I’ve thought long and hard over these past months about who I’d vote for. I do know one thing: at this point, I cannot vote for John McCain (and yes, I read the material you posted, Christine). I won’t bore you all with the deliberating as to why this is. You can read all my arguments for and against McCain and Obama in the article I wrote a week ago.
Yet, there are things that give me pause about Obama as well; mostly that he’s shown himself to be just another politician. A member of that corrupt two-party system. As of right now, my intention is to write in Libertarian candidate Bob Barr (or “None of the Above” if I’m feeling particularly cynical).
However, no matter what happens tomorrow, whether John McCain wins, or Barack Obama wins, I’m prepared to accept the results, no questions asked. And no, I don’t say this because Obama looks prepared to clinch the presidency. I say it because I mean it.
McCain was my choice to win the Republican nomination, precisely because of his maverick qualities. Despite my personal quibbles with the running of his campaign and my disagreement with him on most social and foreign policies, I think he would make a good president.
John McCain is not the second coming of George Bush. He’s not going to go off on some cowboy adventure and embroil us in the wrong policy like President Bush. He understands that while we must put our interests first, America must also be seen as a leader. I do think that much of the loss in reputation we have suffered under Bush would be repaired under a President McCain.
Liberals can call me deluded if they wish (in private of course – not in our comments section, please). But that is how I see the situation. So, if John McCain does win tomorrow, I would be a little surprised, given the polls. Perhaps a little disappointed. But not horrified.
If John McCain wins tomorrow, I’m not moving to Canada, that’s for sure.
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well it’s in motion now.
First in the nation voting goes 15-6
Well, I’ll be off to vote for McCain in a few hours when the polls open here on the west coast. I read your article, and I thank you for sharing your thoughts – but I did not find your case for not voting for McCain to be enough to move me. But, of course, that’s the point of blogs – an exchange of ideas. More on my blog article shortly.
Oh, I had no delusions of trying to change any one’s mind. The article was own thought process post.
Well, I’m glad you gave the material I posted a reading before dismissing it, Michael
Just joking- we all have to come to our own conclusions and vote our consciences. I do appreciate that you were willing to look at materials that might have challenged your views.
For anyone who missed it the first time, here’s the comment that Michael is referring to:
http://www.poligazette.com/2008/10/27/back-to-the-fence/#comment-74871
If you’re a reader and are still on the fence before going to the polls today, please read it!
Oh, and Michael as a McCain supporter I agree about accepting the results. I do feel some concern about the voter fraud issues, but even with that I don’t think the election should be contested (and although I don’t want an Obama landslide, I actually hope that if he does win that it will be enough of a margin so that the legitimacy isn’t questionable.) Having said that though, I think it’s essential that the fraud be thoroughly investigated and I just hope that this puts lie to the frequent Democratic claims that voter fraud doesn’t exist.
“I just hope that this puts lie to the frequent Democratic claims that voter fraud doesn’t exist.”
Why? Wouldn’t you be happier to have it confirmed that voter fraud was/is exceedingly rare? That would certainly be a better indicator of the health of our system. I think that’s what we all want.
Grewgills- of course I want voter fraud to be exceedingly rare- but that won’t happen until people admit that voter ID laws are necessary to combat it (and up until now, there’s been opposition to them on the basis that some contend that this measure is really an attempt to disenfranchise voters, and the rationale for that is that it’s been said that fraud isn’t a real problem.)
Both fraud and disenfranchised need to be addressed- we need to stop allowing one party to claim that only one side of that problem is real.