The Independent voter

[Hingle McCringleberry]

As a conservative I will have two choices come November: Voting for an uninspiring Romney, or staying home. I am wondering for people who find themselves on the fence, what would it take for you to vote for Obama, or Romney? If you voted for Obama last time, why would you do so again, or what has he done that has you looking elsewhere?

 

The reason why I ask, is we fight over politics here all the time, obviously most people who find themselves on the Left or Right will be little swayed by the other sides thoughts or opinions, and that is where the "Independent voters" come in, many are uninformed and admit to making up their mind once they go to the polls, and dont really have any information one way or another. Some women admit to voting for the best looking candidate. I have a co-worker who claims to hate Obama and what he is doing to the country, but when he talks about most things his ideals are mostly in line with Obama's. Anyway back on track, what are you going to use to decide where your vote will go, what campaign promise, or past act has you leaning for or against Obama or Romney?

[knapplc]

I'm a registered Independent. I'll be voting for Obama. My vote for Obama will also be a vote against what the Republicans have become. A Far-Right parody of what they once were. As a former Republican, I am horrified by what the GOP espouses today. It's 2012, not 1612.

[johnnyrodgers20]

I'm a registered Independent. I'll be voting for Obama. My vote for Obama will also be a vote against what the Republicans have become. A Far-Right parody of what they once were. As a former Republican, I am horrified by what the GOP espouses today. It's 2012, not 1612.

 

 

I think both parties have been prostituted out to the point that they are almost unrecognizable to the original parties they once were. I started out a Dem and gradually went past them and into the Pubs but they don't really espouse what I want this country to be either. So I drifted past them and into an Ind. mindset (Never officially changed though). I drifted past them into more of a libertarian, I feel there are some conservative tennants that I like but I keep finding govt way too intrusive in our lives. The only people who I hear that from repeatedly are the liberetarians ( so I find myslef aligning with the libertarians much more nowadays). The right wants less govt but less of social spending and more on defense (so really about the same), the left wants more on social issues and less on defense but they are still arguing over the same size pie (actually the left wants to increase spending, evident by BO's budgets). How do we make the pie smaller because if we don't we all will suffer the fate of all great empires- an Implosion!!!!

[Whistlebritches]

Initially I felt that I was going to have a hard decision between Obama and Romney but as time goes on I realize that's not the case. As long as Romney has no interest in sticking to a particular stance on a subject there is no way I will vote for him. At least with Obama he has more or less done what he has said he was going to do.

 

IMO it's a pretty sad state of affairs when Romney, Santorum, and Newt are the best the R's have to offer. I didn't count Ron Paul there because let's be honest, they weren't going to let him get the nomination. However, I respect the hell out of him because he sticks to his guns despite half of his ideas make me cringe. I'm just happy it's not going to be Santorum because that guy is seriously way too religious and/or crazy to be running the country.

[Count 'Bility]

I think a person should have to take a short test, nothing difficult, but just an explanation of general knowledge of what's going on in the world and our country. Uneducated voters do more harm than good. How many that voted for Obama had no clue what he stood on (and it goes for McCain as well), all they saw was voting for the 1st black president (or the guy to stop the first black President). Educated Righties and Lefties still vote for who they want based solely on their beliefs and I respect that. I dont have to agree with something to respect it, but at least they know what's going on and back up their beliefs on the best way to address issues. I know someone who has no clue and pays no attention to news and such and literally flips a coin on election day. Them kind of people should not be allowed to vote. JMO, I know it's off topic some but oh well.

 

Back to topic. I declare myself independent, tho I have very conservative, old fashioned views if you will. I just dont want to be associated any particular party. I believe this whole right-left, blue-red, donkey-elephant thing is gradually flushing our country down the toilet. I voted for McCain, but only becuase i believed he was the lesser of two evils, and didnt want to "waste" my vote on a candidate like Paul or the Liberatarian candidate. As of now, I would still go for Romney but for pretty much the same reasons. I think it's the most important election in our nation's history. I believe that Obama has governed far closer to the center than I initially expected (says alot about my expectations) but I feel that's because he had a re-election to worry about. Without that on his mind, and some things already in place, another 4 years of him could be devestating to our econonmy, national defense, and energy policies. We just cant afford another 4 years of Obama. Agree or disagree if you will, just some thoughts that do and dont pertain to the subject.

[Landlord]

I don't vote =/

[CornHOLIO]

The only reason I ever vote is if there are innitiatives that interest me.

 

Last time I would have voted for Obama if I thought there was a chance that the other guy would win win. Now I having second thoughts. I want McCain as a choice again after seeing what the Reps are offering up.

 

I'll probably just write in a relative that could use government protection.

(again)

[husker_99]

I'm a registered Independent. I'll be voting for Obama. My vote for Obama will also be a vote against what the Republicans have become. A Far-Right parody of what they once were. As a former Republican, I am horrified by what the GOP espouses today. It's 2012, not 1612.

 

Why are you surprised at what the Republicans have become after enveloping christianity? Actually what they are now is pretty reasonable outcome. Notice how most atheists or nonchristians vote for Democrats or Ind because both of those groups don't embrace religion as much.

[Lil' Red]

I'm satisfied with the job Obama is doing and I would have a hard time voting for someone like Romney who constantly changes his stance on issues.

['SkersRule]

As a conservative I will have two choices come November: Voting for an uninspiring Romney, or staying home. I am wondering for people who find themselves on the fence, what would it take for you to vote for Obama, or Romney? If you voted for Obama last time, why would you do so again, or what has he done that has you looking elsewhere?

 

The reason why I ask, is we fight over politics here all the time, obviously most people who find themselves on the Left or Right will be little swayed by the other sides thoughts or opinions, and that is where the "Independent voters" come in, many are uninformed and admit to making up their mind once they go to the polls, and dont really have any information one way or another. Some women admit to voting for the best looking candidate. I have a co-worker who claims to hate Obama and what he is doing to the country, but when he talks about most things his ideals are mostly in line with Obama's. Anyway back on track, what are you going to use to decide where your vote will go, what campaign promise, or past act has you leaning for or against Obama or Romney?

 

I'm voting for Ron Paul even if I have to pencil in his name. Obama is socialist, Santorum is a hateful, radical, religious fundamentalist, Newt Gingrich has more corruption issues than Tip O'Neill, and Romney well he's just a 'tard. But Ron Paul will never get elected because he thinks that federal spending should be done in a responsible way.

[knapplc]

Why are you surprised at what the Republicans have become after enveloping christianity? Actually what they are now is pretty reasonable outcome. Notice how most atheists or nonchristians vote for Democrats or Ind because both of those groups don't embrace religion as much.

 

Because I don't share the ZZZZZZZOMG TEH CHRISTUNS R TEH SUXXORZZ!!!! opinion. While I acknowledge the wealth of bad that has been done in the name of Christianity (and Islam, and other religions), I am not of the opinion that Christianity is the root of the problem. Man is the root of the problem. Some men just happen to use religion as a tool for bad.

[The Dude]

I've been left with no choice. I'll be voting for Charlie Sheen.

[carlfense]

I'm a registered Independent. I'll be voting for Obama. My vote for Obama will also be a vote against what the Republicans have become. A Far-Right parody of what they once were. As a former Republican, I am horrified by what the GOP espouses today. It's 2012, not 1612.

knapplc . . . I think our personal political histories are pretty similar.

[bhamHusker]

I claim no party affiliation. In Alabama you're not asked to specify a party when you register to vote, but If I were, I'd register as an Independent. From my perspective, we're always given the choice between bad and really bad. I'm a major lefty - far to the left of the Democratic party. You could probably legitimately call me a socialist, although I wouldn't use that description personally. I always get a big chuckle from people, like one of the previous posters in this thread, who label Obama as a socialist. Actual socialists disagree - vehemently. He's first and foremost a capitalist with a center-left track record. In almost any other western, first world country, he would be considered a conservative. Here, where our politics are so heavily skewed to the right, he's falsely (and laughably) branded a socialist. I would abstain from voting before I voted for anyone to the right of the Democratic party.

 

To answer the OP's question, I will vote for Obama because he will represent the "least bad" of the legitimate candidates in the race. In '08, I voted for him in the general, but was not a supporter in the primaries because I viewed him as the most moderate candidate in the race, or at least of those that had a chance to win the nomination (Dodd and Biden were probably more moderate, but neither ever had a chance). I also saw him as being too willing to compromise, which has turned out to be pretty much spot on. He's done, more or less, what I expected him to, particularly in light of the hostile congress he's had to work with. It's significantly worse now, but even when the Dems had a theoretical majority in both houses, too many moderates in the party got in the way of his agenda and have forced compromise after compromise. While I wouldn't call myself pleased with his accomplishments, I can't be disappointed that his administration has played out about as I expected.

[knapplc]

I claim no party affiliation. In Alabama you're not asked to specify a party when you register to vote, but If I were, I'd register as an Independent. From my perspective, we're always given the choice between bad and really bad. I'm a major lefty - far to the left of the Democratic party. You could probably legitimately call me a socialist, although I wouldn't use that description personally. I always get a big chuckle from people, like one of the previous posters in this thread, who label Obama as a socialist. Actual socialists disagree - vehemently. He's first and foremost a capitalist with a center-left track record. In almost any other western, first world country, he would be considered a conservative. Here, where our politics are so heavily skewed to the right, he's falsely (and laughably) branded a socialist. I would abstain from voting before I voted for anyone to the right of the Democratic party.

 

To answer the OP's question, I will vote for Obama because he will represent the "least bad" of the legitimate candidates in the race. In '08, I voted for him in the general, but was not a supporter in the primaries because I viewed him as the most moderate candidate in the race, or at least of those that had a chance to win the nomination (Dodd and Biden were probably more moderate, but neither ever had a chance). I also saw him as being too willing to compromise, which has turned out to be pretty much spot on. He's done, more or less, what I expected him to, particularly in light of the hostile congress he's had to work with. It's significantly worse now, but even when the Dems had a theoretical majority in both houses, too many moderates in the party got in the way of his agenda and have forced compromise after compromise. While I wouldn't call myself pleased with his accomplishments, I can't be disappointed that his administration has played out about as I expected.