Do I Care?

Well, somewhat.  Honestly, this is the least I’ve been excited about a Presidential election, well, ever.

At this point, I’m still trying to decide whether I’ll vote for Bob Barr (who has the most likelyhood of winning out of any third party candidate) or Chuck Baldwin (who I agree with slightly more than Bob Barr).  Wait, you say?  I’m not voting for The Lesser of Two Evils (whichever candidate you believe that to be)?

No.  I’m done with that.  When you really take a good look at the top two, there is little difference on the issues that matter.  Oh, sure, there are the side-issues that most people are convinced to make their decision based on–but on the things I feel are the most important?  They’re almost twins.

They both believe that spending billions (or even trillions) of dollars that we don’t have to bail out huge corporations that made poor decisions (and continue to) is a good idea.  I don’t.  Both candidates received over $20 million dollars to their campaigns from the very banks they voted to give money to.  Both support continuing our country’s failed foreign policies.  Obama wants to bring the troops home slightly sooner, but will likely throw Israel under the bus and expand the UN’s illegal dominion over our country’s policies.  McCain wants to “finish the job” in Iraq, but is considering other wars like Iran, Pakistan, and maybe even getting involved in the Georgia-Russia conflict.  Both will drive this country further into debt (did I mention that we already owe $10 TRILLION) with their out-of-control spending.  Both will trample our liberties (McCain with more wiretapping and “Patriot” Act-esque stuff, Obama with more gun control and more social programs like healthcare which we can’t afford).  So, why would I vote for either?

That leaves me with Bob Barr who is on the ballot in many states and who I agree with as far as platform goes on about a 80-90% level.  His problem is his somewhat sordid past.  Or, Chuck Baldwin who has little to no chance of being elected (he’s a write-in in Georgia) who I agree with on a 85-90% level.

The real race I’m interested in is the Saxby Chambliss(R)/Jim Martin(D)/Allen Buckley(L) three-way.  Saxby voted for the bailout (again, he’s beholden to the special interests that called for it), Martin wouldn’t have, but only because it wasn’t big enough!  Allen Buckley (the Libertarian candidate) is the only fiscal conservative of the bunch.  I’m happily voting for him in the hopes that it forces a run-off.  If that happens, most likely, Saxby will win (Buckley won’t even be in the run-off), but I have hopes that it will make our Senator a little more aware of the people he represents (since he claimed a few weeks ago that his job was safe because people won’t vote him out on the single issue of the bailout vote).

Then, there’s Phil Gingrey (R) who I will also happily be voting for.  Despite enormous political pressure, he stuck to his guns and faithfully represented the people of Georgia by voting against the bailout bill.  He has also stood his ground on a few other issues that I can be proud of him for.  Gingrey: He Delivers!  (He’s a former OB/GYN)

So, while I will vote, I will do so for the first time with the surety that my chosen candidate will lose.  Sadly, no matter which of the top two candidates win, America loses.