Election Challenge for TRW posters

[nalani]

Personally, I am still on the fence about who I'm going to vote for President and quite frankly, I'm tired of listening to the candidates and more tired of hearing the bashing going on in this forum. So here I post a challenge:

Describe why you are backing your candidate of choice. Be as clear and concise as you can and it would be great if you could use factual information - as factual as possible - rather than heresay or propoganda. If you need to post links as proofs to back up your points and/or opinions, that's cool and would be most helpful. There are a few 'catches' in this challenge: You may not, under any circumstances, bash on the opposing candidate. You may only make your points based on the credentials of your candidate of choice and not based on what the opposing candidate did or didn't do. Also, You may not, under any circumstances, bash on another poster's opinion. That is NOT the purpose of this challenge.

So what is the purpose? Well, it's two fold: First, it's to help me and others on the fence make a decision. Many of you are well-informed and I respect that. Second, I would love to see a thread where mutual respect is honored.

Non-US citizens are welcome to post their thoughts as well. I swear, many of you are more informed than a lot of US citizens I know. It's my belief that the entire world is affected by every country's leader so I would love to hear your thoughts as well.

So .. anyone up for the challenge? Obama & Biden or McCain and Palin on November 4th? Who's it gonna be?

 

[Frodo]

As stated before, I will be voting for Palin more so than McCain. Basically, you need to decide what is important to you in terms of what you want to for your country. Here is my list:

1) I want a President that will appoint Supreme court justices who will read the constitution and not twist the meaning into something that suits their ideology.

Case in point, would be the recent Conneticut case on eminent domain. The constitution states that the government can take property with due compensation for the public use. It was intended to allow for infrastructure, parks, etc... The case above came about when the local government siezed property from low income people and gave it to a developer so he could build a shopping mall, i.e. they took property from one private citizen and gave it to another claiming that the extra taxes the rich developer would provide was for public use. I was stunned when the Supreme court judges upheld the case. This was a total outrage to me and most conservatives. We need to keep these type of judges off the court.

Alito, Roberts, Thomas, and Scalia are awesome. For the first time in 70 years, the Supreme court actually said that a law passed by congress was not covered under the commerce clause. This clause has been tortured and twisted by the congress/supreme court since FDR.

2) I want a President that loves this country for what it was and is, not for what he can change it into. There are hundreds of socialist countries in the world and it does not need another one. This is a very unique country that allows us to succeed, or fail, based on our own actions. It offers a level playing field, not a balanced score board!! I love that and I want to keep it that way.

3) I want a President who believes in national sovereign states, not just ours, but everyone's. I do not want a Global government. Along with this comes a strong military. I believe in the "walk softly, and carry a big stick" diplomacy. (yes, McCain messed up this quote in the debate).

The rest of the issues to me is just noise. I can no longer say that either party supports the above. The Republicans have been hijacked by "country club" republicans and the Democrats have been hijacked by the socialist elites. Palin is the closest candidate to the above, but she is not the head of the ticket.

Now, make your list and chose the closest candidate!!!

 

[nalani]

Thanks for the list, Frodo .. gave me some things to think about .. I appreciate it

 

[Gonz]

I'm voting for Bob Barr because he's the only one that has a grasp on the fundamentals of the US Constitution & it's limitations on the federal government. He also didn't vote for a fraudulent bail-out plan that puts the federal government in a precarious position, economically & politically. No marxist ideals or silly notions of unity.

 

[Gato_Solo]

There is no candidate worth my vote because both the Republicans and the Democrats are, pretty much, the same thing. The only difference between the two parties is how they are going to steal your money for their own ends. I'm going to write in Colin Powell because he, at least, will not abuse the military for political gain like the Democrats, who voted for the war and then decided that it was a bad idea, or the Republicans, who will abuse me in order to look strong on defense. Some here may say that I'm deluded, but the best leader is one who will not use force in order to look strong. I would vote for Barr, but he is a bit extreme enough on some on some points to make him unpalatable to my moderate leanings.

 

[nalani]

Gonz, mahalo for that .. I haven't even thought of Barr.

Gato ... I totally understand what you're saying ... well, not 'totally' because I haven't experienced anything close to what you have, but I understand ...

Thanks gang for the thoughts so far .. keep them coming ...

 

[Inkara1]

Melissa said she's going to write in "the pig with lipstick." I was originally going to write in Jefferson Davis but I like her idea better.

 

[chcr]

Already voted for Bob Barr. As most of you know, I think the only difference between republicans and democrats for decades has been rhetoric. They want the same things and they use the same tactics to get them. Unfortunately, one of them will win and make a situation that is already much more dire than they want you to know even worse. We're fucked.

I really hope I'm wrong but I don't think so.

 

[H2O boy]

i'm writing in a candidate becuase neither major party candidate is worth my vote. both are promising things that fall clearly outside the powers of the office they seek to grant. one of the two would never get my vote under any circumstance. the other would not get my consideration were he running against a viable alternative. im tired of being left with the choice of the lesser of two evils, so I will choose my own poison for once

 

[2minkey]

i already voted for obama.

like frodo, i am concerned with the makeup of the supreme court, though i obviously would like it to go in the opposite direction he would. this is one of the main reasons for my vote.

i'm also confident in obama based on the way he talks, and, actually, how he struggled to get his words out earlier in the campaign. he was using an explanatory mode of speech. at this point he's spouting slogans like everybody else, which apparently works better for politics, but previously, he simply was trying to explain what the fuck he meant. rather than spin shit. that worked for me.

 

[Gonz]

You'd seriously prefer more Ginsbergs than Scalias?

 

[catocom]

I'm voting for Bob Barr because he's the only one that has a grasp on the fundamentals of the US Constitution & it's limitations on the federal government. He also didn't vote for a fraudulent bail-out plan that puts the federal government in a precarious position, economically & politically. No marxist ideals or silly notions of unity.

Already voted for Bob Barr. As most of you know, I think the only difference between republicans and democrats for decades has been rhetoric. They want the same things and they use the same tactics to get them. Unfortunately, one of them will win and make a situation that is already much more dire than they want you to know even worse. We're fucked.

I really hope I'm wrong but I don't think so.

been almost campaigning for Barr.

He's the Only chance we have in having a voice.

 

[catocom]

last email...

The past month has been the busiest of my life, but that's no excuse for not stopping and thanking you for your support. Reports from Russ Verney and Shane Cory at headquarters come to me daily and they tell of receiving so much in the way of help from our volunteers, and especially our donors.


As I travel around the country, I often open local newspapers to read their editorial pages. Imagine the pride I feel whenever I see one of the many letters to the editors my supporters write. These messages outweigh all of the pro-Obama and pro-McCain ink that appears on the front pages. If you have sent a letter to the editor, I thank you.


I also greatly appreciate the many supporters who have joined us at our rallies. Among this group are a remarkable number of young activists. Many are first-time voters, and their enthusiasm is hard to describe. If you have attended one of our events, I thank you.


Unlike my opponents who criss-cross America in their private chartered jets, I spend a lot of time traveling our nation's airlines, and the country's highways and byways. When I see a yard sign or bumper sticker, I am again energized and also humbled to be your candidate. If you display a yard sign or bumper sticker, I thank you.


And finally, to the many thousands who have made gifts in support of my campaign, let me say that nothing we've done would be possible without you. As the special interests pour millions of dollars into the campaigns of my opponents, I am especially gratified to receive such personal sacrifices as these gifts represent during these tough economic times. The funds we collect are especially helpful as we place more and more TV ads. If you have invested in my campaign to bring real change to America, I thank you.


Of course, there are still 11 days left in this campaign and I am running full speed ahead. I am prepared to continue the 18 hour days and commit to you that I will not rest until the last vote is counted. May I ask you to redouble your support in these last days?

 

[2minkey]

You'd seriously prefer more Ginsbergs than Scalias?

well i'd certainly prefer less scalia. uh oh thread drifting off topic...

 

[Gonz]

I don't understand if you're being facetious or serious.

Antonin Scalia is one of the greatest & brightest jurists to ever sit on the bench. He understands the limits placed on the government by the Constitution.

 

[spike]

Scalia is the worst justice to be appointed in quite some time.

I'm voting for Obama because I agree with most of his stances on the isssues. That includes Iraq, healthcare, diplomacy, energy, and the environment. Not to mention if one more justice like Scalia got appointed it would destroy any semblance of balance in the Supreme Court.

I used to like McCain back in 2000 but he's just not the same guy anymore. I'll leave it that because Nalani has asked us not to bash.

I believe Obama will be able to start to repair alot of the things i feel have gone extremely wrong under the current administration and restore much of the respect and standing we used to hold in the world.

I have a great respect for people like Ron Paul and wholeheartedly agree with them on many things. Paul's statements against the Iraq war have been spot on. I think a Paul vs. Obama race would have been fantastic for the country.

Similarly I find Bob Barr interesting as well but the libertarian stances on some things just don't work for me.

In the end Nalani I think you should just find out who's views on the issues line up with yours the most. There's some pretty good web tests that can help. Here's a very quick one.

 

[catocom]

[chants] Bob, Bob, Bob! [/chants]

 

[jimpeel]

I am voting for Palin-McCain -- in that order.

She has been discussed on another board I frequent for over a year.

When it was hoisted that McCain might be considering a woman for VP the press started bandying about the name of Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I stated, quite loudly, "Palin would be a far superior candidate." I guess McCain heard me.

Palin is an outsider. She ferrets out corruption and I hope that she will be as effective in DC as she has in Alaska. She is not the polished Washington insider who goes along to get along.

McCain is just the opposite. He not only crosses the aisle to get along but puts on the uniform. He is an appeaser and that galls me. He brags about his "bipartisan" stance but every time I hear the word "bipartisan" I want to throw up. This country was founded on partisan ideals. The people do not send politicians to DC to be bipartisan. It is partisan voters who send them there.

That said, when it comes to national defense and the willingness to go after those who are coming after us there is no other choice than Palin-McCain; and when 2012 comes around Palin will continue that defense of our country.

The next president will be appointing as many as three SCotUS judges. The far reaching effects of the constitutional leanings of those lifetime appointees will shape this nation for many years hence. I believe that Mccain will appoint judges who will most closely conform to the Constitution and the tenets thereof.

Both candidates promise change. This country does not need change. It needs leadership. McCain will give that leadership better than any other candidate; and I have faith in that as fact. The change McCain would bring to this country is nort as likely to damage the country as the other candidate's plans. hopefully he will not change anything.

Palin-McCain will get my vote and not simply because they have an R after their names. They will get my vote because they most closely match my ideals and my vision for the country and the tenets of the founding documents of this country.

I know you don't want to hear any bashing of the other candidate but this is the truth, not bashing. The other candidate promises change but chose an old-line yellow dog democrat as his running mate. That is not change; but it is indicative of his ideology -- the same ol' same ol'.

 

[spike]

When it was hoisted that McCain might be considering a woman for VP the press started bandying about the name of Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I stated, quite loudly, "Palin would be a far superior candidate." I guess McCain heard me.

Apparently McCain has been taking campaign advice from Peel if that helps you make a decision.

 

[chcr]

I am voting for Palin-McCain -- in that order.

Interestingly, that's not the order they're running in. Is this part of an assassination plot?

I wonder if you'll still feel that way after you watch a couple of episodes of her incipient TV show.