I don't feel like voting this election

[AGDee]

This is absolutely the wildest election cycle I've witnessed. I'm completely flummoxed by people who say "Either Trump or Sanders" because they are clearly not voting based on issues in any way, shape or form. The two are so different that agreeing with both is completely impossible. It has me wondering why, exactly, people back a certain person.

Not to call you out specifically, NWguy, but I'm really curious why you supported the GOP the last two cycles and supported the Dems in the previous two. Are there specific issues that you feel strongly about? Because they are completely opposite in every way. Or do you just have a wide variety of beliefs about the issues? For example: Are you pro death penalty and pro choice? Are you pro- life and anti- gun control? Are you pro gay marriage and pro life?

[NWguy]

Originally Posted by AGDee

This is absolutely the wildest election cycle I've witnessed. I'm completely flummoxed by people who say "Either Trump or Sanders" because they are clearly not voting based on issues in any way, shape or form. The two are so different that agreeing with both is completely impossible. It has me wondering why, exactly, people back a certain person.

Not to call you out specifically, NWguy, but I'm really curious why you supported the GOP the last two cycles and supported the Dems in the previous two. Are there specific issues that you feel strongly about? Because they are completely opposite in every way. Or do you just have a wide variety of beliefs about the issues? For example: Are you pro death penalty and pro choice? Are you pro- life and anti- gun control? Are you pro gay marriage and pro life?

I don't want to go into specifics because that could potentially open up a whole new can of worms, and I was hammered on another thread for stating my personal opinion. I like how this discussion is going, where everyone is respectful of everyone else's comments, regardless of their own political stance.

I will say this, one thing that has weighed heavily in recent months is the tragedy that occurred in Paris. Having lived there before, that shattered me. And contrary to what Sec of State Kerry said just a couple of days ago - that the violence in Syria is down considerably (it's just that the America media isn't reporting what's really happening over there) - I believe ISIS will strike again...and again...and again. So, I'm wanting a leader who has a tough strategy to combat international terrorism. That is one issue that is important to me right now.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by NWguy

I don't want to go into specifics because that could potentially open up a whole new can of worms, and I was hammered on another thread for stating my personal opinion. I like how this discussion is going, where everyone is respectful of everyone else's comments, regardless of their own political stance.

I will say this, one thing that has weighed heavily in recent months is the tragedy that occurred in Paris. Having lived there before, that shattered me. And contrary to what Sec of State Kerry said just a couple of days ago - that the violence in Syria is down considerably (it's just that the America media isn't reporting what's really happening over there) - I believe ISIS will strike again...and again...and again. So, I'm wanting a leader who has a tough strategy to combat international terrorism. That is one issue that is important to me right now.

I agree it's important, but I don't see a candidate with a tough strategy, so it seems to me that can't be a factor.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by NWguy

I believe ISIS will strike again...and again...and again. So, I'm wanting a leader who has a tough strategy to combat international terrorism. That is one issue that is important to me right now.

I guarantee that if Trump is elected President, ISIS and many others will try to attack us repeatedly.

[1964Alum]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I guarantee that if Trump is elected President, ISIS and many others will try to attack us repeatedly.

I completely agree, Benzgirl. We would be playing right into their hands and give them justification to attack. We have to be MUCH smarter than that.

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by 1964Alum

I completely agree, Benzgirl. We would be playing right into their hands and give them justification to attack. We have to be MUCH smarter than that.

I don't think that ISIS has EVER needed any justification whatsoever to attack the US or Europeans. I don't think it matters to them who our president is. They will attack us again, no matter who the POTUS is.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by thetalady

I don't think that ISIS have EVER needed any justification whatsoever to attack the US or Europeans. I don't think it matters to them who our president is. They will attack us again, no matter who the POTUS is.

Sadly, I agree.

[1964Alum]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I guarantee that if Trump is elected President, ISIS and many others will try to attack us repeatedly.

Originally Posted by thetalady

I don't think that ISIS has EVER needed any justification whatsoever to attack the US or Europeans. I don't think it matters to them who our president is. They will attack us again, no matter who the POTUS is.

I disagree. Saber-rattling, carpet-bombing talk only adds fuel to the fire and creates a recruiting tool for them. Our administration right now is quietly taking out Isis primary leaders and disrupting plans without a single collateral victim. How would you feel if your parents or children were killed by US weapons? I doubt you would have much love for them. And find it very hard not to want to get back in some way.

Our misguided War in Iraq created a whole generation of Isis members and destabilized the entire Middle East, as many of us both lay and professional predicted. We are reaping the bitter harvest of that now. Will Isis be able to slip through our defenses and attack us or our allies again? Quite possibly. IMO we need to look at the big picture. We have already been spared many attacks. And as someone up-thread said, we have the collaboration of our allies. A POTUS who is not respected on the international stage will destabilize what is now in place.

[DubaiSis]

Just to correct and clarify a smidge, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Jordan and to a lesser extend Lebanon and Bahrain are stable. Yemen is stable but not in a way we like. Iran is stable but not in a way that American media like to discuss because it's easier to call them an evil empire than accept that they just don't run their government the same way we do. But their people are educated, fed and clothed, and I don't think there is any immediate threat of a coup.

Saudi Arabia continues to be a mess but that's internal and has little to do with us (except for us being complicit). Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey and Israel are unstable and fully the US' making. If you want to call Egypt Middle East, it is reasonably stable, but I wouldn't place bets on long term viability of any government. Maybe, maybe not.

Did I miss any? And please don't think of THE MIDDLE EAST as Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a big and peaceful place with minimal crime, great education, great food, great people and (mostly) fair governments. And any arguments against fairness needs to be compared to the atrocities the US government commits against its people.

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by 1964Alum

I disagree. Saber-rattling, carpet-bombing talk only adds fuel to the fire and creates a recruiting tool for them. Our administration right now is quietly taking out Isis primary leaders and disrupting plans without a single collateral victim. How would you feel if your parents or children were killed by US weapons? I doubt you would have much love for them. And find it very hard not to want to get back in some way.

Our misguided War in Iraq created a whole generation of Isis members and destabilized the entire Middle East, as many of us both lay and professional predicted. We are reaping the bitter harvest of that now. Will Isis be able to slip through our defenses and attack us or our allies again? Quite possibly. IMO we need to look at the big picture. We have already been spared many attacks. And as someone up-thread said, we have the collaboration of our allies. A POTUS who is not respected on the international stage will destabilize what is now in place.

So you don't think that Obama is respected on the international stage, or at lest within the Middle East? I don't see how we will ever have a president more sympathetic toward the Middle East & Muslims in general than Obama.

[Tulip86]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I guarantee that if Trump is elected President, ISIS and many others will try to attack us repeatedly.

I agree. And I think most European allies will not be as willing to follow the US into war as they are now if Trump were elected.

[NWguy]

Which is why I'm not voting for Trump. I don't see him as a "leader", more of a loose canon and an annoying public figure.

Can you imagine Trump getting elected in November? There will be protests and riots everywhere; it will be chaos instead of celebration.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I guarantee that if Trump is elected President, ISIS and many others will try to attack us repeatedly.

News flash, ISIS and many others are already trying to attack us repeatedly.