Anyone feel respect for the opposing
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| Tue, 09-16-2008 - 8:18pm |
candidate?
I'm just baffled by the hostility against whoever the "other" candidate is.
I support Obama. I will not vote for McCain. I don't like that he has backed down on his individualism and supported Bush as he rose within the Republican party. I don't understand his choice of Palin for VP. Can you defend her experience? I guess so, but there are hundres of other people in the US to choose from. I disagree with McCain's stance on Iraq, Energy, the economy, No Child Left Behind, and the implementation of the second amendment.
Do I have to hate him and deteset everything he, his wife, and his running mate stand for?
Do I have to love Obama and see none of his flaws to say that I agree with him on Iraq, Afghanistan, Energy, the economy, and health care?
I am disgusted by what the spin doctors are doing. On both sides. It is all about cutting down. If you vote for Obama you are unAmerican. If you vote for McCain you're racist.
Come on, folks, don't we all know someone we like and respect who's voting for the other candidate?
I object to the way the campaigns are boosting certain qualities about each candidate while tearing down the same in other candidates. I feel like posting here is one way to keep balance.
Any time I hear something ridiculously pat about one candidate or the other, I'm going to want to learn more.
As intelligent Americans, don't we know it's not as simple as "flip flop" or any other stupid little sound bite?
I hope so.


I think human beings are not only social but tribal. Partisan politics are about defining one's tribe and making sure that one's allegiance is total. There are similar mechanisms in organized religion.
Like you, I do not hate McCain or Palin (can't say the same thing about George W. Bush, but that's a whole 'nother story). I do think that McCain so badly wants the presidency that he's compromised most of the traits of "maverick" which drew me to him in 2000. His lack of exit strategy in Iraq and his insistence on the ****gasp, cough, choke, wheeze****"fundamental soundness" of our economy reeks too much of denial for me to consider him fit to lead. And his physical condition (age and general health) also has me sweating bullets over his VP choice.
We've had discussions on this board about the impact of sound bites and ads. Whatever else our collective board flaws, lack of diversity of opinion is certainly not one of them! Scroll back and you'll see a fairly recent one about attention spans and campaign impact.
IMHO, U.S. presidential elections are battles. They've BEEN battles for centuries and this particular cycle is not the worst by any stretch of the imagination. At one time, the ideological differences became physical--Aaron Burr's and Alexander Hamilton's duel. Hamilton lost, not an election, but his life. Be glad that we no longer have that method of "resolution"! Our power struggles may not be pretty, but by contrast with a country like Iraq, where people are still identifying far more strongly by tribal allegiances, elections are at least a bit more "civilized". And maybe, at some point in a Karl Rove, Rick Davis and their ilk-free future, attacks of any kind, will be nonexistent. Wouldn't it be nice?!
BTW, welcome! Have enjoyed your posts, in large part because I agree with many of the points ;-) !
Gettingahandle
Ignorance is Nature's most abundant fuel for decision making.
Facts stifle the will, hobble conviction.
Gettingahandle
Ignorance is Nature's most abundant fuel for decision making.
>> Furthermore, I don't remember having the price of gas at the pump rise during Clinton's reign everytime we had a hurricane, do you? <<
I am NOT a fan of Bush but I don't blame any individual for the price of gas. Americans have been paying artificially low prices for years. Gas shouldn't be dirt cheap; it pollutes our environment and makes us dependent on countries we'd rather not be. I know public transportation doesn't always square well with American individualism, but it's time we invest in some infrastructure that makes it possible for people to take trains and other mass transit outside of major cities.
...sorry for the OT rant. Just one of my pet causes, I suppose.
Anyway, I definitely agree with the OP -- I want to believe it's possible to run a campaign in this country without throwing poop at every opportunity.
(better signature to go below?)
Caroline