No political discussions by Troy and Ryan!!!!

liberal here. damn proud of it too

where's the "undecided" option???

Added

I am sacrificing my vote in order to vote for the candidate a British friend of mine supports.

Where is she?

He is in Hampshire

Official? Political? OSP? There's an oxymoron in there somewhere.

I just bought your pets!!!!

What about a mail in vote for Ross Perot?

Sorry... it's late and I'm tired....

i think exhausted more describes it......... ross perot???? ewwwwwwww

I'm voting for Bill the Cat.

(Did I just date myself?)

Ack. Barf. Gag.

Bill the cat is really Donald Trump!

Vote for the real evil: Vote Cthulu

Why isn't Bob Barr an option? Well, I mean, he is "someone else".

Yeah, I gotta find out more about the guy.....me being a libertarian and all

And I'm not afraid to stir stuff up--

Clinton- too shrill for me and has proven herself untrustworthy...big dealbreaker for me no matter what your talking points are

Obama- scary likeable. Love his ad (seriously the idea of everyone getting along brought tears to my eyes), but honestly his stances on taxes and big government alone scare the living *%#$ out of me.

McCain- I think he's probably a pretty nice guy, but needs to get a personality if he's going to have to go head-to-head with Obama. But I don't like that he'd prefer to overturn Roe vs Wade currently the best bet for my vote

Barr- Very intriguing with his beliefs that all earmarks should be eliminated and that he's cool with repealing the 16th amendment...just wish he had a chance in hades to win.


Carry on!

I'll admit I'm not much of a McCain fan (and I am politically and fiscally conservative)...but the stories of his captivity in Hanoi...I don't know...I gotta admire the dude's fortitude.

Near his deathbed after injuries from his plane crash and constant beatings that left him with numerous broken bones...McCain agreed to give the names of the rest of his squadron in exchange for medical treatment of his multiple broken bones. He listed the names of the entire offensive line of the Green Bay Packers.

Upon learning that McCain was the son of an Admiral...his captors wanted to take advantage of the publicity they thought they'd receive by demonstrating how well they were treating POW's. They created a mocked up Christmas Eve church service and issued video footage of the POW's. Only every time a camera got near McCain he shouted the f-bomb as a way to show his displeasure with the bogus display. (They also offered to release him from captivity but McCain refused to go unless all other POW's taken before him were also released.)

I think we see eye-to-eye on this Dan.

I didn't know all of this about him (I knew he was a pow but not much about it). Thanks for the info.
Cool stuff

That story makes me think his economic policy would be pretty good....

It's a cool story, and I think he's a fantastic American war hero, but I don't know that that equals great president.

I was glad and disappointed to see him be the GOP nominee. Sad, because of anyone able to beat the democrats this fall I think it would be him, but glad because if I had to pick any of the Republican choices I would have picked him in a heart beat. (Well, actually Ron Paul, but the media never even gave him a chance).

Not that being a good speaker is a prerequisite for being President, but I think John McCain is a terrible public speaker. I tried to listen to his whole "what the country will look like after my first term" and I was bored to tears not by the content of what he had to say, but more just listening to him talk.

I'm hopin' Johnny Mac picks Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate and they win. Then he decides to step down due to health (or other reasons)...and we have President Palin! Though with the birth last month of her 5th child (born with Down syndrome)...I doubt she'd consider a Veep nomination. Who knows...

A chic from the sticks who hunts and fishes...my kinda gal!

Blah.. politics. I've never voted. Don't plan to in november. BUT if I did, it would probably be for Obama. My husband, the thinks-he-is republican, is all for McCain.

Glad you are not voting... but make sure your hubby is!

I can't believe that Jim Cook is not an option after yesterday.

who is this? are you really mike? how can we be sure... hmmm....... i think we need to investigate this further.....

I'd love to hear some deep reasons why you (in the general term) like who you like....we're always hearing why you (again, general) don't like who you don't like.

How 'bout it? What do you like about your canidate?

how about some deep thoughts by jack handy?

......so maybe if he were elected we can finally get Hanoi Jane charged with treason!!!

I need the voice that did those spots on SNL....I'm a little frazzled with this slideshow

*i can do this* i can do this*i can do this* i can do this*i can do this* i can do this*

what? no scathing political commentaries??


Chickens!

Nobody calls me a chicken and gets away with it (on politics)

(You asked for it)

My take on Hillary:

She's hanging in until the end. If she does not get the nomination, she'll give lip service support to Obama.

But her people will help the dirt to come out on him.

Just enough to get McCain elected.

Dems will probably have both houses of congress. She'll end up as Senate majority leader by giving in to the pressure at the convention to let Obama have it. So, the liberal agenda will get pushed through congress thanks to both houses under dem rule, and having McCain ready to be a liberal... er... um "Maverick".

Four years from now, her coronation begins anew, with the Obama-man no longer in her way.

How's that?

scccaaaarrrrryyyyyyyyy

Hi, I'm brand new here...I've been lurking around for a month or so, but haven't posted before. Sorry if I'm getting off on a bad footing by just jumping in on a political discussion, but, I have to add my two cents on John McCain.
As a veteran myself (actually, still active duty) I do not understand how he can take the stands that he does. To put it mildly, he makes my blood boil. First of all, he has repeatedly said in the past that he does not condone the use of torture. Makes sense, considering his experience. But then he turned around 2 months ago and voted against a bill that would ban torture. Second, he continues to support the war in Iraq, which is costing this country trillions of dollars while our economy tanks. And for what? Third, he talks and talks about his commitment to veterans, yet today he voted against the bill that would increase GI bill funding to actually cover the costs of going to college for veterans (as the bill was originally intended to do). He claims that it's too expensive (funding for one year= the cost of 36 hours in Iraq) and that it would cause military retention rates to plummet. I can go into why that is incorrect, but that is getting off topic. I find it very hypocritical that he waves his military service around like a badge of honor (which it is) but then turns his back on his fellow veterans.
Personally, I was an Edwards supporter, but now that he's out I'll vote for Obama if he gets the nom. Funny, but despite his lack of military service, he voted for the GI bill increase, and also wants to make VA medical coverage available for all veterans (right now, only those rated at 30% disabled or more are eligible), and actually has talked about bringing troops home. Military McCain is offering the troops/veterans...(cricket, cricket).

Hi Kristin. Welcome to OSP!

Never a problem to jump in on politics. Just remember it's not a personal attack if someone disagrees with you on the topic of politics! Discussions can get heated in that arena, so please, never take anything said in such debates as personal insult. Both sides are passionate about their beliefs.

You can see the latest big debate between Ryan and Myself at this link (Don't revive it please! It's a dead thread by mutual decision!) We were both civil, but disagreed about a lot of issues. (Still looking forward to that bottle of Opus One with Ryan!)

PS: Line breaks between paragraphs are helpful to make reading easier!

I will vote for McCain because he is more aligned with my values than Obama. Obama, however, is quite possibly the most presidential candidate I've laid my eyes on. I don't agree with him on much but man does he have something about him I like him but don't vote for people I like. I vote for people who's values are closest to mine.

I like Hillary. I trust her with the country a little more than I would Obama. I don't mean trust like "Obama is evil!" or anything. I just mean I think the country would be better in her hands than in Obama's. I'm a little set back about Obama going to a church for twenty years under someone like Rev. Wright. Especially since he was married by him, Wright baptized his kids, and other things like that. I don't think that Obama is a racist like Wright but it's a bit dubious, is all. I am also unsettled by Obama talking privately about people clinging to religion because of economics. I'm not convinced that he meant exactly what he said but I can't single out that he didn't mean that and that is a bit unsettling.

I do like the idea of a black president, I must admit. I just wish it were a black president that wasn't so far left, is all.

I like McCain because it showed me that the republican party was in fact that more open party by electing a moderate. McCain has sticky (in the eyes of conservatives) positions on significant conservative issues but still got the nomination. Obama is as left as it gets - which I have NO problem with - but is presented as a moderate (because of his genuine personality, I suppose?).

I like Obama for the reason I said above. I think he is genuine. I think I would enjoy him as a neighbor. Like I said, I just don't like the idea of someone so extreme in the democratic party running the country. Especially when we're at war.

Lastly, I was quite disturbed that in all of the democratic debates not once (as far as I know - correct me if I'm wrong) did they say "islamic terrorism." That bummed me out. You don't have to be a right-wing extremist to acknowledge that islamic terrorism is at least worth talking about.

Can someone just explain to this aussie the general political views of each of the parties?

(here the two main parties can be a bit confusing:
Labor = liberal
the Liberals = conservative )

In the US

Liberals = Democrats
Conservatives used to = Republicans

The Republican nominee is currently Senator John McCain.

McCain has made his career on being a self-proclaimed "Maverick" that bucks the system and does what he wants to do. In the recent past, he forged a bill called McCain-Feingold (co-authored with senator Feingold) that placed severe restrictions on not only where money comes from in a political race, but also how organizations can advertise 6 weeks before an election. It in effect limits the freedom of speech. Conservatives view his bill (now law of the land) as an assault on free speech. Democrats just found ways around the law, and created new organizations that slipped through the loopholes. Republicans followed suit.

McCain was chosen as party nominee because of the way our Primary Elections work. Each state gets to chose when it will hold its primary, and who can vote in the primary. The states in our more liberals areas held their primaries in the early part of the year, and their lax rules about declaring which party you are affiliated with let a lot of so called "moderates" -- really liberal democrats -- vote for the guy in the other party (McCain - as a republican) figuring he'd be easy to beat in the general election in November.

This did two things: Gave McCain the momentum he needed to get rolling. Secondly, because these early "switch" voters crossed over to vote in the republican primary - they did not get to vote in the democrat side. (In all states, you only get to vote in one or the other party's primary, not both). Hence, Hillary Clinton lost some of her support (she was considered the "safe" candidate early on), and Obama started to gain momentum and inch ahead.

In the US, the labor unions usually side with the democrats, since the dems like to keep upping the minimum wage, and place tarrifs on imported goods. But the rest of the democrats policies are destructive to the labor unions. So there is a weird dichotomy going on with the labor/democrat marriage.

Conservatives in the US get mislabeled as the religious right. That's about as true as saying all Democrats are atheists. The so called religious right are a very vocal, but rather small minority in the conservative movement. Unfortunately, the conservatives don't have a voice in this year's presidential election, because our candidate was nominated by a combination of cross-over liberals and a minority movement in the republican party that is trying to distance itself from the religious right.

McCain may be a republican in name, and support of Ryan's favorite war: the war on terror but most of his legislation that he's authored have been for liberal causes.

Hillary and Obama are both mainstream liberals, differing very little in their viewpoints.

Hope this helps!

And that was American Politics 101 by Professor Hill....

Ryan will have to teach the advanced courses.

I figured he would chime in with his "left of troy" views. That will be politics 102.

jim, i think your liking that avatar just a little too much.........

I love that avatar -- I feel feisty when I have it!!!!


I think that is why you are an instigator --- because of the avatar.


Actually I just told my wife that I want to pose like that and take a picture of myself and use it as my avatar. I just need to get a wife beater shirt (but a black one) and I will be ready to go!

dont firetruck with me jim...

That is so awesome!!!! I am soooo stealing that !!!

no dude. its sooo clearly mine... all mine.....

Too late!!!!

no fair. (damn wannabes)

Dang -- people are still voting. I wonder if this will turn into an "eric" thread and people will vote even after the November elections.

Sorry to call chicken and run, but my phone lines were out due to an accident. No calls, no internet....ah what to do???



And if you really want to be sickened....take a look at some of the things Congress takes valuable time and money to vote on.....
With all the very important issues that are in dire need of attention, why in the world are our legislators proposing such things as "Hire a Veteran" week? Honoring the life of Percy Lavon Julian? Supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day? Recognizing all hunters across the United States for their continued commitment to safety? Recognizing and celebrating the centennial of Oklahoma statehood? Supporting the observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and for other purposes? Expressing support for designation of the month of October 2007 as "Country Music Month" and to honor country music for its long history of supporting America's armed forces and its tremendous impact on national patriotism?

It just goes on and on folks. Not that there's anything wrong with acknowledging and supporting so many of these things...but do we really need to take up this much time and money giving each other 'atta boy' praise?

This is why I'm basically a libertarian. I would love to see the federal government (and it's budgets and debt) shrink considerably and go back to what the founding fathers believed it should be. Look it up, it's not functioning at all like it is supposed to.

Finally, I love this quiz. See if y'all can answer even half of them....I know I couldn't!

I used to work with a reporter who claimed to be "somewhere to the left of Joseph Stalin".

He was a war correspondant and investigative reporter. Worked for Christian Science Monitor, and later one of the big Pittsburgh papers.

Why he came to little ol Greenfield Indiana for a few years, I'll never fully understand.

So, "Left of Troy" is probably a lot better place to be than "left of Joseph Stalin".