You decide 2008

[writergirl]

Yes, i know there are some here that can't vote, but if you could who would you vote for? What are you predicitions? Who do you like and why?

This is just a general place to discuss the election that will change the course of history.

I'm a fan of McCain, and if i could vote i would vote for him. He's the only one with a good deal of military experiance. His immigration isn't wonderful (not really tough enough for me) but he's got a plan and i think he will implement it.

As for predictions i'm sure Clinton will get the dem nomination (sadly) and i figure McCain will get the rep nomination, especially now that Huckabee is staying in the race, which is helping McCain.

[memorygurl]

i can vote and i say Obama

because i truly think its time for a change and he if change need to happen i believe he is the one to do it.

[The Big PINK One♥]

I havent voted for the primaries mainly because Im still on the fence. For me its a hard election. I could vote Clinton, because I trust in their decisions. But at the same time some things that they've (Bill & Hilary) implemented (or tried to) failed. On a flip side to that Hilary is a great Senator, I know this because I used to live in NY, so I was able to see change first hand. Besides that fact that she's a woman and could be the first woman to be president, Its something about Mrs. Clinton that makes me like her. She's very relatable. And then there is Obama, who is new. Has fresh and great ideas that could really do this country good. Especially starting with this supposed war in Iraq. He can relate to things that for so long have been ignored and forgotten by many other presidents in regards to particular communities that do not get heard. If he becomes elected, it would be very interesting. Another person who would make history if elected. But Im not really interested in the history, Im more so concerned in how this will effect ME and my future. So Im not sure. Im really unsure. I hope I make up my mind by the time November rolls around because I will be really feeling as if I need to make a decision- FAST.

And that's how I FEEL I want to make clear that sometimes young people who cant vote or who are voting for the first time, will mirror their parents choice mainly because they may be uneducated on the candidates in question. There's nothing wrong with it but what good is it to vote for someone that your parents like and that in the long run (or at least for the next 4 years) you might not. So thats what research and finding out as much as you can is for. Its a learning process... when you learn it becomes personal. That choice is personal. You make it for yourself and the very community around you-- the NATIONAL COMMUNITY!

As for my predictions, I too think that McCain will certainly get the republican vote... Im not too sure about the democratic vote. Because its always so close. Either one of them at this point (if it came down to it) could possibly be president. Its just so close. And Im just not sure, they're pretty much promising to fight for things that most Americans that vote democrat would want to see come to be anyway. It makes it very hard.

[writergirl]

I'm not trying to start a debate or anything, i'm purely interested in your thoughts on the subject.

I'm glad to see twards the end of your post that you said that you won't vote for someone just because they could be a "first." And that's a great point. So many will vote for Clinton or Obama because they are a minorty, and that is the worst possible thing you could do. Voting for someone because of their gender or skin tone is about as ridiculous as not giving someone a job because of their gender or skin tone. It should be about who is most qualified for the position, not who can be a leader to a more libral future.

Now as for your statement about the "supposed war' could you please expand? Because i've done a good deal of research into this war, and the causes and effects and this is very much a war. A well warrented war, and a war that is making great strides to save the Iraqi people and secure a safe future for the American people.

As for the electibility of the democratic canidates, a huge problem i have with them is their lack of experiance. Yes, Clinton has been a senator, but that's it. She has no military experiance, she's more of a cover person than a leader. As with Obama, but he's got even less experiance. Running the country isn't a hobby or part time job, and great skill and understanding of the consequences of your actions is needed. Neither canidate seems to posess those qualities.

(None of this ismeant to be offensive. Purely my opinion. =) )

[The Big PINK One♥]

I used to get souped up on the mere fact that this election would be historic, but then I realized... it wouldn't have made a difference if the same people who were running were white middle aged men. So I quickly dismissed that notion.

As far as the war is concerned, you think its warrented, I dont. I think more harm is being done than help. They'd like to make it seem as though alot is being done, and maybe thats true, but its all being done is small strides and every day MANY of the civilians and troops deployed are being killed. This has been going on for too long. I do not feel like this was our fight at all. Many would like to sight the W.M.D.s as the main reason for being deployed but they were never found, so why are we still there? This makes no sense to me. Then you have people confusing 9/11 with this war, they have no relation (I mean in a sense they do because of funding and things of that nature but you go after the person who pulled the trigger not the person who funded the gun) its sad. Everyone has been fed this disasterous vision of reform and nothing has changed. Things only got worse. Here and abroad. Im glad that now people (on both sides of the political fense) can see Bush for who he is. Its a little too late, but hey... at least they know. Im just concerned whether or not they are feeling as though we need to see this through or end it. I think its time that our troops come home. Those boys are dying... for what? They want to protect their country, but their own president does nothing to protect them. Who are we to elect someone else in that will inevitably DO THE SAME? Theres a cycle that needs to be broken. And thats my shortened view on the war.

As for their lack of military experience, thats what the cabinet is for. If you lack it, then you get someone in their that doesnt. Not saying that that person should do the presidents job, but I mean come on... not everyone has military experience and quite frankly I dont think its always needed. Its a good thing to have in the event that an attack or proposal is made in defense of your country, but it isn't always needed. I think that many people look at the situation thats relevant and think, 'Ok, we need someone with military experience', but unless they're going into this war themselves, what's the point? So Im saying advisors aren't bad in this case.

Im not looking for candidates with strong military experience, because I feel like this, at the end of the day thats probably the least of the worries of a president. There are things that are going on on a much GRANDER scale other than this war on Iraq. Im not sayin that this war is to be taken lightly, but there are things going on at home that can use some strong guidance & reform. You cannot go and help other until you've helped home. Yeah it looks unselfish, but it looks kind of stupid to not help your own people but be OVERLY generous when it comes to others. Besides when you have nothing, how will you be able to give then?

[writergirl]

As for the war, we didn't need the "cover" of WMD's to go into and attack the middle east. They attacked us first.

But while we are on the subject of WMD's they were in Iraq, they were actually moved from Iraq into Syria right before the U.S. invaded. It was a smart move on the part of Saddam Hussain to get rid of a huge reason for us to invade. But as for this not being a war we should fight, i sincerly disagree with you. While it may not at this time directly affect us, it will. But more improtantly it effects the Iraqi people. Yes, many have died due to the war in Iraq, but an estimated 400,000 have died under the rule of Saddam Hussain. He was a heartless, and evil person. He even went so far as to use Chemical weapons on his own people. Just for the purpose of testing them, and elimintating relgious and cultural groups he disliked. He had hundreds of thousands killed simple because they were Kurdish. Remeber what the ramifications of chemical weapons are. When mustard gases are unleashed many die instantly from asphyxiation. It also sends you into convulstions as it sears through your skin. And for those it dosent' automatically kill it permanently disfigures, by blinding them, or leaving them with respritory illnesses, a variety of cancers and nuerological disorders. Now a man who would unleash this kind of devestation on his own people had to be taken down, for the protection of the Iraqi people.

As for why we are still here, you have to realize that most of the people in Iraq have never known another government other than the dictatorship of Saddam Hussain, therefore they are brainwahsed into believeing the lies of a selfish government. Completely transforming how these people think is a huge task, introducing democracy to this country will be a huge feat, that has to be accomplished. If we leave now, the terrorist regime will rebuild and concquer the weak and unsteady Iraqi government. This is a proven fact. In the Gulf War we did not take Saddam out of power, even though we knew he was an evil killer. This lead to the situation we are in today. We can't put off rebuilding a country in hopes that it will all work out. Because without the instruction of people who are accustomed to democracy Iraq will fall back into the hands of terrorists. And we will be on the top of their hit list when they regain their power. We have to keep that from happening and it IS happening. It's a slow process but people are seeing now that they don't have to live in complete and utter terror of their government, they can rule themselves. Don't judge progress in Iraq on what you see on the news because they only show huge events (bombs, attacks...) they don't show the people who are regaining a reason to live, and people who can vote for the first time, and who can speak without the fear of retribution. We don't understand that because we havenever had to live that way but this is truly a life saving war for the Iraqi people.

As for military experiance, in this day and age to me anyways is very important. We are a superpower in this world and we have only remained that for so many years because of our military superiority, while the president dosent' have to be out in the field a knowledge of what is there and the reality of war is important. McCain is the only one who has the truly unique perspective.

I found this comment very interesting considering you are considering voting for Hillary. "You cannot go and help other until you've helped home." Are you aware of her plan to set aside 50 billion dollars for AIDS work abroad? I was honestly dumbfounded when i read that, because i agree that we should be taking care of our people before other countries.

[[_Rebell_]]

I would have said Edwards partially because he was really the only canidate not bashing the others, and he had the plans that sounded the best for what we need, as in health care, and equality. I was hoping him and Obama would be running mates but that won't happen.

So now I'd say Obama (Even though I can't vote)
I really really hope Clinton doesn't win, there is something about her that I just really really don't like.

I won't even go into republicans, I'm not really a fan of that political party no matter who's running.