Who's your choice to be president?

[issue100]

I want to know who you would or will choose to be the president and why.

I would say Kerry. I highly disagree with Bush's views:

1- I am for gay marriage (lol, i live in san francisco, go figure!)
2- I am pro-abortion
3- Bush's views are too highly based on Christianity. I am jewish.

[mushroom]

Same, and I don't think Iraq was a good thing. Mostly, I *really* don't want Bush in office four more years, since this time he won't have to answer up at the next election.

Oh, and the whole "God told me to go to Iraq!" thing *really* rubs me the wrong way.

[Retired Blub]

Oh my god, I can't decided. They're both horrifically terrible and I disagree with both of their views. XP

[Eggz]

Bush: Ugghh... "If you teach a child to read, he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." (or sommin' like that.) 'nuff said.

Kerry: Who?

[Patjade]

I held my nose and voted against the person I voted for 4 years ago. First time I have ever voted against a Republican candidate in the 30 years I have been able to vote, and I vote in EVERY presidential election.

I would say some things about my opinion of Bush, but my own censors on the site won't allow me.

No, I am not impressed with Kerry that much, but at least he listens to others and is capable of changing his mind (maybe too much) when things don't look right.

[The Angry Artist]

First off, I have to correct Elementa. Neither candidates are for gay marriage, something I resent.

But yes, Bush's religiours references freak me out some. It's not the fact that he prays; it's the fact that he will let it influence him. I really would like his values to come from the physical plane, where we have experience.

That aside, I would vote for Kerry. It's not the Freudian slips or the Bushisms that bother me -- it's his policy. I don't like Johny Kerry very much more, but I can't stand Bush.

About the war in Iraq -- Bush said before we invaded they have weapons and must disarm. But wait! -- fast forward to September 2004, and Bush says Iraq could've had weapons of mass destruction! Please, Mr. Bush, explain to me this: How can a country like North Korea, which has admitted it possesses WMD, be more dangerous than a country that in the future might have had have WMD? Bush is a stubborn donkey; he hasn't admitted his mistake, and I can't stand people who avoid blame like that. And don't tell me we liberated Iraq. You War in Iraq supporters probably wouldn't have given a care about the Iraqis if we hadn't invaded. In 2000, where was your 'Save the Iraqis' banner?

And please don't tell me Bush did a good job on taxes. By 2010, half the tax cut he put in place in 2001 will go to the top 1% income earners in America. You can whine all you want that, "They already pay too much taxes!" but who's going to pay the taxes they don't? Those farther down the ladder. Us.

And Kerry did not vote to raise taxes 350 times! Whatever anyone tells you, this is untrue! He never even actually voted to raise taxes! He simply voted against tax decreases, which would leave taxes unchanged and decreasing how much taxes would be cut. He didn't vote to tax the U.S. more! In fact he only voted for taxes higher than the Republicans wanted.

He didn't even vote to raise taxes 98 times or raise them at all, as the Bush campaign would also have you believe. And of those "98" times, almost half of them were merely procedural. Not to mention that of those "votes" many were for the same bills!

[Rishiy]

Neither candidates agree with gay marriage, though Kerry is opposed to ammending the constitution.

*Totally payed attention in Global Studies today*

[Crystal]

Since I'm not voting in the first place, I couldn't really care less. I've never seen Kerry being president, anyway. All politics do is make me thank God I'll never go into it.

All those crazy decisions to make and the people hammering you if you either back down or continue on. It's very easy to say what should be done when you're not the one taking the hits. Until I become president of the US, I'll respect whomever gets it.

Right now, however, Bush has my vote, if I had a vote anyway. However, on the 'listening to others' part, four years ago Bush DID listen to others. That was why the war started.

That's all I'll say on the matter.

[Oily]

I think I'd be a Kerry supporter.

Firstly, I am against some of Bush's views. A constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage? Pah.

Secondly, I don't like people using their religion to justify things. Men who believe they are led by God are dangerous. Belief in God, fine. Even a plus, perhaps. But you have to be answerable to yourself first.

Thirdly, I am also against him, because I believe the economy suffered under him. I have read that America now has a huge defecit and that the most jobs have been lost since the Depression, and that more tax cuts are going to the really rich people. In addition, about fifty of his financial backers have found their way into positions and very specific legalisations are being passed to benefit only them.

Fourthly, I believe Kerry is more flexible, even if it can be seen as indecision or flip-flopping. I find Bush to be too stubborn, and also too reliant on others' information.

Fifth-ly, Iraq. Mr Blair admitted he was wrong and kind of skirted his way around an apology. Bush just changed tack slightly. Iraq has no WMDs. Saddam was purely bluffing. So we have invaded a country, ruined its infrastructure, allowed terrorism and disorder to flourish, are misspending 300 billion earmarked to restore it and have hardened opposition to the West and spread hatred. For a pile of WMDs that never were existant. To dispose one dictactor, while we prop up others.

I read a story by one of his previous aides who said how desperate Bush was to pin 9/11 on Saddam, how desperately they tried to link it back. They couldn't, but they managed to go to war anyway on WMD pretences.

I also believe Bush uses scare tactics a lot. Someone said something along the lines that fear is powerful, and we will run to someone who makes us feel safe and secure. There are overtones of Orwell even - a nation locked in perpetual war. Some people will vote for Bush because they believe America needs continuity in troubled times. (Yet will continuity only lead to more trouble?)

The only problem is that if Kerry wins, he will inherit the problem of Iraq and America's economic problems, and I do not know how he will deal with that. I also would like to see Bush stay in to have to answer to the consequences of what he's been doing these last four years

American elections are a lot more alive than British ones. British politics needs some stirring up at the moment. *prods them*

And, Crystal, that's what politics is. You do get a lot of flak from the media, no matter what you do. But the media is needed, the flak is needed, so that the President will know the consequences of their actions, will try their hardest to be answerable to their decisions. A free media is a very important thing. And we should sit here, and say what should be done, because that's what democracy is. A vote for your views ^^

[silversno]

I'm for bush. Completely.

Its just that... During the debates, It was extreme annoyance. Kerry would not (in my opinion) answer the question. There was even one where it was about The 'No child left behind' Program, and he turned it into 'The Enviorment NEEDS to be saved. Now How he did that, i will never know.

Also, it really ticked me off in the last debate how he used Cheny's Daughter as an example of Gay marriage*Sp.

I'm listening to the News right now, all about Kerry and how he's going to 'Disarm'. Earlier, I hear he wanted All Americans out of Iraq. Now i'm completely lost.

Even though i can't vote, and my parents can't decide Either... i'd go with Bush Completely. It just make more sense to me.

(and just a note to Democrats, Almost Everyone i know in Jacksonville,Fl has Bush/Cheney Signs in their yard ever since the President's Meeting in Altell Stadium. Good luck, Kerry. I don't think he won this swing state this time around...)

[irishdragonlord]

Kerry let's HIS views influence him too much; i.e. appointing only pro-abortion judges. That means if your personal beliefs are against it, forget you?

You can't elect a human being who doesn't let their views influence them, end of story. Suck it up and grin and bear it.

Plus, yes, Bush can be a moron. But Kerry's a bigger one in my opinion; if you can't answer a question straight, no election for you!

[Buddy]

You know, there's this constant belief about that Bush is "such a strong leader, that he lead us through the hard times."

However, when I look at Bush, I see nothing but incompetence. A man too incompetent to stand up and walk out when told "Mister President, the country is under attack." A man so blind to the world's views on us - so blind to the enemy we're fighting and why they want to kill us (and no, Mister President, they don't "hate us for our freedoms") - and so unable to run a war correctly that millions of tons of explosives were never secured or even taken count of in Iraq are now missing - presumably, in enemy hands.

[Gail]

I can't vote, but there are things I don't like about either canidate. All I know is I'm pro environment pro equality and pro neopets XDDDD. Maybe if I could vote I'd put a write-in canidate. Another thing off topic-ish, why does ther peorson have to be 35 or older to run? What if the best canidate was 34?? (only? heh I sound old- I'm just 14 hehe)

[issue100]

Elmo- said:

I'm for bush. Completely.

Its just that... During the debates, It was extreme annoyance. Kerry would not (in my opinion) answer the question. There was even one where it was about The 'No child left behind' Program, and he turned it into 'The Enviorment NEEDS to be saved. Now How he did that, i will never know.

Also, it really ticked me off in the last debate how he used Cheny's Daughter as an example of Gay marriage*Sp.

I'm listening to the News right now, all about Kerry and how he's going to 'Disarm'. Earlier, I hear he wanted All Americans out of Iraq. Now i'm completely lost.

Even though i can't vote, and my parents can't decide Either... i'd go with Bush Completely. It just make more sense to me.

(and just a note to Democrats, Almost Everyone i know in Jacksonville,Fl has Bush/Cheney Signs in their yard ever since the President's Meeting in Altell Stadium. Good luck, Kerry. I don't think he won this swing state this time around...)

Um, Kerry did answer the questions, Bush didn't. Bush heard rumors about a draft on the "internets". When a lady asked Bush to talk about three things he had done wrong during his time in office, he instead indicatedm three things right.

First off, I have to correct Elementa. Neither candidates are for gay marriage, something I resent.

Oh, sorry ): Still, I oppose Bush. So many want Bush's "christian values" in the white house, but I don't like men who use religious beliefs to benefit their power,especially when America does not have a main religion.

[mushroom]

IDL said:

Kerry let's HIS views influence him too much; i.e. appointing only pro-abortion judges. That means if your personal beliefs are against it, forget you?

Wait--*what*? Kerry's not pro-abortion; he's pro-choice. If you want an abortion, under Kerry you'll be able to choose to have one. If you don't want an abortion, under Kerry you'll be able to choose to *not* have one.

Under Bush, you won't be able to get an abortion, period.

So, Kerry is likely to let individuals make their own decisions based on their own beliefs. Bush is likely to enforce his beliefs, despite the fact that many reasonable people disagree with them. Kerry isn't enforcing his own particular view of the unverse; Bush is.

(I realize I've simplified things here--you won't *always* be able to have an abortion under Kerry, no exceptions, and in certain cases--like the endangerment of your own health--you will probably be able to have an abortion under Bush.)