I don't know who I'm voting for!

kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
edited April 2008 in A Moving Train
I always love to throw my .2 cents in every Election Day, and exercise my right to give up my decision making powers to an unstoppably corrupt system of representation. It always makes me get up and dance a jig as I leave the voting booth. Election Day is my third favorite day, after Christmas and my birthday, and just beating out Halloween. Actually... I don't so much like birthdays anymore... but anyway, that's irrelevant to the topic at hand...

I've been a registered independent during most of my voting years. I always vote on the lefty side, I'm not gonna lie. The internet polls I've taken label me "left-libertarian". I think government should be much more local, and, as a consequence of that, less authoritarian. I think we need to rebuild the cohesiveness of our communities. I think individuals benefit when the people work together to solve issues that affect all, or most, individuals. Our cities and towns could be so much better organized. Instead, big government and big corporations fucking rule us and do whatever the fuck they want most of the time. Now, as I get older (I'm rapidly approaching 32) my ability to give a shit about trying to change things diminishes. My anger hasn't really diminished, but the more I see the way people are these days, the more I give up hope. No one seems to want to work with each other. People are very detached from one another. They are in eastern Massachusetts, at least. It was different when I was a kid. If there was a problem, the whole neighborhood would congregate in the streets. People would hitchhike all the time. That was in the 80's. I have not seen a hitchhiker since the 80's (maybe the very early 90's). My dad used to hitchhike from Boston to Cape Cod every weekend (in the 60's). No one trusts anyone any more. Everyone has their own little controlled universe of family, friends and co-workers. I'm guilty of that too. Most people don't pay close attention to politics, if any real attention. That's one thing I can say I'm not guilty of. But politics has become more of a curiosity for me than the means to an end that it should be.

Ralph Nader got me hooked on politics in the year 2000. Before him, I was actually kind of a John McCain guy. He was the Anti-Bush. The first time I saw George W Bush on TV in 1999, I hated that fucking prick. His attitude immediately turned me off, and I hate nepotism. But I knew that fucker was going to be President. So I voted for McCain in the Republican primary just to voice my spite towards Bush. Little did I know McCain would get to where he is today.

I don't hate McCain. I have doubts about his sanity and I don't agree with him on a lot of things, but he's just not that off-putting. I don't think he's as sincere as he wants to us think he is, but he's not thoroughly insincere like Bush. I am, without a doubt, not going to vote for him, but if he's President, it would be somewhat of a relief following Bush.

I have to admit, I'm curious about what would happen under a McCain administration. But this is why politics should NOT be a curiosity!!

Hillary Clinton also turns me off the moment I see her and her total bogusness. No more Hillary and Bill. Please no. No. Please.

President Obama - I can deal with that. I mean, it's funny, because he REALLY does NOT have a lot of experience, and many people on this board have pointed out his shady dealings, but when I see him chatting with the people, I get to thinking that maybe there's a decent human being within this politician. Of the big three, I think he's the best shot we have for getting some things done right. The only shot, actually.

I voted for Mike Gravel in this year's Democratic primary. He's the crazy old Alaskan dude (he's actually been living in the DC area for years). OK, I don't think he's really crazy - a bit manicky, yes - but NOT crazy. What's crazy is the acceptance of the passionless drones that get elected. Mike Gravel didn't hold back when talking about the sources of the corruption of our politics. He supports serious reform of our political system. He's now running as a Libertarian. He had some Libertarian stances before this - he supports the Fair Tax and full legalization of marijuana to name a few. But he also has some very liberal stances, so I'm curious about his chances of being the Libertarian nominee, despite the fact that, as a two-term U.S. Senator, he's the most prominent member they've ever had.

But if my choice comes down to Nader, an unknown Green Party nominee, Gravel or another Libertarian, Obama (please no Clinton) and McCain... well... I've narrowed it down to three. One I already mentioned I would note vote for and the other I already voted for enough times, and I'm still embittered towards him for getting me involved in all of this shit! :D
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    thanks kenny for organizing and verbalizing my thought.....i've tried for a while to write my thought on the upcoming election for some time....i agree with all that you said.....i haven't really decided whom i'm going to vote for.....like you if it's billery, gravel it is......if it's obama, i will take a close look at him.....and as for mclame.....gimmie a break.....:)
  • If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
    Kenny Olav wrote:
    President Obama -

    when I see him chatting with the people, I get to thinking that maybe there's a decent human being within this politician. Of the big three, I think he's the best shot we have for getting some things done right. The only shot, actually.


    --->
  • Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • dg1979usdg1979us Posts: 568
    Kenny Olav wrote:


    I don't hate McCain. I have doubts about his sanity and I don't agree with him on a lot of things, but he's just not that off-putting. I don't think he's as sincere as he wants to us think he is, but he's not thoroughly insincere like Bush. I am, without a doubt, not going to vote for him, but if he's President, it would be somewhat of a relief following Bush.

    I have to admit, I'm curious about what would happen under a McCain administration. But this is why politics should NOT be a curiosity!!


    If we werent at war, Im not sure McCain would be that bad a president, in relation to many of the other dems or repubs. But, his war stances scare me. I really think if he wins we will see war with Iran, or at least an escalation of troops and a prolonged war in Iraq. And I dont want to see that. In peace time, Im not sure he would be terrible, but his war talk worries me.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    I'm not voting for anyone....again.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • I don't envy you Americans. It's getting nearly as bad over here. The big 5 (Labour, Tory, Lib Dem, BNP, Green) are all a bunch of right wing cunts who have a cross party consensus to screw the poor over. I've only been old enough to vote in the last 2 elections (Labour both times) but I'm really not sure if I'm gonna carry on voting especially after HIPS and the last budget. Being the lesser of evils aint enough for me anymore.
    A restaurant with a smoking section is like a swimming pool with a pissing section
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    thanks for the stream of consciousness summation kenny. ;)
    i hear ya.
    :D


    it's april...we've got until november.
    good luck to us all.



    and honestly, as i've gotten older, i would not say i've lost *hope*...i've simply gotten more.....pragmatic? realizing...baby steps perhaps? human civilization is a mere drop in the bucket of earhtly *existence*...so i fugure...it all takes...................time.
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


  • Vote for Hillary
    PEARL JAM~Lubbock, TX. 10~18~00
    PEARL JAM~San Antonio, TX. 4~5~03
    INCUBUS~Houston, TX. 1~19~07
    INCUBUS~Denver, CO. 2~8~07
    Lollapalooza~Chicago, IL. 8~5~07
    INCUBUS~Austin, TX. 9~3~07
    Bonnaroo~Manchester, TN 6~14~08
  • thanks for the stream of consciousness summation kenny. ;)
    i hear ya.
    :D


    it's april...we've got until november.
    good luck to us all.



    and honestly, as i've gotten older, i would not say i've lost *hope*...i've simply gotten more.....pragmatic? realizing...baby steps perhaps? human civilization is a mere drop in the bucket of earhtly *existence*...so i fugure...it all takes...................time.

    Time??? As if we haven't given them plenty of that! Honestly!


    As I've gotten older, I feel the exact opposite. I was one of the main ones pressing this 'baby steps' approach in '04. But it seems to me our government has only continued to get worse and worse still to the point where I'm not sure any steps are being gained at all and if they have, please point them out to me. Those on the left have looked the other way as the Democrats have gotten more corrupt. Those on the right have looked the other way as the Republicans have gotten more corrupt. There's no accountability with this approach, only excuses, shrugs and free passes. So why should the major parties stop their pandering and complete ineffectiveness? They know people will still line up to vote for them every election year. People seem afraid to look elsewhere and they count on that. It doesn't take a genius to see our system is broken. So when are we going to fix it? Do you think the Dems or the Reps are going to fix themselves out of the kindness of their hearts? Don't hold your breath. And why should they? They don't have to do shit and we will still keep voting them into power. The only thing we remain good at is complaining. I've never heard so much complaining about a system that we are so firm about keeping in place. 'This sucks so bad! Let's keep it going on and on!!' It makes no sense at all....NONE. We must love having things to complain about and they sure don't hesistate to give us stuff to fill that need. It's like a bad marriage/relationship. At first you notice problems and you try to forgive and work through them. Then the problems keep getting worse and these problem occurances start happening more often. Still you feel giving second chances will help. Then the problems grow into bigger problems. You become miserable and have no faith left(most people have very little faith in our gov't). At what point do you call it quits and move on? Or are we the type who live the rest of our lives unhappy with a relationship riddled with problems only to waste our lives away with this bad situation? It's up to us to make it better... to make our government something that we can be more proud of...one that works better for us, the citizenry, instead of the trend we've been seeing grow year after year after year, which is a government that works best for the wealthy, big business, special interests and powerful at the expense of the rest of us.

    I'm dumping the republicans, kicking the democrats to the curb...see ya. They've had enough chances. I'm tired of looking the other way to their crimes. I'm all out of excuses for them. And most of all...I'm tired of being used. Enough is enough.
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    I'm probably going to vote for McCain. OK, I'm not gonna lie ... I can't envision any circumstance in which I DON'T vote for McCain.

    But I'm not really all that happy about it. I'll probably have to hold my nose when I do it.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • I'm probably going to vote for McCain. OK, I'm not gonna lie ... I can't envision any circumstance in which I DON'T vote for McCain.

    But I'm not really all that happy about it. I'll probably have to hold my nose when I do it.

    Then why vote for him?
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    vote for Kenny Olav. KO;08

    At least you could feel certain of your canidates intentions. :D

    Good read kenny.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    I'm probably going to vote for McCain. OK, I'm not gonna lie ... I can't envision any circumstance in which I DON'T vote for McCain.

    But I'm not really all that happy about it. I'll probably have to hold my nose when I do it.
    his wife and her "perma smile" make me paranoid.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    Then why vote for him?

    of all the candidates on the ballot, he will be the one who most closely approximates my views. On some issues, it isn't all that close ... his "maverick" side frightens me a bit. McCain-Feingold is a travesty. McCain-Kennedy would have been a travesty, had it passed.

    But he jibes with my views a little bit more than either of the candidates on the other side of the aisle.

    If McCain is a square peg I'm trying to wedge into a round hole, Clinton/Obama is an adult elephant I'm trying to wedge into a round hole.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    ajedigecko wrote:
    his wife and her "perma smile" make me paranoid.

    Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's a robot of some kind. I think her mother might have been the maid on "The Jetsons." But at least she's got some blue-collar in her background. ;)
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • Vote for Willie Nelson

    who gives a fuk.......

    your vote doesnt matter anyway

    duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhh
    PEARL JAM~Lubbock, TX. 10~18~00
    PEARL JAM~San Antonio, TX. 4~5~03
    INCUBUS~Houston, TX. 1~19~07
    INCUBUS~Denver, CO. 2~8~07
    Lollapalooza~Chicago, IL. 8~5~07
    INCUBUS~Austin, TX. 9~3~07
    Bonnaroo~Manchester, TN 6~14~08
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    Time??? As if we haven't given them plenty of that! Honestly!


    As I've gotten older, I feel the exact opposite. I was one of the main ones pressing this 'baby steps' approach in '04. But it seems to me our government has only continued to get worse and worse still to the point where I'm not sure any steps are being gained at all and if they have, please point them out to me. Those on the left have looked the other way as the Democrats have gotten more corrupt. Those on the right have looked the other way as the Republicans have gotten more corrupt. There's no accountability with this approach, only excuses, shrugs and free passes. So why should the major parties stop their pandering and complete ineffectiveness? They know people will still line up to vote for them every election year. People seem afraid to look elsewhere and they count on that. It doesn't take a genius to see our system is broken. So when are we going to fix it? Do you think the Dems or the Reps are going to fix themselves out of the kindness of their hearts? Don't hold your breath. And why should they? They don't have to do shit and we will still keep voting them into power. The only thing we remain good at is complaining. I've never heard so much complaining about a system that we are so firm about keeping in place. 'This sucks so bad! Let's keep it going on and on!!' It makes no sense at all....NONE. We must love having things to complain about and they sure don't hesistate to give us stuff to fill that need. It's like a bad marriage/relationship. At first you notice problems and you try to forgive and work through them. Then the problems keep getting worse and these problem occurances start happening more often. Still you feel giving second chances will help. Then the problems grow into bigger problems. You become miserable and have no faith left(most people have very little faith in our gov't). At what point do you call it quits and move on? Or are we the type who live the rest of our lives unhappy with a relationship riddled with problems only to waste our lives away with this bad situation? It's up to us to make it better... to make our government something that we can be more proud of...one that works better for us, the citizenry, instead of the trend we've been seeing grow year after year after year, which is a government that works best for the wealthy, big business, special interests and powerful at the expense of the rest of us.

    I'm dumping the republicans, kicking the democrats to the curb...see ya. They've had enough chances. I'm tired of looking the other way to their crimes. I'm all out of excuses for them. And most of all...I'm tired of being used. Enough is enough.



    i was speaking in a much more broad-based sense of humanity, not even specifically about this election, the US, etc. and yes, i DO believe real change takes time....and with that, i could be referencing ANY candidate, it certainly in no way insinuates a republican or democrat. so i wasn't refering to giving 'them' anymore time, i don't even se it like that....but i also don't have the same pov as you either overall, but hey...that's why we all get our one vote to express our own views.
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    Ann Coulter says you should vote for Hillary:

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



    She looks like she's been dead for two weeks, in that clip.
  • elmerelmer Posts: 1,683
    Fuck Policies. Vote McCain, he looks as if he's dead.

    Didn't Obama once have a cameo appearance in an episode of Columbo?
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    elmer wrote:
    Fuck Policies. Vote McCain, he looks as if he's dead.

    Didn't Obama once have a cameo appearance in an episode of Columbo?


    Dunno, but I can imagine Hillary in it.

    "Mrs Clinton ... just one more thing ...."
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    politics makes me puke

    with love and respect,

    the boston puker
  • I know who I'm NOT voting for.

    The one who would continue with the Bush agenda.
  • Kenny Olav wrote:
    politics makes me puke

    with love and respect,

    the boston puker

    "If you're not turned on to politics, the lesson of history is, politics will turn on YOU....and make you blow smelly chunks all over the place." Ralph Nader with additional content added on by Abook. :D
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    you all have a pretty tough choice to make :o

    I really hope you choose something different... Clinton, well I'm sure it would be exciting catching up with the rest of the world on equality for 5 minutes til you realise she's really a man... McCain just seems too much like a politician :o but Obama seems interesting... it looks like he's a better liar than most so he would be more reassuring as a leader I reckon. What people really want is somebody they THINK they can trust to make decisions on their behalf... which is why the best liars usually make the best (or most prominent) presidents... if he genuinely is a nice guy well he probably won't last very long... but if not and if he's as good a liar as you probably think, well he could be one of the best presidents you ever have ;) Besides, there's always something wise and nobel about black presidents.. think of morgan freeman in deep impact telling you the world's gonna end and you somehow feel comforted... or David Palmer in 24, what a wonderfully wise nobel man... every country should have David Palmer for president :)

    Sorry, I got a bit sidetracked there.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    you all have a pretty tough choice to make :o


    maybe i'll just move to Ireland?? :D


    well, if it looks like a close race in Massachusetts, then i'll vote for the Democrat. then again... if it's a close race in MA, then that could only mean McCain has got it clinched.

    so I probably will vote for Gravel. i've always wanted to vote for a Libertarian, at least once in my life.
  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    First off, Kenny that was a great post. Secondly, I am tired of having to vote for the lesser of two evils. I have lost complete faith in our government. I have reach the point where I could give a shit what happens to our country, economy, etc... Our government as a whole continues to fail us and we as a people continue to allow them to do so. It seems to me that it will take a complete collapse of this country in order to cause people to finally take back the reigns of this country. I personally will not vote for either McCain, Obama or Clinton. I have even entertained the thought of not even voting because in all honesty it doesn't matter. The people running for President, or where running, who could really change the course in which this country is heading will never get elected. No matter how hard we fight for the Gravels, Pauls and Kucinichs of this world they will never win. I have come to believe this is because the majority of Americans might want change but they are unwilling to have to work to make that change a reality. They would rather sit back and let our government do all the work even though they know that the likely hood of that happening is zero to none. So let American vote in another useless politician who will put our needs behind those of special interest groups and corporations. Let Americans vote for the candidate who the media talking heads tell them to vote for. I simply don't care anymore. Someone on this message board once said the Americans get the President we deserve and in all honesty we deserve the worst of the lot.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
  • mammasan wrote:
    First off, Kenny that was a great post. Secondly, I am tired of having to vote for the lesser of two evils. I have lost complete faith in our government. I have reach the point where I could give a shit what happens to our country, economy, etc... Our government as a whole continues to fail us and we as a people continue to allow them to do so. It seems to me that it will take a complete collapse of this country in order to cause people to finally take back the reigns of this country. I personally will not vote for either McCain, Obama or Clinton. I have even entertained the thought of not even voting because in all honesty it doesn't matter. The people running for President, or where running, who could really change the course in which this country is heading will never get elected. No matter how hard we fight for the Gravels, Pauls and Kucinichs of this world they will never win. I have come to believe this is because the majority of Americans might want change but they are unwilling to have to work to make that change a reality. They would rather sit back and let our government do all the work even though they know that the likely hood of that happening is zero to none. So let American vote in another useless politician who will put our needs behind those of special interest groups and corporations. Let Americans vote for the candidate who the media talking heads tell them to vote for. I simply don't care anymore. Someone on this message board once said the Americans get the President we deserve and in all honesty we deserve the worst of the lot.

    Nice to see you around, mammasan. :)

    And boy, do I ever understand your frustration!
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    Nice to see you around, mammasan. :)

    And boy, do I ever understand your frustration!

    Abook haven't had much free time to pop in here. With moving, going back to school and starting a new job free time is a luxury I no longer have.

    Frustration is an understatement. Where I was once frustrated and disillusioned with the competency of our government I have no lost all hope. Why should I support a system that is corrupt and broken. Why should I continue to play along as if what I say makes a difference. Our economy is fucked, our government is fucked and our society is fucked. We as a country are more comfortable and accepting of our government, plunging us deeper into a hole, in order to bail out corporations than we are with our government helping out the less fortunate. The whole think is fucked and no one cares. Our government continues to mortgage away my kids and their kids future in order to maintain a white knuckled grip on hegemony. In all honesty if wasn't for the fact that my kids live in this country I would pack up my shit and go else where. Unfortunetely I am tied down here and forced to watch as my fellow countrymen, once again, elect the same shitty worthless politicians who will continue to destroy everything that was once great about this country all in the name of some distorted sense of patriotism that is truly nationalism. My sense humanity is more important to me that any chunk of land or flag.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
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