McCain OR either Obama or Clinton???

[Jennifer5]

Alright, so I'm surprised to see how many people are torn between the two parties! This is one of those questions I'm not used to hearing that part being questioned... so I'm curious, where does everyone stand?

Democrat or Republician?

Obama or Clinton choice means you'd take either one of them over McCain.... not one of them... but either of them... so you have to like them BOTH better then you like McCain.

OR

McCain.

Which would it be?

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

My grandfather on my mother's side once told me that he voted for Democrat Grover Cleveland for President. The guy won and my grandfather said "I nearly starved, and I never voted for a Democrat since." (For those of you who don't know history, under Cleveland there was a depression second only to the Great Depression of the Thirties).

On my father's side folks mostly remembered the Great Depression, and FDR was a saint and Democrats the party of the "little guy." So, you see, my attachment to the Democratic party goes back way before the days of Ronald Regan.

Now I hear alot of young (and not so young) people whose memory of "presidential greatness" is Ronald Regan. Regan did (and does) nothing for me, but I can appreciate how people's life and family experiences can lead to a certain attachment to a personality or to a party.

So---I'm all for cutting the Republicans on this forum some slack. They have different life experiences and background from some of the rest of us, maybe. But let's not demonize them.

Speaking of demonizing---isn't it wild how "liberals" get demonized! I'm hoping that people will understand and appreciate me as a liberal, and I really hope to extend the same courtesy to those who consider themselves conservative.

One of my favorite blogs is Andrew Sullivan's. Sullivan considers himself a conservative. Although I'm a died-in-the-wool liberal, I just love the way Sullivan thinks on a whole host of topics.

So I really hope this thread can explore Democrat-Republican and liberal-conservative in a friendly and enlightening way without no body feeling beat up on.

Steven Webster

[matthewspeed]

Steve,
Thanx for you thread. You are correct that many of us come from different backgrounds and beliefs that shape our party affiliation. But we can also be open to change as well. I have mainly voted Republican, but I may vote Democrat on this election. I have not made up my mind as of yet.

We have to stop "demonizing" both parties. Both parties have something to offer. I do believe that during certain times, it may be better for a Democrat or a Republican to be in office. It is possible that at this time in our history, a Democrat is needed. I know most on this forum will agree to that. But at the same time, my "Republican" side still thinks we need a Republican. At this point, I feel the particular issues are more important than the party affiliation.

[Jennifer5]

I was on the ferry coming back from Seattle tonight... and the guys behind me were talking about the whole election process (a lot of people are out at night in the middle of the week when there's a Mariner's game...) and the guy was saying that his father was a Republican... his father (clearly not talking about a young man) had never once in his life voted for a Democrat, but this year, he did. The guy stated that his father had decided that Barack was his favorite canidate...

I keep hearing things like this... I'm surprised that more people don't realize just how important this will be in the 'real' election.

[tdogg]

In my opinion, Obama is a good runner-up choice for me. So, should he end up with the nomination, I am certainly voting for him.

Can't think of any reason I would vote for another 4 to 8 years of the current administration. :eek: No thanks!

Now, the dream ticket would be my choice. Either way would have me rolling around and drooling in ecstasy. Clinton - Obama. Obama - Clinton.

Please you two, my make ultimate dream come true!!!!! Hey, it WAS my birthday last week! Do it, ok? Please? For me? For my friends? For all of America? PLEASE?!!!! :love::love::D

[Unmasked]

I like Obama best, and I'm not sure what I really think about Hilary. Ron Paul is my favorite, but he's a longshot.

[Steven E. Webster]

We are a split household (mixed orientation in more ways than one :D) Polly is all about Hillary and I am rooting for Obama. She keeps saying that she wants a Clinton/Obama ticket. I keep saying SURE an Obama/Clinton ticket would be great. I don't see it happening though.

On another topic though, I don't think a McCain victory would constitute eight more years of the Bush administration. While he IS a Republican his nomination constitutes a significant reallignment of power and direction in the Republican party. that in and of itself is a good thing. Were he to bring over enough independent/centrist voters to win the election it would cement those reallignments for a long time to come and THAT would be an even better thing. A McCain victory would be a stunning LOSS for the Neo-con movement in the Republican party and that would be a WIN for everyone including GLBT democrats like ourselves.

All that being said, however, I do not WANT McCain to be president for a number of reasons -- his position on Iraq not the least of them.

U-dog,
I wonder about your optimism for a McCain administration. Would McCain really bring in a different Republican Party, or is the GOP so much in the captivity of the Neo-conservative and Theo-conservative factions that a McCain administration would just be more of the same? Would McCain really clean house? Who would he be bringing into power with him?

I just get the feeling that the so-called "moderate Republican" is a creature of the past. It would be nice if that were NOT true.

As economic issues come to the fore (and as recession deepens) I wonder if McCain would change economic course, or if he would just be more of the same that has gotten us into this economic mess.

Steven Webster

[Jennifer5]

I like Obama best, and I'm not sure what I really think about Hilary. Ron Paul is my favorite, but he's a longshot.

I've seen alot of people who really love Ron Paul... but I don't know anything about him. So why do you like him so much?:)

[BeyondBlessed]

McCain had a lot of integrity before he became the Republican nominee. I liked him but never would have voted for him because of his current position on Iraq saying he doesn't care if we're there 100 or more years. Now he's lying about Iran (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/406/) in the same manner Bush lied about Iraq. For the same reason I am morally prohibited from voting for Hillary in the primary because she bought into and helped spread the lies we were told to sell us on this war. I am strongly supporting Obama for the Democratic nomination and I believe he will win, but if it came down to it I would vote for Hillary over McCain on the basis of ideology. Our primary is May 6 and this is the first time in my lifetime my state has played an important role in the primaries. Hillary has been to town and I went to her rally and Obama has promised to come. They both have campaign offices here and I was at Obama's grand opening. I've been out twice to register voters and intend to do everything I can to make sure he's our next president.

Here are some pictures (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25169167@N06/sets/72157604304619015/) from the campaign office.