2008 U.S. Presidential Election -- Have you chosen your candidate yet?
By ladyluna
@ladyluna (7004)
United States
December 17, 2007 9:24pm CST
Hello all,
Although it seems rather silly to be discussing an election that is 11 months away, 'Super Tuesday' will be here in about 51 days. By the middle of February, the two candidates will have been chosen. Given the fact that two to three of those remaining weeks will be be all about the holidays and family, the question begs to be asked: Do you know yet who you are supporting?
So, do YOU know who you want to be the next President of the United State?
What do you think about this bumped up election schedule?
- And -
Do you think that 'Super Tuesday' should be a single primary for every state, simultaneously? Or, should the time lag, giving the voter time to see the candidates undo themselves -- as typically happens?
I'm anxious to hear your thoughts.
4 people like this
5 responses
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Nope, I have not chosen my candidate, yet. I keep hoping someone else will enter! The best I can do is to say maybe Duncan Hunter or maybe even Ron Paul.
It is easier to list who I don't want. In order of who is least desirable. That is, least desirable first.
1) Hillary Clinton
2) John Edwards
3) Barack Hussein Obama
4) Rudy Guliani
5) Mike Huckabee
6) Mitt Romney
I guess you could say I don't think things are looking good.
As to the primaries. The current system has evolved fairly well and serves its purpose.
2 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
19 Dec 07
Hello Red,
Sorry to have disappeared on this question. My ISP conked out again on Sunday night. GRRRR!
Hmmm, I wonder how many Americans feel as you do, that they'd like to see a better candidate enter the race?
So, you like the fact that the primaries are spread out, instead of on a single day?
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Yes, I know, but I'm not telling. The question as to who I'm supporting and who I want to be the next President of the United States might have two completely different answers, though. I don't think it makes much difference whether the voters see the candidates or not since the electoral college makes the decision anyway. One candidate I was once poised to vote for announced his defeat on the East Coast before the West Coast people got a chance to vote. Another time, they didn't bother to count the absentee ballots because the whole thing had been "decided" by the statisticians. Downright low, I calls it.
2 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
19 Dec 07
Hello Drannhh,
I understand what you mean about not necessarilly having the ability to vote for who we really support.
As for the electoral college, you can at least take comfort knowing that your state will cast its electoral votes in a parallel fashion to the popular votes cast from your state's fellow citizens. The only two current state exceptions are Nebraska and Maine.
Ah yes, I remember when the statisticians called the election long before the polls closed. Yes, that was frustrating!
@manzician (4727)
• India
18 Dec 07
I would say that it would be too early to decide on the candidate. I would like to study a bit more about them and hear more from them before I make a final decision...
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
19 Dec 07
Hello Manzician,
In years gone by, you would have had more time to decide. Yet because so many of the state's have bumped up their primaries, that time has been stripped away. By the middle of February, the two parties will have pretty much chosen their candidate. Sadly, time is not on your side here.
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Hi Luna. Did you know that if not for the moon we would not exist? Anyway, I really haven't given any thought to upcoming elections. I know more of who I will NOT vote for than who I will. Right now, I could vote for Ron Paul. And not because I want to vote Republican. He seems to be a bit different than the rest and I can identify with that. If not him, I am not sure. But, I just might vote for the independent party. I once voted for Perot and it is about time we shook things up. The status quo between the two main parties is ruining this country. I do not want anymore socialism and governemnt intervention in the lives of its citizens. Super Tuesday? Is that when they are playing the Super Bowl this year? Cool. Now, that would be shaking things up, especially if it starts at 9 am and we can skip all the nonsensical hoopla before the game. I am picking the Patriots to win. See, that fits right in with this political thing. Does Santa Fe have a team? Getting back to primaries, I think it should stay the same for now. Just give us some better choices. And when it comes down to voting day, I might be so fed up that I vote for a write in candidate. So, if you see on election return night a vote cast for Paris Hilton, that will be mine. See, I am not against having a woman run the country. And, I am not anti-rich and it would be a vote for helping the prison community. Gee, after this long-winded diatribe, I could run for office.
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
19 Dec 07
Hello Sigma,
Ah yes, the moon ... Did you see Redyellowblackdog's question about mining on the moon? It's a very interesting one that you might want to check out.
Funny you should mention third party candidates. I have seen zero coverage of any such candidates this go around. There was some early mention that Jim Gilchrist might run under the "Constitutional Party" banner, but that did not materialize. I imagine that Ralph Nader will stay out of the race this time, but who knows? Do you know who any of the 3rd party candidates are?
Hmmm, SuperBowl & Super Tuesday on the same day? I wonder, how would anyone break away from the game, and the party to go out and vote? (chuckle, chuckle)NM has no pro teams in any sport. The closest we have is the Isotopes semi-pro Baseball.
Paris??? Aw come on, you can do better than that. How 'bout Minney Mouse or Olive Oil? Oh, or how 'bout "Sigma for Prez"? Yeah, that has a ring.
2 people like this
@LightninStrike (5915)
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
18 Dec 07
I am not american, so it's not my responsability to choose. Anyway, if i had to, I would choose a Democrat. Among Republicans I don't like any of them, but that radical preacher even less, so i think i'd choose Giulianni, who at least respects gay ppl's rights. Basically it's a choice about the candidate you dislike less.
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
19 Dec 07
Hello LightninStrike,
Yours is a common outcry -- dissatisfaction at having to choose the perceived 'lesser of two evils'.
Is it Huckabee that you think is radical? Just out of curiosity, what press coverage have you seen in your country that helped you to draw that conclusion? I can think of several of his statements that might cause people to draw that same conclusion. I'm just wondering if it's something specific? And, while I'm asking: is the USA Presidential race getting much press coverage in your homeland?
@LightninStrike (5915)
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
19 Dec 07
Well let's see if i can answer to all your doubts. First of all, it's obvious that such thing as the USA President Election is followed here, as well as in the rest of all the other western countries. Like it or not, the USA is the first economy and the first army in the world, and that means a lot, and it's not irrelevant for us what happens there.
About the "radical". Well, i won't say I've listened 100 of his speeches, i am not that crazy to listen to a politician that much, any of them (lol), but I've seen him on tv denying the theory of evolution, for example. Also, I have noticed that ALL that he says goes in the same direction: getting religion and politics intertwined, something i really hate. Religion and politics are two things i admit and respect, but not when they're blended....we accuse people from muslim countries of doing that, so we shouldn't start imitating them now, don't you think?
I have heard him saying that it's a falacy that politics and religion should stay separated....which directly denies what the French Revolution brought us: western civilization, based in the separation of powers and a state separated from religion.
These are my reasons, Ladyluna...but this said, I must admit i doubt i'd ever vote a republican..basically because i find most of their ideas extremely hooked in the past and in too conservative (for my taste) principles.
