Monday, October 27, 2008

Election thoughts

Well, I said earlier that I didn't plan to get into politics much on my blog, but obviously with the election just over a week away, politics are on my mind these days. :) As a busy mom, I'm definitely not as "up to speed" on the issues and the candidates as much as I'd like to be, but I've been trying to keep up somewhat. I've come across some interesting posts over the past days and weeks; here are a few of them. Keep in mind that I'm not necessarily saying I agree with these bloggers on everything they write or believe. :)

**Douglas Wilson explains his choice to vote McCain/Palin (I've been following his political posts over the past couple months and they've made for some interesting reading.)

**My brother-in-law Joseph explains his choice to vote Constitution Party (Baldwin).

**Sallie at A Quiet Simple Life has a very good post here. (And although I don't necessarily think it's wasting one's vote to vote third party, I think she has some good points. I also found Randy Alcorn's post that she linked to, to be very good reading.)

**Kelly (a fellow NBBC alum) posts about why Obama would make a dangerous president.

Jim and I have thought, talked, and prayed about the upcoming elections. Our decision is to vote Republican. We have several family members and good friends who have decided to vote third party, and obviously we respect that decision and hopefully they will respect ours also. :)
Some of the issues that are most important to me are: abortion, second amendment rights, the appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices, and remaining an ally of Israel. Of course I'm concerned about the economy also, but I don't expect that to be fixed by government--the politicians have made it pretty clear they don't have a clue about fixing that. :D

With that said, I am curious to know how my readers plan to vote in this election . . . if you care to share! It would interest me to know what issues are most important to you, also. Please keep the comments civil and all that--I'm not trying to spark a debate. Just curious!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for pointing to Doug Wilson's article. I had missed that he finally made a decision. I'm disappointed in his decision though, but you've already linked to what I think.

I would suggest reconsidering the Israel part. There are rather good arguments that Ron Paul has presented that our Israel policy doesn't help us or them. It just helps to perpetuate constant warfare in the middle east and keep them unsafe (they have to get our permission to protect themselves).

Carrie said...

I agree with your concerns/views about abortion, Supreme court appointies, and even wanting someone who loves our country. Therefore I will be voting Republican as well.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading your post today. I am also concerned about the election and feel the right choice for me to vote is with the Republican party. Every vote counts! "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Sincerely,
Susan

Samara said...

I voted already, along with my parents and sibling and various sisters-in-law- only one of our family members voted McCain; the rest of us for Obama. Abortion is a big heart issue for me, but I sincerely believe that the Republican stance is and has always been talk, not walk, and I am fatigued with the presentation of it as a trigger issue tempting so many to the polls with no real follow-through on the part of the politicians. I'd rather vote for the truthful politician who disagrees with me on this issue than another bluffer. I dislike both candidate's ideas on health care, the environment, and tax reforms, but I dislike Obama's plans much less overall. I also find Obama to be more competent in matters of diplomacy, better informed on the issues about which he is questioned, and better connected to policy experts and influential members of both major parties. I also believe him to be more accountable to his constituents than McCain has been, though again, I do believe that as politicians, both candidates are hugely subject to the influence of their major corporate donors.
As a longtime Arizonan, I do admire McCain on many points. Should he not succeed in his presidential bid, I hope that he'll remain a Senator for many years to come.
Unfortunately, I have no hero in this particular race, third party candidates included. The only third party candidates whose views reflect mine in significant ways are those that I also see as bound more tightly to their ideologies than they would be to their constituents, if that makes sense. Additionally, I don't see how these particular individuals could have achieved much in cooperation with Congress since their views are at odds in extreme ways. If I were voting for a church leader or local politician it would be (and is) different, but the office of the President has diplomatic and relational requirements that I don't think any of the otherwise honorable third-party candidates could fulfill.
In either outcome, as an American I will always give the elected President my full support as a citizen. Whoever he is, he will have a long hard road before him and will undoubtedly suffer much criticism and blame for the political and economic situations that will face the country in the next four years.
Phew! What a diatribe :)

Rachel said...

The pro-life/pro-choice issue is the one that determines who I will vote for. I absolutely cannot support someone who is in favor or abortion and infanticide. All other issues are secondary in my opinion. God is in control and I know that but it is my responsibility to go out and vote. Susan said it perfectly!

Kara said...

Rachel echos my thoughts exactly.