Obama for President
First things first. Today I am officially endorsing Barack Obama for President. I have admittedly been strongly leaning toward Obama, and had planned to vote for him, but circumstances have encouraged me to officially give him my endorsement.
The prime reason for my open endorsement is his opposition. None of his opposition can seem to stop lying about him. You cannot imagine the amount of bile and vitriol that has come into my mailbox over this man. Most of it is either wholly irrelevant, or it is wholly made up. Perhaps the most absurd accusation is that Obama is an elitist: an accusation leveled by of all people, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild!!! Eventually, one comes to the conclusion that, if so many evil people are so against him, how bad can he really be, and maybe he's actually good.
Now, y'all cannot be thinking I was ever going to embrace McCain. The poor boy cannot stop lying. He lies about his 13 cars, and how they were all made in America. When a number of them weren't. McCain rejected the view that the United States was in decline as the country faces economic turmoil. He says American workers are "the backbone and the foundation of our economy," while simultaneously supporting every policy from trade to immigration that stomps all over said workers.
Just the fact that Obama realizes there is a problem with the economy is better than the alternative. I mean, come on. If your house is on fire, which team are you gonna call? The team that sees that there is a problem, even though you're not sure of their experience and training? Or the team that shows up and declares, "Well, your house is very beautiful and it has a sound foundation. Why are you whining about a little thing like a theoretical fire? We're not even sure there IS a fire." Well... who would YOU call?
The Palin question
The prime reason for my open endorsement is his opposition. None of his opposition can seem to stop lying about him. You cannot imagine the amount of bile and vitriol that has come into my mailbox over this man. Most of it is either wholly irrelevant, or it is wholly made up. Perhaps the most absurd accusation is that Obama is an elitist: an accusation leveled by of all people, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild!!! Eventually, one comes to the conclusion that, if so many evil people are so against him, how bad can he really be, and maybe he's actually good.
Now, y'all cannot be thinking I was ever going to embrace McCain. The poor boy cannot stop lying. He lies about his 13 cars, and how they were all made in America. When a number of them weren't. McCain rejected the view that the United States was in decline as the country faces economic turmoil. He says American workers are "the backbone and the foundation of our economy," while simultaneously supporting every policy from trade to immigration that stomps all over said workers.
Just the fact that Obama realizes there is a problem with the economy is better than the alternative. I mean, come on. If your house is on fire, which team are you gonna call? The team that sees that there is a problem, even though you're not sure of their experience and training? Or the team that shows up and declares, "Well, your house is very beautiful and it has a sound foundation. Why are you whining about a little thing like a theoretical fire? We're not even sure there IS a fire." Well... who would YOU call?
The Palin question
By the way, most of you know (and some of you hate) that I am somewhat politically libertarian. I also walked around with the Ross Perot crowd, even though I never registered in their party. There is an underground rumor that Palin is a. a reformer, and b. a libertarian. Let me set the record straight. I've investigated this thoroughly. NOTHING could be further from the truth. No fiscal libertarian would chase all the pork she chased, and no fiscal libertarian would increase the size of the state budget the way she did. Her "reform" seems to have consisted of replacing the old Republican good old boys with her own "Good New Boys". Experience is NOT my objection with Palin. It is that she is a complete and utter fraud, running on a ticket with another complete and utter fraud. I'm not saying she's the worst person in the Republican Party, but there is nothing terribly distinguishingly "maverick" about her.
I try to put several figures in her place. I put ME in there for instance. If I were Governor of Arizona, I cannot imagine doing what she did and governing how she governed. I put in Ron Paul, who is perhaps the most renown small "l" libertarian... can't imagine Paul would govern as she did. I can't imagine Jesse Ventura, who ran as a reformer, governing as she has. I sure as hell can't imagine Ross the Boss running Alaska her way.
So if any idiot comes to you trying to palm off Palin and McCain as either libertarians or reformers, please, please, please, put them in touch with me. I just don't see any evidence of it. As they say in the south, "that dog just won't hunt". To the Obama critics, I tell them, sure, I could be being fooled, and might even be a little skeptical. BUT. With McCain-Palin, I'm not fooled at all, I know exactly what's coming, and I want "no fracking part of it" as a good friend of mine would say. Even Ron Paul would seemingly prefer you vote for Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney than vote for McCain-Palin, that's how bad HE thinks they are.
Also, Palin's religion DOES concern me. I am concerned she is a Dominionist. If you don't what that is, look it up. I had the same reservations with Mike Huckabee. I don't want to live in a theocracy. If I did, I'd move to Iran. I'm somewhat convinced that if they are elected, Palin's handlers will have McCain shot. Should happen about March or April 2009, just like Poppy Bush and Reagan.
Third Parties
Yeah, I know some of you are thinking I should vote third party. And you know what... when a serious third party candidate comes up that agrees with me enough AND demonstrates he or she has a chance in hell of winning 20% of the vote, I probably will go for them, like I voted for Perot twice.
I belonged to a group called the Revolutionary Coalition. The aim of the Revco was to get the third parties united into a single "Super Third Party" so they would indeed have that chance. The intent was also to boycott all the third parties and not vote for them until they did that. Well, the third parties pissed on that concept. So I piss on them. Come back when you're serious, boys, because right now, you ain't.
Back to Obama
But back to Obama. One thing I like about Obama is his management style, desiring to bring all parties to the table in a consensus, as opposed to the McCain "temper tantrum" one gets when he or she defies the little admiral. Because of this, I don't feel I HAVE to agree with Obama on everything: I will still be able to get a seat at the table and my voice heard. It's very important for people with libertarian beliefs. As opposed to McCain, whose people all but shit on the libertarian wing of the GOP.
Could I regret helping to elect Obama? Sure. But two things. One, he is a damn sight better than Kerry, whom I voted for with a bag over my head, and he is a damn sight better than Hillary Clinton. And two, I do not anticipate that I will regret voting against a McCain presidency, regardless of what happens under Obama.
Even Ron Paul would seemingly prefer you vote for Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney than vote for McCain-Palin, that's how bad HE thinks they are. Also, Palin's religion DOES concern me. I am concerned she is a Dominionist. If you don't what that is, look it up. I had the same reservations with Mike Huckabee. I don't want to live in a theocracy. If I did, I'd move to Iran. I'm somewhat convinced that if they are elected, Palin's handlers will have McCain shot. Should happen about March or April 2009, just like Poppy Bush and Reagan.
Third Parties
Yeah, I know some of you are thinking I should vote third party. And you know what... when a serious third party candidate comes up that agrees with me enough AND demonstrates he or she has a chance in hell of winning 20% of the vote, I probably will go for them, like I voted for Perot twice.
I belonged to a group called the Revolutionary Coalition. The aim of the Revco was to get the third parties united into a single "Super Third Party" so they would indeed have that chance. The intent was also to boycott all the third parties and not vote for them until they did that. Well, the third parties pissed on that concept. So I piss on them. Come back when you're serious, boys, because right now, you ain't.
Back to Obama
But back to Obama. One thing I like about Obama is his management style, desiring to bring all parties to the table in a consensus, as opposed to the McCain "temper tantrum" one gets when he or she defies the little admiral. Because of this, I don't feel I HAVE to agree with Obama on everything: I will still be able to get a seat at the table and my voice heard. It's very important for people with libertarian beliefs. As opposed to McCain, whose people all but shit on the libertarian wing of the GOP.
Could I regret helping to elect Obama? Sure. But two things. One, he is a damn sight better than Kerry, whom I voted for with a bag over my head, and he is a damn sight better than Hillary Clinton. And two, I do not anticipate that I will regret voting against a McCain presidency, regardless of what happens under Obama.
I'm not sure how a supposed "Libertarian" could support a socialist candidate without any apology.
As for your take on "third parties", there are many of them because there are many ideas out there which are better than any offered by the Republican and Democratic wings of the Big Government Party. We don't need a watered down Libertarian platform in order to become important politically. We need two things. One of them, that government continue to be incompetent to run our lives better than we could, is a given. We have thousands of years of proof. The other is for those who believe in Liberty to make the effort. That remains to be seen. I hope you will reconsider your decision to work for the enemies of Liberty, rather than for it's friends.
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Now, to quote Ronald Reagan, "There you go again".
I mean with the labeling.
Look, let's get to brass tacks here. When the so-called "Friends of Liberty" want to seriously take down this government with a Peoples' Revolution and with the requisite hanging of the bad guys, I am RIGHT THERE.
However, until such day as the "Friends of Liberty" decide that they are uncomfortable enough with the status quo, we are left with working the system. I have either two choices, to participate or not. I have decided TO participate, and have essentially decided to ally with, what I believe, is the best of a bad set of choices.
And yes, the third parties are a bad set of choices. Why? Because they are about raising money for their fundraisers and flapping their lips about something or another wrong with the system, but are never serious about winning elections. The Libertarian Party sold me that they were part of the problem in 1996 when I ran for Congress as THEIR nominee, and was all but run out of dodge for trying to get the party to focus on winning elections. You all can bitch and whine about the Demo-Publican Party, but unless you are willing to craft an opposition to them, and so far, you aren't, it really doesn't matter, now, does it?
And let me clarify what I mean by being a libertarian. I am a practical libertarian. I am not an ideologue. Being a libertarian does not mean I oppose socialism. Because there will always be certain, what I would call, "tribalist" responsibilities which are most logically fulfilled by The People organizing a "government" of some type. What I believe in, and what I promote, is the right and the ability of whomever does not want to participate in a socialist system to not participate in it. It doesn't require that I advocate the destruction of any socialist system, regardless of how beneficial it may be.
That being said, I am more than happy to work for the "Friends of Liberty" when said "Friends" decide that they are going to actually work for Liberty instead of flapping their lips.
Of the two candidates running who actually have a chance to be elected and are actually trying to become elected, Obama is much more open to libertarian ideas than John McCain is. McCain and his allies proved that with the way they treated the Paulites in Minnesota. Now, I am not deceived into thinking Obama IS a libertarian... far from it. But he certainly is more approachable to the ideas of Liberty, and it is SIGNIFICANTLY so in comparison to McCain and Palin.
So if you are going to wave that magic word "socialist" around as if it were some magic incantation or something designed to scare me... look, the one real "socialist" in the Congress, namely Bernie Saunders, has a better rating on Liberty AND on Paleo-Conservative issues than the Democrats as a whole do. Saunders is closer to our politics than McCain and Palin are.
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Good for you Liz!
Lots of things we have disagreed on over the years ......had hoped THIS would not be another!
I had expected and had HOPED that Hillary was going to be our front runner with Obama as VP. I never wanted her to accept the VP slot tho. I feel she will be much more valuable to us in other positioning.
I was proud of Obama today when he said we must ALL work together and drew his line in the sand by listing EVERYONE!
Good for him!
Obama/Biden 2008
APE
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Wow. What a punch to the gut.
I thought it was a spoof.
What happened to the respectable Liz Michael of the late '90's that stood for freedom, the constitution, restore the republic, etc, etc. ?
Do you think you will get that from Obama?
I used to believe you were genuine.
Voting for someone who does not represent your views in place of someone who does represent your views is the ultimate wasted vote in my opinion.
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There is nobody running anymore who represents my views, really.
My personal opinion is, that freedom, the constitution, and restoration of the republic will not happen through the electoral process, but will only happen when patriots engage a revolution, violent or otherwise. Like I said, when patriots want to get together and DO that, y'all let me know. But I cannot lead a "Revolution Of One". That doesn't work. I have not changed at all. But in the last 8 years of Bush, you all sure have changed.
Don't think I will not criticize Obama once he is elected.
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Are you endorsing Soetoro to bring on a revolution. Identifying him as a socialist is not "labeling". It is a description of his policies and how he sees this country. He certainly is anti Second Amendment and that is good enough for me. Don't go thinking that I am a fan of McCain but I don't view MCCain as a dangerous person the way I view Obama. The problem with this election is that many Obama suporters are running him against Bush. As Bush can't run again this is a funny view of things but whatever gets one going in the morning is ok with me.
Most of the lies and smearing are being done by the Obama supporters. In fact, my wife and her parents, lifelong Democrats and union folk, will not vote for him. Her parents, who haven't voted in the past three elections will vote against Obama because of his views and the actions of the Democrats.
Sorry, if you are really interested in freedom, the Constitution and restoration of the republic you cannot supprot Obama. He is the antihesis of all three.
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The 1992 Presidential Debates with Ross Perot were not dull. His warnings have now come true. Replace John McCain with Ron Paul. Add Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney. Barack Obama must earn his victory, not win by default.
Washington University '81
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I'm confused, you have a donate to Obama link on your website but your are pro-gun?? I can only surmise that when you put the link on your blog an evil force had overtaken you. You are one person who DESPERATELY needs to do some research. May I suggest www.nra-ila.org?
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Yes, I suppose an evil force did overtake me. His name is John McCain. McCain, in terms of gun legislation actually likely to come to the floor, is as bad as Obama, and on the rest of the Constitution, Obama is actually better. Or does the McCain-Feingold bill ring any bells?
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It is always easier to say I'll vote third party when they are with me enough to warrant my vote. Typical cop out for people that don't have a backbone. Someone who is principled wouldn't be voting for Obama nor would they be endorsing his candidacy, the same can be said with McCain
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That was an inspiring post,
I was an avid supporter of Obama from across the seas... he managed to gain interest from people who would usually not care about politics...
Anyway, thanks for the post
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