Who are people who think like me voting for? (Al Gore, vote, Congress)

[vegaspilgrim]

I still can't make up my mind who I'm going to vote for! I'm voting absentee ballot and need to get it in the mail soon! I could care less about the political rhetoric on either side. I just want people here to help me think things out-- who do people who think the way I do plan on voting for?

Here are the issues I care about:

• I'm against the bailout bill. Huge mistake. Huge waste of money.
• I think income taxes should remain as they are right now with no significant changes. Why? Read next point.
• We need to quit becoming a debtor nation. I believe no new social programs should be created. We need to cut spending, but maintain current taxes in order to chomp down on the national debt. The spending has GOT TO STOP.
• We should get out of Iraq by the end of next year. We need to start cutting spending in Iraq today.
• Start taking a less interventionist role in international politics. If it doesn't directly harm the US's security interests, then get out and quit funding them-- I say let them kill each other as long as it doesn't affect us. The US has got to quit being the savior of the world. I say let's be selfish-- let's look after our own interests.
• Provide tax breaks to US automakers and energy companies who can develop alternative fuels/ energy sources and vehicles.
• Attractive tax breaks and goodies to companies (whether big or small) who create jobs in the US. Severe penalties for companies who outsource jobs.
• Get tough on illegal immigration. Secure the borders now, and start deporting hundreds of thousands of illegals who have been convicted of other crimes or involved in gang activity.
• The president, VP, and top cabinet nominees ideally need to have a proven record of bipartisan leadership-- not straight line party ideologues.
• I would prefer to select either of the "two" candidates. I will not consider ANY of these no-name third party candidates. However I would consider writing in well known national leaders who aren't currently running for office.

Who would you say my views most closely align with?

[vukinjo]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I still can't make up my mind who I'm going to vote for! I'm voting absentee ballot and need to get it in the mail soon! I could care less about the political rhetoric on either side. I just want people here to help me think things out-- who do people who think the way I do plan on voting for?

Here are the issues I care about:

• I'm against the bailout bill. Huge mistake. Huge waste of money.

Tie - they both voted for it

• I think income taxes should remain as they are right now with no significant changes. Why? Read next point.

Vote McCain

• We need to quit becoming a debtor nation. I believe no new social programs should be created. We need to cut spending, but maintain current taxes in order to chomp down on the national debt. The spending has GOT TO STOP.

Vote McCain

• We should get out of Iraq by the end of next year. We need to start cutting spending in Iraq today.

Vote Obama

• Start taking a less interventionist role in international politics. If it doesn't directly harm the US's security interests, then get out and quit funding them-- I say let them kill each other as long as it doesn't affect us. The US has got to quit being the savior of the world. I say let's be selfish-- let's look after our own interests.

Not sure

• Provide tax breaks to US automakers and energy companies who can develop alternative fuels/ energy sources and vehicles.

McCain

• Attractive tax breaks and goodies to companies (whether big or small) who create jobs in the US. Severe penalties for companies who outsource jobs.

Tie - McCain for tax breaks, Obama for penalties

• Get tough on illegal immigration. Secure the borders now, and start deporting hundreds of thousands of illegals who have been convicted of other crimes or involved in gang activity.

Tie - Don't think either of them are tough here

• The president, VP, and top cabinet nominees ideally need to have a proven record of bipartisan leadership-- not straight line party ideologues.

McCain - Obama very straight party voter and likely will have dem congress

• I would prefer to select either of the "two" candidates. I will not consider ANY of these no-name third party candidates. However I would consider writing in well known national leaders who aren't currently running for office.

Who would you say my views most closely align with?

Based on the above, I'd say you lean slightly McCain. Anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong (its been know to happen )

[Xotik]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I still can't make up my mind who I'm going to vote for! I'm voting absentee ballot and need to get it in the mail soon! I could care less about the political rhetoric on either side. I just want people here to help me think things out-- who do people who think the way I do plan on voting for?

Here are the issues I care about:

• I'm against the bailout bill. Huge mistake. Huge waste of money.
• I think income taxes should remain as they are right now with no significant changes. Why? Read next point.
• We need to quit becoming a debtor nation. I believe no new social programs should be created. We need to cut spending, but maintain current taxes in order to chomp down on the national debt. The spending has GOT TO STOP.
• We should get out of Iraq by the end of next year. We need to start cutting spending in Iraq today.
• Start taking a less interventionist role in international politics. If it doesn't directly harm the US's security interests, then get out and quit funding them-- I say let them kill each other as long as it doesn't affect us. The US has got to quit being the savior of the world. I say let's be selfish-- let's look after our own interests.
• Provide tax breaks to US automakers and energy companies who can develop alternative fuels/ energy sources and vehicles.
• Attractive tax breaks and goodies to companies (whether big or small) who create jobs in the US. Severe penalties for companies who outsource jobs.
• Get tough on illegal immigration. Secure the borders now, and start deporting hundreds of thousands of illegals who have been convicted of other crimes or involved in gang activity.
• The president, VP, and top cabinet nominees ideally need to have a proven record of bipartisan leadership-- not straight line party ideologues.
• I would prefer to select either of the "two" candidates. I will not consider ANY of these no-name third party candidates. However I would consider writing in well known national leaders who aren't currently running for office.

Who would you say my views most closely align with?

You sound 3rd party! Vote 3rd party if you can't decide between Obama and McCain. That's what many of the undecideds are doing!

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by vukinjo

Based on the above, I'd say you lean slightly McCain. Anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong (its been know to happen )

I pretty much agree with you!!

[ecvMatt]

Bob Barr!!!!!!

Libertarian Party | Smaller Government | Lower Taxes | More Freedom

[LLLL98]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I still can't make up my mind who I'm going to vote for! I'm voting absentee ballot and need to get it in the mail soon! I could care less about the political rhetoric on either side. I just want people here to help me think things out-- who do people who think the way I do plan on voting for?

Here are the issues I care about:

• I'm against the bailout bill. Huge mistake. Huge waste of money.
• I think income taxes should remain as they are right now with no significant changes. Why? Read next point.
• We need to quit becoming a debtor nation. I believe no new social programs should be created. We need to cut spending, but maintain current taxes in order to chomp down on the national debt. The spending has GOT TO STOP.
• We should get out of Iraq by the end of next year. We need to start cutting spending in Iraq today.
• Start taking a less interventionist role in international politics. If it doesn't directly harm the US's security interests, then get out and quit funding them-- I say let them kill each other as long as it doesn't affect us. The US has got to quit being the savior of the world. I say let's be selfish-- let's look after our own interests.
• Provide tax breaks to US automakers and energy companies who can develop alternative fuels/ energy sources and vehicles.
• Attractive tax breaks and goodies to companies (whether big or small) who create jobs in the US. Severe penalties for companies who outsource jobs.
• Get tough on illegal immigration. Secure the borders now, and start deporting hundreds of thousands of illegals who have been convicted of other crimes or involved in gang activity.
• The president, VP, and top cabinet nominees ideally need to have a proven record of bipartisan leadership-- not straight line party ideologues.
• I would prefer to select either of the "two" candidates. I will not consider ANY of these no-name third party candidates. However I would consider writing in well known national leaders who aren't currently running for office.

Who would you say my views most closely align with?

I'm going with Obama.

Bailout - they both voted for it (reluctantly according to both sides)

Income taxes - Obama. He will cut for middle class, but raise for the richest, McCain will keep the middle class taxes at about where they are, but lower some of the taxes on the rich, so neither will keep things exactly the same.

Spending - McCain to some extent. He wants to freeze spending. Obama on the hand will go through each program and eliminate the ones that don't make sense, he will also cut spending by getting out of Iraq (see next issue)

Iraq - Obama

International issues - Obama. McCain doesn't have any problem with threatening Iran, Syria, Russia or anyone else who looks at us or any of our "friends" funny. This strategy might lead to wars on numerous fronts with countries who are not direct threats to us.

Auto efficiency tax credits - Obama.

Tax breaks - Obama. Obama will impliment penalties for companies who ship American jobs offshore, he will also give tax credits to companies that create new jobs for American workers. McCain will give tax breaks to big companies in "hopes" that the benefits will be felt down the line (see last 8 years if you are interested in how this strategy might pan out)

Illegal immigration - Frankly, they both suck on this issue. It's my biggest problem with Obama. The only way this issue is going to be addressed is through local and state elections.

Bipartisanship - McCain circa 2000, but he's not running. Obama has shown that he is intersted in hearing both sides of any arguement, I believe he will try to find a middle ground.

Do some research, study up for the next week and make the choice that you're most comfortable with.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by Xotik

You sound 3rd party! Vote 3rd party if you can't decide between Obama and McCain. That's what many of the undecideds are doing!

I thought about this for a long time. Ideologically, I think my views lie closest to the Libertarian Party. The other third parties out there just plain scare me. However, I firmly believe that who you vote for as president should not be based on strictly ideological parameters-- but equally weighted with the leadership credentials of the candidate. And Bob Barr simply ain't it-- I have more confidence in either Obama or McCain than Bob Barr. If in theory I was going to do a "none of the above" vote, I would at least rather vote for a man or woman I have confidence in. Now who exactly would that be? Someone like Al Gore on the Democrats side, or a Rudy Guiliani/ Mitt Romney/ pre-campaign McCain on the Republican side. I used to really like McCain, but now I'm starting to think he's full of **** after he chose Palin. I would rather see Obama or Biden in office than Sarah Palin. In any case, since I don't feel too strongly about any of the third parties or write-ins, and since I'm voting in Colorado, a swing state in this election, I feel like I HAVE to pick at least one or the other and hold my nose.

I'm not convinced that either one of these candidates, or the third parties necessarily, knows how to fix the economy. I think what I'm trying to figure out is not who's going to "fix" the situation-- it's which candidate is less likely to muck things up much worse than they are now? I totally think that we need CHANGE from the policies of the Bush administration. I think people are right that McCain's administration probably wouldn't be much different from Bush's administration. However, I'm not sure if Obama's plans for change are going to make things any better.

I have an interesting take on this whole thing. I think Obama himself is respectable, but Obama's supporters scare the **** out of me. These t-shirts and posters I've seen all over the place with Obama's idealized portrait remind me of what they do in third world dictatorships-- putting giant idealized pictures of their dicator's face everywhere. These shirts that combine the face of a political candidate with the phrase "HOPE" scare the living daylights out of me. Politics should not be about emotional pleas-- it should be about rational arguments. The fact that Obama happens to be 1/2 African American should have absolutely NO impact on whether or not I vote for him. The fact that some people want to vote for him just because they want to be able to say we have a "first black president" are voting for the completely wrong reasons. Socially, I detest hardcore Obama supporters in general-- the type who was behind the guy well before the Democratic party chose him in the primaries. I find myself much more comfortable being around McCain supporters. However, I'm also smart enough to understand that I'm voting for the man himself, not the supporters of the candidate. It is something to keep in mind though.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by vukinjo

Based on the above, I'd say you lean slightly McCain. Anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong (its been know to happen )

I agree; the OP leans toward McCain.

[luzianne]

Where's that calulator that asks you questions to determine where you stand on issues and then tells you which candidate is most aligned with you?

[cohdane]

If you really want to vote your ideology, vote "none of the above" or write in "Mickey Mouse" to register your protest.

I agree the next four years are going to suck regardless. I think they will suck slightly less with Obama in office.

One other thing to consider (whether you agree with it, I don't know), the last time this country felt this demoralized was at the end of Carter's term. Everyone thought it was the end of America-- it was very bad. I didn't like Reagan's policies, but you had to give the guy credit. He could look the country in the eye and inspire confidence. With his reassurances and soft-spoken speeches, he personally had a lot to do with restoring pride and hope in the country.

We're in a controversial war. Our economy is imploding. So is the world's. A guy who can give an inspiring speech isn't the worst idea right now (factoring in that he appears to be more of an idealist than a facist.)

Good luck in your vote. Good luck to all of us.