Today, I am voting for Barack Obama.
Today, I am voting for Barack Obama. Why? I haven’t based any of my decision points on extreme viewpoints from either side (Obama is not a terrorist, Palin isn’t interested in Alaska succeeding from the United States, Joe Biden isn’t worried about how Obama is going to handle international crisis, McCain isn’t going to attack every nation in the world on day one), only history and the facts.
- Our national debt is at a record high. At the beginning of the Bush administration, the books were balanced. Whether you want to give credit to the house, senate, or the executive branch for either is irrelevant. The tax and spending policies have been reflective of republican interests. This is the exact same reason that I voted for Clinton in 92 (although Bush I was not handed balanced books).
- Foreign policy is so far off the rails, it isn’t funny. Now, don’t take that statement as that I’m not grateful for the US servicemen and women overseas. I would rather see our forces used to shore up national security closer to home (namely international shipping security), and a sensible troop reduction in Iraq and Afghanistan. The one statement that I agreed with W made during one interview was, “We don’t want to remove any option from the table when negotiating with nations that we have identified as potential enemies.” And that includes military force. I’m no pacifist, but the best use of force is knowing when to use it.
- Taxes just aren’t an issue for me. Although I’m well over 30 (and I’m supposed to stop being an idealist at this point), I don’t just vote necessarily for the candidate that will mean the best tax return for me personally. Each candidate is telling each of us that our tax bills will be lower with their plan.
There are too many things on our honey-do-list as a nation that simply cutting taxes will cure. - McCain, hypothetically, if he were an impartial voter this election would vote for Obama. I do honestly like John McCain and I firmly believed his running for president has put him in a position where he has had to compromise a lot of his own values. That last statement could be said for basically every candidate that has run for everything. But I know Mr. McCain does love this country and he does understand that this nation is worn out from the state of the economy and the our stature in world politics.
One interesting experience during my trip to Atlanta was sitting in the room where the complimentary breakfast was served every morning watching the political ads. Why would that be interesting? Well, I’m in a completely different state and there was a table with a white conservative family (I’m guessing by the father laughing at every Obama statement during his ads) and a roomful of african american families that were Obama supporters (I’m again guessing by their chuckles at McCain’s ads). During the trades of guffaws and “mmmhmmms” I realized that this is what makes this time of year so interesting. We’re Americans, now let’s get out vote, and start our way back to becoming a great nation again.
- Free stuff for voting – Sex Toy, Body Piercings, Chik-Fil-A, Flu shot, and lots of regional stuff
- Björk talking about her TV
- Star Wars an a capella tribute to John WIlliams
- This. Fucking. Election.
- Need a break from the polling results? how about a nice boxful of puppies?
November 4th, 2008 at 11:49 am
If only I lived in Seattle or New York. Your links are always the best.
I can’t wait to see who wins and what they do with that. It will be interesting to see for sure. My kids are actually divided, as are my husband and I, so when I vote, I’ll be cancelling out his vote.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I meant the two thoughts as completely seperate from each other! I definitely do NOT want to see a politician using the sex toys!
tori´s last blog post..Typing Stuff
November 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Pfft. Rational thought has no place on the internet.
That said, thanks for taking the time and putting in the effort to type that out. There are a lot of us out here who feel the same way but are much less eloquent–now we have a great source to plagiarize.
November 4th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Plllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaase vote Obama in!
Jazz´s last blog post..On the political front…
November 4th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I was glad to step away from it all in Italy, it’s not my business but it was compelling for a while there. I really liked how you wrote your ideas up.
I’m going to bed here in Europe tonight, hoping I’m going to wake up to good news in the form of Obama as president. As a citizen of the world, well … he has my vote.
Di´s last blog post..Just this…
November 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I’m glad you’re going to get out and vote. We voted early in Indiana, before we moved, and it was very convenient.
That Bjork video is just plain bizarre. Not surprising, given that it’s Bjork, but still … wow.
Apertome´s last blog post..Lehigh Gorge
November 4th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I agree….as appalled as I am by the past eight years, I am actually very hopeful and excited about the next four.
Jenn´s last blog post..Got Hope?
November 4th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
nicely said. i bet it was also interesting to see how the ads in atlanta differed from the ones in your neck of the woods. i can only hope the vast majority of voters choose to be a reasoned as you rather than listening to extreme ideas.
lime´s last blog post..Election Day
November 4th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I voted for Obama this morning. If the signs in my neighborhood mean anything, he’d win by a landslide. (Of course, if you’d never left my neighborhood in 2000, you’d have thought that Nader had it sewn up…) It was a hopeful, cheerful crowd, even as we waited an hour and a half to vote.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
you forgot about the free ice cream from ben & jerry’s at their scoop shops. all you gotta do is show your sticker or just say ‘i voted’ and get a free scoop! it was all the incentive i needed to get the kids to behave while i voted.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I said this on my blog today and it is becoming my mantra. If our man wins…yay! If their man wins, then their man is OUR president and I hope he does a good job!
Ooooh…but then I’m hyped up from the free Starbuck’s coffee.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I still love you anyway…
I ONLY voted for McCain because of Obama.
Do you still like me?
Terri@SteelMagnolia´s last blog post..Happy Election Day!!!
November 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
After that being said… we do feel the Republicans deserve the spanking they are getting b/c they moved away from the conservatives core values… and spent like drunken sailors….
I yi yiu….
like Mike says:
it took a Carter to get a Reagan….
Terri@SteelMagnolia´s last blog post..Happy Election Day!!!
November 4th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
oooh. puppies!!!
Catizhere´s last blog post..Bloody mess
November 4th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
A very thought provoking post, made all warm and fuzzy with puppies. Loved the Star Wars link, some people have way too much time on their hands!
Carolyn´s last blog post..Starbucks…
November 4th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I applaud anyone who comes up with a balanced, sensible reason for voting,
and you’re one of them
(some people have totally warped ideas of reality and do not vote on the real issues)
I personally noticed how connected we all are when the financial crisis hit the US:
soon afterwards my local pension fund crashed too.
Detail: picking Palin by the McCain campaign
reminded me of the clueless female Belgian TV soap stars who got elected here
too, just because some spin doctor felt they ‘could pull in part of the electorate’.
It backfired in Belgium.
Although I’m Belgian and US foreign policy makers hardly ever notice this tiny kingdom by the sea,
it’s in the world’s interest that the US gets back on its feet.
Peter´s last blog post..Belgians upset with “From my ass I can see Belgium” Sarkozy – Palin prank call
November 4th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
YOU ROCK!!!!!!
November 4th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Can I print out this post and read it to my 6 yr. old ‘Middle America’ son tonight for his bedtime story?
November 4th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I’m always impressed with rational views, and anyone able to write them all out like that. Much the same way I was impressed with Colin Powell’s endorsement of Obama. Hope it works!
Granola-grrrl´s last blog post..Feeling Much Better, Thank You
November 4th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
*Jumps on Van’s Bandwagon*
November 4th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Yea! Obama!
Kristin´s last blog post..Hopeful
November 4th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I love it when you’re all smart and sassy!
On a limb with Claudia´s last blog post..A little kindness?
November 5th, 2008 at 1:11 am
I love this post, Van. In particular, I agree with your last bullet point–in that it’s possible to admire McCain but be wary about the way he allowed the rhetoric around his campaign to go so crazy in last weeks.
I feel tonight like I have to retrain myself not to be embarrassed about my country anymore.
Jocelyn´s last blog post..
November 5th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Nicely done, America!
November 5th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I made a special point this morning explaining to the children that McCain was a good egg, that he speech epitomized gracious ‘losing’ and that his call for us all to pull together for a new future is just what every good American will try to do.
Best wishes
Maddy´s last blog post..Wordless Special Exposure Wednesday
November 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
HAHAHA! The piercing place is in the town where I went to college. I went to a neighboring city to get my tat, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
And ohhhhh to be in New York or Seattle…