pheenix11

I wonder how many others there are like me.

My political ideology is right around where Rudy Giuliani is, fiscal conservative, social liberal. I am definitely middle class however and get a little sick sometimes of the feeling I am getting screwed over by big corporations. Nevertheless, I am somewhat Libertarian, I think the Govt should stay out of our pockets and out of our bedrooms. Both parties have something to offer me but I often have to make compromises to decide who to vote for. I have never voted for a Democrat. In 92 I voted for Perot, in 96 I voted for Dole, in 2000 & 2004 I voted for Bush. I have mostly voted this way because the candidates the Democrats offered up were even worse.

Some would say that Ron Paul is a natural fit and I do like some of his ideas, but he is too extreme and has too many white supremacists supporting him. I doubt he would have even entered WWII if he were President at the time and that is just too isolationist for me.

So why not McCain? Well 8 years ago I loved McCain, I voted for him over George W. Politically he is just about in my wheelhouse, he is a moderate who tries to work with the other party which I think is a good thing. He is a pragmatist which I like.

However, the McCain who is running now is not the same guy from 8 years ago. I don't know if its his age or what it is but he doesn't seem like the maverick he used to be. Now he just seems like someone who is trying to pander to as many people as he can. I respect the guy immensely for his service to this country, he sacrificed more than any of us ever will.

I think time has passed him by though. When he talks he just seems slow, he doesn't sound like the same guy he was a few years ago. I hate to say it but I think at this point he is just too old. He doesn't seem like he is all there and I can understand that after the tough life he has led.

As far as Hillary Clinton I hate her with a passion, I think she is the worst role model for women. She basically stayed with a man who treated her like crap just so she could get to the top. There are plenty of women who get there on their own. She is a fraud and I think she will do anything to get power as she is a ruthless biatch. Her "experience" is a bunch of BS, she hasn't done anything her entire life but ride her husband's coattails.

So since Rudy couldn't make a go of it, I find myself in the strange position of looking at Obama. Now socially he is fine for me, but fiscally he is definitely too liberal for my tastes. However, no candidate is going to line up perfectly. Experience wise he doesn't have much but I think experience is overrated. Nothing can prepare anyone for the job of President, so its pretty much a moot point. The guy is definitely charismatic and he seems like a decent person. Maybe he is a little too inspirational but this country could use a little idealism, someone who shakes things up rather than more of the status quo. He is young and energetic and I think he would be a good leader.

So I find myself in the strange position of supporting a Democrat for the first time in my life. I guess its just the first time they have offered up a candidate who I could tolerate. Meanwhile the Republicans are doing what they did in 96 with Dole, offering up a candidate who is 8 years too late.

So what do you think, am I crazy?

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QuiGon

Well you claim to be a moderate, but you're going to be voting for the single most liberal member of the Senate.

Hey, you have a God given right to vote for whomever you so choose, but when a moderate Republican runs against the most liberal guy in Washington, don't claim to be a moderate then vote for the ultra-liberal. I wouldn't call it "crazy" but it is self-contradicting.

Holy Diver

I imagine more republicans would vote for Obama than Democrats for McCain.

this isn't surprising....

I applaud anyone who would put aside the party for someone who they feel best represents their voice.


I know that I for one am sick of the person who currently represents my voice constantly mispronouncing words....nuCLear.

pheenix11

You are absolutely right, I can't deny it. Ideologically, McCain is where I am.

But there is something about him. Like I said, 8 years ago I would have voted for McCain in a second. But he doesn't seem like the same guy. He just seems slow and deliberate when he speaks like it is not sincere. He never used to be that way. I don't know if its his age or he is trying to be something he is not, but I don't like the new McCain.

I'm going with my gut and somewhat against my philosophy, but I just think Obama would be better for the country.

Its been difficult for me to come to terms with this.

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Terry Glenn is a cowgirl

Hitlery is gonna be the next puppet...

Real World

I wouldn't be so sure about that. You might be right, but color is still an issue for a lot of voters. Obama seems to be increasing the percentage of white voters that support him (which is a good thing), and I honesty hope race isn't an issue come November. However, I think it will be for some people. That's a sad reality unfortunately. McCain being more moderate than extreme also will make it easier for those types to cross over. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out should he win the nomination. I know a lot of white women who are planning on voting for Hillary, but who "won't vote for a black guy" as they put it. This election is like nothing we've ever seen. There are a lot of people who's #1 selection is from one party, but who's #2 is from the other. All for different reasons none the less. Some legitimate, some tragic. McCain is pushing some pubs to vote dem, but who wins the dem nom is going to push some dems to vote pub. What a wierd election.

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

pheenix11

Thats pretty messed up that they would vote for Hillary but not a black guy. What is that a racist feminist?

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Holy Diver

If someone I knew said to me "I wouldn't vote for a black guy" ... I'd stop knowing them.

Real World

I'm not voting for McCain. I'll NEVER vote for Hillary. I'm still open to Obama. I'm a fiscal conservative (small government low taxes), moderate socially (pro sensible gun control, understand social programs), and don't really give a hoot about most other stuff , so long as the government does as little as possible to get involved. I like to consider myself a fiscal realist more than anything else. Anyhow, my being open to Obama has some of my friends mystified. They see him as Deval Patrick. I can't say they're wrong. I tell them it's too early to pick a horse. Obama talks real nice, seems genuine and honest, but I still need to hear some specifics before I decide. The few I've heard are not very good. Nominate judges who've been in a minority position? HUH? Give drivers licenses to illegals? HUH? Those are two things I don't like. I give him credit for not mandating health insurance in his plan, unlike Hillary. He says people need to make the effort. We agree on something. Still though, I need specifics. Should he get the nomination we'll all learn the specifics. That will make or break him IMO. I hope he gets the nomination over Hillary. I think I could live with two honest candidates at the very least, in Obama and McCain (call it a silver lining of sorts) even if I don't like their policies, over that lying, fony, power hungry....well, you know, other possibility.

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

STFarmy

Well, given your explanation of yourself.... yes. I think Obama is a good guy, and honest. But that won't make me vote for him. Given his past voting record, his fiscal policies would be a nightmare on this country. I can't see why you'd go for him over McCain. I guess it's personal preference though. I personally think that McCain has learned his lesson over immigration (a big leap in trust I know), and I am confident he'll be hawkish on spending. Who knows, maybe he won't. But I can't vote for Obama given his past suppost. He's just not where I want the country to be. Maybe he'll be more moderate if he elected president though, I've heard that's common.