Political Party & How Do You Decide?

Slimdust

So for those of you who vote, what party are you registered under?


Also, how do you decide to vote for someone? Is it, as long as they fall under your party that is who you vote for? Even if you disagree with them?

Is it because of there religion belief or there lack of?

Is it whoever has the best commercials?

Do you look at the whole picture and listen to what they have to say, and vote on who you actually believe could lead this country?

Dakstang

WC's Resident Redneck

I am a registered Republican. I do not agree with all the stances of the Republican party but I agree with them on some major issues. I will not vote for a pro-choice candidate. I will not vote for someone who does not have the same religous beliefs as myself. I will not vote for someone who supports gay marriage or same sex unions.

That eliminates all the Democrats for me.

I am really excited about Ron Paul. He really has some great ideas, but sadly he has little chance of making it very far. He refuses to take donations from special interest groups and for that reason he is not able to raise as much money as the other candidates.

The other Republican candidate I will vote for is John McCain. If neither of them are a choice in 2008 I will not be voting.

Blitzkrieg

I usually vote on a democratic side or independent. It's rare you'll see me vote Republican, but it could happen. I don't feel strongly enough on issues like gay marriage for that to be a deciding factor. I'm usually more worried about health, jobs, the economy, and right now.. the war in Iraq.

Slimdust

Yeah sadly It looks like imo there will not be a person worth voting for this year. Im feeling for Ron Paul also, but there is pretty much 0 chance he will make it. I really really do not want Hilary to be Prez, so I might just end up voting for whoever the next ebst choice is, but I cant see myself voting for someone I do not agree with just because I can not stant Hilary.

And also, I am a registered R and pretty much everything Dak said is exactly the same for me.

Dakstang

WC's Resident Redneck

If Hillary gets the Democratic nomination I will be choosing ANYBODY BUT HILLARY. Even if it is Rudy Giuliani!

Slimdust

lol yeah, same goes for me Dak...

on a side note, with the 2008 elections on there way, maybe there should be a section called The 2008 Election Headquarters or something? Maybe under the General Discussion Section?

We could post current news, videos of debates, who is in the lead... IDK, just an idea...

Dakstang

WC's Resident Redneck

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Beaker

stuff like gay marriage and unions don't affect me, so i couldn't care less if they pass or not. personally, i think they should be allowed, but what ever. i'd be looking for someone who will improve health care, stop our school systems from going to shit, stuff like that, real important stuff. but what sucks is, you have to choose the lesser of two evils.

U MAD

Dr. Giganto

Although I am not very politically minded whatsoever, I kinda agree with Beaker in that "civil" issues like gay marriage and abortion concern me considerably less than issues such as the economy, crime, the war in Iraq, etc.

I would rather pick a president that I agree with on the "serious" issues, than on stuff like gay marriage and abortion, which I consider to be petty issues, relative to the other stuff candidates concern themselves with.

Also, even though it sounds kind of shallow, our President is also a figurehead and a representative of the country, and somebody who has a good image is important. Personally, I think Presidents Bush and Clinton both reflected very poorly on the rest of the world (Bush because he strikes people as being less than intelligent, and Clinton because of his womanizing), and it makes Americans look bad as a result.

Also, I have to say I strongly disagree with the "I won't vote for somebody who's not the same religion as myself" sentiment. I personally don't believe that somebody's religion qualifies them to be president or makes them less qualified. Although a Christian president would probably support social policies based on his beliefs (abortion, stem cell research, etc), it's also possible that a non-Christian candidate would support the same social policies, yet be more qualified in other areas than the Christian candidate, making him a better all-around candidate.

I think it would be better to look at the candidates' stances on the issues first, and if you're having trouble choosing between two or more individuals, use religion as a way to narrow it down from there. Otherwise, you run the risk of supporting an inferior candidate based on something that has a relatively small effect on their ability to run the country.

Slimdust

I understand what you are saying Tom, but me bein a christian, and a lot of them feel the same way, they want someone leading there country who has the same belief as they do. I know I feel a lot better with a person leading the country knowing God then a person who does not. That is why to me anyways, I first see if they are christian or not.