Bluedog, me as well. I had originally, some time back, intended to vote for Obama for all the reasons Gen lays out, but I've come to the realization that I just, personally, cannot do it. So Barr's gonna get my vote. This is the first time I've ever voted anything but Republican myself.

Bob Barr here kids- message is on point. Maybe the Repub "strategists" will look at the Barr / Libertarian platform and figure out what they need to do in 2012 to get back in the White House. As far as punishing the Republicans they are going to be punished enough afetr this is election is over.however just maybe they dont *really* want to win this election.
For me voting your conscience and principles is more important than a revenge vote. If you see enough Barr votes the message is louder than an Obama vote as it looks like he has the election in the bag.

I have voted Republican forever, and I have finally had it. The Republican Party hasn't given me anything to vote FOR since Reagan left office.

There is no way I can vote for McCain. No way. Each time he reaches across the aisle (as with every Republican) Republican values never seem to make the trip with the hand. It's always Republican values that are being compromised.

Hate to break the news to you, but Socialism has gone rampant with Bush II.

I have had enough. Period. My bet now has to be that with a vote for Obama and a filibuster-proof Dem Congressional majority, is that the Dems overplay their hand and someone, ANYONE, on the side of liberty and free markets will organize the Republicans and make major strides in the House in 2010.

that would be obama... lots of evidence that his view is to "spread the wealth" around. Did you listen to his NPR interview and his view on where he believed the civil rights movement failed? If not I recommend listening to it very carefully.

And Genesis, I didn't vote Republican last election (though I did vote for Bush in 2000). I voted Green party last cycle (and I voted for obama for the senate, LOL. Not this time though).

Well, here's a question for voters for any candidate: do you think we'll actually make it to 2010 without defaulting on the debt or imploding economically in some other, yet undefined way?

That's it Mezz.

Either Obama does the right thing or the Democrats will get blown to bits in '10 and be gone by '12. Have a look at the electoral shift during the origination of the Depression.

It was a 100% reversal.

This won't be anywhere near that cataclysmic - this time. But if Obama really tries to run "Socialism Marx Style" he will not only be a one-termer but in '10 there won't be a Democrat left in the House.

So if he wants to GOVERN he is going to have to do the right thing, or destroy his party.

He is many things but stupid isn't one of them.

I thus must assume he knows this.

I have been somewhat bemused in recent years regarding the concept of dems spending irresponsibly, and repub fiscal conservatism.

Anyone have any comments regarding the data shown in the links below?

http://www.heritage.org/research/feature....

http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/usdeb....

For a quick and cartoonish version of just the debt numbers:
http://www.lafn.org/gvdc/Natl_Debt_Chart....

I listened to the NPR interview, I heard the "spread the wealth" comment. It doesn't answer my question. Which of Obama's stated policies, is Socialistic? Can you name a few?

The best anecdote about Obama is my 6 year old daughter. She asked who I was voting for, and I deferred. She said she thought Obama was cool ROFLMAO The cult of personality. A 1st grader would vote for him. Why? He seems cool.

Multiply the same phenemonon across millions. Remember what Mark Twain said:

When it comes to religion and politics, most men's opinions are gained secondhand and without examination.

Nothing has changed regarding that quote.

I'm voting AGAINST the Republican Party when I cast my vote for Obama.

Say what you will regarding Democrats but they are what they are, and not ashamed of it. Republicans on the other hand have become the party of the floor flushing phonies: say one thing do another ad nauseum.

They left me, not I them. I have no qualms whatsoever about pulling the proverbial lever for Barack tomorrow. Unless I get back the Republican Party of Reagan, I'll never vote for one on the national level again (I probably won't vote for a Democrat again either).

ps, I'll probably be working with Joe Sobran and the Constitution Party from here on out.

Jcraig, how about eliminating taxes on SS for seniors making < 50K per year and raising the income cap on SS taxes for those still working?

How about his proposal for 'free' college for everyone?

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This is the first time in my history of voting that I am 100% disgusted with both parties.

Not me. There was also 2004, 2000, 1996, 1992, and 1988.

There is a good chance I wouldn't bother to vote tomorrow except for the fact that I want to do my part to throw Mitch McConnell out.

Gen I hope all the repubs in office who got spammed today with your ticker are looking at these comments...

18,000 reads on The Ticker today - so far - including several hits from the House of Representatives.

It's really clear this was a very difficult decision for you to make, KD. For what it's worth (not much), I appreciate your willingness to explain your decision. Honesty is a scarce and precious commodity these days.

I'm more or less a "blue dog" Democrat (for lack of a better description), and at this point I don't believe Obama will do the right thing. (I would love to be proven wrong.) And it will be the end of the Democratic Party. Won't break my heart - they haven't had much of value since J.F.K.

All of that aside, Republicans who are not socialists will have 4 years to recoup and regroup. I could support that, depending on what the priorities turn out to be. Do you think there's any hope in being able to push party reform? I can't help but wonder if both major parties aren't hopelessly ruined. I'm pretty much convinced that the Dems are - I know more about them and very little about the Repubs. What do you think?

He has promised to raise taxes on people and businesses making over 250k per year to pay for his programs. Here are a couple of excerpts from his site:

Quote:

Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.

He wants to force business to pay more in taxes and then force private businesses into bad business decisions. There is a reason why insurance companies don't insure pre-existing conditions... government shouldn't dictate their business model... especially one that will fail.

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Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors

again, the premiums they charge for the insurance is based on risk management procedures of the business... it shouldn't be GOVERNMENT MANDATED.

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Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.

it's a zero sum game, it has to be paid somewhere. Is he saying the government will cover part of the cost? If so, where is the money going to come from? taxpayers?

I read through his whole platform and it reads like a giant populist argument. You can't keep penalizing businesses and expect to keep jobs here. They'll protect profit margins by downsizing and/or raising the cost of goods and services. If the job market tips I think you'll all get to see this endgame that Karl has been talking about for the last year... because cash flow is keeping most of this afloat right now (barely)... and the last time I checked, poor people aren't hiring.

I've never been so depressed about an election before... ugh (maybe that's because I'm paying more attention this time).

EDIT: In case it wasn't clear, the point here is that obama wants to force higher taxes on business, force the same business to make bad decisions (which ultimately will hurt their bottom line) so that he can give freebies in healthcare to "the middle class" (my wife and I are still trying to determine just what the middle class actually is). Those ideas are socialist redistribution. It doesn't work.

I'm voting for Bob Barr on the Libertarian ticket.

I read where they stand on the issues and they are closer in line to my way of thinking. http://www.lp.org/

I just can't bring myself to vote for Obama or McCain.

I just can't do it.

I voted for Obama in the Ind. primary last May, primarily to stop the Hildabeast. But I still haven't decided whether Obama or McCain for tomorrow. Neither one of them deserves my vote. (And I'm someone who's advised people to vote their conscience, rather than submit to group think). In any normal election season McCain would most closely represent my views, but as Karl pointed out, I sure don't want to watch the banksters skate away scot free and have their debts piled on the taxpayers.

None of those policies are Socialism, so stop referring to them as such. If a progressive tax system is Socialism, we have been red-flag Commies for a long time.

I'm not suggesting I support Obama nor McCain, but I'm pretty sick of the petty bull**** being thrown around daily by the McCain campaign. The reason McCain is losing this go-around is because he would rather smear his opponent than talk about the issues.

Every time I look at the news, its another McCain/Palin smear making absurd connections or taking statements completely out of context to make him appear as DASTARDLY as possible. It's ridiculous. The American public is making it pretty clear they are sick of it too, if you look at the polls.

Stick with policy or get the hell out.

I'm voting for the Constitution party principally as a*****ed off Republican who hates having McCain as the flag bearer for the 'conservative' party. If McCain's the best they can muster, they need a giant enema. I've yet to hear "fiscally conservative" and "smaller government" uttered over the past two years of wasted oxygen they call a campaign. I'm fed up with the entire process.

Jinx, taxes are going up.

Don't like that? Ok, tell me which entitlement programs you're going to cut, and by how much.

Which President just had his Treasury Secretary issue FIVE HUNDRED BILLION of excess Treasuries (10x previous year) for the 4th Quarter refunding announcement so they could play "handout to Wall Street bonus pools". Was that a Democrat? TEN TIMES last year's 4Q refunding requirements. TEN TIMES. News just out today.

Look, I'm all for fiscal responsibility. I voted for it - twice - in 2000 and 04. Did I get it? **** no. I got fiscal outrage starting with Medicare Part D.

If I'm going to get butt****ed I would like to be told first so I can lube up and assume the position.

It hurts less this way in that I can try to figure out how to mitigate the damage up front, and there ARE ways to do so.

Jcraig:

Re gun control: Past Obama statements have indicated the following:

He wants to renew the AWB
He supported the proposed Illinois handgun ban
He says he supports the 2nd amendment but also says he supports local gun bans (what a load – you can’t support both, they are mutually exclusive).
He supports the banning of all sales and transfers of semiautomatic guns, with no exceptions for hunting gear (1998 statement).
He is in favor of banning legal concealed carry.

In other words, on Planet Obama only the criminals will be well armed and carrying concealed.

What part of “shall not be infringed” does he not ****ing get?

Re my perception of him as a banana republic dictator:

Google Rezko.
Google Ayers
Google his statements about a national security force
Google his redistributionist tax policies.
Google his 20 year association with Reverend Wright.
Google what the Chicago political machine is like.

NONE of these paint a picture of a stand-up guy who deserves to be President and the de facto leader of the supposed FREE WORLD. They all paint a picture of a socialist cronyist political opportunist with delusions of grandeur and control.
Think Chavez.

No way.

I will probably vote for Barr, if for no other reason than refusal to vote for anyone who supported the bailout. I live in a solidly red state so a vote for either Obama or McCain would likely make no difference to the outcome. If I were in a state where the numbers were closer I'd make a different choice. (Neither candidate can solve our biggest problem, but strictly from the standpoint of international goodwill I would probably stray from my fiscal conservative leanings and pick Obama, hoping he would not decide to raid my gun safe.)

Why oh why is it that we rational anarchists can never seem to organize a viable party?

Well, Jcraig, if you can't see it for what it really is then I can't help you. Oh, and stop the BS, you're obviously an obama supporter... which is fine, but don't live in denial. Embrace your socialist candidate. At least I'll be able to say I didn't vote for this trainwreck.

12-15% unemployment will make him a one term POTUS... and that's where we're headed. I just hope I'm not in that 12-15%.

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He is in favor of banning legal concealed carry.

When they pry my gun from my cold, dead hands.

Jeezus, I didn't know he was THAT radical.