When you look at the top presidential contenders -- Obama, Clinton, Edwards, McCain, Giuliani, Romney -- I have no doubt that in terms of the total package, Obama is preferable to the others. I'm sure I disagree with virtually everything in his platform -- except his opposition to the war and related state crimes -- nevertheless he beats those others hands down. He's for socialized medicine? Who on that list isn't?
Go, Barack!
P.S.: I haven't voted since 1980, when I voted Libertarian for president.
14 comments:
Mr. Richman-
What about Ron Paul? There is the possibility that he might run for president.
Ron Paul just announced yesterday that he is running. He ran on the Libertarian ticket not too long ago. He has voted against the war consisitantly. Oh and he is a "gold bug". He takes the Fed to task every chance he can.
Is Ron Paul running as a republican or libertarian?
I believe Ron Paul is running as a republican, but he will probably wind up being the standard bearer for the Libertarian party, since he does not have a realistic chance with the GOP.
Sheldon,
What makes you like Senator Obama? I'll grant you a lot of the right people are slandering him (i.e. Sean Hannity), but his anti-war position seems half-assed at best. Also, I resent how Team Obama seems to want to position him as a reformer speaking for black and poor America when in reality he is a patrician child of privilege and eminently an establishment man. In the top rank of contenders (which Ron Paul isn’t in sadly) I tend to think Chuck Hagel has the most potential. I’d prefer not to root for a Republican however (as a Southerner of long standing) and I wish the Democrats would throw out an anti-war, anti-corporate welfare bone tastier than Obama.
Some critical perspectives on Obama:
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_071165711.html
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/1%2C7340%2CL-3371763%2C00.html
http://www.counterpunch.org/ford01192007.html
Cheers,
Bob
Well, I never said I "like" Obama. I said, "in terms of the total package, Obama is preferable to the other[ top presidential contenders]." That's a very different statement. I was judging him against Clinton, Edwards, McCain, Giuliani, and Romney. I think it's great Ron Paul is in. I hope Hagel will get in. If so, I will still prefer Obama to the rest of the Democratic field, but should Paul get the nomination, I would prefer him to Obama. That's probably true for Hagel too, subject to learning more about Hagel's domestic policy positions. He once endorsed the draft, you know. Not good. (And what's Paul's position on immigration?)
I really don't want anyone to be president. There should be no such office. But if it exists and someone is going to occupy the office, I don't mind saying that, other things equal, I like the idea of a black man becoming president. I would like the idea of a woman becoming president were she not Hillary Clinton.
Here's an old (2005) blog post by freeman, libertarian critter about how Obama equates free markets with Social Darwinism.
Joel, of course he does. I have no illusions about him. I'm simply comparing him to his leading competitors.
No president? I guess maybe I'm more of a constitutionalist than a libertarian. Other, than his position on immigration, I believe that Ron Paul is as close to a liberty loving candidate as is possible in a national figure. His voting record as a congressman mirrors his rhatoric, unlike most politicians.
Sheldon,
Fair enough and I'm sorry that I overstated your support for Obama. I too would like to see a black man become president (if we simply must have one). I'd prefer the black president not to be Obama, however because I'd like to see someone who came for a poorer background rather than a child of privilege like Obama (unlikely I know). I also kind of resent Obama because I feel he is the Democrats’ attempt to split the antiwar vote.
I did not know that Hagel had endorsed a draft, that's rather distressing. As for Ron Paul I wish him well, but I'm no fan of his stances on abortion or immigration.
Here's a speech from Paul on LRC on the subject:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul269.html
Cheers,
Bob
Bob, obviously I'm not thrilled about any of this. But that's to be expected of a quest for power.
Sheldon,
I realize Kucinich is not one of the top-tier Dem candidates, but would you prefer him more than Obama?
I like your statement,
I really don't want anyone to be president. There should be no such office.
Kucinich, although a thorough statist in the Nader mold, is preferable to Obama. He might be more of a decentralist, but I'm not familiar enough with his views. At least he is really against the war. He has guts.
Obama is the best we, pardon: you can get:
America needs change
:-)
The worst case: Billary or McCain! We can stop them! YES, WE CAN!
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