Sunday, October 26, 2008

My two cents on Obama

You might not care to read this if your vote is Blue. Or come visit my blog tomorrow when there are more pictures of my kids.

Here is my real problem with you, Obama. I think I might like you as a person, I really do. Heck you are a family guy. You seem to have mesmerized the country with your amazing speeches. You can lead and inspire and there is a place for you in American politics, but I do not want you to be president. At all. I shiver when I see those Obama signs. I want to throw up when I see all the celebrities campaigning for you. But the thing is, I am torn because if you do win this November, first I will do a big disappointed sigh (Ahhhhh) , but then my eyes will get teary and I will be awed and glad that you will be the first African American President of the United States. Which will validate all the essays on racism I wrote freshman year of college after leaving my Alabama-land (I like you ‘Bama, but you are a racist bunch…LA is too, but just towards different races). It’s cool even though I think you are partly communist.

But here is my beef. Why I am not going to vote for you even though every person in my town is wearing your button? Besides the fact that I don’t agree with your political party or a lot of your ideas (socialized medicine for one), I really disagree with the values of lots of your supporters. If I were going to affiliate myself with people of a certain party, I would rather be on the anti-hollywood, anti-celebrity, anti-cool side. I am saturated here. And I’m tired of feeling all alone in my value system. I think there are ‘crazies’ on both sides, but I just don’t really want George Clooney (or Brad Pitt) telling me who to vote for. I just finished reading an article in the LA times on Madonna and her directorial debut (another story). Madonna loves you. That automatically makes you wrong for me. She juxtaposed your face with Gandhi and McCain’s with Hitler on her recent tour. Whose tour is too foul for me to ever attend. You mean the woman whose new indie movie is titled Filth and Wisdom? Right. Who just left her perfectly good husband for Alex Rodriguez, who was married at the time. (I don’t know Madonna’s affairs…wait, poor choice of words, I mean her life…her husband could be a shmuck.)

Crap, I know that McCain isn’t a great speaker. Everyone knows that. In some ways McCain is a public relations nightmare. As opposed to you, Obama, who is super skilled with the facets of media manipulation. It takes more than a good speaker to run this country. And it sure doesn’t feel cool to vote for McCain. But I am not cool. I am a Prop-8-sign-in-my-yard kind of girl who wished Mitt Romney was still running. Who tries not to lie and teach my children about Jesus and to have values. (Yes, I’m sure there are plenty of democrats who do that also, but where I live I’ve only met two!) Oh wait you do value some things - like all freedoms except for religious freedom and what the cast of Heroes is saying about politics (or you pick some other cool show). I know perfectly good and wonderful people in the Democratic Party (very good friends actually, who hold temple recommends, which is a big deal if you are Mormon) but they seem too few and hard to find for me to ever vote with them. So you are out, Obama. At least at my house. But I don’t let my son boo you when he sees you on TV. I just tell him, no, he is nice, but we just don’t want him to win. I much prefer the gun-toting Sarah Palin (even though I don’t believe in recreational hunting) who value life over the easy road and get mocked on SNL and skewered in the media by those people I don’t agree with anyway.

57 comments:

Beth said...

If you're not counting me in that "two Democrats" count, then you now know three :)

christy said...

oh i agree. i could go on and on. i really fear socialism if he wins and with democrats having a majority in the house and senate. no balance. today i saw on the news where that stupid barney frank and nancy palosi are proposing another bailout pkg and it would be funded by cutting 25% of the military's budget. no thank you, idiots! i am against handouts. i am against bailouts. i am against the government running anything other than major judiciary, legislative, and executive decisions like commander in chief over the military. mccain is much more qualified for that and many other things. these liberals will ruin our national defense. they claim to support the troops but the facts show they are anti military. go live in switzerland if that's how you feel. this is the USA. Study the Constitution and Federalist papers and if you don't agree move to another country!

brookeisacrazylady said...

i wasn't beth, so good to know.

Sarah Heder said...

I love a post where someone really gets down and expresses their opinion. That was great! So, Beth, you may be a democrat, but that doesn't mean you have to vote that way? Will you be voting for Obama? Just curious. I mean, we know who Brooke is voting for.

Nancy Jo said...

Woohoo for you! I second!

Renee said...

You said everything I would have said and more. Love it! I'm with you...but you already knew that.

embot said...

As far as McCain being a Public Relations nightmare...My favorite political tidbit this year is the 'Get Drunk and Vote for McCain' campaign. I think a lot of republicans wish it were a different candidate, but it's just too risky to vote for Obama, so to hell with it. Spit out some cuss words, throw back a brewsky and head to that polling booth. That's what i'm gonna do.

ha ha.

Amy said...

Well said...eventhough I am a democrat and I will be voting for Obama. I like it when people aren't afraid to speak their mind. BTW...feel free to add me to your blog list.

Tanya said...

I like it. I am with you Brooke, and it is true it is definitely not the cool opinion around here.

Maria said...

Brooke-- I love you, really I do. You are an amazing mother, saint, and friend. But being Mormon does not mean being a Republican. And being a Republican does not mean you have to vote for McCain. Don’t get me wrong, McCain is a good man. He served and suffered for his country. I believe he has good intentions and desires the best for this country. However, his economic policies aren’t viable. His healthcare ideas are laughable (he would tax those of us who get healthcare through our jobs) and worst of all he brings nothing new to the table. I strongly believe that abortion is wrong—but it’s not the only issue our country faces. I don’t care who Leonardo DiCaprio or Ron Howard vote for. I care that as Americans we take charge of our future. Why would you vote for the party that in 8 years spiraled this country to the worst economic situation in our lifetime? Why would you vote for a candidate that wants permanent tax cuts for the top 1%? McCain is not a bad guy—he even has an adopted daughter (Yay!). But he is out of touch. This country deserves a better man.

Maria said...

p.s. My dad and father-in-law (staunch lifetime Republicans) are voting for Obama. There's hope for you yet ; )

brookeisacrazylady said...

maria, that is why you are one of the two people i was talking about. but i will not vote with madonna. not when i think obama is lying. and i disagree on mccain. its too simple to think that bush is the reason why the economy is the way it is. we can't blame bush for all of the problems in the world. anyone could come in and be 'change change change' and millions would buy whatever he (obama) is selling.

brookeisacrazylady said...

and its not republicans who are stealing the prop 8 signs and slashing the one in my yard!

brookeisacrazylady said...

and maria, i love hearing what you think, so i hope you don't stop, despite my obama rants. i think thats the whole point. you can disagree and be friends...it shouldn't be them verses me.

brookeisacrazylady said...

If you don't have the balls to leave your name, I not even going to read what you wrote. and delete it. fyi

brookeisacrazylady said...

i'm talking to you 'fifth mormon democratic'

brookeisacrazylady said...

dude, and maria is one of the two, so you are really number 4.

Amber said...

I'm with you Brooke. I'm tired of everyone blaming everything on Bush also. The fact is, if you look into it, some of the policies that have caused this economic crisis were actually started during the Clinton administration.

MommaT said...

Brooke,

I'm so glad that we can talk politics and I can still love you! Just not your opinion. I don't follow what movie stars do or how they vote and I don't get my news from circulating email. I'd love to discuss! Call me--there's too much to write. Love from Aunt Pam--Avid Obama Supporter in UTAH :)

alison said...

Hey Brooke! How in the world could you forget your sweet LDS fam in Utah that is all voting Democrat!? (AND we hold temple recommends too. haha.) My personal opinion is that both of these candidates have their flaws. However, I think the pros of Obama/Biden far more outweigh their cons. Obama is a strong leader and excellent speaker. We need his good communicating skills which are so critical in discussing issues with other countries not in our favor. I enjoy his personality, his directness, his honesty, his ability to cause great change among all kinds of voters in America.
I do not follow nor keep track of which celebs vote for which candidate--nor do I think that's important. I do however, agree with MOST policies of the Obama/Biden ticket and have met other Mormons that agree as well. What scares me most about McCain potentially becoming President is his inability to make wise choices (e.g., his Republican VP candidate). McCain surely cannot be blamed for all of Bush's mistakes/policies, however, he's already made his first bad mistake/decision in picking Miss Sarah Palin for his running mate! Scary.

From all of the reading I have done about him, from all of the debates and interviews I’ve watched, I sincerely believe that Obama is a good man. Not a perfect man, but one that is honestly trying to better our nation. Can he do it? I hope so. Do I think that McCain presents a more effective plan to do so? I do not. Unfortunately, I don’t perceive McCain the same way you do. In a lot of ways he's actually disrespected my beliefs and my religion (and yet most of my fellow Mormons will still vote for him). And I do not respect a man who allows his advisors and running mate to engage in a smear campaign (laden with loaded words like "terrorist") against his opponent. After all of this, I do not and cannot think that McCain is morally superior to Obama. I guess you know where my vote goes.

Thanks for getting the political blood boiling! haha.

Love ya Cuz! :)

Beth said...

Yes Sarah, I'm voting for Obama. I felt really open this time around to vote differently. A lot has changed in my life since I became LDS a few years back. But McCain is not doing it for me. I may have been persuaded with Romney, but who knows. And I love Palin for some reasons, but I think she was an irresponsible choice in a running mate. ANYWAY - I ditto all that Maria said - word for word. And I remember after I converted thinking it was strange that so many people think LDS = Republican. I guess it's because of some moral issues (abortion and such). But I'm with Maria on that one too. Is it hypocritical to vote yes on 8 and still be a Dem? I don't know, but it has taken me some time and A LOT of pondering/pray/research to get to a place where I feel really good about voting yes on 8 (again b/c five years ago when I wasn't a member I'm pretty sure I would've voted no). But I am at a good place about it (thanks especially to Kathy Nelson). Yay!

And also, yes celebrities are annoying - and not only during elections - but Leo and George will never sway my vote. I think if Hollywood happened to be more Republican you might not mind as much.... :) I don't mind if anyone expresses their political opinion openly, as long as it's well thought out and not just diarrhea of the mouth. Celebrities seem to shoot off their mouths without thinking and that is always annoying (Repub or Dem).

And those people stealing signs out of your yard are just lame. I like the idea on Emily's blog where you tie the string of cans to the end. That would be awesome. Okay, now I'm done. And I love your post and all of your thoughts! It's an exciting time for sure. Even though he is ahead in polls, I'm not convinced Obama is gonna take this.

Anonymous said...

My family is the kinda family that eats Christmas dinner over talk on politics, history, and current affairs.

Actually one time, Chris had a concert and everyone was going to meet us back at our apartment on Kling.

Chris' brothers Tom and Brian arrived about the same time as my Dad and my brother Danny...oh man!

This was about 4 years ago...Chris and I came to the walkway hearing a yelling match coming from our apartment!!! We could hear cursing...the whole nine yards!

Chris and I ran inside to find our families boiling over with anger! "you've been brain-washed", "why would you be a republican, they're not for the people", Bush this Bush that, "Republicans are only interested in X,Y,Z" and "Democrats want hand outs"...it was a nightmare.

So, I try to steer clear of saying too much about my views because I am like my family and get boiled over about this country and its state of affairs. So, my vote will remain a mystery, hehe.

But (Beth) You CAN be a Democrat AND vote Yes on Prop 8!!!

Add me to that list of Democrats. That makes five! :)

Anonymous said...

Isn't that a nightmare of a story??? Can you imagine finding your family and in laws at each others' throats!?

Beth said...

Oh - and Amber, I know Bush gets blamed for a lot, and who knows what would've happened if another president had been elected (I'm not convinced the outcome would be much different). But having said that, I think it's a given that presidents are going to get "blamed" for things that happen during their administrations, even if some of those things are a product of another presidents policies. It's happened throughout history - not just to Bush.

brookeisacrazylady said...

not that i totally disregard anyone who doesn't live in los angeles (tanners and cleggs), but i do like 95 percent. mostly because are you really aware of the intensity surrounding prop 8 and the uproar it has caused? because you are not the minority like I am here...in terms of religion and race. (ali, arizona is practically utah).

and the whole point in my obama rant is that i feel like the only person who feels like i do (a moral person who is republican (I think I might be the only one in my city it seems), so instead of trying to sway me on obama, show me all the moral people living in my area that share my value system. because all i see are people (except for you five lone ones) that don't.

this is not about if you can be mormon and a democrat. I already told you I knew two...now five. I always knew that. I'm just saying its hard being the only remaining republican in a obama loving land.

because in los angeles, like it or not, we are saturated with the entertainment industry. the news does not separate it. we live and breath it and their voice seems the loudest, yet most immoral.

now if obama came out in support of prop 8 then you might sway me....

and sarah palin can do no wrong in my book. i personally like 'the regular' types whose answers aren't so calculated and rehearsed.

and thank you everyone for including your names. i like guts...which is nicer to say than balls.

brookeisacrazylady said...

arlene, your story just confirms why families should never discuss politics or religion!

brookeisacrazylady said...

not that i totally disregard anyone who doesn't live in los angeles (tanners and cleggs), but i do like 95 percent. mostly because are you really aware of the intensity surrounding prop 8 and the uproar it has caused? because you are not the minority like I am here...in terms of religion and race. (ali, arizona is practically utah).

and the whole point in my obama rant is that i feel like the only person who feels like i do (a moral person who is republican (I think I might be the only one in my city it seems), so instead of trying to sway me on obama, show me all the moral people living in my area that share my value system. because all i see are people (except for you five lone ones) that don't.

this is not about if you can be mormon and a democrat. I already told you I knew two...now five. I always knew that. I'm just saying its hard being the only remaining republican in a obama loving land.

because in los angeles, like it or not, we are saturated with the entertainment industry. the news does not separate it. we live and breath it and their voice seems the loudest, yet most immoral.

now if obama came out in support of prop 8 then you might sway me....

and sarah palin can do no wrong in my book. i personally like 'the regular' types whose answers aren't so calculated and rehearsed.

and thank you everyone for including your names. i like guts...which is nicer to say than balls.

Courtney said...

I agree with Pam and Alison. I believe that both candidates are flawed. Neither one is perfect by any sense of the word. I have watched every single debate. I have read each person's platform a couple of times. I sincerely believe that Obama is good person and will make a good president. I have done my research from the sources not from tabloids, celebrities, etc. I don't care what celebrity votes what. That doesn't matter to me. What matters is what candidate is going to make the biggest difference for good.

brookeisacrazylady said...

courtney, of course you don't care...cause you are in alabama and you don't have to listen to it every where you look! i wonder if you, ali, and pam would feel the same way if you've lived where i have the last 7 years.

Beth said...

I think there are probably more out there than you think. They just don't always come out of the woodwork. See, you thought you only knew two and now there are five. There are more. In NYC I knew a bunch too. It's hard this year with Prop 8 thrown in there too. Emotions are heightened. :)

brookeisacrazylady said...

know five moral democrats is hardly enough for me to vote with their party.

but i love hearing what you have to say beth...especially since you are in the 'thick of things' here with me.

brookeisacrazylady said...

i mean no...not know...haha...see why i like sarah palin?

alison said...

p.s. We are voting in Arizona for Prop 102--defining a marriage between one man and one woman. Similar to Prop 8, right!?
I am voting in favor of it, but I am also voting for Obama. I feel no qualms about it.

brookeisacrazylady said...

i'm so glad alison.

my point is its not as hot as topic there. like its wouldn't be in alabama or utah

brookeisacrazylady said...

wait, maybe it would be in salt lake...its 50 percent mormon right?

i think how i view the democrats and obama here is probably how the democrats in utah feel for 'the church' and its heavy hand.

Maria said...

Okay Brooke--You know more than 5 Mormons voting for Obama. Bob, my dad, my brother, my father-in-law and the campus democrats at BYU (yes they exist--Bob got stickers!) And I do know what it's like to live in L.A. (my WHOLE life). You have to remember that voting for an issue is one thing (yes on prop 8) and voting for a candidate is something different. A candidate encompasses so much more than one issue. I'm not trying to sway you to Obama (okay maybe a little) but you should really consider why you are voting for McCain. Is it to go against the grain or is it because McCain truly is the candidate you trust with your country? I trust Obama.

Maria said...

BTW--I like "regular types" who don't sound calculated and rehearsed either but I like them to actually sound coherent. I don't want someone who can't answer what paper she reads or which Supreme Court decision she disagrees with to be 2nd in command of my country. This isn't a PTA election.

Anonymous said...

Since you consider Madonna supporting Obama reason enough NOT to vote for him, I think you should know who is supporting your Candidate (even though I agree with others that celebrities shouldn't have any relevance on voting).

According to a Hollywood insider, these are some of the people who are either campaigning or financially backing McCain.


Britney Spears, , Marilyn Manson, Drew Carey, Bo Derek, Tom Selleck, Shirley Temple Black, Clint Eastwood, Ben Stein, Kim Alexis, Scott Baio, Adam Baldwin, Robert Conrad, Alice Cooper, Shannen Doherty, Robert Duvall, Jamie Farr, Kelsey Grammer, Dean Jones, Jimmy Dean, Shirley Jones, Don King, Heather Locklear, Chuck Norris, Freddie Prinze Jr., Mickey Rooney, Jessica Simpson, Grace Slick, Tony Danza, Kurt Russell, Pat Sajak, Stephen Baldwin, Rick Schroder, Hilary Duff, Cheryl Ladd, Marie Osmond and Bruce Willis.

I'd rather walk out of the voting booth next to Madonna than Marilyn Manson, but again, who's voting for who does not matter.

I also think voting (or not voting) for a candidate based on their popularity is absurd. Although Obama's popularity bugs me quite a bit, I won't let it keep me from voting for him if he's the right guy for the job.

As for Palin. Cool girl (annoying accent), but she has been completely trampled on by the McCain campaign. I'd hate to see what might happen to her in Washington.

I'll defend Courtney, Al and Pam. I lived twenty years in south florida, which would give L.A. a run for its money, and there are plenty of moral democrats. I'd say there is equal amounts of morality/immorality on both sides. I can't stand when people say 'I don't understand how you can be a democrat AND a Mormon.' President Faust, Marlon K. Jensen and President Heber J. Grant (just to name a few) did/do a fine job.

If you're looking for the "moral" candidate, I'd go for Obama. Dedicated family man up against a man who admits to an affair with his first wife and is accused of an affair with his second wife.

There are plenty of reasons not to like Obama, but the reasons you're giving me are not enough. I'm still actually up for grabs, although I'd vote Obama if I had to choose today.

Platforms aside, any man who can take on the Clinton juggernaut and win, plus organize the biggest grass roots campaign I've ever seen has to have incredible intelligence not to mention unbeatable motivational and organizational skills.

I think the bigger problem to be scared of is a filibuster-proof democratic senate. Although it would be nice to see things get done, I don't think any party should have complete control in washington.

Thanks for starting the discussion. Love it!

Lindsey said...

I am definitely with you Brooke on voting for Mccain! He has not always been my favorite, but I appreciate his love of our country and patriotism. I appreciate his views about the American dream. Although I would like everyone to have a descent amount of money, I do not think it is right to force hard working Americans--like both my father-in-laws, to hand over 75% of their income--aka wealth distribution, which is what Obama wants to do and has said so several times. If people want to give their money away, that is fine, but they should not be forced to.
I also appreciate McCain's ProLife view. In my opinion, I think there are little spirits in these unborn babies that have a right to live. Take when John the Baptism jumped inside when Mary was carrying baby Jesus in her. I think their Spirits are in the womb and I cannot vote for Obama who has supported Abortion so many times. There are lots of other issues that I side with McCain rather than Obama--including his choice for Sarah Palin as VP.Actually I wished it were Mitt Romney, but she has been a great governor, which is more that Obama has done in my opinion. As for Obama a president, I do fear where he will lead this country and who is advisors will be who have a lot of influence over a president with his history of people he chooses to associate with. With McCain, at least we know him and what he will be like as a president. As for voting with who celebrities choose, I could care less. But I now can't listen to Madonna anymore after her comments at her last concert about saying that everyone was welcome except Sarah xxxxxx Palin. Not cool. I will be glad when this election is over. And I really hope Prop 8 passes. xoxo Love ya.

Beth said...

Brooke - I love that you have 38 comments here (now 39). Awesome.

I just don't get why Democrat = Immoral?

alison said...

oh yeah...one more reason why I'm voting Obama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsWpvkLCvu4

brookeisacrazylady said...

because of madonna, beth.

and the rest of hollywood... until...

wow carl (my brother in law who is a newsman) though, that was a great research list. what is your source? i'm impressed. touche' thank you for making me feel less alone, i've never felt so close to shannon doherty. was marilyn manson a bush supporter too? very interesting.

and i think half the comments are mine so they don't count. i tend to have verbal diahrea myself sometimes.

really lindsey voiced mine. i don't think you can be a democrat and be 'except i'm prolife'. i know plenty disagree with that. and things like prolife are huge for me. huge. which is a moral issue for me. and a 'wait, you did make a choice, when you chose to have sex' thing too for me.

maria, totally get the separation between a proposition and a candidate...but you have to admit, the MAJORITY of a certain party has a major problem with prop 8 and a MAJORITY of a certain party is for yes on 8 and considers it a moral issue. there are exceptions of course.

sheesh, this discussion is just what i needed to forget the greater issues going on in my life and make me feel like i have a brain (or no-brain if you disagree with me).

and i really don't want to be in the minority. i hate it actually. my most bliss was when i first went to byu and realized there were others like me! maybe thats why i'm so itchy when family members 'go to the other side' is cause its okay to be different if you are all being different together. i'm sick of always feeling against the grain...but i'm also trying to teach my children principles here (like you are not always going to be cool) and sometimes you have to go against the grain...even if its painful...

like how a church member left a message asking if jason or i would like to hold up yes on prop 8 signs at a major intersection for two hours tomorrow....yep, that sounds painful...

brookeisacrazylady said...

dude alison, totally not watching...

Maria said...

I watched it!! Thanks Allison --see Brooke your so awesome you're even uniting the democrats.

Bailey said...

For the record I am currently undecided as to who I am voting for. I am a registered republican but neither candidate is really appealing to me and what I think are important issues. With that said I don't think that the message Brooke is sending out is Democrat = immoral. What I'm getting is it is hard to be republican, and for McCain, and Prop 8 in LA. Where the majority of the people are Democrat and for Obama. And let's be honest there just happens to be a lot of immorality in LA (and a lot of good too). I am voting as a California absentee this year and sometimes I question (regardless of who I end up choosing) whether or not my vote will actually even count. I understand your frustration with the medias political messages and feeling bombarded. I live in Texas where everyone bombards you with McCain paraphernalia. There are celebrities on both sides who can get a little crazy with their political affiliations (Elizabeth Hasselbeck anyone?). And regardless of who it is for it is annoying and it shouldn't sway your vote. I applaud you for saying what you feel and sticking up for what you believe in. It's an exciting time. This country is great yet it needs a lot of work. I hope whoever gets elected will bring us the much needed change we deserve. I'm hopeful that they will. I'm still a little sad it's not Romney tough. I love reading everyone's reasons as to why they are voting the way they are. As for me I still have a little research to do.

brookeisacrazylady said...

bailey, you totally got me! thanks!

totally funny about the elizabeth hasselback, i'm like thats all who they could get, the survivor girl?

maria, i'm so glad you and ali can be united, you are both wonderful!

thanks for contributing to my small little blog-o-sphere life. sometime i'll tell ya'll what really happened this week. this is way more fun.

Anonymous said...

I have to applaud you for standing up for what you believe and being gutsy to put it out there for everyone you know and some you don't to read. I typically define myself as a conservative and agree with much of what you have said. You should vote for who you believe as president would make the most choices that you would make if you were there.

One thing I think you should be careful of is judging character and whether a person is a "good" person or not by whether he or she holds a temple recommend. I know this was totally not the point of your comment, but it stuck out to me as much or more than the political views.

Did you and Jason go hold the sign in support of Prop 8?

brookeisacrazylady said...

Jake! Good additions!

I didn't mean to imply good or bad with the temple recommend, just trying to give the non mormon a perspective. I think a recommend is a basic gauge of commitment level...obviously there are exceptions. what do you think?

sadly the sign holding is when jason is at work and i'm home with the kids... poor timing

Renee said...

Brooke - Lindsey said what I was going to write. I just feel that the abortion issue outweighs all the other issues. With the tax issue...I can't have Obama raising taxes on Jared's business... he would then not have a business. Taxes are outrageous already. I should know I write the check. And... do we really want our government running everything. I don't!

Jack'sMom said...

I just want to say how awesome it is that you all get so passionate about politics. It's great to see 49 comments on Brooke's blog because you care about who represents you. Here, getting people to vote is a mission. Good stuff.

Lisa -- said...

I was wondering when your political side would come out. I AGREE with you Brooke. Although, I do not like either candidate this election. What happen to great men or women who want to hold public office like Reagan and I applaud Romney for trying. I always thought Elder Oaks would make a great president but he has far more important work to do. Anyway, since neither candidate strikes me at all I have to go with who best supports my beliefs - morally, socially, and politically. That candidate is McCain even though I don't entirely like his views I am much more in line with him on most things. Obama, on the other hand, I do not agree with his foreign policy (or lack of) I don't like Biden's policies nor how he has ran the foreign committee he chairs. Also, I do not agree with Obama's tax plan and universal health care. Plus, living in Chicago (obama's hometown), I heard and saw some things that makes me leary of the company his keeps for political and/or personal reasons. So when it comes to appointing cabinet members, government department heads, JUDGES and ambassdors; it makes me wonder WHO he will SELECT. What matters most to me are JUDICAL APPOINTMENTS - Supreme court and other. Most people don't know/care how important this is for our country and society, just take a look at why we have Prop 8 to understand the value of great appointments. Also,FOREGIN POLICY, SOCIAL SECURITY, and IMMIGRATION are important. Out of the two not so great choices -- I choose McCain. I do not want a more liberal/socialist country which would happen under Obama because of his stance on key issues. Yes, our health care system needs work but we don't need a universal health care system. I have a daughter who is disabled who sees a lot of doctors and who uses the health care system alot. I don't want her to go through a universal health care system. Watch Frontline's (PBS) piece on health care systems in other countries vs ours and you will appreciate ours even though it has problems. I don't want amnesty for illegals nor a easier/quicker way to citizenship under some liberal ideas (I am hispanic and my parents came in the RIGHT way so I speak out on this isssue) I don't want, appointed or elected, liberal judges changing or defining society for me and my descendants to be more liberal (against the people's will). It is appauling to see some of the decisions (or sentencings)across the country from liberal judges. I do want a liberal judge giving a light sentence to a child sex offender or any other type of criminal. So when Courtney asks, who will do the greater good; I don't know but I think Obama's views and his affliations will do greater harm long term than McCain. If there is one thing Bush did while in office(although I think there is a couple more like being the first president to ACTUALLY try fixing Social Security even though he was shot down) - it was his GREAT Supreme court nominations (in my opinion)which will have lasting effects. No matter who wins I hope that our country will continue to be blessed, safe and prosper.

Kira =] said...

I feel like this election is a "pick the lesser of the two evils" and I hate it. I know I'll vote for McCain because despite listening to all the speeches and doing my research, Obama simply scares me. I get cold chills anytime I hear him speak about "Change". Cause you know change can also be bad. And there are some very memorable leaders in history that ran on the platform of "change" as well. Stalin, Musolinni, & Hitler are the first to come to mind. They didn't do all bad things either. For example, Hitler made it possible for newlyweds to get loans with really low interest rates so they could afford to furnish their homes. But that's not what he's remembered for, is it? Biden is pretty good. I love when he speaks out about stuff that his campaign has wrongly done. =] But I'm also scared if Obama doesn't get elected because so many african-americans do support him. And they have every right to support someone that understands exactly the things that have happened to them and way they have been treated as a person. I fear an uprising though if he doesn't win.

And just because I don't vote for Obama doesn't mean I'm racist. But it's going to get put across like that with all the media & celebrities & NAACP & Rev. Jesse Jackson. And as an American I do take insult that his wife has never been proud of this country (despite the fact it's the freedoms of this country that allow her the privilege to say that & be where she is in her life).

And I may not be great at math but I can do enough to figure out that there just isn't enough money for Obama's $4 trillion dispersments. The FED will tell him, "Um no, there's just not enough money for that unless you want to completely crash our economy." McCain's plan would work simply because he would cease ALL budget spending.

And I may not agree with Bush on all the choices he's made, but I think he's done pretty good considering what he's had to deal with. There was no precedent for an attack like 9/11. It wasn't Bush's economy planned that failed. It was him not making sure the people in charge of checking up on loaners & banks that they were following the guidelines.

Anyway, great post. I loved it & the opportunity to add my comments. And I may not be able to trust the media, but just like I hear the gospel and it makes perfect sense to me, I know I can trust my feelings. And Obama scares me.

Tawny said...

Here is a thought. My father makes over 200,000 a year with his own business. He lives in Utah, has built a company from the ground up for the past 20 years, and falls into that tax bracket that Obama wants to raise taxes on. Now, it seems like my Dad may have a lot of money, but after he pays all his expenses, health care, money back towards business loans and investing money back into the business so it can grow, he actually takes home less than 200,000 a year. But he still legally falls under that range. SO under Obamas plan the government would take OVER 75 PERCENT of his earnings before he even saw a single dollar. OVER 75%!!! Then, he gets his "paycheck" and would still have to pay a 10% tithe. That leaves him with only 15% of the money he earns to take home to his family. HIS hard earned money. He works 12 hour days, sometimes longer, and has done so all his life. Is this fair? Take money from those who create it for their families and give it away to those who may or may not deserve it? Is it just for the government to decide that? My father would possible go bankrupt, his business could fail, and he would have to sell the house he built with his own hands and has lived in for 15 years. Is socialism really the answer? My two sisters would have to drop out of college because he would no longer afford to send them there. In the scriptures God tells us through his prophets that heavy taxing is evil and not of him. It is unconstitutional. Obama and his ideas stand further away form the core fundamentals of the constitution than any other Pres Candidate in history. Do we want to stray from the constitution that we know to be an inspired document from God? Obama would take away our freedoms and rights to choose by disguising them as "equal rights" programs. Socialism will never work in a country that was founded on the ethics of Freedom and the Liberty to Choose. Obama may have good intentions, he wants to ease the suffering of millions (& I fall into that category that he wants to help...)but he is taking the wrong approach. It may be simple to be a poor or middle class American and say "Yes, take from the rich and give to me..." But put yourself in my dads shoes, how would you feel? For a hard working citizen like my dad, who is not "rich" but is classified as such, his life would be stripped from him completely & given away to others (who may or MAY NOT deserve it).

Tawny said...

AND I agree with many that this is the "Pick a Lesser of Two Evils" election. I don't like either of the choices. But when I make a list side by side of the policies and positions of the candidates, and count how many "evils" each one may contain... I find my answer. Change does sound nice, Heaven knows that what I want and am praying for. But changing in the wrong manner in the wrong direction is NOT the answer. I am neither Rep or Dem, I stand as an Independant (actually I'm undeclaired because I cannot come to terms with either pary) but I will vote this year on who brings about less "evil" change (for lack of a better word because I don't think Obama is evil) and focus on values & constitutional rights.

Kira =] said...

I totally agree with Reagan. I think that if someone has the idea and works hard and shows the initiative they deserve their money. I don't care for Bill Gates or his company nor his products, but he earned his money. Ben & I may not make $250,000 right now, but our goal is to improve our situation and hopefully make that one day. I'd quite frankly like to keep the paycheck I earned, wouldn't you?

Claire said...

Brooke, you can count me in your Mormon Democrats too.

Brandon Walter Evans said...

boo solialized medicine and boo gays and abortions. hippies. se la vie. maybe mccain would do a worse job who knows, maybe it will make the republicans less fat and lazy.