2008 Presidential Election: Who are you voting for?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

^^^ I agree.

I'm listening to his endorsement now. I want Colin Powell to adopt me. That is all.

He was kind of awesome.

The commentary on the endorsement--from Joe Scarborough, David Brooks, Andrea Mitchell, and Joe Meacham--was even better.

[nittanyalum]

"Baseball Pandering"

"McCain Says The 'S' Word"

[a.e.B.O.T.]

We don't have to vote, Sarah Palin said today that God will do the right thing...

Oh my, is God the one who rigged the Florida votes in '00 and '04?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

We don't have to vote, Sarah Palin said today that God will do the right thing...

Story on it.

“To me, [McCain's sagging poll numbers] motivates us, makes us work that much harder,” [Palin] told the influential Christian leader [James Dobson], whose radio show reaches tens of millions of listeners daily. “And it also strengthens my faith because I know at the end of the day putting this in God’s hands, the right thing for America will be done, at the end of the day on Nov. 4.”

Hmmm. So if Obama wins, will Palin (and Dobson) still say that President Obama, not President McCain, is God's will?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Story on it.

“To me, [McCain's sagging poll numbers] motivates us, makes us work that much harder,” [Palin] told the influential Christian leader [James Dobson], whose radio show reaches tens of millions of listeners daily. “And it also strengthens my faith because I know at the end of the day putting this in God’s hands, the right thing for America will be done, at the end of the day on Nov. 4.”

Hmmm. So if Obama wins, will Palin (and Dobson) still say that President Obama, not President McCain, is God's will?

I think doubting the sincerity of any politician, especially on religions matters, is always safe, but she's prayed similar prayers about God's will before. Remember the whole "is she saying that fighting in Iraq is a Holy War" bit when she had prayed about doing God's will?

I doubt she'd promote the idea that Obama was anointed by God to be President, but I think she's someone who believes that God has a plan for people and things.

(My faith isn't that kind of faith exactly, but I know a lot of people who feel that way.)

[nittanyalum]

The latest projection from fivethirtyeight.com, electoral college vote total in bottom right corner:

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I think doubting the sincerity of any politician, especially on religions matters, is always safe, but she's prayed similar prayers about God's will before. Remember the whole "is she saying that fighting in Iraq is a Holy War" bit when she had prayed about doing God's will?

I doubt she'd promote the idea that Obama was anointed by God to be President, but I think she's someone who believes that God has a plan for people and things.

(My faith isn't that kind of faith exactly, but I know a lot of people who feel that way.)

Just to be clear, I'm not doubting the sincerity of her religious beliefs at all. In fact, I'm assuming that she's sincere; everything I've seen of her leads to believe that she is quite sincere in this regard. I respect that.

What caught my eye was the way she said it. She did not say something along the lines of "whatever happens, I can keep it all in perspective and won't worry too much because God is still ultimately in control." I think lots of religious people might say that. She said that she has faith that the right thing for America will be done on November 4. This can be interpeted two ways, I think -- (1) that she believes that a McCain victory is the right thing for America and has faith in divine guidance/intervention to make that happen, or (2) that she will accept the will of the electorate on November 4 as reflecting the will of God. My point was that I'd guess she's closer to the first interpretation.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

THE WAY she said it, in line with how she usually speaks (i.e. with reassurance that she is totally right about everything(as i know most politicians do)), was that McCain and her will win because that is what God wants... not that whatever happens, its God's will

[MysticCat]

Any thoughts from anyone on William Weld or Scott McClellan endorsing Obama? I can't say that McClellan surprised me, given the last year or so for him, but Weld surprises me some. Sure, Clinton tried to appoint him as ambassador to Mexico, but he endorsed Romney in the primary. Now he's endorsing Obama over McCain. Per the Boston Herald:

Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, a Republican, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president today, citing the senator’s good judgment, "deep sense of calm" and "first-class political temperament."

Weld said he has never endorsed a Democrat for president before, but in the last six weeks or so, it became "close to a no-brainer." Obama has a history of bringing Democrats, Republicans and independents together and is the best choice at a time when America's standing in the world is at a low point, he said.

"It’s not often you get a guy with his combination of qualities, chief among which I would say is the deep sense of calm he displays, and I think that's a product of his equally deep intelligence," he said in a phone interview.

Thoughts?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Any thoughts from anyone on William Weld or Scott McClellan endorsing Obama? I can't say that McClellan surprised me, given the last year or so for him, but Weld surprises me some. Sure, Clinton tried to appoint him as ambassador to Mexico, but he endorsed Romney in the primary. Now he's endorsing Obama over McCain. Per the Boston Herald:

Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, a Republican, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president today, citing the senator’s good judgment, "deep sense of calm" and "first-class political temperament."

Weld said he has never endorsed a Democrat for president before, but in the last six weeks or so, it became "close to a no-brainer." Obama has a history of bringing Democrats, Republicans and independents together and is the best choice at a time when America's standing in the world is at a low point, he said.

"It’s not often you get a guy with his combination of qualities, chief among which I would say is the deep sense of calm he displays, and I think that's a product of his equally deep intelligence," he said in a phone interview.

Thoughts?

Sent you a PM with my reasons, but honestly, this doesn't surprise me a great deal. I like Weld, and can understand (for a variety of reasons) why he's not endorsing McCain.

[nittanyalum]

A couple of interesting pieces about how religion is playing into voter attitudes:

Obama Redraws Map of Religious Voters

How Catholics are Judging Obama and the Democrats

[KABillyMac]

I'm a candidate for write in kids. I promise to offer beer at recess, blah blah blah.

[WCsweet<3]

Honestly, I will just be happy when this entire thing is over with.

[texas*princess]

This is a really funny email that was forwarded to me.

Dear Red States:

If you manage to steal this election too we've decided we're leaving. We
intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with
us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon,
Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast.
We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to
the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly:

You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.
We get stem cell research and the best beaches.

We get the Statue of Liberty.
You get Dollywood.

We get Intel and Microsoft.
You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard.
You get Ole' Miss.

We get 85% of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs.
You get Alabama.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay
their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian
Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families.
You get a bunch of single moms.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and
we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need
people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently
willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you
don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you
success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to
spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80% of the
country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of
the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines, 90% of all cheese,
90% of the high tech industry, 95% of the corn and soybeans (thanks Iowa!),
most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors,
all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88% of
all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of all U.S.
mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all
Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob
Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

Additionally, 38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually
swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the
war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory,
53% believe that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards
believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.

Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they
grow in Mexico

Peace out,
Blue States

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

This is a really funny email that was forwarded to me.

Things like that are really helpful.