Not that she doesn't have her problems. But I'm a moderate. If I was Republican, I'd vote for John Kasich.
I'm a moderate because I am cursed with seeing both sides of an argument. For example, I am a completely nonviolent person. The last fistfight I had was in 7th grade. I managed to defer myself out of the Vietnam war. But what are you gonna do if someone punches you in the face, whether it's Japan in 1941 or terrorists in 2001?
Well, on this blog I try to stay out of politics, because except for Social Security (if Bernie Sanders is so interested in saving or expanding Social Security how come he sat around in the U. S. Congress for 25 years and did nothing about it?) I don't think politics is much related to age. Besides, if you asked me to put away my own self-interest, I'd have to admit that I think we should provide more money and more programs for poor children of color, not more money for old white people.
But I'd better get off my high horse before I fall off and hurt myself. I guess what I really think is that nobody has a monopoly on the truth, and above all, we should respect other people's opinions and not call them nasty names or make vicious fun of them. And all get out to vote this year.
23 comments:
I consider myself a leftist, but I also agree with most of what you have said. I also see both sides of things and can play devil's advocate just to get ideas flowing, whether I really agree with them or not.
I love The Bern---------can't get with the Hills Hillary, too rich and really privileged..She is a good candidate though..would never vote for Kasich whatsoever..but I am not a republican..I like moderation but the Hills is really tooo damn rich, how can she think others need anything..I like that the BERN got only 174,000 salary in congress and doesn't own many homes, investments..Out in California Clooney and Amal had a fund raiser 33,000 for the cheap seat 100,000 for the good seats, an insane amount and for what people will vote anyways..Obsence and it tells me only the very very rich can run for the presidency..they don't give a fig about working people and the poor no it is the BERN for me..
I like Bernie but like you say, he's been in Washington for decades without having anything to show for it. Hillary does have baggage but she's a fighter and can handle what Trump will undoubtedly throw at her. I fear Bernie is going to disillusion millions of young people when he can't deliver on all his promises, or any of them.
In general I agree with you, and as a millennial parent, yes I'm willing to see some sacrifice. I don't get a primary but in the general bill have to vote dem,no matter who that is. I just can't bring myself to vote for someone who wants to repeal roe v Wade and marriage equality no matter what. Never mind spying on a group of folks based on their religion.
I don't know if I am just disillusioned because I've seen so much at my age, or if the candidates are really as hopeless a choice as they seem. The truth is I do not want any of them. I would love to keep my vote and not give it to anyone of the candidates. It really does scare me. I can't relate. I can't image our country under the leadership of any of the candidates. But they are the only choices I have. It is so important to vote. It is so important to vote for the candidate that can represent all the people. Still I'm baffled. I don't know who will get my vote but I'll be there on voting day.
I wasn't home to participate in the Washington caucuses but I think I would have voted for Bernie because I think it's time we change the way our political parties operate. If a nonfavored person can become a credible threat I think that is good. It's scary, though, if a favored person is a credible threat. From what I can see, Hillary has done a good job in all her positions and I think she is more likely to be able to get things done, whatever those things might be.
I am interested to see how the NY elections turn out. I'm like you and can see both sides which will often gets me splinters from straddling the fence but that is just how I am.
Hillary has my vote for the reasons you voiced and not for Bernie for the same. Well said.
Lets hope it is a win for her.
I am a lifelong Democrat and will vote for whoever is turns out to be, but in my heart I hope it's Hillary. I caucused for Bernie but have been rather disillusioned by how negative he's gotten over the weeks and months. I always vote and would never stay home, especially in such an important election season. I laughed at Patti's image of straddling the fence.
Heard on NPR here in Bellingham that polls taken to find out who Republicans will be voting for in May here in Washington state is mostly Kasich and a few Cruz. Not one vote for Trump out of hundreds. :-)
I agree with almost everything Bernie stands for and I think his ideas will be implemented somewhat whether he is elected or not. We are moving in a more socialist direction even though some people think we need to blame those who need assistance more than those who are in charge.
Clinton is just another career establishment, too rich to fail faux liberal. Do not see much difference between her and Trump, greed and corruption, special interest money. Bernie is the only true liberal answer. But if Bernie does not get the Dem nomination, I and thousands of others will vote for Trump just to start anarchy and revolution.
I also voted for Hillary today. I've been a fan of hers for a long time. Bernie tugs at my heart when I hear him speak for the underdog, but I also do not believe he can deliver on what he has promised.
Hillary is not perfect (she needs to take a strong stand on fracking!). But she has the intelligence and experience to lead this country.
I actually feel sorry for the republicans. Trump and Cruz? Yikes! Now that is scary.
I did vote for Kasich, for the all the good it did.
Well Barbara, the thing is, we've had many times in the past when None of the Above seemed like the best choice. Remember Bush (no vision) vs. Clinton (Gennifer Flowers) vs. Ross Perot (Who am I?). And the winner often turned out to be a better president than we expected, in part because the election process makes everyone look so bad. So let's hope this time follows form.
Moderates are people afraid of having principles and standing by them. They tend to seek social cues because they suffer from perpetual "both sides of an argument" brainlock. Unable to decide for themselves, they invariably accept the safety of whatever is popular within their own social circles. Otherwise they would prove themselves immoderate.
It is easier to fall for anything than to stand for something.
Often who to vote for comes down to voting for the candidate for whom I have the least objections though I try to focus on the more positive aspects. I think Clinton is being given a bad rap on many points i.e. the most recent So Calif. fund raising I saw itemized elsewhere -- can't recall where all the funds received would go, including some to the Dem. party -- but it wasn't all just for her direct benefit. Am disappointed that Sanders has started traveling the rhetoric low road, and think he lacks ability to get things done or would have all those Senate years. I had thought Kasich could be the best the Repubs. might offer but then coupled with his failure to stand up for women's rights as Ohio's governor, followed by a recent video of him stumbling over describing the significance of Passover he became a disappointment -- though his party already was. Other candidates are not an option presently. Whoever gets elected, we need to focus on what kind of Congress we give them to facilitate their programs.
I'm in California, and am probably going for Hillary too. I like Bernie, and much of what he's fighting for, and how he was able to run a grassroots campaign, but Hillary's been more tested. If Bernie does get nominated, don't think the Republicans and their surrogates in the media won't take their knives out on him too, and we're more likely to end up with Trump or Cruz. They'll lie by coming up with some huge number on how much his programs will tax average Americans, and we'll be seeing those ads blanketing the airwaves, in addition to dominating the Sunday Morning news show talking points.
There should also be more emphasis on getting decent people elected further down the ticket. With all the problems that need to be addressed in this country, the only thing this Congress has put any effort in is obstructing the president at every turn.
You mention respecting others opions. Most times I have difficulty with that. But I do agree with Joe Biden. Don't question another'motivation.
PEGGY
Brian, there is one thing I am sure of ... you are 100 percent wrong! And Anon., if you don't respect the opinions of others you need to brush up on some basic psychological tenets such as the fundamental attribution error, the Lake Wobegon effect, confirmation bias, and the effects of people's innate desire to seek out other people and opinions that are familiar and similar to their own.
Without campaign reform there is no longer any democracy in America, special interest owns the candidates and the political system. Clinton is one of those at the top of this massive Ponzi scheme of money and influence pedaling.
Ask why is it that the best we can do is these two millionaires as the two contenders for the Whitehouse. Why would anybody consider voting for her and the same old stuff, our society cannot afford four or eight more years of the status quo. If you are privileged enough not to worry about the status quo, perhaps you should consider the situation of others when you vote.
If we do not have a political revolution, there will be a true revolt.
Take a look at Bernies platform and you will see some true answers for all of us.
You rode your high horse very well, Tom. That must be true because I agree with everything you said. As to some of the comments: (1) Many moderates have high principles, and stick with them. They seek evolution and common sense approaches to problems, not revolution. That stance has nothing to do with their fundamental principles; (2) Opting out of voting because no candidate appears to be one's knight in shining armor is a failure to perform one of the fundamental duties of being an American citizen. We are selecting a president, not a god. All humans carry some baggage. We should be trying to select the person who has the most potential to be the best leader, "not "taking our ball and going home" because the game isn't going exactly our way; (3) Special interests don't "own the candidates and the system." If they did, Sanders wouldn't be raising millions from small donations, nor would Trump have lasted a week in the competition.
Now, I'll dismount. Cheers.
We voted for Hillary also. I liked Kasich, but why throw your vote away? And yes, Hillary may have some baggage, Quite frankly, do you know what is true and what is hype? And I feel the worst is yet to come. Fortunately, I am a historian so I can put everything in perspective. Karl Rove is right, the election of 1898 still matters.
Primary long over for me, I am looking to the general election. I am an Independent and a moderate. I like Kasich, but he won't be on the ticket. The country would survive Cruz but it wouldn't be easy. I could never go with Trump. Hillary, well, OK if I really have to. Bernie has been a real problem for me. I cannot understand how so many people can embrace socialism, which has never worked and has caused much hardship. But I think people, even Bernie, are not truly advocating the government ownership of the means of production. Even Democratic Socialism is government ownership with the consent of the electorate. But I studied Bernie's website and I read an article about him which said Bernie is really advocating a Social Democracy- different from the other two. In a Social Democracy there is simply higher taxation and more government spending- more like Denmark, which is not socialist at all but a free market economy. Some of his ideas I support and some I don't. I still won't vote for Bernie, but I feel better about the people who are supporting him and what they call socialism. Maybe some of your readers who are Bernie fans can educate me on what socialism means to them.
Since my family is military- we will never vote for Hillary. She just is not in tune with reality when it comes to what we can and cannot do in the world.
I am more comfortable with Bernie then any other candidate. Unfortunately, I don't think the Democrats have the courage to vote for someone with ideas, a second time, as their party leader. The party torpedoed Obama in his first 100 days. Such a shame.
I am an independent, voting both sides of the fence at times. This year I feel the Bern!
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