Why I'm voting Republican

[OriginalWheelman]

I consider myself to be an independent. I an a fiscal conservative, but I am a social liberal. It's for these reasons that I can't align myself with a political party. However, almost every election I keep finding myself voting republican and I've been asking myself why lately. The conclusions I've come to are.

1. I feel the economy is too important to leave to the democratic philosophy.

2. While both parties have very different view traditionally about social issues, the republican party, is slow to change, but not impossible. The republican party can and does make concessions on social issues, while the Democratic party is unwilling to allow any of the Republican points. While they claim to support everyone's right to choose, the continually try to deny what the Republican's choose to do. The way I see the Democratic philosophy is this "You can be anything you want, so long as it's not Republican."

3. I am a logical person. I believe in making the best decision I can at the time with the information at hand. From my point of view the Republicans are much more logical in their decisions, and the democratic party is ruled by emotional fervor and public opinion, neither of which are determined by logic.

4. I believe each man should get what he deserves. We live in a society that rewards people for hard work. The Democrats continually want to take money from those who are successful and give it to those who are not. I can not support this. I am not opposed to welfare, as some people genuinely need help. What I am opposed to is people living off the welfare system when they are capable of working. I have seen this a lot.

And before you judge me based on my beliefs I will tell you that most of you are probably wrong. I am 27, I have had these same political views since I was about 19. I am a poor, white male living in a dead industrial area. We have not had an economy here for the past 30 years. I make less than $20k a year. I grew up on welfare. I was the middle of 5 children, and despite both my parent's working they had trouble paying the bills. When I was old enough I went out and got a job and when my mother was hurt in '99 and became unable to work, I dropped out of college and worked a second full time job so my little brother and sister could continue school. I've lived the life of a poor blue collar man. Despite this, I still do not buy into the "save the working man" arguments of the Democrats. They're playing on the emotions of working people. If you want something, work for it. You want a few extra dollars in your pocket? Put in a few extra hours each week, don't wait for the government to come and clip you a tax break.

/rant

[marlin29311]

That's an excellent, well worded and well thoughout post. I agree with you(but just don't have the time at work to word something out like this too)!

[rjdmmfl1]

3. I am a logical person. I believe in making the best decision I can at the time with the information at hand. From my point of view the Republicans are much more logical in their decisions, and the democratic party is ruled by emotional fervor and public opinion, neither of which are determined by logic.

1. Let's lie to the public and invade a country that had NOTHING to do with 911, just to pay back an old beef and help our oil buddies out

2. Let's invite Sarah Palin to the ticket, and not vet her properly so as to prevent the backwash of having to deal with the myriad of problems that arise from her joining the ticket *i.e. eventually alientating the base of our party by nominating a dim witted bimbo that thinks dinosaurs and humans lived together 3,000 years ago,

If these are the types of judgement that you speak of, and if this is what we can look forward to for the next 4 years, then I'm glad John McCain is lsing/will lose this election!

[dusred]

Great post.

There are those who do need help and there are Gov't programs for that.

I'll have to say that the reason I would vote Republican is not because I agree with them but because I strongly disagree with the Democrats.

edit- The great post part is for Wheelman; not for the ignorant poster above me.

[OriginalWheelman]

1. Let's lie to the public and invade a country that had NOTHING to do with 911, just to pay back an old beef and help our oil buddies out

OK, let us beat this dead horse one more time.

Were you paying attention back then? Did you watch Colin Powell make his adress to the UN? We went into Iraq for several reasons.1. They were known to support terrorists, at the time we had an open war on "terrorists and those that would harbor or support them."2. We had a lot of (even admitted at the time) circumstantial evidence of WMD.3. The public strongly supported the war.4. Congress voted in favor of it.

So before you going blaming the Republican war machine, you may want to stop and think about all those democrats who voted for that war, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama included.

2. Let's invite Sarah Palin to the ticket, and not vet her properly so as to prevent the backwash of having to deal with the myriad of problems that arise from her joining the ticket *i.e. eventually alientating the base of our party by nominating a dim witted bimbo that thinks dinosaurs and humans lived together 3,000 years ago,

I have yet to see the Republican base alienated. That's what the media reports on, because it supports their generally liberalistic ideals. I have only met a handful of people who were planning to vote for McCain that changed their minds when Palin was put on the ticket.

then I'm glad John McCain is lsing/will lose this election!

It's not over yet.

[marlin29311]

1. Let's lie to the public and invade a country that had NOTHING to do with 911, just to pay back an old beef and help our oil buddies out

2. Let's invite Sarah Palin to the ticket, and not vet her properly so as to prevent the backwash of having to deal with the myriad of problems that arise from her joining the ticket *i.e. eventually alientating the base of our party by nominating a dim witted bimbo that thinks dinosaurs and humans lived together 3,000 years ago,

...also prime examples of emotional ferver and public opinion....

[OriginalWheelman]

Do yourself a favor, read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...rists

IN GENERAL- That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorlst attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.

...

House of Representatives

On September 14, 2001 bill House Joint Resolution 64 passed in the House. The totals in the House of Representatives were: 420 Ayes, 1 Nay and 10 Not Voting (the Nay was Barbara Lee - D-CA).

Senate

On September 14, 2001 Senate Joint Resolution 23 passed in the Senate by roll call vote. The totals in the Senate were: 98 Ayes, 0 Nays, 2 Present/Not Voting (Senators Larry Craig - R and Jesse Helms - R).

Thank you Democratic controlled congress for giving the President an openly worded declaration of war without an end date or a specific enemy.

Let's blame Bush for using power that the representatives of the people legally gave him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J..._Iraq

The resolution "supported" and "encouraged" diplomatic efforts by President Bush to "strictly enforce through the U.N. Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq" and "obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq."

The resolution authorized President Bush to use the Armed Forces of the United States "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" in order to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq."

...



...

Amendments offered to the House Resolution

The Spratt Amendment

Required U.N. Security Council authorization for any use of force against Iraq. In the event that the Security Council would not authorize use of force, the President would be required to come back to Congress for a second vote before acting unilaterally. Sponsored by Rep. John Spratt (D-SC).

Defeated 155 - 270.

The Lee Amendment

Urged the President to work through the United Nations to resolve the dispute peacefully. Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA).

Defeated 72 - 355.

The Byrd Amendment

Affirmed that no additional constitutional authority was being ceded to the President outside of that necessary to deal with the threat posed by Iraq[citation needed]. Sponsored by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV)

Defeated 14 - 86.

The Levin Amendment

Urged to U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding that Iraq grant immediate and unconditional access to U.N. weapons inspectors. Authorized U.S. use of force only if Iraq failed to comply with the U.N. resolution. Sponsored by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI)

Defeated 24 - 75.

The Durbin Amendment

Restricted the use of force authorization to cover only an immediate threat from Iraq rather than a continuing threat. Sponsored by Sen. d!ck Durbin (D-IL).

Defeated 30 - 70.

I apologize for the wall of text. I included only what I felt was necessary.

[rjdmmfl1]

2. We had a lot of (even admitted at the time) circumstantial evidence of WMD. circumstantial evidence was a poor reason then, and still is for those of you that feel the war is justified. They gambled, and we lost big time!

3. The public strongly supported the war. The public was being lied to and misled about Iraq! Once they found out it was BS, the public was extremely upset that it was misled! Go back and check the poll results!

4. Congress voted in favor of it. See my resonse to number 3

So before you going blaming the Republican war machine, you may want to stop and think about all those democrats who voted for that war, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama included.

WRONG, Obama was against the war from the beginning! After the war was approved and ballots came up about funding the troops that were already over there, he supported those, and rightfully so. I was 10000% against the war also, but I would also vote to support the troops once its out of my hands and they are already over there.

CLINTON voted for the war, and that is one of the many reasons that she is not running against McCain right now!

I have yet to see the Republican base alienated. That's what the media reports on, because it supports their generally liberalistic ideals. I have only met a handful of people who were planning to vote for McCain that changed their minds when Palin was put on the ticket.

Just because you in your limited scope and reach only met a few doesn't mean the polls are wrong. You either believe the polls or you don't. If you don't believe the polls, then that's fine, and reasonable! I think they are drastically underestimating the number of people that will vote for Obama that couldn't be reached via polls, i.e. the youth that don't have home phones. Thus I believe the polls are incorrect, McCain will lose by an even larger margin than curently predicted!

But if you do believe in the polls (the same ones that have McCain trailing badly in EVERY National poll, some by double digits, then you would see that while the Republican party was excited to have a REAL REPUBLICAN on the ticket, they soon after saw that she was a bumbling idiot, and polls suggest that indeed Palin did more to hurt the ticket than to help it!

It's not over yet.

keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better!

[Jesda]

1. Let's lie to the public and invade a country that had NOTHING to do with 911, just to pay back an old beef and help our oil buddies out

2. Let's invite Sarah Palin to the ticket, and not vet her properly so as to prevent the backwash of having to deal with the myriad of problems that arise from her joining the ticket *i.e. eventually alientating the base of our party by nominating a dim witted bimbo that thinks dinosaurs and humans lived together 3,000 years ago,

If these are the types of judgement that you speak of, and if this is what we can look forward to for the next 4 years, then I'm glad John McCain is lsing/will lose this election!

I haven't voted yet because I have stuff to do today, but you can bet that your "logic" and "reason" are encouraging me to vote GOP.

[OriginalWheelman]

See my post above. The American people were not lied to. They knew what was happening. As I have stated many times before. I was AGAINST the war before it was passed. I felt that it was a set of shallow reasons and believed it was just a vendetta after Desert Storm, but I lost that one, and we went to war. I am now FOR finishing the job we started.

I'd ask that all this off topic stuff stop. This has all been handled in other threads.

[mcheddadi]

I am watching from the comfort of my canadian sofa and I hope to see obama win because he represents change and I like change.

plus he's going to be the first black president and thats too awesome.

[dusred]

I am watching from the comfort of my canadian sofa and I hope to see obama win because he represents change and I like change.

plus he's going to be the first black president and thats too awesome.

I hate to do this to you but

Race shouldn't be an issue in this election. Change isn't necessarily good. For instance if your car has a nice paint job and I go and scratch the hell out of it it is change right? but it isn't change for the better.

[rjdmmfl1]

I'd ask that all this off topic stuff stop. This has all been handled in other threads.

I don't think its off topic, it in response to your statements! I'm not going off on tangent, just replying to your words! You can;t ask folks not to respond because you don't like what they say or because you've heard it all before!

[Cold_Zero]

2. Let's invite Sarah Palin to the ticket, and not vet her properly so as to prevent the backwash of having to deal with the myriad of problems that arise from her joining the ticket *i.e. eventually alientating the base of our party by nominating a dim witted bimbo that thinks dinosaurs and humans lived together 3,000 years ago,

The base of your party, I hate to break it to you are people that Sarah Palin appeals to. Sorry, there is no getting around that fact. I would love for the evangelicals and the religious right to spin off into a new part so that you all can see what would left of the 'Republican Party.' Not much.

[mcheddadi]

I hate to do this to you but

Race shouldn't be an issue in this election. Change isn't necessarily good. For instance if your car has a nice paint job and I go and scratch the hell out of it it is change right? but it isn't change for the better.

meh, lol

i'm canadian I don't care about an old veteran guy. but that black dude, oh yeah he looks cool.

it's really down to that for a lot of people arround the world that aren't americans. the old guy "feels" as lame as the current bush, but the black guy, now thats awesome. not long ago all blacks were considered slaves so to see one black man finally be president is such a powerfull image in many people's head that it just HAS to happen.

[Cold_Zero]

plus he's going to be the first black president and thats too awesome.

Technically speaking, he will be the first half white president or the first half black president, which ever the way you like to view it. I kept telling people that I was voting for Obama because he was white.. That usually pisses a lot of peole off.

[marlin29311]

meh, lol

i'm canadian I don't care about an old veteran guy. but that black dude, oh yeah he looks cool.

it's really down to that for a lot of people arround the world that aren't americans. the old guy "feels" as lame as the current bush, but the black guy, now thats awesome. not long ago all blacks were considered slaves so to see one black man finally be president is such a powerfull image in many people's head that it just HAS to happen.

So if 50-cent or Jay-Z were running for president, would you vote for them because they're black and it's the cool thing to do?

[WDRacing]

John,

Great post The story of a blue collar working man, struggling family and the consequences that come as a combination of both. The first round is on me if ever we meet up.

To everyone else, John posted why HE is voting Republican now and why he has leaned that way in the past. They are HIS beliefs, he's not asking you to adopt them. He's not asking you to feel sorry for him. He's simply saying that as someone that has been less then fortunate for the majority of his life, he still would rather work hard for a living opposed to getting a handout.

Well that my friends is the American Dream at work.

Stop dredging up who and why we're at War. We all agree that we've had enough and we want it over as soon as feasibly possible. We all lost something after 911...I could go on for days about he said she said etc. But that isn't the point.

The point is that he eloquently explained that his basic principles and beliefs are better supported by the Republican party. We can sling crap back and forth ALL day about what parties have done what. But in the end we're all bunch of car guys arguing over the past. Which has nothing to do with Johns post at all.

I suggest you do some soul searching and figure out why YOU'RE aligned where you are. It will make a far better discussion rather then taring apart someone else's truly personal opinion.

Great Thread, lets keep it civil and keep it going.

WD

[Cold_Zero]

My rationale for voting for John McCain was simple:

1. My guys didn't make it through the Primary Process. So I had to go to 'plan B'

Plan B. I wasn't too thrilled with the people that were running, sorry Jesda I just can't bring myself to vote Libertarian because of the drug issue, so I had to ask myself what was my boilerplate reason to vote for a candidate? My answer was simple, the types of Federal Judges and Supreme Court Justices that get nominated.

I think that John McCain will do better job nominating judges to the federal judiciary than Obama will. I must admit that his isn't a hard fast rule; Republican Presidents have given us some crummy Judges that have hidden their views from time to time. bud

[rjdmmfl1]

meh, lol

i'm canadian I don't care about an old veteran guy. but that black dude, oh yeah he looks cool.

it's really down to that for a lot of people arround the world that aren't americans. the old guy "feels" as lame as the current bush, but the black guy, now thats awesome. not long ago all blacks were considered slaves so to see one black man finally be president is such a powerfull image in many people's head that it just HAS to happen.

mchedaddi, this is one of the worst statement I've ever heard you make... its not the cool thing to do to promote a black man to president.. to be honest, if Colin Powell was running, I wouldn't vote for him... nor would I have voted for Jesse Jackson in the /84 election. Its not cool BECAUSE he's black, its cool that he's black, but its even cooler that I feel he will do a better job.

[rjdmmfl1]

John,

Great post The story of a blue collar working man, struggling family and the consequences that come as a combination of both. The first round is on me if ever we meet up.

To everyone else, John posted why HE is voting Republican now and why he has leaned that way in the past. They are HIS beliefs, he's not asking you to adopt them. He's not asking you to feel sorry for him. He's simply saying that as someone that has been less then fortunate for the majority of his life, he still would rather work hard for a living opposed to getting a handout.

Well that my friends is the American Dream at work.

Stop dredging up who and why we're at War. We all agree that we've had enough and we want it over as soon as feasibly possible. We all lost something after 911...I could go on for days about he said she said etc. But that isn't the point.

The point is that he eloquently explained that his basic principles and beliefs are better supported by the Republican party. We can sling crap back and forth ALL day about what parties have done what. But in the end we're all bunch of car guys arguing over the past. Which has nothing to do with Johns post at all.

I suggest you do some soul searching and figure out why YOU'RE aligned where you are. It will make a far better discussion rather then taring apart someone else's truly personal opinion.

Great Thread, lets keep it civil and keep it going.

WD

I too agree that its a good post, and I don't think I have to agree with him to feel that way! I also don't think he's trying to convinve other people of his position, jus trying to articulate it.

My only issue was his statement of Republicans making better decisions than the democrats... and IMO, the war and Sarah Palin was not the best examples of Republicans showing good decision making skills... not that they can;t, but in those two instances they didn't.

But I agree, I appreciate the OP taking the time to articulate his positions!

[dusred]

mchedaddi, this is one of the worst statement I've ever heard you make... its not the cool thing to do to promote a black man to president.. to be honest, if Colin Powell was running, I wouldn't vote for him... nor would I have voted for Jesse Jackson in the /84 election. Its not cool BECAUSE he's black, its cool that he's black, but its even cooler that I feel he will do a better job.

EXACTLY! Being black is just one of the "Perks" it's not why we (not me but yeah) vote for him.

PSrjdmmfl1, I've really enjoyed your posts today. Keep them up and don't go away. We need more strait headed Liberals around here .

[mcheddadi]

mchedaddi, this is one of the worst statement I've ever heard you make... its not the cool thing to do to promote a black man to president.. to be honest, if Colin Powell was running, I wouldn't vote for him... nor would I have voted for Jesse Jackson in the /84 election. Its not cool BECAUSE he's black, its cool that he's black, but its even cooler that I feel he will do a better job.

you got to take factor that I have not a single clue as to what each will do after possibly getting elected lol. my opinion is of someone who only cares a tiny tiny little bit about the election and that doesn't know much about the politics in USA. so as an outsider those are my main reasons to vote for obama .

to tell you the truth, I don't know who colin powell is, ha! lol!

[wingFeather]

I am watching from the comfort of my canadian sofa and I hope to see obama win because he represents change and I like change.

plus he's going to be the first black president and thats too awesome.

I used to consider you an asset to this site, but I just lost ALL respect for you.

You were joking, right

[OriginalWheelman]

keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better!

I'm merely pointing out that is a close race at best and making statements like Obama is winning / will win are inaccurate.

I did say that Obama voted for the war, but I was wrong. Thank you for pointing out that I was misinformed.

I know that the Republican party is not infallible, I'm not a Republican. I find my self voting in about a 70 / 30 split. I voted for a Democrat and Republican today for state supreme court. I feel balance is important in the court system. That's what it is there for. If the majority decide to go one way or the other, then that is the way it is, but I feel the two judges for whom I voted are competent qualified individuals despite having different political beliefs. I voted strongly Republican for executors because the Republicans generally put up candidates that are, at least to me, better candidates for the job. I've interviewed and hired people for a business before, and I approach political candidates the same way I do interviewees at a job interview. I look over everyone's credentials, and make the best judgment about their personal character as I can. Then I reflect on whom I think the better individual for the job is based on their character and their qualifications. A person can win on one or the other but it is rare. This is the reason I can not vote for Obama. I do not believe in his character. I do not like the way he sees things. I do not feel he is qualified for the job either. I wish Obama would have run eight years from now, I bet he would be a much better man for the job. Even if he wins this time, the Obama eight years from now would still be a much better person for the job, but he won't be allowed to do it then. I feel he is too young and idealistic to handle the job ahead of him. If he does get the job this will cause him to rely on the people around him for help, and those are not voted for by us, but selected by him, and influenced by his character. While I do have some measure of faith in Obama to be a good president, I do not feel he will surround himself with the best possible people. McCain has a lot more experience in politics. He has served as a legislator for a very long time, and I believe he is sensible and responsible enough to make the transition to a position of great power and rely on his own character, and his own beliefs to guide him. With McCain, I know I am voting more for McCain than his cabinet. I feel I am voting for the man with the stronger character and the best qualifications. That is why I cast my vote for John McCain.

[maxentropy]

So if 50-cent or Jay-Z were running for president, would you vote for them because they're black and it's the cool thing to do?

haha marlin-- don't bother with mcheddi-- he's just totally ignorant.

[mcheddadi]

I used to consider you an asset to this site, but I just lost ALL respect for you.

You were joking, right

lol, meh a mix of joking, messing around and being bored lol

and why would you lose respect for me? my NICOclub skills don't depends on my political skills at all...

[mcheddadi]

haha marlin-- don't bother with mcheddi-- he's just totally ignorant.

yeah I'm ignorant , ON THAT SUBJECT ONLY, HA! lol

[LongBeachCoupe]

I used to consider you an asset to this site, but I just lost ALL respect for you.

You were joking, right

So someones political views (however dumb) mean that you dont respect them and that they arent an asset to a car enthusiast website?

Hes a canadian and doesnt know who colin powell is, obviously hes not informed on american politics!

[maxentropy]

Listen kids, you're all too late. I already figured out the results...

Obama will take the majority of the states, but will lose in the electoral college.

Let's hope that anyway, otherwise I don't want to wake up in America tomorrow if that's not the case. Obama is just about as good a public speaker as Hitler. All his greek/roman columns or whatever and whatnot.

Americans don't want to be dazzled by a great speaker or actor-- they want and NEED someone who has experience and the ability to lead this country. That person is McCain. Honestly, I won't go into details because they bore me, but both candidates have issues, but folks need to SEE PAST THE SMOOTH TALKING BLACK MAN. WHO CARES IF HE'S BLACK, WHITE, ASIAN, PURPLE, or GAY.

Anyway, that was too fun. Thanks for allowing me to vent.