Voting for Mitt Romney

[rogue06]

The difference in my mind is that Kennedy was obviously, for all intents and purposes, an orthodox Christian. Now he may not have been a practicing Christian (the evidence seems to be against that, retrospectively), but would you be okay with an atheist as head of state with good morals?

Even today a lot of folks say "Catholics and Christians." Back then there was still a good deal of anti-Catholic prejudice around (not as virulent as seen in the 19th and earlier part of the 20th Century by any means, but still there).

[Adrift]

Still mulling, but you have to ask "as opposed to" .... who was the other candidate? And, I know I'm making a huge generalization here, but the Democrats would, IMO, be much more likely to nominate an atheist than Republicans would. Which is odd, because the Democrats, AFAICT, WERE the "God and Country" party years ago.

Well I think we can all agree that the democrats of today are not the democrats of yesteryear, however, it seems to me that finding a "Christian" democrat is part of the political game in order to win votes. I've heard from many friends overseas that our "liberal" choices would be considered middle of the road or conservative in their nations, and that our conservative picks would be far right, but I don't know if this is completely true. It seems to me that some parties in some very liberal nations are far more "right" than most parties in our nation.

That said, what about the libertarian option in this nation? Again, I'm completely naive about politics, so am admittedly out of the loop... Aren't there folks who promote the rights of states views rather than the federal government? How does one feel about a Ron Paul-type presidency?

As a Christian, I feel I'm "left" on some policies and "right" on others and think that liberal and conservative politics are right and wrong in a number of places. If I had to place myself on a political scale I'd consider myself socially conservative, yet probably in every other way liberal. Sometimes I feel like I'm betraying what's expected of me as a Christian in this nation, but it seems to me that there are a number of policies on the "right" that are not exactly Christian. This probably goes a long way towards why I don't vote and why I consider myself a-political. I feel that a lot of the time Christians think that God is an American, and that to vote a certain way is their Christian duty, and this seems wrong headed to me. But I admit that I could be wrong about this either way.

[Adrift]

Even today a lot of folks say "Catholics and Christians." Back then there was still a good deal of anti-Catholic prejudice around (not as virulent as seen in the 19th and earlier part of the 20th Century by any means, but still there).

But even then, Catholics were considered orthodox, no?

[Jedidiah]

The difference in my mind is that Kennedy was obviously, for all intents and purposes, an orthodox Christian. Now he may not have been a practicing Christian (the evidence seems to be against that, retrospectively), but would you be okay with an atheist as head of state with good morals?

There was still a lot of public controversy over Kennedy and the Catholic church. With the question of who I would vote for morals are pretty much irrelevant. I don't know what the morals are of a candidate other than what is in the news. Reducing government interference in every day life as opposed to extending it has a much more meaty impact on my vote.

[KingsGambit]

As a Christian, I feel I'm "left" on some policies and "right" on others and think that liberal and conservative politics are right and wrong in a number of places. If I had to place myself on a political scale I'd consider myself socially conservative, yet probably in every other way liberal. Sometimes I feel like I'm betraying what's expected of me as a Christian in this nation, but it seems to me that there are a number of policies on the "right" that are not exactly Christian. This probably goes a long way towards why I don't vote and why I consider myself a-political. I feel that a lot of the time Christians think that God is an American, and that to vote a certain way is their Christian duty, and this seems wrong headed to me. But I admit that I could be wrong about this either way.

Wow, you put things almost exactly as I would have worded it. Glad I'm not the only one who feels that unease.

I'm not voting for Obama, but I'm not sure that I'll be voting for Romney either. I may just write in Jon Huntsman's name or something (I'll be voting in any event because I still want to vote on the local candidates and the like).

[OtherCheek]

Well I think we can all agree that the democrats of today are not the democrats of yesteryear, however, it seems to me that finding a "Christian" democrat is part of the political game in order to win votes. I've heard from many friends overseas that our "liberal" choices would be considered middle of the road or conservative in their nations, and that our conservative picks would be far right, but I don't know if this is completely true. It seems to me that some parties in some very liberal nations are far more "right" than most parties in our nation.

That said, what about the libertarian option in this nation? Again, I'm completely naive about politics, so am admittedly out of the loop... Aren't there folks who promote the rights of states views rather than the federal government? How does one feel about a Ron Paul-type presidency?

As a Christian, I feel I'm "left" on some policies and "right" on others and think that liberal and conservative politics are right and wrong in a number of places. If I had to place myself on a political scale I'd consider myself socially conservative, yet probably in every other way liberal. Sometimes I feel like I'm betraying what's expected of me as a Christian in this nation, but it seems to me that there are a number of policies on the "right" that are not exactly Christian. This probably goes a long way towards why I don't vote and why I consider myself a-political. I feel that a lot of the time Christians think that God is an American, and that to vote a certain way is their Christian duty, and this seems wrong headed to me. But I admit that I could be wrong about this either way.

Then the other option is to allow others to determine things for you, even down to the local level, and you then you have no right to complain if things aren't to your liking.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." — (Edmund Burke)

[KingsGambit]

Then the other option is to allow others to determine things for you, even down to the local level, and you then you have no right to complain if things aren't to your liking.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." — (Edmund Burke)

The dilemma comes, though, when both candidates espouse positions that you find absolutely intolerable (as is certainly the case for me).

[Cow Poke]

The dilemma comes, though, when both candidates espouse positions that you find absolutely intolerable (as is certainly the case for me).

"Absolutely intolerable"? One of them is not LESS intolerable than the other? And the "positions" -- if you love liver, that's intolerable to me, I can't even stand the smell of liver --- but it's certainly not a reason for me to think you'd be a bad president. Are BOTH candidates "absolutely intolerable" on all issues that are important to you?

[rogue06]

It has been a loooong time since I voted for anybody for president that I liked. It has been the lesser of two evils or a protest vote for several decades.

[Cow Poke]

It has been a loooong time since I voted for anybody for president that I liked. It has been the lesser of two evils or a protest vote for several decades.

Reagan.

[rogue06]

Reagan.

The second time. The first I had my doubts but we had to get Carter outta there. Since then...

[Cow Poke]

The second time. The first I had my doubts but we had to get Carter outta there. Since then...

He came to Texas when he was campaigning the first time - he spoke in Tyler, and I got to shake his hand! He just seemed authentic to me, so I voted for him TWICE! (well, twice each election* )






*not really, I'm not a democrat and I'm still alive

[rogue06]

He came to Texas when he was campaigning the first time - he spoke in Tyler, and I got to shake his hand! He just seemed authentic to me, so I voted for him TWICE! (well, twice each election* )






*not really, I'm not a democrat and I'm still alive

There were some remarks he had made while governor of California that made me have doubts but I still voted for him anywho. A bit of a waste what with living in Georgia which was overwhelmingly Carter country. But the second time I had no trouble voting for him. That was the last time I could say that about a presidential candidate.

[Cow Poke]

There were some remarks he had made while governor of California that made me have doubts but I still voted for him anywho. A bit of a waste what with living in Georgia which was overwhelmingly Carter country. But the second time I had no trouble voting for him. That was the last time I could say that about a presidential candidate.

EGGzackly - Carter was a HUGE disappointment - glad I did NOT vote for him.

[KingsGambit]

"Absolutely intolerable"? One of them is not LESS intolerable than the other? And the "positions" -- if you love liver, that's intolerable to me, I can't even stand the smell of liver --- but it's certainly not a reason for me to think you'd be a bad president. Are BOTH candidates "absolutely intolerable" on all issues that are important to you?

Yes. Obama more so, but several of Romney's stances bother me to the point where I would feel openly uncomfortable casting my ballot in that direction.