Presidential Election, April 2008

[Penn]

I do not think he is unintelligent, but rather gifted and extremely bright. So much so, that I believe he is totally conscience of his goal, CINC, and aware of his ability to use his race as an asset. Poor me on one end of the spectrum to: “I am somebody” on the other. I also think he is without principles and will alter his ideology to achieve his end.
His ability to captivate the mass following and to raise the money he has, with his resume, is a testament to the current naiveté or desperation that those following in lock step to his call must feel. I shudder at that thought of him is a position of true power.

[CRad]

TSD or Chuck for short
I can't reply to your whole post this evening. The "To the Right of Attilla" part made me laugh because I had a friend who always said I was too "the Right of the Israelis and slightly to the left of Attila." He died and I miss him.


Your post rocked. It made me think about what I am espousing and that doesn't happen too often.

I dislike Sowell even though I read what he writes. Leonard Pitts, Jr is more my speed. Alan Keyes is a pompous ass, but then I got to see him in the 2000 debates.

If you had an hour or so or I had 10 or so pages for writing I could explain why I am an Obama supporter. The funny part is that I worked for John McCain in 2000 and was sorely vexed by the dirty politics of SC and NY.

I've gotten older and smarter and had friends who worked with and for McCain who have talked to me about him. If my choice is Hillary or McCain I am voting for McCain. So if I get a choice between Clinton or McCain I am voting McCain but if I get a choice between Obama and McCain...right now I say I'm voting for Obama but it might be tough for me to do ---past history and all things considered.

One other thing, I read George Schultz's book. He wasn't all that great. Colin Powell kind of bites too. Personal opinion there and I voted for Reagan twice.

[Shar]

Originally Posted by CRad

But I have to tell you that it looks like you are trying to rationalize not voting for a black man. There's nothing wrong with that. I know a lot of good people who feel exactly that same way. It doesn't mean they are bad people. It only means they have life experiences that cause them to be wary.

I do think it would be wrong not to vote for someone JUST because they are black - assuming everything else about them was spot on for you. But in the same vein, I'm getting really tired of the media and others throwing around this whole "conservatives can't see past voting for a black guy or a woman" thing. It's as if the media is getting ready to chalk a possible McCain win to America being too bigoted to vote for a woman or a black man. And that REALLY bothers me. I'm certainly not dumb enough to think that there aren't large portions of the country that still have issues voting outside of the 'white man' norm - but COME ON. These two aren't exactly the type to woo a whole lot of Republicans anyway. Gender and race aren't why conservatives aren't crossing party lines for these two - race and gender are going to be pretty far down the list of problematic traits if they even hit the list at all. McCain is going to struggle hard enough to get conservatives to come out for him.

I think it would be really great to have a woman or a minority be a President...if they were a staunch conservative!

[CRad]

Originally Posted by Shar

I think it would be really great to have a woman or a minority be a President...if they were a staunch conservative!

Just when I was fixing to go watch reruns you say something really awesome. Darn naggit! Figure the odds on a woman or African-American being conservative.
While we are at it - what does being a conservative mean to you? Economic Conservative? Social, Cultural? What?

[Shar]

Originally Posted by CRad

Figure the odds on a woman or African-American being conservative.
While we are at it - what does being a conservative mean to you? Economic Conservative? Social, Cultural? What?

Odds: While I can't be scientific about this...
There's me... and a whole lot of my female friends. And I've got a couple close black and hispanic female friends too - who incidentally are voting for McCain.
But since I know you are talking more INFLUENTIAL people - I'll just name the ones that come to my head real quick -
Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Karen Hughes, Condolezza Rice (black and female), Margaret Thatcher, Sandra Day O'Conner (moderate, but I'll take her), Peggy Noonan, Elizabeth Dole, (I'll ignore all the talking heads named Laura), Lisa Murkowski.
I know there are more - but these are the ones that hit my head first. I realize it doesn't seem like there are more female conservatives... but I think it's more a matter of the circles you run in. In my circles - my friends are 85% conservative, but I love my liberal friends too.

I can't talk with as much education about the minority population as I am not part of that population, but one of my best friends is black - and I can assure you that she and her family are all voting Republican and have for as long as she can remember. She went to that high school in Mississippi that just had it's first integrated prom last year. She and her husband may be an anomoly simply because of their surroundings - he is an Army officer. I don't know for sure. But that's what and who they are and I can't speak for them except to say that she's a black conservative (who incidentially gets really ticked if you call her an African-American).

I also can't speak for JC Watts, Colin Powell (moderate, but we'll take him), Clarence Thomas, Alan Keyes - but they are all black and Republican. As far as other minorities are concerned (hispanic, asian, etc) I know there are a number of them also - in fact in any given southwest/west State (Texas, AZ, CA) you can probably find a few "minority" Republican members of Congress.

As for me and what I am as far as a conservative...
I'm just about an everything conservative. I'm a strict constructionalist (to the point where I think the feds should stay out of the schools COMPLETELY), I'm a social conservative, I'm a fiscal conservative (and I'm not happy AT ALL with the games we're playing right now in DC), I'm not totally sure what you mean in the cultural sense but I do believe that we should have one language in this country and while we should embrace our heritage and ancestry, I'm not a "Euro-American" - I'm just an American, and I'm a speak softy but carry a big-fat-sticker (and use it when necessary).

[Razor]

Originally Posted by CRad

nmap - this is a quote from a news source. Take it for what it's worth...

...the war in Iraq, whose costs along with the war in Afghanistan, according to some experts, have already totaled more than $3 trillion.

Here, I'll do the research for accurate figures for you. From a post I wrote last month for a class comparing the cost of 29 days of military ops in OIF and OEF to the cost to rebuild NOLA to withstand a Cat 5 hurricane:

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) as of November 2007, in the 75 months the U.S. has engaged in the Global (more than Iraq here, folks) War on Terror (GWOT), the government has spent $604B for all its efforts, to include military, diplomatic, reconstruction, indigenous security and Veterans’ Affairs health costs in all theaters (Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, the Horn of Africa, Europe, worldwide U.S. military bases, and domestic protection efforts) (CBO.gov, 2007). This amount represents a monthly average of $8B per month, assuming a constant spending rate, which of course doesn’t reflect reality. Dividing the costs even further, we find that total spending for operations in Iraq have averaged $5B per month (CBO.gov, 2007).

CBO.gov (2007). "Estimated Costs of U.S. Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and of Other Activities Related to the War on Terrorism". Retrieved from http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/86xx/doc8..._Testimony.pdf

[Sparky]

This will only be my third Presidential election, but it has made me question my political affiliation more than any time in my short life. I have been a Republican most of my life. However, I can no longer claim myself as one. It seems that everything is moving to the political left, and that is scary for a man my age.

Almost four weeks ago I had my second child, a girl. I look at my two year old boy and my four week old daughter, and I wonder what kind of country they will live in. All we ever seem to think about is what the candidates might do during their four year term. We don’t seem to think about what the long term repercussions will be. Perhaps the FBI will be more responsive and effective if they can write their own search warrant in order to capture and break up a terrorist cell. But what will happen twenty years down the road? Will the powers that be find or create a loophole that will allow them to search anyone’s home without judicial review? Perhaps in the future my family would be considered a terrorist cell on the simple basis of how many firearms we own. You see, “the road to Hell is paved with good intentions”.

In the end I will vote for McCain. Not because I think he will be a great, or even good President. I will vote for him because, one, not voting negates my right to complain and, two, because he will not take away my guns (I hope). I wish I had better reasons, I really do. It makes me feel like I am voting for a Democrat in order to try to keep the Socialists at bay.

I could write more about why I don’t like Obama and Clinton, but I will save that for another post.

[3SoldierDad]

Originally Posted by CRad

What does being a conservative mean to you? Economic Conservative? Social, Cultural? What?

What does being a conservative mean to me? CRad, that should be it's own thread....

Here's my short answer.

Freedom, Freedom, Freedom...That's my three word answer.

And, that big gov't sucks. Gov't screws up almost everything it touches exept for killing bad people - Destroying Hitler's monster regime was the gov't's greatest value-add for the 20th century. And, if we aren't careful and we elect the wrong guy or gal, black or white (I don't care) - it won't even succeed at killing the bad people. If it fails at that - OUR FREEDOM WILL END.

Being stupid has consequences...

Be smart, be safe, be conservative.

Three Soldier Dad...Chuck

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Sparky

Will the powers that be find or create a loophole that will allow them to search anyone’s home without judicial review? Perhaps in the future my family would be considered a terrorist cell on the simple basis of how many firearms we own.

We're already well on the way there.

Police Limit Searches for Guns
http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...ches_for_guns/

D.C. Seeks Consent to Search for Guns
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...031202717.html

[AGaillard]

Where was all the media hand ringing about people being unwilling to vote for a black person when Michael Steele was running in Maryland, or Lynn Swann in Pennsylvania? I would vote for them, JC Watts or Condoleza Rice in a heart beat. It appears to me it is only racism if you are critical of a liberal minority. Democrats will go to any length to destroy a black conservative, and never once be called on it by Jackson, Sharpton or the press.

I will be voting for McCain.

[Dad]

I was a McCain supporter in 2000. I think we would be in a lot better shape if he had won then. He would not have allowed Tom "Hottub" Delay to bully him. He is a fiscal conservative and without responsible management of our nations finances we are destroying our childrens futures. Also, when we are in tough financial times we all have a pretty good idea what branch of government is going to get screwed first. That said, I am very concerned to learn that 2 of his leading economic advisers are Phil Gramm and Carly Fiorini (sp?). those 2 could drive a ship into an iceberg in no time.
I don't dislike Obama at all, his minister's comments were no worse than a lot of cracker preachers I have heard. But I won't vote for him. It seems to me the country seems to run better when congress and the presidency are of different parties. They have to reach out to each other to govern. One party controlling both congress and the presidency leads to an arrogance that can be disastrous.
I know many here don't care for McCain because of the MIA issue. Our nations treatment of MIAs has been disgraceful. I have heard, in his defense, that this issue was one where he gained his reputation for his temper, telling (screaming) a fellow committee member to go f*** himself. But he was just one man. Maybe he could have done more, I don't know. Maybe he is doing more and we don't know about it. I sure as hell hope so.

[Guy]

Originally Posted by AGaillard

It appears to me it is only racism if you are critical of a liberal minority. Democrats will go to any length to destroy a black conservative, and never once be called on it by Jackson, Sharpton or the press.

Speaking critical of a "liberal" Democrat will get you in trouble!

Stay safe.

[Dad]

I first came across the $3 trillion dollar cost of the war several months ago. As I recall it was an estimation by an economist from MIT as to past, present and estimated future costs of the war. these costs were all inclusive-including all direct costs, costs of future repairs, additional costs to be borne by the VA etc. for long term care of the wounded. What time frame into the future these costs were projected I don't think was indicated. When projecting into the future would seem to be difficult since you would only count incremental costs related to Iraq and Afghanistan. I think there are some DOD types who would know a lot more.

[Counsel]

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

That is the Rhode Island standard...

Sure his name isn't Cianci?

Why do these guys do this? Most of them have the economic means to NOT STEAL. Why do they go down this road and set themselves' up for the embarrassment, and to their family, not to say the time they will spend in jail.

The worse part of this is next year, another handful of politicians will be caught in the act, again.

Here in PR what this Governor is doing really has no shame, even for a politician. He is now trying to persuade public opinion to his side (influencing possible jurors), playing the status card, saying that the 19 charges are against the people of PR and not him. This guy is clearly a disgrace to the office he was "appointed" to.

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by Shar

But in the same vein, I'm getting really tired of the media and others throwing around this whole "conservatives can't see past voting for a black guy or a woman" thing. It's as if the media is getting ready to chalk a possible McCain win to America being too bigoted to vote for a woman or a black man. And that REALLY bothers me. I'm certainly not dumb enough to think that there aren't large portions of the country that still have issues voting outside of the 'white man' norm - but COME ON.

Spot on.

I cannot vote for Obama simply because he is not qualified in the least.