Cause we need more long, drawn out, heated threads! :-)

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:23 pm

Obama or McCain?
...or are you gonna sit this one out?

I think I may be in the latter group.

Zakk Daniels · Post by **Zakk Daniels** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:29 pm

McCain

highpriestess · Post by **highpriestess** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:32 pm

McCain.

By the way i actually LIKE Palin and thats what did it for me, i was going to sit this one out until they threw her into the mix.

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:49 pm

Obama.

Oh yeah, im not actualy american...

Rob

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:15 pm

It seems like most non Americans are pulling for Obama.

therhoadlesstraveled · Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:31 pm

mc cain. he actually stands up for what he believes unlike most others. he's gone against his own party numerous times and voted against the republicans because of his beliefs. i've been dying to see that in a leader.

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:32 pm

NicDots wrote:It seems like most non Americans are pulling for Obama.

if im being honest i think they're both kinda crap. but i think fundamentaly a democrat government could help ballance things out both nationaly and internationaly at the moment.

but yeah, Obama seems to have a lot of support in the UK, i dont really know why, although i could hazard a guess...

Rob

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:14 pm

I think they're both crap too and I am considering not voting. I cannot BELIEVE that this is the best that America can do.
What is your guess Rob? I'd like to know why countries outside of the US always always always side with Democratic party leaders.

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:20 pm

NicDots wrote:I think they're both crap too and I am considering not voting. I cannot BELIEVE that this is the best that America can do.
What is your guess Rob? I'd like to know why countries outside of the US always always always side with Democratic party leaders.

not meaning to be disrespectfull but i do find the US election process quite ridicoulous.

but look on the bright side, behind the firework displays, million dollar smiles and heartfelt speeches is a team of intelligent lads and ladies who can probably actualy do a pretty good job of running the country.

anyway the answer your question;

in the case of obama, media coverage is a definite factor, our media focuss little on the real policies the candidates have, unless we actualy put some effort in to find out ourselves the prevailing message is;

Obama; stands for change wants to make things right.
McCain; he's the other guy

based on that who would you choose? LOL
In british politics at the moment the trend is for younger and younger leaders, this has been the focus ever since Tony Blair kicked the torries around, that same enfusiasm probably spreads into our view of world politics.

as for the democrats themselves over the years, thats harder to answer.
money is probably a big factor. the democrats are generaly better at handling the economy, for instance Roosevelt governed the recovery from the wall street crash, while Hoover failed badly, more recently compare Clintons terms to those of Bush. A strong US economy matters a lot to us wee europeans! also they have (on balance of my knowledge) a far less aggresive foreign policy where economics are concerned, less selfish perhaps, although this is highly debatable.

we've had perceivably better relations with Democrat presidents as well.

In britain you could argue the right wing are largely popular when we are at war, and less so when we are at peace. it seems a weak argument but there is a level of logic too it.

Winston Churchill; hugely popular untill after the war, when he got voted out, (largely on economic issues)
Margaret Thatcher; remembered favourably for winning back the falklands islands off the argentines.

these issues may explain why we brits tend to side with democrats anyway.

Rob

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:16 am

rice_pudding wrote:
NicDots wrote:I think they're both crap too and I am considering not voting. I cannot BELIEVE that this is the best that America can do.
What is your guess Rob? I'd like to know why countries outside of the US always always always side with Democratic party leaders.
not meaning to be disrespectfull but i do find the US election process quite ridicoulous.

No offense taken! It is very ridiculous.

therhoadlesstraveled · Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:24 am

the us is ridiculous, i want to move to germany

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:17 am

Germany is pretty ridiculous too. *nods* I don't like Angela Mertyl much.

highpriestess · Post by **highpriestess** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:35 am

my best friend grew up in Germany and she says she would never live there again. *shrugs* i can't say because I have never been there.

as for the election process... yeah it's pretty ridiculous. what i can't stand the most is people who vote one way or another simply because it's either dem or rep... and they do not take time to really do any kind of research on the candidates nor consider which office they are running for in combinations with what each candidates strength or weakness or particular stance on a topic may be... they just vote one way all the way across the board. Sheeple.

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:00 am

Sheepie indeed.

My mom gets really huffy when I say I hate politics and won't vote. She says if I feel like that, I should go to Cuba (which I think is SUCH a cop out thing to say).
I also don't like it when people say "If you don't vote, don't complain." So does that mean that whoever you vote for should have your support 100% of the time, no matter what shit river he takes us down?

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:41 am

NicDots wrote:I think they're both crap too and I am considering not voting. I cannot BELIEVE that this is the best that America can do.

These two actually aren't any worse than anyone who's been elected in my lifetime (Nixon, Carter, Reagen, Bush, Clinton, Bush), This country has a habit of not putting it's best foot forward in election years.

The first candidate in any election who spends their time talking about their own good points without dwelling on their opponents bad points is the person I want to vote for. I think it's sad that our politicians would rather convince you to not vote for the other guy rather than convince you to vote for them.

My vote is for President Ted!