Its election time here in the US, and everyone at home and abroad seems to have a strong opinion about who they want for president. I am curious to see who NMAers would vote for, and more importantly why or why not? Also, if can vote and are not, why? Note that the why part is very important for the discussion, a simple poll is pretty useless.
I will post a new poll each week through the election November 2nd along with an exit poll, so we can hopefully see changes in public opinion.
For example: 'I think that the war in Iraq was a bad idea, and executed poorly, so I'm voting for so-and-so' is a good response. If your reason is something inane like 'because so-and-so is a fag!' don't waste our time by posting to anything but the poll.
To start off the thread, I plan on voting for John Kerry because I think he is the better candidate. He knows how Washington works, having spent a few decades as a senator. I also appreciate that he can change his mind, reads, and is interested in how things work.
I am also voting for him because he is different from the President. Mid-cycle elections are always votes on the incumbent, and this is no exception. President Bush has let energy companies make environmental law and repealed or stopped many provisions of environmental legislation. He has shown that he prefers to work in secret, beyond public scrutiny. Bush gave tax cuts to the rich, increasing the percent of the federal tax burden on the poor. He has used bills such as No Child Left Behind to whitewash debate about domestic issues-while not funding them-and had the audacity to say they are working well, and all the while more and more children slip into poverty. He has overseen the net loss of millions of American jobs, and millions more losing their health care.
And finally he has pursued an international agenda based on American unilateralism and narrow self interest. He used the attacks of September 11th as a way to abridge constitutional rights, via the Patriot Act and Guantanamo Bay. He invaded a sovereign, if despotic nation under false pretenses, having to lie to his own nation about the threat of weapons of mass destruction to get our assent to his actions. Now he mires us and thousands of servicemen and women in a guerilla war with no end in sight.
So while I do not think John Kerry is the best choice for president, he is far better than the viable alternatives, so I will vote for him in November.
I will post a new poll each week through the election November 2nd along with an exit poll, so we can hopefully see changes in public opinion.
For example: 'I think that the war in Iraq was a bad idea, and executed poorly, so I'm voting for so-and-so' is a good response. If your reason is something inane like 'because so-and-so is a fag!' don't waste our time by posting to anything but the poll.
To start off the thread, I plan on voting for John Kerry because I think he is the better candidate. He knows how Washington works, having spent a few decades as a senator. I also appreciate that he can change his mind, reads, and is interested in how things work.
I am also voting for him because he is different from the President. Mid-cycle elections are always votes on the incumbent, and this is no exception. President Bush has let energy companies make environmental law and repealed or stopped many provisions of environmental legislation. He has shown that he prefers to work in secret, beyond public scrutiny. Bush gave tax cuts to the rich, increasing the percent of the federal tax burden on the poor. He has used bills such as No Child Left Behind to whitewash debate about domestic issues-while not funding them-and had the audacity to say they are working well, and all the while more and more children slip into poverty. He has overseen the net loss of millions of American jobs, and millions more losing their health care.
And finally he has pursued an international agenda based on American unilateralism and narrow self interest. He used the attacks of September 11th as a way to abridge constitutional rights, via the Patriot Act and Guantanamo Bay. He invaded a sovereign, if despotic nation under false pretenses, having to lie to his own nation about the threat of weapons of mass destruction to get our assent to his actions. Now he mires us and thousands of servicemen and women in a guerilla war with no end in sight.
So while I do not think John Kerry is the best choice for president, he is far better than the viable alternatives, so I will vote for him in November.
