Election 2008 (was -- Re: [Talk] Microsoft Finds Legal Defender in Justice Dept.)

[Mick Weiss]

Actually, this next election I may vote for a Republican (Ron Paul) -- wher=
e I=20
have traditionally been more Democratic. In the past few years it seems lik=
e=20
Democrats and Republicans have swapped their traditional views (or..?).=20

Besides, I look more at the person and their beliefs instead of their=20
Political Party.

The things that concern me w/ the next election:
=2D net neutrality
=2D civil liberties / civil rights
=2D getting rid of the patriot act
=2D environmental reform (Kyoto)
=2D saving internet radio
=2D taking religion out of politics=20
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state)
=2D health care reform (Bush's cabinet was funded by Pharmaceutical =20
companies -- so we know what happened when it came to voting to bring in=20
drugs from countries like Canada)=20

There are some other issues like Social Security (which is a joke IMO - peo=
ple=20
can't and shouldn't rely on this flawed system) and other "issues" that mea=
n=20
nothing to me like "gays in the military" (who cares!?).

I have done some research online about the views of some of the candidates:

McCain (R)
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
McCain is a "oh hell no" in my book:=20
http://politics.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=3D07/06/03/1923218&from=3Drss

Even though he agrees w/ Net Neutrality -- this will change if he has Ballm=
er=20
on his cabinet. An internet controlled by Microsoft... if that doesn't scar=
e=20
you, I don't know what does.=20

Clinton (D)
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Her views on issues: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/

I see nothing about anything regarding civil liberties or environmental=20
issues... but she doesn't seem to be *such* a bad choice.

Obama (D)
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
His views: http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/

He is for environmental issues, but I see nothing regarding civil liberties=
=2E=20
He seems like a "vote for me so we have a 'black' president" candidate, whi=
ch=20
IMO is the wrong reason to vote for someone. I don't care if someone is=20
black, white, straight, gay, or whatever - as long as they can do their job.

This freaks me out though:
"...the need for a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of fa=
ith=20
in American life."

That is a "deal breaker" for me.

Gulianni (R)
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
LOL. I still think this is a bad joke. NEXT.....

Ron Paul (R)
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
His views: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/

He is the one person who cares about privacy and civil liberties (from what=
=20
I've seen). He also has his doctorate -- and quite frankly we need a smart=
=20
person (for a change) running our country.=20
=20
=46rom the website:
He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.

Those are the most important things (for me personally) -- so I'd most like=
ly=20
vote for him.

He is also against the whole "Real ID" thing: "A national ID with new track=
ing=20
technologies means we=E2=80=99re heading into an Orwellian world of no priv=
acy."

*FINALLY* someone sees that that is messed up. He gets my vote for being th=
e=20
first politician that I may actually like. :)=20

I can look past the fact that he is pro-life (as long as Roe v. Wade, 410 U=
=2ES.=20
113 (1973) is still upheld... whatever) ;-)

There are of course more candidates, but I have not looked deeper into thei=
r=20
issues.

=46or a list of potential presidential candidates:=20
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Democratic_presidential_candidates

Who would you vote for and what issues are important to you? (perhaps I sho=
uld=20
rename the thread to "pandora's box".  ;-)

=2D Mick



>
> Another reason never to vote Republican...
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/business/10microsoft.html?hp=3D&pagewan=
ted=3D
>print
>
> z.