Posted on 02-10-2008 under Politics

I’ve watched all the debates for both Democrat and Republican. Seen a lot of the speeches and ads. Finally I took the time to look through a few of the candidates’ websites and actually read more into what it is they’re bickering about.

After taking all of that in I still just don’t know what really is best for me, my family, my city, my state, my country and even for the rest of the world. When I look at it from a global perspective, I really think Obama would send a great message to the rest of the world. Right now, we’re looked at as more arrogant than the French. Yikes, that’s harsh. Obama would tell the world we really are the open-minded, diverse and progressive nation we claim to be. I think he’d do a well-enough job of inspiring a lot of people right here at home, as well. On the other hand, does he really know what he’s doing? Seems I trust the other guys a little more when it comes to competencies.

With all of our guys over in Iraq, Afghanistan & elsewhere fighting, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with someone who just has charisma and is a great speaker. I think someone with a long record to stand up to and a well thought plan is what we need right now. This is why I really hope it comes down to Clinton vs. McCain. The election will be about the pretty much just the war. Clinton will be the one who has a timeline to pull out (everyone will label her a flip-flopper about 10 million times, you know it will happen) and McCain will be the guy who has stood by the decision all along and wants to finish the job.

It will be an easy decision for everyone, a clear difference. There will be no immigration debates because they don’t really differ on that much. No Global Warming debates because Clinton & McCain have worked together on the stuff. It will be a straight-forward election about the most important thing we have going on right now. If it’s Obama vs McCain it will be inexperience vs experience, but ultimately anti-war vs pro-war. Still not too bad of an election, still a clear difference, it will get ugly but not as bad as last time.

I think part of my uneasiness about Obama and my more openness toward Clinton has to do with the media’s love affair with the guy. They paint him as a saint, comparing his speeches to JFK & MLK, etc. I really hate seeing the media sway how people see candidates because the media happens to like someone better.

As much as I’ve always liked McCain’s moderate voice in Washington, someone who always votes on principle and not on what the party says, I don’t think he can win. I don’t think any Republican, Independent, Libertarian, Green party candidate or anyone else can win against Obama. The media is going to paint him as the savior of all our problems, and they’ll show McCain as the greedy old partisan-politician that he really isn’t. Meanwhile, people in his own party will vote against him because he isn’t loyal enough to the party.

I’m honestly personally considering voting for Obama. I do currently like what he could do for us. I never rule anyone out based on what party they’re in or how they stand on a single issue (unless it’s extremely important, of course). But we have a long way to go & there are other people to be thinking about too. I’ve said time and again that I respect McCain, but I think the Clinton years did some good for us and I actually think Hillary has some coherent, reasonable plans on certain issues.

The recent Super Tuesday turnout shows that it’s going to be a big election, and a lot of people are getting involved. My early prediction is that it will be an Obama blowout, he’ll sweep most of the nation. I’m just worried that it won’t be for the right reasons. I hope everyone will ask themselves if he really is what’s best. Please don’t let the media make that decision for us.