Who Ya Gonna Vote For?

[Charlie3]

I take my right to vote fairly seriously. Even the small local elections are an opportunity to research candidates and make a sound pick. I've been voting for nearly two decades now and I feel like the upcoming presidential election is the most important election Americans have had in a long time.

With Pakistan in turmoil... Iran and North Korea flirting with nuclear weapons... some $50 trillion in federal debt... rampant foreclosures... Social Security and Medicaid going broke... America losing alot of respect internationally... I really feel like we need a strong leader who can right the ship so to speak.

So I thought I'd start a thread to discuss the upcoming election and hopefully it stays active where we can share ideas.

Who Ya Gonna Vote For?

My two favorite candidates (at the moment because things change) are favorites for two very different reasons.

Ron Paul:

Been a registered Republican for at least 10 years and have voted along party lines with a few exceptions in that time frame. I was also a registered libertarian in my early 20s. Maybe that's why I like him.

His ideas are radical however and he will never get the nomination. If the Florida primary were today, I'd vote for him but it would probably be a "wasted" vote.

Ron Paul basically says immediately kill all international foreign aid and reduce the federal government to a skeleton as a means of saving enough money to get rid of the IRS... to slash spending so that there would be no need for a federal tax.

Alot of my social worker friends think I'm an idiot... that I should vote for somebody in favor of a candidate who will increase the benefits for the poor. But I tend to think that if taxes are lower, people will have more money to give to organizations like The Salvation Army.

But like I said, Ron Paul will never get the nomination. So in the meantime, I am kinda hoping the following Democrat will start picking up speed... especially after seeing him speak on C-Span tonight.

Joe Biden:

This guy is really the only Democrat who is not saying we will immediately withdrawl from the Middle East just to get elected. I don't like the war in Iraq. (I know I'll get crucified by y'all for saying that but oh well) He is also not a Democrat in favor of universal health insurance, which is a scary proposition for me.

Biden has had extensive foreign policy experience and knows that ending the war is the main priority but at the same time he seems to be doing everything he can to support the troops while they are there. Specifically I like the fact that he has been to Iraq more times than all the other candidates combined and the fact that he supported more funding for the armored vehicles to keep the troops safe.

He seems like a guy who once we get out of Iraq... would also start spending money on America... getting our debt down and supporting more domestic programs.

But I'm really interested in learing what some of y'all think... even those of you outside of America.

What are your thoughts?

[hiiamben]

You know i have voted every election since 1980. I/m not voting for any of em this time none of em deserve my vote!!

[Frantish]

Needed a 4th.

"Someone smart"

[Lure]

I guess you've seen this...



http://www.theonion.com/content/video/p ... _important

[Charlie3]

surely all of you don't think like ben?

http://www.time.com/time/politics/artic ... 70,00.html

[mevan]

From an outsider looking in (I do pay attention to American Politics) I have to say atm that Obama looks like the man. Not that I am left of center but he does have ahead of steam built up.

Just wish the Rep could have field a couple more stronger candidates.

[FuelPump]

Another outsider looking in....
I don't know the names or the issues, but I firmly believe that we all need to keep troops in Iraq until the situation has stabilised (which it appears to be doing, to some small degree at least, but it's still a very long road).
I was against the war at the start (or more preciseley I was against the WAY that the war was started and fought, without thinking too much about the long term objectives), but while we are there, we need to finish what has been started and do the best that we can to salvage something from it.
Peace in the Middle East? Unlikely. But if we pull out now, just for the sake of some politician's poularity, we stand to lose much more in the long term.
Another reason not to leave the area before it's ready to be left is that it would be an insult to the men and women who have lost their lives already, nobody should ever have to give their lives when there is no intention of seeing things through to the end.
Anyway, there's my 2 cents worth.

[Tzulscha]

Ain't gonna say.

I don't talk politics...

[trevor8]

Being in the American Army, I tend to vote republican because they seem to give us pay raises and take care of us a little better, but in return we have to fight their wars. Well I support the war in Iraq, Afganistan and the global war on terror. I do not like the way they are fighting it or the rules of engagement. We are fighting with 1 hand tied to our side... America has become too soft, worried about human rights. If there was a president that said we were gonna kick down every door in iraq and blow up every cave with no warning or mercy, he would have my vote...but we got a bunch of pussies and 1 bleeding pussy...not sure who im going to vote for yet...Obama is on top for me right now. I need to research some more though.

[Kizmet]

Being in the American Army, I tend to vote republican because they seem to give us pay raises and take care of us a little better, but in return we have to fight their wars. Well I support the war in Iraq, Afganistan and the global war on terror. I do not like the way they are fighting it or the rules of engagement. We are fighting with 1 hand tied to our side... America has become too soft, worried about human rights. If there was a president that said we were gonna kick down every door in iraq and blow up every cave with no warning or mercy, he would have my vote...but we got a bunch of pussies and 1 bleeding pussy...not sure who im going to vote for yet...Obama is on top for me right now. I need to research some more though.

The largest pay raise that the military ever got was under Jimmy Carter, a Democrat and relative of mine. That's one of the few things he did right.

I have not made up my mind yet. These candidates tend to numb my mind. I'll hold my thoughts on this until I decide.

[Cono]

[quote="Kizmet]Jimmy Carter, a Democrat and relative of mine.[/quote]

Damn Kiz, did you have to tell me that!!!!

Jimmy Carter was actually my favorite ex-President until he started badmouthing the U.S elections and endorsing every two-bit dictator from here to North Korea.

Now, I just wish he'd shut up and go away.

He (his Presidency) is why I tend to vote Conservative.

It's a shame that the Democrats and Republicans don't have any candidates worth a crap in what is probably going to be the most important election in this country's history. 300 million people and we can't come up with better candidates?

[thor]

... 300 million people and we can't come up with better candidates?

That is because it is money - not politics that run campagnes. Suddenly it is not 300 milion people anymore - it is just the few that have money...

[Ma]

I'm not participating in this thread... wait, does that count? Shit.

[hiiamben]

OMFG KIz your kin to peanut head?? The shame the shame!! He's the reason i went republican and voted that way ever since til this year that is!!