GuyInTaiwan wrote:TheAmericanNomad: Which (current) Republican candidates would cause you to not vote for Nader?
Well, Ron Paul would actually make me vote for Ron Paul instead of Nader, even though I am not a libertarian (more of a socialist actually) but I think the only things he could accomplish are the things I'd want him to.
But, Bachmann, Palin (I know she isn't a current candidate, but if she does jump in) and Herman Cain would make me vote for Obama. Possibly Rick Perry but I haven't really researched enough about him to know how dangerous he could be.
@Gao Bohan:
I don't think you should include healthcare as a accomplishment. No single payer, no public option. Just a mandate. It is nice that it doesn't allow companies to deny you, but I can say taking the Republican plan from the 90s is an accomplishment.
Healthcare for 9/11 responders: Yeah, great, and it took a shit load of Jon Stewart slamming people on it to make it happen. Either way, it doesn't effect the country at large. It is something that we all should have done morally, but it is hardly a victory.
Fiscal Stimulus: If the economy had turned around this would be an accomplishment, it hasn't so this isn't.
Redirected forces from Iraq to Afghanistan: I would like to see them come home, not be sent to another hell hole. I understand he called Afghanistan "the good war" back when he was a candidate, so I can't blame him for turning back on his campaign promise, regardless it isn't what I want. It is hardly a win on the political stage either, considering the troops in Iraq started their withdraw under Bush. And I certainly didn't vote for the bombing of two more countries when I voted for what I thought was the "Anti-war" candidate. (Libya and Yemen, three if you count Somalia)
Financial Reform: I'll give you this one. Still, not much. And it should have gone much further.
Don't Ask Don't Tell: Meh, I mean, great, he did that. Still it is just a small social issue that doesn't really effect most Americans. Don't get me wrong, I think it is great that if a gay soldier is injured, his partner doesn't have to claim to be his friend. I think that is awesome, but I need more than that if I am going to vote for him, I need things that effect most of the country.
What I want from Obama is for him to seriously look at marijuana legalization, look seriously at bringing our troops home, to actually bring up the Patriot Act again (not one mention since he has been president), to reverse the trend of power grabbing by the executive branch that has been going on since the 60s.
Instead of turning every thread into a referendum on Obama, could the anti-Obama people perhaps address the subject from the OP? How do you feel about your front running candidates preaching hellfire and damnation?
Well, I don't consider myself anti-Obama, he has just dissapointed me so much I feel compelled for vote for someone who I think could fix it, even if that person has zero chance at winning. (That person is not likely to be a D or an R) but as to your question:
Yes, it concerns me very much that a large segment of our population actually cheers on these batshit insane candidates like Bachmann. I think they are very dangerous, more dangerous than even Bush. Bush may have been a puppet of the Neo Cons, but at least the Neo Cons are smart. Evil, but smart. Bachmann is just retarded. A fire and brimstone preacher that no one can predict. Will she listen to the Neo Cons? Maybe. Or will she impose her version of Christianity on the rest of the nation? Will she start another crusade against Islam? I don't know, no one does, so by all means she needs to
not be our president. I don't think she will be though.
My hope (besides the unlikely result of Ron Paul winning the primary) is that Romney wins the GOP nomination. I can't see much of a difference between a Romney presidency and an Obama one. Both are just politicians who will cater to the people who got them campaign money rather than the people who actually voted for them. The only advantage I see in an Obama second term is that perhaps, without the pressure of a reelection, MAYBE he will begin to work on his legacy a little bit and work for us little people.
EDIT: As for people who say there will never be a bible bashing president in the U.S. I don't think you quite understand American politics. (regardless if you are actually American or not) There are religious undertones to EVERYTHING in politics here. Bachmann is a serious contender (though not the front runner) and she is every bit in favor of running this country according to bible. Come on, religion, gay marriage, drugs, even the wars at times, all of these debates are framed within religion. The Christian Right is very powerful here, not powerful enough to take over, but powerful enough to have an effect. And in a generation or two, it is conceivable that they could be the majority of the country. I tend to think, however, that we are ever so slowly moving in the opposite direction and that these past two years are an aberation.
