ottopilot

I am an Independent and have no allegiance to any political party. I may run very conservative on some issues and very liberal on others... I take issue by issue. I despise the current state of partisan politics in America. With that said, I support no one running in the current presidential race. However, I will be voting for someone (edited last statement in the spirit of open-mindedness).

I find voting against someone an unfortunate state to be in. I desperately want to be inspired by a leader and vote "for" a candidate I can believe in without the bullshit meter always maxing out. Yes we need to balance real with ideal... but since I've been old enough to vote, I've never supported or was inspired by a presidential candidate. I know this topic has been partially covered in the "have you decided" thread, but I'd like for folks to post who you are voting for and why you believe in your candidate. I'm sure there will be multiple postings supporting your candidates, and I hope that the multidimensional viewpoints will provide additional insight. Try to be specific, no political "talking-points, and avoid expressing only your feelings.

OK... this PUB discussion is among friends who want to understand one another (or at least pretending to ). PLEASE... no protest votes and let's try to maintain a positive tone. If we listen and ask reasonable questions rather than confront, perhaps we can learn something from each other.

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Willravel

Why am I voting FOR Obama? He taught constitutional law. His voting record is surprisingly good for a centrist Democrat (he doesn't compromise as much as one would expect). He wants to get the troops out of Iraq. He understands and wants to implement economic policies that enjoyed success under President Clinton. He wants to give more money to schools. I think he's pro universal health care, but I'm not 100% certain anymore.

Poppinjay

I am begrudgingly voting for Obama. I covered his speech in northern VA for my then employer. Great, lots of energy, lots of goodies, gonna pay for it all with the war money.

Huh?

But at least there might be an end to this fiasco in the mid-east.

McCain could have had me, and in fact I called his office to protest when dropped out in y2k. But he's lurched so far to the right, and has gotten in bed with the right wing evangelicals that it turns me off. And this Sarah Palin choice... ugh.

So I guess I'm voting against McCain.

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I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

ottopilot

Thanks for playing Will... Is there anything you find truly inspirational about Obama's message or character? No gotcha's and I won't challenge your reasoning... I'm genuinely curious.
-----Added 5/9/2008 at 02 : 06 : 00-----
Thanks Poppinjay... I think many of us are in the "voting against" category.

In this thread, I'm hoping to get what inspires people to vote for their leader or champion. I'm afraid that there may be few actual supporters of candidates than those who vote against platforms or who make protest votes.

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snowy

I'm voting for Barack Obama because I believe he genuinely wants to change the direction this country is going, and he genuinely wants to help the American people. He is an intelligent man who speaks well, and it's refreshing to listen to his speeches after 8 years of a president who couldn't string together a whole sentence. I don't agree with him on everything; he believes that No Child Left Behind can be retooled and revamped, but I think it's unnecessary federal bureaucracy and a waste of money to even try. He's also the pro-choice candidate, and as a pro-choice woman, I want someone who is going to continue to support Roe v. Wade. Generally, though, he is the candidate most in line with my views. And he is inspiring--he has "it".

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Redlemon

I am voting FOR the Democrat. Because the Democrat will generally follow the social elements that I believe, especially compared to the Republican. The Democrat happens to be Obama, but I would have voted for Clinton as well.

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Poppinjay

I have to say, one thing that is comforting is that he and Michelle are both obviously smart people. I'm willing to wait and see how they budget for things like the free college plan.

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I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

ottopilot

I won't keep jumping in after every post, but this is a great example of providing beliefs, facts, and feelings why you support your candidate. This is more of the direction I would like this discussion going.

Thanks snowy... do you have any concerns about specifics in Obama's platform that you hope to see in more detail later, or are you generally satisfied. Again, like Will... no gotcha's here, just trying to demonstrate how someone may ask for additional insight without confrontation.

With that... I'll back off and let things progress how they will.

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Willravel

His speeches being reminiscent of the Kennedy's really does rouse my inner child. I've watched old Jack and Bobby speeches since I was very young, and they've always represented the most ideal view of politics for me. Obama does have the Kennedy tongue and it's a lot of fun to hear such amazing oration from someone a hair's breath from the oval office. It's inspirational. His demeanor is also second to none. He carries himself like a world leader.

As for his message, I found a few things in his DNC speech really roused me:
Senator Barack Obama - Democratic National Convention

Each of these spoke to me on a personal level.

ratbastid

I'm voting for Obama for many reasons, not all of them rational. After eight years of an administration that has made it clear I'm no friend, it's a relief to be reached out to by somebody. It's a relief for it to be acknowledged that America is me and you, not a flag and an office somewhere.

His background appeals to me--he's fundamentally a grassroots guy, who seems to genuinely stand for democracy and a plurality of voices and visions. I watched him give a microphone to somebody who was heckling him at a town hall meeting one time, and then honestly answer the man's concerns. Pretty different from "ignore the static" from McCain last night. He's talked about having a bipartisan cabinet, for crying out loud! Can you see McCain doing that? I can't!

Here's the biggest thing, though: I want someone like him representing me on the world stage. I think he's rational, intelligent, and mature enough to use his words and his inside voice in matters of international relations. We've been represented by Bozo the Cowboy for eight years too many.

ottopilot

oops... edit.

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roachboy

the positives about obama are for me close to what the other rb outlines.
the negatives have largely to do with my having no particular use for or faith in centrist politics at a moment when, to my mind, some basic rethinking of system priorities is required.
but even here, things loop back to what the other rb said--obama seems intelligent and flexible enough to not pretend that these problems do not exist, which is a welcome contrast to the past 8 years. plus i think he'd get the us a kind of political bounce or suspension of problems from much of the international community and that in itself could be a good opportunity to undertake the sort of changes that are required--even if they do not go as far or even in the directions that i think important (undoing this idiot "war on terror" and rethinking the entire military complex as a way of adapting to a post cold-war situation).

edit: i do not see mc-cain/palin getting this bounce or grace period. i think that will mean that the ongoing problems the us faces will move in a much straighter line than they otherwise could, and this makes them even more complicated to address. it's a downward spiral with them, i think.

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Halx

I'm someone who votes on the issues. I place high value on party history, social freedoms, and domestic policy. I want to make sure that even if I am self-sufficient, my neighbors aren't banging down my door asking for help. I want to make sure that I am free to do what I want with my personal life and my body. I would love to keep most of my paycheck.

Republicans may claim to be about fewer taxes, but their record in the last 60 years is atrocious. Democrats beat them at their own game. They do that while also providing a better springboard for people to succeed on. That's why I'm a registered Democrat.

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Glory's Sun

For this election for me it's the lesser of two evils. After seeing the true tax slate that has Obama's plan only raising middle class taxes a total of 5% or about $2,000, I'm leaning that way. Also, with the addition of Palin who wants to abolish Roe v. Wade and other issues, I'm going to vote Democrat.

One other reason that I'll vote Dem is because the Dem's record on Fiscal Responsibility is leaps and bounds above the record of Republicans.

Does Obama inspire me? No not really.. however he is alot more interesting to listen to than McCain. Palin reminds me of someone who is a good speaker but if you listen close you don't hear anything.

For me, it's not really about the Foreign Affairs this time around, it's about making our core as a whole stronger and getting the economy back to where it needs to be.

kurty[B]

Couldn't word it any better. Rational and intelligent. Oh, and has common sense. Something we have been sorely lacking in our administration for years and years and years.

To be honest, if Ron Paul was the Republican candidate he would "inspire" me, and would have my vote no questions asked. But that's not the case. There are a few things I slightly disagree with with Obama, but there is about the same amount of things I STRONGLY disagree with with McCain and Palin's approach. I don't need a person in power mandating their moral beliefs as mine. I also don't need "a change in the liberal Washington of today" as I see the administration of today as a religious conservative nutjob. I want the pendulum to swing away from that. Our government is setup to balance itself out. That is what I feel we are in the process of doing. Balancing ourselves from the last 8 years.

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dc_dux

I agree with many, but not all, of Obama's policy positions. The only McCain positions I might agree with are the ones he has disowned since campaigning.

More importantly, I value Obama's intellect, temperament and pragmatic approach to governing. I believe he will listen to a diversity of opinions to gain a better understanding of critical issues he may face before making policy decisions based on a pre-conceived ideology. That, in itself, would be a change from the last eight years.

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jorgelito

Thanks for starting this Otto. You're doing great! I am also an independent swing voter. I have covered alot of this stuff in other threads. Sorry, a bit too lazy rto recap at the moment.

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Digbudro

I cannot vote for Obama, I think he wants to turn this country into another failed socialist nation.

Willravel

Psst...
I'd be glad to discuss the facets of socialism with you elsewhere, but who are you voting for and what of them do you agree with and support?

loquitur

I haven't voted for a presidential candidate since 1984. I don't see that changing anytime soon. I have become far too skeptical and questioning of pretty much everything in the political arena for that to change much.