Those of you who have read my posts know I really like the columns written by Tom Freidman in the New York Times. His column on this last Sunday was an excellent primer for those preparing to vote. As Freidman explained, New York Times columnists are not permitted to endorse a candidate. So Freidman went one better--he suggested the personal characteristics that we might seek in a new President...

"First, we need a president who can speak English and deconstruct and navigate complex issues so Americans can make informed choices. We have paid an enormous price for having a president who could not explain and reassure us during this financial meltdown. We wasted a huge amount of time pretending that we could punish Wall Street without punishing Main Street — when, in fact, they are intricately intertwined.

Second, we need a president who can energize, inspire and hold the country together during what will be a very stressful recovery. We have to climb out of this financial crisis at a time when the baby boomers are about to retire and going to need their Social Security and eventually Medicare. We are all going to be paying the government more and getting less until we grow out of this hole.

Third, we need a president who can rally the world to our side. We cannot get out of this crisis unless China starts consuming more and unless Europe keeps lowering interest rates. Everyone is interconnected, and everyone is still looking to America to lead.

So, bottom line: Please do not vote for the candidate you most want to have a beer with. Vote for the person you’d most like at your side when you ask your bank manager for an extension on your mortgage.

Vote for the candidate you think has the smarts, temperament and inspirational capacity to unify the country and steer our ship through what could be the rockiest shoals our generation has ever known. Your kids will thank you."

Good Input

"and so let it be that only those between the ages of 18 and 40 will be the only eligible voters. They can then decide their own future and may have the chance to dump the debt and drain of Medicare, Social Security, government taxation, foreign wars, unlimited political terms, corporate lobbies and restricted personal lifestyle choices."

With all due respect to Tom Friedman and the NY Times, I prefer.........."The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men." -- Samuel Adams

The statement "unify the country" is ridiculous. Will left wingers give in to some of the right wing's choices? Will the Right wingers give up any of their values to the left. The answer is NO on both counts. So when a person invokes unify the country, that is just being disingenuous.

I have voted who is the better of the two candidates to handle what we face ahead. I didn't say that I like either one because I have disagreements on the candidate I voted for. Hint: VOTE McCain. I'd like to keep whatever wealth I have accumulated for all of my years of hard work and sacrifice to take care of my family. I'm not the person who wants the government to take care of my life for me. Smaller government, more accountability. Character matters to me.

Originally Posted by retiredguy

The statement "unify the country" is ridiculous. Will left wingers give in to some of the right wing's choices? Will the Right wingers give up any of their values to the left. The answer is NO on both counts. So when a person invokes unify the country, that is just being disingenuous.

I have voted who is the better of the two candidates to handle what we face ahead. I didn't say that I like either one because I have disagreements on the candidate I voted for. Hint: VOTE McCain. I'd like to keep whatever wealth I have accumulated for all of my years of hard work and sacrifice to take care of my family. I'm not the person who wants the government to take care of my life for me. Smaller government, more accountability. Character matters to me.