Liquor Dealer

If today was election day who would I vote for? Those of you who know me know that I have very strong leanings toward the Republican party but, I vote for the person and not the party. Would I vote for George Bush and is he the best of the choices I could make?

Bush has done several things that I really don't care for and because of these things I have looked very seriously (and will continue to look) at all of those who are candidates and those who might jump in at the last minute.

Dean - Howard Dean is way way way to far left at the moment for me to give serious consideration to at this time. I know that at this time he is courting the extreme left and the ultra-liberal vote. I am sure he will come back toward the center a bit if he is the candidate because I don't think any candidate can count on receiving all of the party's vote - any candidate is going to have to have at least part of the other partys votes and the votes of those who consider themselves to be neither Democrat or Republican and it really makes no difference at this point what name they follow. Dean appears to be the man to beat at trhe moment - by election time this might not hold true but right now, he seems to have the momentum. Gore has endorsed Dean and Dean has accepted that endorsement. In my opinion, Dean should have told him thanks, but no thanks. I have no more of an idea what the real game that the Clintons and Gore are playing than anyone else has. I have no idea why Democrats are cowtowing to either one of them. But, at this point that too is irrelevant. I would not vote for Dean without Gore's endorsement and Gore's endoresement and Dean's acceptance of it put them in the same shoe. This takes Dean off my short list.

General Clark - I have no idea what he stands for and I'm not sure he knows either. He seems very Clintonlike and I don't care for Clinton at all. Clark seems to flipflop depending on who his audience is - I want to know where he stands period. Not what he is saying at this instancefor public consumption. I don't think I could vote for Clark.

Joseph Leiberman - This man appears to be an honest and a good person. He appears capable, knowledgeable, willing and able to become a good president. Is he electable? I don't think so. I am in no way anti-semitic but I don't think a person of the Jewish faith could be a successful president at this time. The current and ongoing problems in the Middle-East, in my opinion, would make it impossible for him to deal effectively with them in foreign affairs. Is Joe Leiberman a man that I could vote for - Yes he is, but, I don't think he can be elected or even become the candidate and if he were elected he might not be able to survive in office.

The Clintons - While not an announced candidate they are definitely in the running. Not just no but hell no! It makes no difference who's name is on the ballot you get them both. Enough was already way to much of them. I think Hillary is a political joke played on the state of New York. They've had absolutely no representation from her in the Senate - she represents the State of Clinton and that has absolutely nothing to do with New York. Can a woman be elected president? I think so. Would I vote for a woman? Sure, if the right woman was running for the office. There are many females who are very capable of running this country - perhaps better than some of the men who have tried - but, could a female, at this time, be a successful president? I really don't think so and for basically the same reasons I gave for Leiberman - the Middle-East. The perception those in the Middle-east have of women would make it all but impossible for a woman to be accepted in their minds as an equal - much less as the leader of the most powerful nation on earth.

Gephardt - I believe that, in my opinion, this is the only Democrat I could support at this time. I don't know much about him but like what I've seen. He is knowledgeable, experienced, and appears to be an honest and decent man. I believe that these are traits a president must have to be accepted and effective. Would I vote for Dick Gephardt - under the right conditions I could see myself doing this.

George Bush - As I said at the beginning of this rant - I am not 100% happy with George Bush. I like George Bush. George Bush speaks the same language as I do and while some of you dislike or do not understand Texan, I do understand exactly what he is saying and I think if you listen to what he is saying you will also understand. You may not like what you hear but you will understand - he means exactly what he says - there is no hidden meaning, there are on insinuations, there should be nothing at all that can be misinterpreted - he means exactly what he says. Is saying exactly what you mean good in politics? In foreign affairs? In diplomacy? No! It probably isn't. It's a cryin' assed shame, but saying exactly what you mean doesn't work as well in these areas as does double speak - politicalese and dimplomaticese seem to be what is required. Tell them what they want to hear and can interpret in any manner that makes them feel good at the moment.

George Bush has been a good president. There is no one, anywhere on earth, that does not know that if he says he's going to slap you you're going to be slapped. Is this good in my opinion? Yes it is. Is this bad in my opinion? Yes it is. Can you have it both ways? I don't think so. Which is the best of the two? I think I would much rather him be what he is than be wishy-washy like Clinton. If Clinton had balls much of the difficulties we now have would have already have been dealt with.

I do have a real problem with Bushes courting of the extereme religious factions. I have absolutely nothing against anyone's religion and consider myself to be a Christian but this has nothing to do with government - it is a personal thing - it is a way of living - a code of conduct - personal rules --- I have nothing against his religious belief influencing how he conducts himself - his morals - the way he lives - his honesty and his sincereity. I do not believe that George Bush will lie to anyone. Many of you will take exception with this statement but I honestly believe it to be true. He has perhaps made honest decisions based upon false or flawed information but I don't beleive he has purposely mislead anyone.

If the election were to be held today I probably would vote to reelect him president for the reasons I have given above. Your turn.