of Palin as a running mate was so weird, it makes me skeptical of what kind of advisors he would surround himself with.
Anyway, I think your Libertarian vote should go to the Libertarian. Don't give in to the the two-party paradigm, vote Paul if that's what your conscience tells you. It's better for our country if we have a third party with a voice, in my opinion.
Ok, no rant, I promise! :)
The issues that are most imprtant to me that cause me to support Obama:
1. Gay rights: Obama has said he will support civil unions, the same rights for gays and lesbians to adopt, and he will fight against discrimination.
2. Abortion: he will keep it legal and therefore safe.
3. Health Care: He supports affordable healthcare for all Americans and believes that insurance companies should work for US.
4. The WAR. Obama was against the war from the beginning and he wants to get us out of there as soon as is safely possible.
Barack Obama took his Harvard Law education and, despite being offered HUGE money to work on Wall Street, he returned to the South Side of Chicago to help improve the lives of people who didn't have the opportunities that he did. He devoted his life and career to helping them get educations and job training, to provide social services that assist working mothers, to help people get off welfare and to break the cycle of poverty.
In addition, I just feel strongly that Barack Obama is a man of INTEGRITY. He isn't willing to compromise his beliefs or values in order to get elected. He is gracious, calm, reasonable, and stays respectful when faced with attacks; that speaks volumes about his character and how he would handle crisis as president.
That's it. That wasn't a rant, was it??
Oh, one more thing: I agree with Mignon 100% that we need more than a two-party system. But until the system is changed, wasting your vote on an un-electable candidate is literally throwing your vote way. And the Republicans would love that right about now.
I support Obama for many of the same reasons your other commenters listed: gay rights, the environment, pro-choice, ending the war. I'm worried about his lack of experience, but not as worried as I am about what would happen if McCain were elected.
I think McCain's image as a maverick is phony. I think he's an angry old misogynist. I think he paints himself as having been humbled and changed by his POW experience, when his actions in the decades since then have shown that he has not been. I think he is pro-business to the point of it being detrimental to average working Americans.
Sorry if that was a bit of a rant. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not so much voting for Obama as I am voting against McCain. (Need I even mention the fact that if he dies we get President Palin? *shudder*)
PS I can identify with the Libertarian motto, that the government should leave me the hell alone. BUT, I want the government involved in my food safety, environmental protections, and um, how about regulating the banking industry? I think McCain as president would take the government OUT of areas like these (where I want it) and insert the government into areas like gay marriage and abortion (where I don't want it).
PPS Found you via Kate, in case you're wondering what I'm doing here. Thanks, Kate.
I'm voting for McCain. He will not make abortion illegal. Just because he doesn't believe in abortion doesn't mean he will outlaw it, perhaps he will ban partial birth abortions, which SHOULD certainly be illegal.
I prefer to give to the causes I support rather than allowing the government to choose where my money should go. My husband and I give very generously to the charities we support. I believe in a flat tax, where everyone pays the same percentage, if you make more, you pay more.
I want to protect my family. I believe McCain is better equipped to keep our country safe from terrorists. They are out there, it's not just propaganda to get more oil. I don't love George W. Bush, I didn't even vote for him but we have not had another attack since 9/11, so in my book he did at least one thing right.
I believe Obama is a better candidate, but John McCain is a better person. This isn't about looks or being smooth.
Good luck with your choice. Either way, things will get better. I have faith in humanity.
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