Why I am not for any candidate as of yet

[BayCityProgressive]

It seems like most people here have already decided on who they are supporting. I have not been able to get excited about any one candidate enough to support them yet. I love Hillary and I think Clark MAY have potential but I don't want to discuss people who haven't yet announced I want to discuss those who we have.

I like Dean's war stance and he has tolerable domestic policies but I am not sure that his antiwar stance will resonate with the majority of the public. I am also conflicted about his gun stance and downgrading gay rights to state rights.

I like Kerry on a wide range of issues but he is just kind of boring to me. Also I think he would get "Gored" fairly easily.

I like Edwards because he seems like a down to earth guy who cares about the little people. He is very charismatic but lacks experience.

Lieberman has a great environmental record but he comes across as a privatizer and I am definately not in favor of more privatization/deregulation.

I love Kucinich on virtually every issue but I don't think he has any real chance and I think he would be painted as a nutcase.

Sharpton is hilarious but he just has too much baggage.

I don't know much about Braun or Graham. Neither seem to bring anything unique to the table.

I love the fact that Gephardt is a hero to labor but his failed house leadership worries me.

I think President Bush is vulnerable and I think a Democrat will win in 04 if the cards are played right I just have not decided which candidate has the Ace.

[bandy]

1. Feeling the same, Bay,

and waiting for a full roster before deciding. That doesn't mean the front runners aren't good enough to beat (hahaha) *. But seems like something is nagging at me to wait and see. As much as I admire and respect H. Clinton, I hope she does not run for a host of reasons.

[LWolf]

2. Good observations.

I agree with a couple of exceptions:

I really like what Braun has to say. I don't think it's her turn this time around, but I hope she stays in as long as possible. I hope she gets a job in the next administration.

I also love Kucinich. And I've made my choice. If that makes me a nutcase, so be it. If the number of people who agree with his stance on the issues actually voted for him, we'd be a nation of nutcases. Oops...reverse that. We already are a nation of nutcases. We'd be heading in the direction of sanity.

I'm really excited to have found a candidate that so closely aligns with my take on the issues. It's a first in 25 years as a voter. I won't pass this chance up; it may be the only time I'll ever cast a vote for someone I actually believe in.

If I hadn't made the decision to support Dennis on principle, I'd be in the same place you are. Things to like and things to hesitate on for each candidate with no urgent need to make a choice yet.

[sandnsea]

3. Good analysis

I agree with alot of what you have to say. I could go with Edwards. It depends on whether or not he can move up to the next level and display a sense of real leadership, particularly on foreign policy.

For now I'm with Kerry, his policies are just always dead on with my views and his depth of knowledge and thought on every single issue appeals to me. As to him being boring, he really isn't. I've read alot of general interest type articles and interviews with him and he's actually a very interesting person. I hope he will bring more of that to the campaign. Although he does need to edit himself. I find his analysis of issues interesting, I guess most people don't, which is fine too.

And I love Dennis too, his story is so heartwarming. But America doesn't want the world Dennis wants and that's just the way it is. I hope he stays in the whole race, like he says he will, and keeps bringing the message of a new kind of America to the people. We will never get to something better without people like Dennis paving the way.

[KaraokeKarlton]

4. Some comments...

First, I agree with you on nearly all the points you made. And I think your concerns about Dean are similar to the concerns a lot of those who are trying to fight him winning the nomination. So I'm going to address those concerns from my point of view.

I like Dean's war stance and he has tolerable domestic policies but I am not sure that his antiwar stance will resonate with the majority of the public. I am also conflicted about his gun stance and downgrading gay rights to state rights."

Dean isn't "anit-war". He was anti-Iraq war. There is a very big difference between the two. He also has very reasonable and valid reasons for why he took the stance he did. In light of the mess going on over there, it gives his concerns all the more validity with people. When he talks about the issue, it's very easy to relate to what he's saying. I had no strong feelings about the war either way. I know Saddam is a miserable and horrible person, and I have a great deal of respect and admiration for our troops. I also tend to think that at some point we most likely would have had to do something to get rid of him so that sanctions could be lifted and the Iraqi people could start rebuilding their country into a better place. I also would have much preferred that this were an international effort, not a Bush grudge match. My view is probably more consistent with middle America than the vast majority of people here. I support Dean. Iraq has absolutely nothing to do with me supporting him. I am an Independent and I guess you could call me a typical swing voter. Dean has much to offer voters like me. We like fiscal responsibility and have a few issues we agree with from both sides of the fence. We support abortion being legal. We support good schools. We support a balanced budget. We support gun rights. We support good social programs that WORK but we don't like excess. We support politicians who speak the language of common sense and honesty. We like getting tax cuts, but have enough sense to know that sometimes they are a bad idea...like now. We don't like leaving debts for our children and grandchildren. We don't want drugs legalized. We believe that the death penalty serves a purpose but don't want innocent people executed. We want good jobs and a good economy. We want to feel safe from terrorists but not at the price of our freedoms. We support going to war if there is a good reason, but don't want our troops put in harms way under false pretenses. We're kind of uncomfortable with homosexuality, but we really don't care who you choose to have sex with. We believe in equal rights for everyone, including gays and wouldn't be offended by Civil Unions but won't likely go for gay marriage.

Now, if you can understand the point of view most swing voters come from it might help you see exactly why, of all the candidates, Dean is the one who best reflects what swing voters believe in. In fact, I would almost guarantee you that before Dean entered politics, that he was a swing voter himself. If not, he sure understands what we want. That's why he's pulling in so many new people who were never active in politics before. So many people misunderstand this. Dean represents not so much the Democratic wing of the Democratic party as he does the swing voters of the American electorate. It's enough to pull in a ton of democrats, a bunch of moderate republicans, a slew of Independents and all these new activists. That's happening because we FINALLY have a candidate that doesn't represent the extremes on either side and just represents the average, everyday apolitical American.

[BayCityProgressive]

5. Make your own "swing party" then

We are supposed to be Democrats. Your comments about homosexuals are highly offensive as well. Thats like saying you are uncomfortable with blacks but you dont mind if they live a couple blocks away somewhere.

[KaraokeKarlton]

7. Just what exactly about my comments were offensive?

And what about them weren't true? If the average American weren't uncomfortable with homosexuality there wouldn't be any need for a gay rights movement at all. Listen, I can either talk about the truth or I can say what you'd like to hear. But what you'd like to hear isn't the reality of the situation. Even in middle America a mild and passive level of bias exists. If you want to close your eyes to it, go right ahead and do that, but until you accept that fact and try to address it, people's fears and discomfort with the issue won't ever be resolved. I support civil unions and I can't stand people that are hateful towards homosexuals. But I'm heterosexual and that's what I'm comfortable with. I'm a woman, which is what I'm comfortable with. Expecting me to feel completely comfortable with homosexuality is like asking me to feel completely comfortable pissing standing up. It's just not going to happen. That doesn't mean I hate gays OR anyone who pisses standing up.

[renie408]

9. I think his point is

that it shouldn't matter what you are comfortable with. Your comfort level isn't really important. Maybe unintentionally, your comments make 'you' sound like you think you are Lady Bountiful because you are willing to let gays have some rights, even though you are not real comfortable with them. What if he is not comfortable with your heterosexuality?

Being heterosexual myself and having been raised in a predominantly hetero society, I know what you mean and I really don't think you meant to be offensive.

[KaraokeKarlton]

16. Well, I see marriage as a religious ritual

and am a firm believer of separation of church and state. I don't want the government forcing religion onto me and the trade off for that is not forcing the church to change it's beliefs. That's why I don't support gay marriage. I support civil unions 100% because everyone should have the same CIVIL rights. I also think you have to be very careful when protecting the rights of one group that you don't infringe on the rights of another group in the process, because then you have another group whose rights are being violated. I'm glad you at least seem to understand the very significant difference between being uncomfortable with something and just hating it.

I don't have a problem with any homosexual person being uncomfortable with heterosexuality. I'd expect that, actually. I also wouldn't think that someone who was honest about those feelings were being in any way offensive.

[renie408]

8. Yeah

and 'they' support those irresponsible sluts being able to have an abortion, too.

[VermontDem2004]

10. ....

We don't want drugs legalized.

Not all drugs should be legal but Marijuana should definately be legal, if you disagree, then try to get alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs you can buy over the counter illegal.

[Egnever]

11. agree with you partly

I personally think all drugs should be legal. It is the one stance of deans that really bugs me. However he does say that he will request a full investigation on pots uses medically and will abide by whatever is found going so far as to say he thinks it will be aproved for certain conditions. Not what I would like to see in full but its a decent start.

He also recognizes the fact that it is rediculous to have so many people in prison for drug offenses which is half of the problem with them being illegle. I dont necesarily think anyone should be able to walk up to a counter and buy any kind of drugs they want but at the same time i think someone put in prison for years for having pot is rediculous.

[KaraokeKarlton]

18. Although I am 200% against any drug legalization at all...

I do think it's idiotic to lock addicts up in jail in most cases. They should go to rehab instead, but the country needs better programs to treat addiction. If someone has been to rehab over and over and it's not working, then jail can be the catalyst that gets them clean. It shouldn't be the first option, though...only for those who aren't getting helped by anything else and are still breaking the law.

[VermontDem2004]

34. ....

Then the rehabs will be overflowing and most drug offenders don't take rehab very seriously because they feel like they don't have a drug problem. Of course you get the ones who do have a very bad drug addiction. We should be more like Holland and make Marijuana legal and stop arresting people for this petty crap. Not everyone is like your husband, I have never known anyone to be that dependent on it, I know people who smoke it, but to them it is more like smoking a cigarette. It isn't the highlight of their day, it isn't the main thing on their mind.

[George_Bonanza]

22. All drugs legalized?

I think that's going too far. The reason why marijuana needs to be legalized is because it's just as bad as alcohol and cigarettes, which means it's at least a manageable substance. The biggest thing for it is that nobody takes marijuana seriously, and our jails are getting crammed with needlessly incarcerated potheads. That space is expensive and could be better used for an actual dangerous criminal.

However, drugs like cocaine and heroine are just too damn fucked up to be let loose. Basically, one shot of heroine ruins your life.

[Egnever]

23. ????

im not sure what you are saying here ... manageable how?

And no one shot of heroin doesnt ruin your life.

Fully agree on the needless incarceration though.

I had quite the wild youth. I have tried every drug at one time or another in my life. While I will agree that some will drag you down easier than others. None are the demon they are made to be except perhaps heroin and that really only because of the complete physical addiction after a period of continuos use.

Making them all leagal would also have the affect of being able to spot problem users easier and get them help sooner not to mention eliminating all the wasted money on the war on drugs as well as the revenue in taxation it could bring in to fund programs on drug education and treatment.

[KaraokeKarlton]

17. That ones personal for me, so it's a waste of time to try to sway me

My ex was abusive. He kept me from working and then he'd spend all the food money for our children on his marijuana addiction. Yes, it was an addiction. When getting high is more important than providing your children with food, you have a problem. As a parent I also have no use for drugs at all. I'm no fan of alcohol, either.
It's probably better not to debate this one with me because I've got very conservative views where drugs are concerned...because of my personal experiences as someone who was hurt very badly (and my children) by someone else's addictions.

[Egnever]

20. Not to make light of your situation

but thats a lot of pot!

I cant imagine smoking that much pot!

As a long time pot smoker off and on I can tell you I have never chosen pot over food ever. Course I never smoked enough pot to come close to my food bill either.

[VermontDem2004]

33. Well then launch an ongoing effort to make alcohol illegal

because people spend money on alcohol to keep up with their addiction then keep up with the needs of their family, my father for example. I know quite a few marijuana users who don't use Marijuana like it's the most important thing in their life. If you want marijuana to stay illegal, then fight for the prohibition of alcohol as well because they are equally as bad.

[George_Bonanza]

6. Go with issues and policies

Go with the candidate whose policies agree most with you.

[dpbrown]

12. Kucinich gets 50% of the Republican vote in his district

He's in his fourth term in the US House, having bested an incumbent Republican to take that seat. Last election, he took 70% of the overall vote in his district.

Before that, he bested an incumbent Republican to become Ohio State Senator.

Before that, he bested an incumbent Republican to become Mayor of Cleveland.

Kucinich has never missed a vote (not to denigrate any other candidate specifically, but feel free to take a look at the missed votes of one of the "frontrunners").

He's laid out his issues clearly, and given a way to achieve them. He's pragmatic and fiscally responsible in pointing out that by making the Pentagon just 15% more efficient and cutting the bloat, we can fund the programs he's proposed.

He's on the side of 8000 doctors who just came out in the Journal of the American Medical Association in favor of universal single payer health coverage, like every other industrialized nation has. He's the only candidate siding with the doctors on this issue.

If you're somehow of the opinion that Kucinich can be painted as a "nutball" despite the fact that you agree with him on virtually every issue, and both the Republicans and the Democrats in his district agree with him more on the issues, and he's beat incumbents because the voters agreed with him more on the issues, then perhaps it's time to give Kucinich another look.

As for me, I'm tired of settling for less.

http://www.kucinich.us

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

13. That's one of the best arguements

I've seen for DK. Excellent!

[JohnKleeb]

14. Yep he can win where others have failed

and he doesnt compromise! This is something that we have mentioned before too some just push it off.

[burr]

15. There will never be a perfect candidate...

this is what we have always sought to defeat the incumbent, a knight in shining armor riding in on a white horse. Unfortunately neither Artorius or his legendary Round Table could ever save us. It is we who will make or break this nation, not our servants in office.

But they will only bend to our will once we show them that we are serious, and are the only force that will give them power. Otherwise they will only give us tokens of their support..while closing off the avenues of competition and free entreprise to those who have great ideas, along with every conceivable patent bought up under the law necessary to make money.

Show me a candidate that will change this and more, and I can show you the perfect nominee.

[diamondsoul]

19. Two words

Dennis Kucinich.

[JohnKleeb]

21. heh they are gonna give you hell

but hes the best in the race.

[Egnever]

24. For you :)

Dean is the best in the race for me.

To each his own

[JohnKleeb]

25. yea for me :)

Because he is much like me on the issues and we have much in common.

[Egnever]

26. funny how that works

Imagine my delight when I found dean saying exactly what I would on so many issues important to me.

[JohnKleeb]

27. good for you

I can identify with Kucinich on things too, we're slavic americans, have heart trouble, try to keep a sense of humor, and much more.

[diamondsoul]

28. Closest thing to a perfect candidate as I've ever seen. :)

And the thing that blows me away is that he doesn't break his promises. Why doesn't that count for more in all this? Why does a man sticking to his word and doing what he promises to do a cause to knock him?!

What a fecked up world, if that's the way things are!

[JohnKleeb]

29. Hes the greatest Ive seen too

Besides he is a sucess.

[Egnever]

30. ummm

"What a fecked up world"

Indeed

Denis gets a pretty good grade from me in the conviction category. I just hapen to think some of the things he has conviction in are way out there.

Awsome candidate though and glad his message is out there.

[diamondsoul]

35. They are way out there. :)

Radical, supposedly. The thing is, though, when I talk to people about their hopes and dreams for the United States and the citizens of this country, they all seem to say pretty much the same things Dennis says. Where's the "out there" in saying what everyone else is thinking?

What's so nutty, radical, loony-left, etc. etc., about standing up and demanding what everyone wants? I don't think I'lll ever understand that.

[cyber_yang_1]

31. Why I renounced Islam and Humanism?

Hello,

Please read the article "Why I renounced Islam and Humanism?" at

http://www.humiliateamerica.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=375



Let me introduce my Self. I am I. I am irreducible, indivisible, irreplaceable and non-transferable Being. There is no one like me in the whole world; physiological, genetically and behaviorally.
I exist in three modes: I, we and me. When I share my unique individuality with equally unique individuals, my Being gets transformed into my social Being. Thus society and its collectivities come into existence. I am a co-determiner of my own individuality and everything made up of “me” including society and collectivities. I am the only concrete reality, minus “me” all other things: institutions, society, religions and ideologies are mere abstractions. I and we are not separate and independent from each other. These are two aspects of the web of social relations mediated by intra and inter personal communication. Non-human factors or actors do not determine and define me. These only limit what I can do and what I cannot do.

However, my greatness, my dignity, my self-respect is not liked by all. The organized religions like Islam, Christianity etc. and absolutist political ideologies like Leninism, Stalinism etc strive to rob me from my "Iness", my individuality, my autonomy, my creativity, my intellect.

[blm]

32. Gore won.

What makes you assume that Kerry will not put up the fight required?