fantastic_jackie: (Freedom)
fantastic_jackie ([personal profile] fantastic_jackie) wrote2008-02-07 05:42 pm

The Last Conservative

Since Mitt Romney dropped out of the race today, I have no candidate I can fall behind. But I'm still going to be actively campaigning, and I'm still going to vote. You'll never believe who I'm voting for this year, let alone for whom I'll be volunteering.

You may count me in the, "Crush McCain" camp. Ali said, "Now you know how we feel about George Bush." No, I don't. The campaign against Bush was just "Anyone but;" I want McCain to stand absolutely no chance of winning. If we're going to have a liberal democrat in the White House, let's get one that's honest about who they are. One that doesn't attack and demonize his - or her - own base. There's more trust in the situation, and frankly, the other candidates deserve it more than he does. - Not that any of them should be POTUS.

As such, I've got a couple different options I'm playing with, and these are my choices. I will choose to vote for one of them:

A) Ron Paul 
B) Write In
C) Hillary Clinton/Barak Obama (Also, fundraising/campaign volunteering)
D) The Unknown - AKA, the Third Party Candidate

Option A.
Ron Paul is the last "Conservative" left in this race. He's actually a Libertarian, and voting for him would mean putting aside a lot of my moral principals and love of the military. Because I wouldn't be voting for him for any other reason than choosing him as my candidate. If I choose to vote for him, it will only be during the Primary.

He has a lot to offer domestically. The foreign war is lost, and I don't mean the actual war. The GOP is relying on the "Anyone but Hillary" base within the party, but if Obama is the nominee, then we may as roll out the red carpet because no one can stop him; the man has charisma, vision, and motivation. As for Hillary, she's a Clinton: she's got it.

But back to Paul; assuming he had a chance to get into office (and I know he doesn't, but voting for someone implies you want them there), my purpose in voting for him would be to be as a check on excessive spendetures in the Congress and for him to be a lame duck on everything else because he wouldn't be able to pass anything with either party controlling the Congress.

Option B.
Writing in is what I want to do, but I'll only do it if I'm sure McCain is going to be thoroughly crushed. My write in would be Newt Gingrich, as he's the candidate I picked from day one. I might write in for the Primary, I might not; it depends on if I can stomach a vote for Paul.

Option C.
Yes, you read that correctly. I will be volunteering for the Democratic Party this year. I have given up hope for the next 4 years, and that is to say that I know I'll probably be extremely active politically sending letters and maybe even organizing/attending events like I have in the past. I don't think everything will change, but enough will. I'm putting my cards on a Carter/Reagan election cycle in 2012.

Taxes are going to rise: you can bet on it. Whether McCain, Clinton, or Obama, no matter what. This is going to affect the economy - negatively. Abroad, who knows, and I don't know if we'll be attacked again, either. I like to say that I have faith in the people that protect us, but it's all incumbent upon how tied their hands become. One thing's for sure, though: just because George W. Bush leaves office doesn't mean that suddenly we have no threat on our hands. The WoT doesn't end. - At least until we're forced to retreat.

So voting/campaigning for the dems is a backwards strategy, but I feel it's the only liable one that exists; I will be genuinely happy when the Dems win this year. If we're going to have a liberal in office, it should be on the party that is openly for such policies. I can and do respect Clinton and Obama as politicians; they're brilliant. McCain is a pansy. He's as Rhino as they come, and he has absolutely no respect for the Conservative principles that govern the Conservative Base of "his" party. I tell you this now: if the Republican party doesn't start shifting back to the right, I will be leaving it.

Additionally, if McCain stands the slightest chance of winning (which I doubt he will, but you never know), then I'll also vote Democrat, although living in Texas, I'm not sure how much effect that will have... ;)

Option D.
A lot of talk has popped up about a true Conservative running as a third party candidate. If such a person arises, of course dependent on who they are, I'll vote for them. I'll volunteer for them, instead, as well; spliting the Conservative vote does enough to guarantee McCain's defeat.


The last round in 2006 was about the Republican party "teaching" the GOP that we're tired of our core values being ignored. What I'm doing is not tied to petty party differences: I genuinely believe liberal principles will destroy this nation, and endorsing that destruction takes a lot of gull, especially considering how much I love the US. That being said, America is stonger than one liberal democrat in the White House. One liberal democrat in the White House will (mostly - hopefully) not affect my life too drastically: I'll still depend on myself for things. Hopefully the government's fingers won't pry too far into our lives.


There's also the Congress, and that's where I'll be shifting my focus. 

The Presidential election is lost for me, and for the US, too: we're GOING to have a liberal democrat in office. The only question is from which party will they come.

[identity profile] xxdesert-rose.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
*puts on thick, black nerdy glasses and white lab coat* Well first of all, let me just say I have never ever been a firm supporter of politics. Seeing as how I live in one of the most politically corrupt states (no not Mississippi) you can see why I've given up on politics. In case you're wondering I'm from Louisiana... You know we're infamous for all sorts of crooked politicians.

Before I was old enough to understand any of that though, I just didn't have an interest or like in politics. I thought it was boring and didn't really affect me.

When I even went to register to vote, I think I picked Republican but as I learned more and more about the politicial parties and started to form my own political beliefs, I found myself to be neither a Republican, Democrat, Conserative or Liberal. I still don't fully know what to call myself but I think I'm Independent. Because all of my political beliefs don't full under any specified category...

I did read up on Socialism and Capitalism a while back and come to find out I was more of a socialist than a capitalist. I haven't finished reading up on the two yet but basically what I gathered from my reading, the books pretty much said capitalism was all about money, money, money, money while socialism was more about helping the people. Of course I could be wrong but I didn't get a chance to finish reading/studying socialism and capitalism.

Coming back on topic though which would be this year's upcoming election. As Bush's presidency started to dwindle down, I became terrified. I don't claim to be the most knowledgeable person on the planet but seeing as how our economy is suffering (and I mean big time!)

Just today I glimsped an online article that said the American dollar has weakened so much to the point that some stores are accepting foreign currency... I had no clue we were doing THAT bad! Not only that but there are currently rumors going around that we might experience another Great Depression.

Couple that with the fact that I'm absolutely mortified and terrified that America is well on its way to becoming the next Sodom and Gomarrah or Rome and well you get the idea...

To be truthfully honest, I'm still scared about what the next four years will bring. All I want is an honest and capable leader. One that will actually try to HELP rather than HINDER our country! *sighs*

Sorry about this comment... I didn't mean to get so winded but yeah...

[identity profile] vinyahuinewen.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
wow...a possibility for the dems? Never thought I'd see the day ;) Or you could do option E and throw a bone to one of the obscure parties...of course thats pretty much a vote wasted though.

See, the whole stance on conservative/liberal politics is whats wrong with a two party election....I say we throw it back old skool and have our four parties.

[identity profile] mrstater.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 02:12 pm (UTC)(link)
He's actually a Libertarian, and voting for him would mean putting aside a lot of my moral principals and love of the military.

I just. don't. get why conservatives insist that love of military = support for the war in Iraq/war on terror. Those of us who don't support the war still love the military, you know. We hate the war because it's depleting our forces, taking unnecessary lives, and leaving us vulnerable if a crisis arises. We want to see America's military #1 just as much as the war supporters do. It's just a different perspective on things, and I really wish people would stop treating us like less-than-patriotic because we question a Very Unpopular War.

And why should you have to sacrifice your moral principles whatever candidate you fall behind? Morality isn't the government's job, nor should it be; historically, it's never really worked out, especially not in line with the core American values! They're completely at odds!