So I voted this past week in my New York State primary election. I’m a registered Republican and was given five choices (Giuliani, Paul, Romney, McCain, Huckabee). I guess they left Rudy’s name on the ballet for posterity. Anyways, I voted for Ron Paul.
Why did I vote for someone who had little to no chance of winning? Because I think (with the exception of his VERY Libertarian view of Iraq) he most closely represents my positions on the major issues. I think I should vote for who I am most aligned with. Otherwise, my views will never be represented.
For example, take gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgenderbenders (referred to herein as ‘gays’ for simplicity). Democrats know that gays will never, NEVER, EVER vote for the GOP. As a result, liberal candidates can ignore gays and their political issues, and “reach out” to the more moderate voters who wouldn’t support gay marriage (and all that), knowing the whole time they will STILL get the gay vote.
I was down in Florida once at a Jack Kemp rally just before the 1996 Presidential Election, and I started a conversation with a shouting protester outside the grounds. She was young and cute, and amorously holding the hand of another woman (who was NOT young OR cute), while gesturing to me with her free hand how Bob Dole was going to pull public radio off the airwaves, thereby preventing America from “freeing our minds”. I mentioned to her that Bill Clinton had JUST signed the Defense of Marriage Act a week prior (defining marriage as one man and one woman), but she merely “hurumphed” as her father-figure-mistress towed her away from me.
See? Those were gays supporting Bill Clinton even as he was signing legislation into law diametrically opposed to their agenda. That’s some power, my friends! And that’s why I voted for Ron Paul, because I don’t want to be gay.
What do Ron Paul and I have in common? Against the killing of babies (that’s numero uno, period) – For lower taxes and abolishing the cruel death tax – Against socialist health “plans” – For secure borders – For 2nd Amendment protection – For parental choice in education – Against all the enslaving entitlements – For property rights. Geez, you could sum all that up by saying he’s for the Constitution of the United States. At the very least, from every other clown I can see, he’s the most conservative and most libertarian.
Now, it looks like my folk will be picking McCain… so in November I’ll have to choose between being gay or voting third party. I feel disenfranchised… and inexplicably whenever I feel disenfranchised I keep expecting Jesse Jackson to show up and start kissing my butt. Weird.
I'm a Christ-follower, compelled by my faith toward reason, which points directly toward conservatism. This world's daily onslaught of lunacy offends my intellect and senses, so this is my venue to blow off steam.
Dude, Nothing to do with Politics, just want to let you know DREAM THEATER, Albany, New York May 18th. Call me if you are interested.
Terry, Nothing to do with politics, call me, we’ll do lunch.
Dream Theater is much better than politics (which, given the views held by WarAxe and myself, it would be better not to get into
)
Yeah, it’s time to see Dream Theater.
See, people want to talk music here at Negative99, not politics and football. Listen to the voice of the people. Did you listen to Coheed and Cambria?
Scott: well, politics is still important, even if it is just a matter of choosing the lesser evil and not the greater good.
I think Hillary is brilliant!
Scott, I am going to call. Just been busy.
declaring loyalty to Hillary is a good way to get a lynch mob after you
Not that I will join it or start it.
Mostly it’s Obama supporters trying to lynch Hillary… which carries its own irony.
I will watch the news with great interest when the DC KKK chapter shows up at the inauguration ceremony and at the “white” house
The funny thing is the tongue in cheek banter here. Your own current resident of the oval office has literally shredded the Constitution in 7 short years. Habeus Corpus? We don’t need no stinkin’ Habeus Corpus?!
G.W’s first four years in fact are literally the worst of any president in the history of this great country…read more…. http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/
I think the irony here is while the dems are “ignoring” the gay vote as you say, so is the GOP. In fact the GOP is so scared of the gay vote for many reasons, mainly “The List” which is apparently making some rounds among the Christian right…http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061030/blumenthal
Between Mark Foley and Larry Craig alone, the GOP has a funny way of burying their own despicable little messes better than even the Dems…http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061030/blumenthal
With all that said, I would rather talk music too, or religion, or even sports. But if you are literally going to continue to waive the air of righteousness around as a Republican, be prepared to answer for a party that is anything but a model of ethical or moral behavior.
@drewr :: I think you’ve glossed over most of my post… absorbed the fact that I said I was registered Republican… and then just started ranting on Republicans. I can forgive it, but it exemplifies what’s wrong with most everyone who irrationally criticizes the current administration.
But I’ll help you out a bit, because you sound like you could use it. First of all, the point about Dems “ignoring” gays is in regards to a major political party considering one voting block “a given” because the party knows the only other major party is even more unpalatable to that voting block. I don’t want to be a voter who’s taken advantage of like that. I don’t want to be to the GOP what gays are to the Dems.
Most rational folk would hardly consider that continuing “to waive the air of righteousness”[sic].
Oh… and FYI, Salon is one of the more liberally slanted sources of news. Most people can’t even name HALF the presidents, let alone present a case why the current president is WORSE than each and every one before him.
In fact, that’s a great litmus test… someone says “Bush is the worst president EVER”… then after they get done wiping the bile form their chin I’ll ask them to simply NAME those other presidents. Then they’ll get that deer in the headlights look… and I’ll just smile and walk away.
That reminds me… In some ways I love politics. I forget how much. I should post soon about a young teacher I encountered at a party – the teacher supported Obama, but couldn’t name even ONE thing that Obama said he’d do as president.
I love these people!
Dream Theater is definitely worth seeing if you get the opportunity. I’ve now seen them 4 times. I must say the best show I went to was just outside of Pittsburgh for the Train of Thought tour. Simply amazing.
Well, War Axe, remember this. Those Ditech commercials are lying. PEOPLE AREN’T SMART. Its that simple.
@ Krzykenu :: I just bought my tickets. I can’t believe that EVERYONE has seen these guys live but me. Every time I watch Petrucci play I have to resist the urge to burn all my guitars.
@ John3Sobieski :: Yeah, during election years it’s hard not to get cynical. True leadership is about making tough decisions… but elections are about saying things that get the most cheers. Ironic, is it not?
ok, so let’s test this theory…of course i have to wipe the bile from my chin first but here goes.
i agree wholeheartedly that the dems ignore the gay vote as you said, i didn’t contest that. but with the GOP serving up McCain, what does that say about the GOP ignoring the religious right vote? you suppose the GOP assumes it has the fundamentalist Christian vote all locked up? duh.
i could list each of the presidents that are currently being compared with GW. From Harding to Buchanan to Jackson to Truman, and not necessarly in that order. From reconstruction snafu’s to pro-slavery records to the Great Depression.
I will grant you that Salon is extremely leftist, you nailed that one. But they only swing the other side of the pendulum from the Limbaugh’s and Coulter’s. In a survey done by the History News Network (which is not the leftist leaning Salon), over 80% agreed that GW’s presidency was a failure …
http://hnn.us/articles/5019.html
I really can’t argue about the stupidity of others. it never ceases to amaze me how the stupidity of a few can ruin so many. what alarms me more than anything is that while the president’s approval rating drops below 30%, we are left to choose between such a hodge podge of pols this november.
oh and John…instead of being a jackass with a cute comment, why not enlighten with a few smarts yourself…
Stupid jackass satirical comments are what I’m good at. That, and making a good waffle.
John, I can always appreciate a guy who can make a good waffle
I hope that obama wins because he seams like a great/good canidate 4 prezident!