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Jan. 5th, 2008 02:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
csberryWhy did I want Iowans to vote for Obama?
Political wisdom is that Hillary is doing very well in New Hampshire and if she won Iowa and NH, then she would coast to the nomination. If I was going to get my opportunity in Alabama to vote for someone in contention (that I wanted to vote for), then I needed him to do well enough in Iowa to give the race enough competition to be up for grabs when it was my turn to vote.
Why do I want to vote for Obama?
My primary consideration for my vote for president is someone I believe will inspire our nation and improve international relations. Congress waters down much of the politics of the president, so I'm willing to forgive political differences in light of a good character.
I am 100% in love with Obama's character and personality. He's impressive, professional, personal, and seems to have an emotional even keel. His positions are more "big govt" than I like, but he seems more results-oriented than being married to any particular system (especially some stuff I've read from the Chicago papers from his time in state politics).
I don't buy into the criticism that he's unexperienced with foreign affairs. The same was said about Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Most Democrats would say that both had significant international successes to counter some defeats.
OF COURSE, I would be a liar if part of me wasn't swept up in the thought of how Obama's election to the presidency (as the first non-white in the position) would change America in the short and long term, both domestically and internationally. He would be a superb role model for generations.
Why not speak up about someone else?
GOP side - Despite previous support for Fred Thompson, I've chilled on his campaign effort and will not be wearing the lapel pin I got for my donation. I guess Romney, McCain, and Guiliani would be better than Bush. If the nomination is a done deal for both parties, I'm likely to vote for the closest philosophical presidential candidate in the race - Ron Paul.
Dem side - John Edwards has always set off my slick-lawyer alarm. I didn't see Biden and Dodd as leaders. They are good legislators and I would strongly endorse Biden as VP. I think he looks good on camera, gives good interviews, and will work well with Congress on legislation. I still kinda like Bill Richardson. He just hasn't done anything that particularly stands out to me.
There is no way I'm voting for Hillary. While I don't think she'd be a "bad" president for a term, it's all the baggage that she brings that trumps all else. I think she's done fine as a Senator but I don't buy this whole marketing of her as being tremendously experienced. First Lady doesn't make you co-President. She wasn't involved in every meeting, she didn't make all the decisions, and she wasn't the one that charmed the international community and the bulk of the American population.
Forgive the possibly too Alabama of a reference...People need to realize that Hillary Clinton isn't Lurleen Wallace. I've read, at least, two different polls about how more than half of the respondents that supported Hillary did so because they couldn't actually put Bill back into the White House. While the amount of those polled that REALLY only wanted Bill in office is up for conjecture, I think this highlights my concern that the public may not entirely know who we're actually voting for with Clinton yet. The Dems should avoid rushing to give her the nomination before enough harsh light is shown on her during the campaign. Don't waste your nomination on a possible other Mondale come general election time.
Political wisdom is that Hillary is doing very well in New Hampshire and if she won Iowa and NH, then she would coast to the nomination. If I was going to get my opportunity in Alabama to vote for someone in contention (that I wanted to vote for), then I needed him to do well enough in Iowa to give the race enough competition to be up for grabs when it was my turn to vote.
Why do I want to vote for Obama?
My primary consideration for my vote for president is someone I believe will inspire our nation and improve international relations. Congress waters down much of the politics of the president, so I'm willing to forgive political differences in light of a good character.
I am 100% in love with Obama's character and personality. He's impressive, professional, personal, and seems to have an emotional even keel. His positions are more "big govt" than I like, but he seems more results-oriented than being married to any particular system (especially some stuff I've read from the Chicago papers from his time in state politics).
I don't buy into the criticism that he's unexperienced with foreign affairs. The same was said about Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Most Democrats would say that both had significant international successes to counter some defeats.
OF COURSE, I would be a liar if part of me wasn't swept up in the thought of how Obama's election to the presidency (as the first non-white in the position) would change America in the short and long term, both domestically and internationally. He would be a superb role model for generations.
Why not speak up about someone else?
GOP side - Despite previous support for Fred Thompson, I've chilled on his campaign effort and will not be wearing the lapel pin I got for my donation. I guess Romney, McCain, and Guiliani would be better than Bush. If the nomination is a done deal for both parties, I'm likely to vote for the closest philosophical presidential candidate in the race - Ron Paul.
Dem side - John Edwards has always set off my slick-lawyer alarm. I didn't see Biden and Dodd as leaders. They are good legislators and I would strongly endorse Biden as VP. I think he looks good on camera, gives good interviews, and will work well with Congress on legislation. I still kinda like Bill Richardson. He just hasn't done anything that particularly stands out to me.
There is no way I'm voting for Hillary. While I don't think she'd be a "bad" president for a term, it's all the baggage that she brings that trumps all else. I think she's done fine as a Senator but I don't buy this whole marketing of her as being tremendously experienced. First Lady doesn't make you co-President. She wasn't involved in every meeting, she didn't make all the decisions, and she wasn't the one that charmed the international community and the bulk of the American population.
Forgive the possibly too Alabama of a reference...People need to realize that Hillary Clinton isn't Lurleen Wallace. I've read, at least, two different polls about how more than half of the respondents that supported Hillary did so because they couldn't actually put Bill back into the White House. While the amount of those polled that REALLY only wanted Bill in office is up for conjecture, I think this highlights my concern that the public may not entirely know who we're actually voting for with Clinton yet. The Dems should avoid rushing to give her the nomination before enough harsh light is shown on her during the campaign. Don't waste your nomination on a possible other Mondale come general election time.
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no subject
Date: 2008-01-06 02:12 pm (UTC)I understand Paul's (and others') view that the Fed govt shouldn't have any involvement with it at all and thus it isn't trampling on anyone's right. While not a perfect solution, I prefer that truly controversial topics to be decided on state by state. Some states may be lenient towards abortion while others aren't...but it is the majority community standard for that area and not something pushed upon them by citizens hundreds or thousands of miles away.
However, Paul's votes to prohibit transporting people to other states for an abortion and other items he's voted for prohibits an individual's rights to choose too much. While a pain in the ass, I did drive out of Alabama twice to deliver children and knew more than two women in college that left the state for abortion. It was a choice we made and we were able to pursue it although not in the state of our residency. We also didn't face any "penalties" for doing this act which is illegal in AL by going out of state.
Not a perfect solution, but I'm a strong believer in govt compromise.