I Want To Vote Conservative...I Really Do

[Guest]

I'm not way over on the right edge on all issues. I've said that before. I lean more towards the Tea Party on fiscal issues, although I think their efforts to get from point A to point B too quickly could be disastrous for the country. But which of the current GOP candidates come closest to my beliefs? They're all critical of President Obama, with some justification. But what do they propose that's better? They all pander to voters with proposals of tax cuts. Not one has proposed to cut the entitlement programs so popular with voters, at least not with any specificity. They're all critical of the inability of Congress to cut spending and begin to balance the budget. But any clear-thinking person can see that the GOP was in control when most of the deficits and national debt was created. Now, even with the failure of Congress and the super committee to arrive at any fiscal proposals, the senator often mentioned as a VP candidate has said he'd lead the effort to overturn the formulaic cuts to the defense budget, with no concern over the deficit increases that would result. Not one of the candidates wrestling to demonstrate which is more fiscally conservative than the next has demonstrated--to me at least--that they've done the arithmetic which is necessary to underly a comprehensive fiscal plan for the country.

I've said I lean left on social issues. All of the GOP candidates are a long way from where I am on major social issues. With the backdrop of the sadly inadequate competitive performance of American kids on standardized tests, one candidate wants to simply eliminate both federal and state departments administering the education programs of U.S. kids. The other candidates are silent on the issue.

All the GOP candidates have pledged to eliminate the legislation they critically call ObamaCare. But none of them have any meaningful proposals on how to reverse the trends of dramatically increasing healthcare costs and declining quality of healthcare results. Oh, I'm sorry--they all say that the private sector can solve the problem. But wasn't it that same private sector that got us into this healthcare conundrum?

The candidates are all bitterly critical of President Obama's foreign policy, most recently with regard to Iran and Israel. They all say we must support Israel more aggressively. What does that mean? Are they suggesting that the U.S. mounts an unprovoked attack on Iran? That we start another war? That the president do so without any kind of national debate? None has cited specific actions they would take if they were POTUS. And in fact, the last unsuccessful GOP candidate for president is openly proposing that we attack yet another Middle Eastern country, presumably without Congressional debate or approval. It appears to me that the country was extremely fortunate to have escaped the election of this narrow-minded senator.

All the GOP candidates have been critical of the current administration's immigration policies. "Amnesty" is the bitter criticism leveled at Obama's policies. But none of the GOP candidates except Newt Gingrich has presented any alternative approaches.

Most recently, not a single GOP candidate would say what most people believe about the disgusting statements made by a conservative radio entertainer. In fact, some of the candidates have defended the vile statements made and tried to politicize a patently disgusting set of public statements.

I don't really expect to discover a conservative candidate that will completely embrace all my beliefs. I'd be happy if any of them embraced at least most of what I believe. But I must admit that I'm having trouble finding even one of them that represents even close to most of my beliefs.

I'm struggling to discover a conservative candidate, most of whose policies and promises I can embrace. I really don't want to vote for the incumbent president. But I'm really having problems finding one I can enthusiastically support.

Am I alone?

[Guest]

I have always wondered where you really land in the overall political landscape. Not because you are not clear about what you think about things but rather sometimes you seem to argue both sides of the argument.
I have a very close friend that does the same thing. He always seems to find the "other side" of the argument just to keep it going.

What I wonder is what do you see happening if you just can't help yourself and vote for Obama.
Your post almost seems like a threat. I don't see how you can be for Obama because you can't find the perfect GOP candidate.
To me it is like putting all your money on red, closing your eyes and spinning the wheel and hoping you where right and it will all tun out right.
I have never felt that if I can't find a candidate in the GOP that floats my boat I would have to vote for Obama.

[Guest]

notlongnow ~ Many posts on this forum have said that we must all vote for whoever runs against OBAMA. Hoping that all those who say this will still have the presence of mind to do just that, in spite of the fact that the GOP candidate may not be perfect...

[Guest]

If you will recall, the cons were critical of Obama for killing Bin Laden last May. They said it was a big mistake to kill Bin laden, because that will make Al Queada very angry and they will commit more terrorist acts against us.

Never mind, that when Junior was POTUS (or rather was pretending to be POTUS) the main goal of the war on terror was killing Bin laden. But, when it was a Democart POTUS who got him, then it was a bit mistake ......

[Guest]

Boy, you really have hung your hat on this one thing that Obama did that was a continuation of the Bush admin.

It seems like no matter the subject you bring this one thing up.
If Obama was president in the previous years instead of Bush, I believe Osama would still be alive today.

To me it is kind of like you are on a team that won the big game but you sat on the bench the whole game.
But then you tell everybody that you scored the winning point.
I am glad he had the B$$Ls to keep those policies in place and the seals got him!

[Guest]

Rick Santorum's proposals can be found on his website.

[Guest]

I'm going to state right here that I didn't read one word of your opening post.

The title tells me all I have to know.

"I want to vote conservative......I really do"

I know there no way on God's green earth that you can get anywhere near fulfilling that wish by voting for Obama.

So the closest you're going to come to that is to vote for the eventual Republican candidate.

Any other action doesn't make any sense. IMHCO

[Guest]

Villages Kahuna, you are not alone. I am a republican, but I do not like any of the candidates on the Republican slate. I too am fiscally conservative, but socially more liberal. My voting decision is based on the direction I think the country is going in. I presently think it is going in the wrong direction. I do not want more of the same, nor do I want the country to decline further. Therefore, I will vote for any Republican who wins the nomination. I've concluded the decision is that simple.

[Guest]

My entire life I've voted Republican or Libertarian in the national elections (or for the most reasonable Democrat challenger in a primary since it's so important in NH).

Obama was the first Democrat that I voted for the White House. Not because I supported Obama, I didn't. It was because I genuinely believed that McCain would be worse - and I voted for McCain against Bush when he was in the primaries years earlier.

Romney? I see lots of complaining and not a lot of solutions that aren't "just trust the corporations".

Santorum? Maybe for Ayatollah. He's come out and said religion belongs intertwined in government.

I voted for Ron Paul in the primary and, heck, I may end up voting for him in the general. It wouldn't be my first time.

[Guest]

My entire life I've voted Republican or Libertarian in the national elections (or for the most reasonable Democrat challenger in a primary since it's so important in NH).

Obama was the first Democrat that I voted for the White House. Not because I supported Obama, I didn't. It was because I genuinely believed that McCain would be worse - and I voted for McCain against Bush when he was in the primaries years earlier.

Romney? I see lots of complaining and not a lot of solutions that aren't "just trust the corporations".

Santorum? Maybe for Ayatollah. He's come out and said religion belongs intertwined in government.

I voted for Ron Paul in the primary and, heck, I may end up voting for him in the general. It wouldn't be my first time.


I did the same as bold type above.

[Guest]

I'm not way over on the right edge on all issues. I've said that before. I lean more towards the Tea Party on fiscal issues, although I think their efforts to get from point A to point B too quickly could be disastrous for the country. But which of the current GOP candidates come closest to my beliefs? They're all critical of President Obama, with some justification. But what do they propose that's better? They all pander to voters with proposals of tax cuts. Not one has proposed to cut the entitlement programs so popular with voters, at least not with any specificity. They're all critical of the inability of Congress to cut spending and begin to balance the budget. But any clear-thinking person can see that the GOP was in control when most of the deficits and national debt was created. Now, even with the failure of Congress and the super committee to arrive at any fiscal proposals, the senator often mentioned as a VP candidate has said he'd lead the effort to overturn the formulaic cuts to the defense budget, with no concern over the deficit increases that would result. Not one of the candidates wrestling to demonstrate which is more fiscally conservative than the next has demonstrated--to me at least--that they've done the arithmetic which is necessary to underly a comprehensive fiscal plan for the country.

I've said I lean left on social issues. All of the GOP candidates are a long way from where I am on major social issues. With the backdrop of the sadly inadequate competitive performance of American kids on standardized tests, one candidate wants to simply eliminate both federal and state departments administering the education programs of U.S. kids. The other candidates are silent on the issue.

All the GOP candidates have pledged to eliminate the legislation they critically call ObamaCare. But none of them have any meaningful proposals on how to reverse the trends of dramatically increasing healthcare costs and declining quality of healthcare results. Oh, I'm sorry--they all say that the private sector can solve the problem. But wasn't it that same private sector that got us into this healthcare conundrum?

The candidates are all bitterly critical of President Obama's foreign policy, most recently with regard to Iran and Israel. They all say we must support Israel more aggressively. What does that mean? Are they suggesting that the U.S. mounts an unprovoked attack on Iran? That we start another war? That the president do so without any kind of national debate? None has cited specific actions they would take if they were POTUS. And in fact, the last unsuccessful GOP candidate for president is openly proposing that we attack yet another Middle Eastern country, presumably without Congressional debate or approval. It appears to me that the country was extremely fortunate to have escaped the election of this narrow-minded senator.

All the GOP candidates have been critical of the current administration's immigration policies. "Amnesty" is the bitter criticism leveled at Obama's policies. But none of the GOP candidates except Newt Gingrich has presented any alternative approaches.

Most recently, not a single GOP candidate would say what most people believe about the disgusting statements made by a conservative radio entertainer. In fact, some of the candidates have defended the vile statements made and tried to politicize a patently disgusting set of public statements.

I don't really expect to discover a conservative candidate that will completely embrace all my beliefs. I'd be happy if any of them embraced at least most of what I believe. But I must admit that I'm having trouble finding even one of them that represents even close to most of my beliefs.

I'm struggling to discover a conservative candidate, most of whose policies and promises I can embrace. I really don't want to vote for the incumbent president. But I'm really having problems finding one I can enthusiastically support.

Am I alone?

Well, if this were November, and not much else changes in the political landscape, you just convinced me to vote Obama again like I did in 2008. My 2008 vote was more against McCain/Palin than it was for Obama though. I cannot say that I was all that interested in politics back in 2008. Just voted with my gut rather than head. Truthfully with McCain's age I had thought that Sarah Palin might become President of the US. She seemed extremely underqualified for such a position.

[Guest]

what we all know is what ever the candidates for POTUS say is for voter appeal only. None know what it is they can do until such time as they are sitting in the seat of the POTUS. Add what they learn they cannot do on their own together with what they had no intention of doing anything more than sway votes and one does not really realize much.

What I know for sure, and many others as well, is in my assessment of performance, Obama does not deserve another term in the WH. In addition to low performance on promises kept, he simply does not exhibit leadership. He has demonstrated very consistently for over three years running that he will not step up to the bar and take a position based on what needs to be done, if it includes any risk at all to his personal position.

So for me it is very easy. Obama is not an option as I am an advocate of removing executives who do not do the job.

Of the Republican candidates running against Obama, there are only two I would consider. Romney or Santorum. Looking at the "resume's" Santorum does not make the cut because he is a Washington insider. Hence he has the inbred knowledge of why things work the way they do in Washington, better known as business as usual. He also demonstrates too willingly to sway with the popular winds (as they ALL do).

I like Romney's business background. I like the fact he is not a Washington insider, thus at least increasing the odds he will ask "WHY" about some issues. As a result of his specific business experience he certainly understands what drives an income statement and balance sheet. He has demonstrated financial success in his personal accumulation of assets. He has demonstrated significant business acumen with the Staples chain and Bain Capital. Based on surface knowledge only, these accomplishments demonstrate leadership.

The conclusion is obvious. The hope and change promise by Obama was rhetorical vote getting verbiage! The complete lack of ever balancing a budget while not only bleeding red ink/debt, but adding to it at a record pace....with no end in sight what so ever. The USA cannot afford to let Obama "finish the job" in the face of his track record and current performance.

The risk of failure on any level is significantly less with Romney in the WH. I will give Romney the benefit of the doubt during year one as POTUS and decide at his first State of the Nation whether he is doing the job (exactly like I did for Obama!!!).

btk