But Not Surrendering

As I get older, I find it more and more difficult to comprehend the basis by which many Americans base their voting decision during presidential elections.

I mean, there are certain ideals we held in our late teens and early adulthood that some never seem to grow out of.

There are still people – adult people that is – considering topics such as access to legal abortions as a primary indicator whether they should support a candidate or not.

I’m not even stating my personal position on this topic in this post because:

1. It’s not relevant.
2. I’m not a moron.

The topic came to mind, however, because of recent protests against Sarah Palin and her strict anti-abortion stance. Those “protests” are misplaced, and misguided, of course – because Sarah Palin, even Vice President Sarah Palin, doesn’t legislate such laws, nor could she, or Senators McCain, Obama, or Biden change such a law.

Nonetheless, there stand the idiot protestors with the “Keep Your Hands Off Of My Body” signs.

This is nothing new in 2008 of course, and that’s why it becomes obvious just how asinine the whole topic is.

President Reagan, a true conservative, was as “anti-abortion” as anyone. Yet, Roe vs. Wade came through his 8 years unscathed.

So, over the last couple of decades, so many people have been out there, judging candidates on their pro-life/pro-choice stance, nobody was asking if they were good at their jobs. Were they going to provide good leadership? Could they be trusted to do their jobs in a timely and professional manner, during times of war, terrorist attacks, or a failing economy?

Instead, it was “Are you for or against abortion? Oh, OK, then I’m votin’ fer ya!”.

Morons.

And while they were out there voting for pro-life/pro-choice assholes, the financial market imploded.

Nice job. You are what we refer to as a “single-issue voter”, and you officially lose your “right” to vote.

Again, while this topic came to light because of “pro-choice” protesters, both sides are equally to blame. I would not vote for a president, even in part, due to their stance on abortion. Yet, too many do – and that covers supporters of both views.

I’d be happy to discuss or debate my beliefs on abortion elsewhere, but I simply feel that our political candidates have much bigger problems to address than this.

I’ve made it clear on this blog that I’ll be voting for John McCain. I’m not a big McCain supporter – he’s far too liberal for my liking. And I certainly have not hidden the fact that I like Sarah Palin, although she too is far from perfect. Either of them are more qualified for the position than Obama is, but even if they weren’t, Obama’s policies scare the shit out of me and I want to make sure that we have a country left for my children to enjoy. Senator Biden doesn’t scare me quite so much. He’s clearly more qualified for the presidency than Obama is, in the Gerald Ford sort of way.

Nonetheless, at the end of the day, Republican, Democrat… It’s the same shit, just a different pile.

Someday the Libertarians will come up with a viable candidate and make sweeping changes to how we view politics. Not this year though. I did vote for Bob Barr “way back” a couple years ago when he was an ultra-conservative Republican, and I do really like the man, but he’s no Libertarian.

I am neither Republican nor Democrat, but have voted for each over the years. They are simply two sides of the same coin. Sometimes one has better rhetoric than the other, but generally both are self-serving, and, at best, inept.

And make no mistake about it – both parties are equally responsible for that mess you see outside your window. So, Obama, running on a “well, we’re not Bush” platform isn’t really going to cut it.

The Democrats, including Obama, have controlled the legislative branch for the past 3 years and have accomplished exactly…. Nothing.

Nancy Pelosi is a joke.

Everyone thinks their “side” will save them from the evils perpetrated by the other side. Instead you just get a new brand of largess and pandering.

One way or another, in November we’re going to sort out all of this political bullshit. And our new ‘leader’ will take office in early 2009, and proceed with blaming someone else for the mess we’re in. Then they’ll say that more and more regulation is the answer – without trying to find out what the real problem was, or how to prevent it in the future. Facts are irrelevant. Actually, facts are an anathema. This is important only insofar as it can be used to gain political favors with the electorate and/or big name donors.

The rest of us basically get screwed and life goes on.

Not that anyone down at our level will care… They’ll still be voting for people based on pro-life/pro-choice qualifications.