American Election 2012

[Exatreides]

I've noticed that normally we tend to have quite a few number of political threads around election year in the United States (England as well). However, there seems to be just a few this time around. I'm going to try to include a poll as well. Where we can get how American, and international members stand. If you vote, please post and explain why you voted the way you did. Please keep it civil, There is nothing wrong with debating, however can please keep personal insults out of this thread? We've all been here long enough to handle ourselves. The choices will be from the following. (Democrat) Barack Obama (Republican) Mitt Romney (Green) Jill Stein (Libertarian) Gary Johnson (Others including Constitution Party, SPUSA, and other parties) For those who don't know where they would vote. Here's a pretty short online quiz that matches you with a candidate. http://www.isidewith.com/

[LouCipherr]

Well, might as well open up the can of worms on the first reply.. I promise no personal insults, but most will not like what i have to say on this topic. If it bothers you, please skip this post. I didn't vote in this poll because I won't vote anyway. It's pointless and meaningless and will change nothing. We need a "None of the above" option. People always try and tell me that this is stupid and that "every vote counts" but I start to wonder if these same people understand what the Electoral College is, how it works in the United States, and if they realize that even if not a single citizen voted on election day, the EC would still elect a president. The popular vote DOES NOT MATTER in this country. Period. The president is not elected by popular vote. We are not a "democracy" we are a "republic." There's a difference, and a big one (look it up). Many people argue that point with me too, but one only needs to go to the Pledge of Allegiance to understand: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america. And to the REPUBLIC for which it stands..." Case closed. Second, the main reason I am not voting (besides your vote doesn't matter anyway), is because none of these candidates are worth a shit. The one who SHOULD have been in this race was pushed out because this country is not ready for a politician - much less the POTUS - telling the truth. Apparently that's an evil thing in politics. I've always said if truth and honesty was ever introduced into the US government, the entire system would collapse on itself. Third, no matter who you vote for, what is going to change? Honestly? I was promised "hope" and "change" during the last election (and no, I didn't vote for the current idiot in office) and guess what? The only "hope" I have is that I'll have "change" in my pocket left from my paycheck at the end of the week. Republican or Democrat, neither are worth a damn. Yes, I am one of "those" people. Sorry, I'm a realist, and I see the realistic side of things - not what "could be" or "might be" based on what some politician promises before an election. As George Carlin once said: "You people can go out and vote, I will stay home and masturbate - but when I'm done, at least I'll have a little something to show for it." Sincerely, Lou, The HPotD Curmudgeon

[Exatreides]

Although I'm with the military down in Texas right now, back in 08 I was in Indiana. Indiana, as you may or may not know is a traditionally very republican state. The last Democrat before 2008 to carry Indiana was LBJ. I volunteered with the Obama Campaign. I made calls, I registered voters, I knocked on doors. Everyone one of us did. On that election night in 2008, when Indiana didn't automatically go red- I knew we did well. When late into the night they called Indiana for Obama. As we all screamed and hugged each other into the night, the truth became apparent: No state is forever locked into red or blue, and with effort, with determination, and with a lot of friends willing to help. You can make the difference, the voters you register and the votes you cast can make a difference. If I can do it in Indiana, you my friend can do it. I know Indiana didn't win the election for Obama, but it could have! And being part of that, well damn it felt good.

[LouCipherr]

Exatreides - I applaud your efforts, I really do. You believed in something, got behind it, did the work and saw a result which may or may not have been a direct result of said work. That's something to be proud of, regardless of the results of the person voted into office. I don't know whether it these types of efforts that got Obama elected or if it was just that Obama did such a fantastic job of snowballing the American people with his "hope and change" stuff. It also could be that voters all over the US were going to swing as far away from republicans as they possibly could in 2008. People were sick of the republicans and they just wanted "something else" or, to be exact, "anything else" - and when a certain democrat kept promising "hope" and "change" (which we never got unless you consider hope and change to be "things getting worse"), it was something that people could unite behind. He was the right candidate in the right place at the right time. The bad part is, unfortunately, he's not that good at his job. The worse part is, I think Romney would be even worse for this country than Obama, and OMG does that say a LOT! The other thing we have to keep in mind is, the President really doesn't 'run' this country. It has been influenced (ie: "run") by lobbyists, corporations and the top 1% for many, many decades, if not longer. The President is just a figurehead - a pawn being moved in a political chess game that were aren't privy to witness being played directly, we only see the results of the moves after the fact. You know, when it's too late. I just can't do it. I can't throw my vote behind anyone because none of them even come close to matching my thoughts and ideals on the issues. And unlike many people I know, i will NOT just go vote for the "lesser of two evils" - that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Either vote for the people who stand for what you believe in or don't vote for any of them. If you don't believe in abortion, but the democrat or republican who is the "lesser of two evils" believes in it, you're going to vote for him just because? Wow. Just.... wow. It's that kind of logic (combined with other things) that got us to where we are now. Personally, and I'm sure I'll be crucified for saying this, I wish the people in the country would have just done the smart thing and put Ron Paul in office. If there's one person who wouldn't put up with the bullshit going on in the government, it was him. He was and continues to be the only person saying, "Hey, y'know what guys? We have a set of rules in this little thing called the CONSTITUTION and we have these other things called LAWS - how about we start following and abiding by them for once?" because one thing is for sure - we sure as hell aren't now. But, like I said, people don't want to hear the truth of what's actually going on. No, this is not a conspiracy theory - people, in general, like to be mushrooms in the political garden: kept in the dark and buried under bullshit. It's sad, but it's true. All I can say is, whoever gets voted into office next is screwed. Man, I wouldn't even want to be part of this election if I was a politician! I sometimes think that's why the republicans just pushed Romney up there!

[AcesandEights]

Very inspiring, Exatreides! I voted in the poll, and it was for someone who I respect, though don't always agree with. Still, biggest issue is not the presidency, but all the people the president ends up beholden to once in office and the system of graft and favors that is endemic to Washington. We need a major culture shift, and even though they may bring great things, major culture shifts are just as likely to bring forth even worse problems, as by their nature they tend to be extreme reactions or counterswings of the cultural pendulum.

[Exatreides]

I voted for Jill Stein, on my vote. Who I would probably vote for if she was on the Indiana ballot. The Republicans in my opinion keep shifting further and further to the right, while the Democrats move to follow. Both parties are filled with corporate interests and the clout of super pacs. I don't think the health care affordibility act went far enough. I think we need single payer. However, I know that it's at least a step in the right direction. I won't have to worry about my mom getting kicked off her insurance if she hits the cap. I'm tired of the wars, I'm tired of ous pouring millions of dollars into defending barbaric oil barons. Baron's who subject their own population to torture and terror. We need to get off oil, so we can let the middle east's vast hold over the world vanish. Since I'm in the military, I was pretty shocked that Romney didn't even mention the troops or the war in his speech. (The first Republican not to since 1952). And how Republicans killed an alreadly paid for Veterans job corps. I feel that if Obama wins, he needs the Dem's to take the house and the Senate to manage to get anything done. The fact that the Republicans killed the Veterans job corps just goes to show how far they are willing to go to obstruct the president. Lou have you considered Gary Johnson? He's the candidate on the Libertarian platform. (I added a link to the online quiz isidewith.com which matches you with a presidential candidate)

[Tricky]

So is "Operation fast and furious" having an effect on Obamas campaign? It seemed to be big news and looking like it would be damaging a few months ago, but it hasn't even made the news here in the UK. It seems US politics has gone the same way as the UK - i.e. no candidates from any party are really worth a vote, you just vote for who you think will be less shit...

[AcesandEights]

So is "Operation fast and furious" having an effect on Obamas campaign? Currently? No, not really.

[Kaos]

So a couple of Green votes... must be some UK folks voting too.

[LouCipherr]

I'm tired of the wars, I'm tired of ous pouring millions of dollars into defending barbaric oil barons. Baron's who subject their own population to torture and terror. We need to get off oil, so we can let the middle east's vast hold over the world vanish. Right on, I am right there with you. Lou have you considered Gary Johnson? He's the candidate on the Libertarian platform. Yes, I have. He's much closer to what I like, indeed, but he's just not quite there for me... yet. Ron Paul was even closer, and I had told Dj here that if Paul made it as the Republican candidate, I would get up off my ass and go vote this time (it has been many, many years since I've voted in a presidential election for reasons stated above) but alas, it was not meant to be. Again. Goddammit. I realize that no one will ever share my "exact" views, but Paul was the closest that's been there so far. I just wish he hadn't been pushed out by his own party - did you see the shit they pulled on him during the RNC? Bastards. He didn't have a shot anyway, which is unfortunate, but that was some low-down dirty shit his own party pulled against him. And to what end?

[DjfunkmasterG]

OBAMA vote for me. In the poll. While I am a registered vote I dunno if I will get off my lazy ass and vote this year.

[Danny]

Man, any political leanings aside i cannot fathom who wants mitt romney in the white house. He comes off as the same kind of 'dubya' style dullard but far more hateful and 'bond villain'ish than bush ever was. That and the dude looks like frankensteins monster. Is he really the best the republicans could put forward to be the man with his finger on the button?

[Mr. Clean]

Man, any political leanings aside i cannot fathom who wants mitt romney in the white house. He comes off as the same kind of 'dubya' style dullard but far more hateful and 'bond villain'ish than bush ever was. That and the dude looks like frankensteins monster. Is he really the best the republicans could put forward to be the man with his finger on the button? Heard a study a few weeks ago....that results tend to come from looks. The study said something about being the result of John Kerry losing his election attempt due to looking too stiff or something along those lines. Also said Obama was hip compared to McCain. Thought, perhaps it had a little truth to it. Everyone pretty much knows where I stand....

[babomb]

Back from "exhile"!!! Man, any political leanings aside i cannot fathom who wants mitt romney in the white house. He comes off as the same kind of 'dubya' style dullard but far more hateful and 'bond villain'ish than bush ever was. That and the dude looks like frankensteins monster. Is he really the best the republicans could put forward to be the man with his finger on the button? I thought the same thing. His supporters seem to be mostly religious people and conservatives. The people who want god back in schools and government. And rich people who like his ideas on tax breaks for the 1%. So many people support him for the sole reason that he's a REP. Some people get really caught up in bipartisan crap. To the point where they accept things based only on the fact that it's in line with their chosen party. Which means they don't truly believe in it, they just accept it because it's a typical right wing stand on the issue. Same goes for them rejecting things they might really see merit in. They reject it not on the basis of it's merit or because it's logical, they reject it because they stay as far away from anything that even remotely seems like a leftist stand on it. I agree with Lou on this. I don't really think that there are 2 distinct parties. I think they both serve the same masters, and the illusion of 2 parties is just a divide and conquer tactic inflicted on the people so they can't exercise their full power over what happens in this country.

[EvilNed]

Man, any political leanings aside i cannot fathom who wants mitt romney in the white house. He comes off as the same kind of 'dubya' style dullard but far more hateful and 'bond villain'ish than bush ever was. That and the dude looks like frankensteins monster. Is he really the best the republicans could put forward to be the man with his finger on the button? Most big league Republicans are sitting this election out. Remember, you pretty much only get one shot at getting elected, and the chances of outing the current president when he's only served one term is slim. Statistically, most presidents get re-elected. What this means is essentially that the Republicans pick a candidate they don't really care for. If he wins - great. But if he loses, no big loss. They got a bigger chance at winning 2016 anyway, and none of the popular ones want to blow their chances going up against Obama.