Politics, the good and the bad (not yet ugly)

[theatokos]

I AM SO DISAPPOINTED!!

I just got to work (late, I'm dragging today) and checked the news headlines as I always do. John Edwards is dropping out! I don't get to vote for him Tuesday! What am I going to do?! I figured it would come after Tuesday, because really, he doesn't stand a chance. But I so looked forward to voting for him anyway. And now, my only choice on Tuesday is Obama. And the man has no policy. I might consider voting for McCain, but as an undeclared voter I can't do that in California. It's back to the drawing board.

In good news, Australia is set to apologize to Aborigines, as soon as Kevin Rudd's new administration takes office on Feb. 13. I am so proud of Australia! The new government over there certainly looks set to do new and good things. Hopefully this time next year the people will be saying the same things about the United States.

Update Thanks to erinya who posted links to the candidates voting records on abortion issues, I will NOT be voting for McCain. His record is atrocious. Plus, he's been playing the I'm More Conservative Than You Game lately. I always thought he was above that.

It's Obama or bust. Sigh.

Comments

[mz-seshet.livejournal.com]

I've been dreading Tuesday so much lately that I even thought about NOT voting for the first time EVER! Even with the Bush fiasco, I stuck to my guns and voted my concious when I knew it wasn't supporting a possible win and perhaps even aiding the other side, but for some reason, I've been thinking its so important to support the lesser of two evils this time.
UG!

[makeda55.livejournal.com]

I'm still wondering what to do myself.

If it's only a choice between Clinton & Obama, I lean Obama.

But: Edwards has "suspended", not "ended", his campaign, and has not endorsed either of the two frontrunners. He is clearly holding out for as much influence on the Democratic agenda as he can muster given his financial situation. He's met with both Obama and Clinton about his anti-poverty/economic justice issues. I think he is waiting to see which of them actually does something more than make pleasant mouth noises.

And because the campaign is suspended, Edwards can still accumulate delegates. Specifically, he gets a delegate in every district where he wins 15% of the vote.

So if all the Edwards supporters believe that they now need to choose another candidate, Edwards (and the economically progressive agenda) will in fact have less influence than might otherwise be the case.

That's what I'm grappling with. FYI...

Yes, you can still vote for Edwards!

[makeda55.livejournal.com]

All those absentee ballots already cast for him and all the votes he receives Tuesday still count toward delegates. (I confirmed this with an Actual Democratic Grassroots Leader.)

Yeah...NARAL is right where I would go for unbiased political research

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

Here's the thing...a candidate (or a person like myself) may think that Roe vs Wade should be overturned without thinking abortion should be illegal.

While i don't think thet the US constitution as written protects abortion as a "right"...I do think that State laws and State Constitutions can, and many do. State protections can go farther than Federal, but can't strip away Federal.

That is a VERY Federalist way of looking at the issue...and Old School Republicans hold that view. That is not to be confused with candidates who wish abortion to be outlawed...

Quote from McCain..

STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me ask one question about abortion. Then I want to turn to Iraq. You’re for a constitutional amendment banning abortion, with some exceptions for life and rape and incest.

MCCAIN: Rape, incest and the life of the mother. Yes.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So is President Bush, yet that hasn’t advanced in the six years he’s been in office. What are you going to do to advance a constitutional amendment that President Bush hasn’t done?

MCCAIN: I don’t think a constitutional amendment is probably going to take place, but I do believe that it’s very likely or possible that the Supreme Court should — could overturn Roe v. Wade, which would then return these decisions to the states, which I support.

STEPHANOPOULOS: And you’d be for that?

MCCAIN: Yes, because I’m a federalist. Just as I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states, so do I believe that we would be better off by having Roe v. Wade return to the states. And I don’t believe the Supreme Court should be legislating in the way that they did on Roe v. Wade.

So....while he IS saying if he had the final say he would like abortion only available for rape, incest, prevent death of mother...he is saying he and the Federal Government shouldn't be in charge of the decision...States should be and it should be up to the people in the State, not him, not the Supreme Court, and not Congress.

This issue is hard for me. I think it should go back tot he States, like many issues. So you would think voting Repub would be a no-brainer, right? Kind of. I agree with the legalities of the Repubs, and the sentiment of the Dems.