[My first political post in a long, long while. This is my one statement on the current campaign. Other than here, I'm going to stay away from political posts because I abhor the lack of charity that permeates them. The basic idea behind this was borrowed from Ann Althouse].
Yes, I’m conservative (mostly). Yes, I’m an Alaskan (despite being in Texas at the moment). If you think you know how I’m going to vote, you’re probably wrong.
I have yet to decide on who to vote for. I find talk of “well, yesterday I decided who I’m going to vote for”rather silly (sometimes). Why should I allow the candidates to write me off? If I decide to support one, that one no longer needs to convince me, and the other one can just ignore me. All that does is put me in political limbo.
As a selfish Alaskan, I’d rather have Palin as Governor than Vice-President. I still haven’t made up my mind on whether she’s a good candidate to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, but she’s been one kick @$$ governor (and stop it with the personal attacks, people. At times, the Bloggernacle disgusts me. Disagree with her positions or her experience, but as I’ve seen ‘Nacle denziens – in ‘Nacle postings, even – refer to her as a “milf” or say other nasty but irrelevant things about her, my opinion of the Mormon blogging community as a whole has gone way downhill). I doubt very much they’ll let her be VP and Gov at the same time, so that is actually a reason for me to vote against McCain.
I have serious problems with both major candidates, and both have attributes I find attractive. I’ve been known to vote for third party candidates in the past. In the end, I merely demand that the candidates attempt to woo me until the very end. I see no reason why I should commit myself until I’m in the voting booth.
On the other hand, I can see why some people feel the need to declare early. Someone has to to the actual on the ground campaign work, and if everyone took my position, it wouldn’t get done. Though that might make for more interesting campaigning . . . .
Geoff, most of Tossman’s comments were agreeing with me. (1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) He disagrees with the strength of some of the points but he seemed largely to agree. Even where he disagreed I think I could argue strong counter-arguments.
But of course the point was to show positives about Obama. Even if you don’t like him you have to acknowledge he has strengths. The question of the cost/benefit analysis is a whole other issue and has a lot more to do with McCain’s negatives.
Geoff -
If you respond to Clark’s list, I would prefer it if, instead of refuting the list, providing your own list of reasons to vote for McCain. At this point, I’ve heard all the negative stuff about both candidates, and I’m more interested in reasons to vote for someone rather than vote against someone.
Clark, I’m sorry you understood me to agree with you as much as you did. I must not have made my points well enough. You say you could argue strongly against my disagreements. Please do.
Other than a presidential demeanor and the ability to read a teleprompter well, Obama has no strengths. None.
Ivan, I think most of us here agree that this is a ‘lesser of two evils’ election, inherently based on who has fewer negatives. Thus, we’re not so focused on McCain’s positives as we are Obama’s negatives.
Even so, I’ll humor you.
1. McCain loves this country like I love this country, and he gave all but his life in defense of it.
2. Thus, McCain is more likely than Obama to understand me, and to defend the values I hold dear.
3. Three words: Supreme Court Justices.
4. McCain may not understand the economy like, say, Mitt, but he seems to at least grasp conservative fiscality. Palin will have influence there, too.
5. This is more of a gut thing and less an empirical one: I trust McCain more than Obama.
These are just off the top of my head. If, Ivan, you are indeed still undecided on this, I’m not sure it’s worth anybody’s time trying to convince you.
After 8 years of George Bush I don’t trust gut instincts anymore.
That’s all you got, Clark?
“lesser of two evils…”
No way. Not for me. I’m voting for my pick straight up.