After watching three debates my biggest response to them is a simple yuck. McCain merely supplies old solutions that no one wants to hear about. Obama has merely proven much more skilled then Palin in bridging (the PR not networking type) by turning questions on the need to cut back to solve the financial crisis into spending manifestos to give just one example. Personal highlight for me was when Obama used the term "Force of Good" vs. McCain’s "Force for Good" (I will have to explain the back story one day).
I am in the midst of deciding who I am going to vote for this year. Seems to be turning into another battle of the less of two evils. I consider myself a moderate independent. For a little perspective here are the USA presidential election results since I have been old enough to go to the polls.
| 1980 | Ronald Reagan Jimmy Carter John B. Anderson |
Republican Democratic Independent |
489 49 0 |
43,899,248 36,481,435 5,719,437 |
George Bush—R Walter F. Mondale—D Patrick J. Lucey—I |
| 1984 | Ronald Reagan Walter F. Mondale |
Republican Democratic |
525 13 |
54,455,075 37,577,185 |
George Bush—R Geraldine A. Ferraro—D |
| 1988 | George H. Bush Michael S. Dukakis |
Republican Democratic |
426 11126 |
48,886,097 41,809,074 |
J. Danforth Quayle—R Lloyd Bentsen—D |
| 1992 | William J. Clinton George H. Bush H. Ross Perot |
Democratic Republican Independent |
370 168 0 |
44,909,889 39,104,545 19,742,267 |
Albert A. Gore, J.—D J. Danforth Quayle—R James B. Stockdale—I |
| 1996 | William J. Clinton Robert J. Dole H. Ross Perot |
Democratic Republican Reform Party27 |
379 159 0 |
47,402,357 39,198,755 8,085,402 |
Albert A. Gore, Jr.—D Jack F. Kemp—R Pat Choate—RP27 |
| 2000 | George W. Bush Albert A. Gore Ralph Nader |
Republican Democratic Green Party |
271 26628 0 |
50,456,002 50,999,897 2,882,955 |
Richard B. Cheney—R Joseph I. Lieberman—D Winona LaDuke—GP |
| 2004 | George W. Bush John F. Kerry |
Republican Democratic |
286 25129 |
62,028,285 59,028,109 |
Richard B. Cheney—R John Edwards—D |
For a little more perspective it may be interesting to see my voting history. So here it goes in a semi sentence. Anderson, Reagan, H. Bush, H. Bush, Dole, W. Bush, Kerry. So five Republicans sandwiched by an Independent and Democrat make up my presidential vote choices over the past 28 years.
In seven days my mind will be made up on who I will vote for in 2008. I would like to think my history shows that it is not the party but the issues that influence me when I go to the polls.
I currently have a lean. One more debate. Then I choose.
In the meantime it would be interesting to see the voting history of FoG readers if any of you care to share.