Vote Early

[Kitsune]

...vote often.

[Kitsune]

Yeah, I know I didn't list anything for "other" or "I don't vote". I'm mostly interested in the Bush vs. Kerry conflict.

I'd also like to know why you'd vote the way you did: Are you voting because there is something about the candidate you really like and support? Are you voting because there is something about the opponent you don't like and are against?

[Beestie]

Can I choose neither? Sheesh, are those the two best people America can come up with?

[lumberjim]

if there was a "not bush" choice, id make it, but since that seems impractical, i have to go with kerry. can;t be worse than GWB. can he?

[Happy Monkey]

Unfortunately, I am primarily voting against Bush, rather than for Kerry. Kerry was about sixth in my Democratic lineup. But Bush is at the absolute bottom. Of course, there are people who could squeeze in under him (Cheney, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, DeLay), but they aren't running.

Last election, I had hope for third parties (not that they could win, but that they could start growing), and voted Libertarian*.
Of course, living in DC, it hardly matters how I vote, but Bush has shattered my complacency that Dems and Reps are similar enough to not matter, so I'll have to go Democrat this time.

[mrnoodle]

Bush, because he's a known quantity. He's also a better wartime president, because he won't hand our balls to the U.N. the first time they whine for them.

Kerry doesn't stand for anything. No Dem that I have asked can come up with something they support Kerry on, other than "he's running against Bush". Yeah. That's how I want to pick the leader of the most powerful country on the planet.

[lookout123]

i'm not bush's biggest fan, but unfortunately the best person for the job is out in the private sector somewhere because politics attracts the lowest among us.
but i vote for bush because i am not a fan of kerry's globalist views, besides the fact that i haven't heard kerry come out with any strong points other than he isn't bush.

[Pie]

Originally posted by Happy Monkey
Unfortunately, I am primarily voting against Bush, rather than for Kerry.

Ditto, and I love your reasoning, too. To recapitulate: I can't say that I love Kerry, but I'm hoping he'll at least be constrained somewhat by his party's acknowledged platform.

- Pie

[Kitsune]

"he's running against Bush". Yeah. That's how I want to pick the leader of the most powerful country on the planet.

Doesn't that sum up this election, along with almost every one previous to it? "Picking the lesser of the two evils."

[Griff]

Definitely "Other." I don't know who (s)he is yet, but Other is my first choice. I still subscribe to the dimes worth of difference theory as spelled out here. Right now Bush looks more evil with his big government, big oil, war-making agenda, but Kerry hasn't exactly reputiated the methods, just the man.

[ladysycamore]

As far as I'm concerned, Kerry is the better of the two evils. I just.don't.like.Bush...I was cringing through that whole press conference the other night, especially when he said this:

"You know why I do? Because I've seen freedom work right here in our own country. I also have this belief, strong belief, that freedom is not this country's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty's gift to every man and woman in this world. And as the greatest power on the face of the Earth, we have an obligation to help the spread of freedom. We have an obligation to help feed the hungry. I think the American people find it interesting that we're providing food for the North Korea people who starve. We have an obligation to lead the fight on AIDS, on Africa. And we have an obligation to work toward a more free world. That's our obligation. That is what we have been called to do, as far as I'm concerned. "

*sigh* And again, here is the government tying themselves in with God and yet again, alienating another group in this country that do not have a belief in the "Almighty". How are "we" all supposed to come to the table of peace, when various groups/people are constantly being undervalued, underestimated and marginalized???


An obligation to help feed the hungry (impoverished), eh?

Mayors Survey reveals U.S. Poverty 2003

Census Bureau News

Coalition on Human Needs

Hunger and Poverty

And as far as the fight against AIDS in Africa...it seems as though the US didn't bother with it until it became such a huge epidemic.

I was always under the impression that we had an obligation to take care of our own citizens. hm....*shrugs*

[glatt]

Originally posted by mrnoodle
No Dem that I have asked can come up with something they support Kerry on, other than "he's running against Bush". Yeah. That's how I want to pick the leader of the most powerful country on the planet.

Yeah. Well, the thing is, when you have hit rock bottom, every direction leads up. It's a perfectly rational way of thinking. The Democrats will happily vote for Kerry, even though he doesn't inspire anyone. They think he can't muck things up as bad as Bush has. Nothing wrong with picking a leader that way. It's unfortunate, but not wrong.

[lookout123]

Originally posted by glatt


They think he can't muck things up as bad as Bush has. Nothing wrong with picking a leader that way. It's unfortunate, but not wrong.

what specifically has Bush mucked up so bad?

[lumberjim]

that's a joke, right, 123?

what specifically has bush NOT mucked up?

[lookout123]

sorry - hit the wrong button.

yes there is something wrong with voting for someone just because you don't like the other one. this isn't an election for homecoming king. the person elected will be stearing this nation for the next 4 years.
if you can honestly say that kerry has a better plan for improving this nation's position within the world; then by all means vote for the man. but if you can't be honest enough to vote FOR a person running the don't vote. i wish there were other choices for president - but there are not for this current campaign. Carefully choose a person to vote FOR - don't just blindly vote AGAINST someone.

the "anybody but Bush" or "anybody but Kerry" mentality is just plain screwed up.