Politics

How I Decided Who to Vote For

So, the primary is less than a week away and I still haven’t decided who to vote for. With Edwards and Giuliani dropping out, I have basically six choices now.

Clinton
Obama
Huckabee
Paul
McCain
Romney

Clinton- My feelings about the Clinton campaign are well documented. I think she’s run a dirty campaign while trying to remain “above the fray” by always disavowing the whisper campaigns started by her campaign, which she has basically run the past couple of months according to media reports. Any affinity I may have felt to the Clintons has been dashed by this campaign and I find myself unable to vote for her.

Obama- He wants to pull out of Iraq immediately and make the tax system more complicated. That’s two big strikes against the Obama campaign. He’s done well not to take the bait of the Clinton campaign all that often, but I wonder if America is ready for a black President. He’s a wonderful speaker that seems to have good ideas but he has no experience. We really have no idea how he would do as President, he’s a wild card and that makes me nervous.

Huckabee- Likewise, I’ve written often of my feelings about the Huckabee campaign. He’s a nice enough guy and I’d probably like to hang out with him, but that’s how we ended up with the last President. His policies leave a lot to be desired. He has no respect for the separation of church and State. The Flat Tax is completely unworkable and would be a giant tax increase for anyone paying less than a 23% effective tax rate. I have a lot of issues with Huckabee the candidate that I don’t have with Huckabee the person. But, I’m electing a President and I don’t think Mike is up to the task.

Paul- Yeah, I don’t think so. His racist rantings (oh wait, the racist rantings that went out under his name that he knew NOTHING about) were just the tip of the iceberg. He’s a nutcase without Perot’s personality. I think a lot of people that are supporting Paul will look back and shake their heads someday.

McCain-  I might have voted for 2000 McCain, but that’s not the man running now. His about face in 2002 and 2004 to fall behind the man that only won because of a disgraceful campaign just infuriates me. A lot of independants talk about “the hug” when McCain hugged Bush during the 2004 campaign to show his support for Bush in the race as a turning point when they turned away from him. I, likewise, don’t understand why he did it and can’t forgive him for that. I like his stance on Iraq and most military matters, especially the use of torture (why more people aren’t asking the guy that was tortured if we should be doing it is beyond me). He’s now for the Bush tax cuts rather than overhauling the system and has no real plan on health care. McCain may be the closest candidate I have on major issues, but I just can’t do it. I can’t vote for him. He’s a wonderful man and he should have been President for the last eight years, but his time has passed. He’s also 71. Will he be alive in eight years? Statistics tell us maybe, but I want more than maybes. McCain is out.

Romney- Likewise, I would probably have voted for Massachusetts Mitt, but that ain’t the person running. He’s made a rightward tack and has made John Kerry looked stout and resolute in his positions. I know it’s become a campaign tactic, but I’m not sure if there really is an issue that Mitt hasn’t taken two (or more) positions on. He’s a really smart guy and has excellent executive experience. Those are two things that I want in a President. But I also want to know where he stands, and for Mitt it seems to be wherever I’m standing. And where you’re standing. And where the person next to you is standing. It’s okay to change your mind on an issue or two, we’ve all done it. But when you change your spots to get elected, it throws up a really big red flag that you’re in it for the power and not the service. No thanks.

So, where does that leave me? I guess I’ll vote for Obama by process of elimination. He seems like the least evil candidate.

*sigh* Call it an endorsement, call it what you like. It’s certainly not enthusiastic.

Possibly Related Posts (Auto Generated):

1. Still No Closer to a President
2. I Agree with Limbaugh on Something?
3. First Impressions of the Iowa Caucus
4. And So It Begins…
5. Obama Presidential Campaign…Not a Great Start

© 2008 Kirk Walsh.