The choices for the nomination for president are pathetic. The Democrats are just more focused on destruction.

The Republican Party has settled on a man who will be inaugurated at 72 years old if he is elected. Even worse is his views that are a continuation of the George W. Bush policies.

The Democratic Party is in the midst of tearing itself apart over selection of a nominee. The only way Hillary Clinton can win the nomination is by twisting arms and promising rewards to those super delegated that vote for her. No matter whom the winner of that contest is the hate that the contest has engendered will most likely result in a political party too damaged to bring victory. Neither of the candidates is worth admiring.

Barack Obama could not make a decision about his relationship with his pastor until it became clear to the world that the pastor’s views were incendiary. If Senator Obama could not make a decision about his pastor until the damage was done (to his candidacy) then how can he be relied upon to make decisions that could affect the world?

Hillary Clinton will tell any story to make a point. The Bosnia visit under fire claim supports this impression. She causes a thinking person to wonder if she will say anything to reach her objective including lies. How different is she compared to President George W. Bush?

As an independent I will find voting for president very difficult. Perhaps I will not vote for any candidate.

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama hold similar views on most topics.  I can identify only two significant differences. Barack Obama would be more willing to conduct direct negotiations with leaders of countries that have serious disagreements with the U.S. and he would raise the cap on social security taxes.  Hillary Clinton would limit negotiations with other countries at odds with us and would not be willing to raise social security taxes.

  
So why have these debates?  The Democrats are now down to choosing their nominee from two strong candidates.  That means the voters will have to dig into their views and beliefs.  Furthermore, voters will have to understand the thought processes of the candidates.  That leads to appraising their previous life both public and private.  Democrats can learn more about both candidates by carefully listening to what they say and have said, who they have associated with, and all manner of other things that most of us would consider personal (like religious belief, social behavior, etc.).

 
Hillary Clinton’s story about her landing in war torn Bosnia and Barack Obama’s membership in a church that spews hateful messages do count in the decision making process.  Super delegates do have a purpose.  They have the power to override the will of the people and they should exercise that power if they deem it to be appropriate.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton says she has something in common with legendary film boxer Rocky Balboa – she’s not a quitter.  Rocky Balboa is a fictional character.  Hillary needs to know that none of that film was real.  It was not a biography.  Finally in Rocky VI the series of films ended and the character went into retirement.

On November 16, 2007 I wrote on this blog, “I personally dis-associated myself from a friend who showed himself to be a bigot and I would not be part of any group that stood for any bigotry.”

Today Barack Obama stated, “I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies,” Obama said. “I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it’s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Reverend Wright that are at issue.”

Quoting from an AP report, “He said Wright’s controversial statements first came to his attention at the beginning of his presidential campaign last year, and he condemned them. Because of his ties to the 6,000-member congregation church – he and his wife were married there and their daughters baptized – Obama decided not to leave the church.”

On As an Independent I liked Barack Obama.  I voted for him in the Democratic California primary.  I must hold someone I would support for president of the United States to the same standards I set for myself.  Hillary Clinton is no angel (playing the race card, playing on fear, and keeping too many secrets).  John McCain has at least two faults (he opposes a national health care system and would fight a war in Iraq for a hundred years).

When I vote in November I will be holding my nose.

I am a political independent and a moderate. The California registration form asking your party designation calls it “decline to state” if you are not joining any party.  Almost 20% of us Californians are in this category.  The reason I changed to an independent is that I found myself disagreeing with many Democratic party views.  That percentage “decline to state” people has doubled in the past ten years.  It’s no wonder that this has happened.  The state legislature has been incompetent for years.  Our state has been mismanaged by both political parties.

Right wing members of the Republican party need to understand that this is a democracy.  Americans accept the results of the ballot box.  So James Dobson, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and all the rest of you right wing leaders(?) get over it.  The vote is in.  Unless Mike Huckabee accomplishes an extraordinary rise in popularity John McCain will be your party’s candidate.  That is a good thing because moderates like me will consider voting for him.  In other words you have a chance at holding on to the presidency.

Democrats also need to accept the wishes of the voters in their primaries.  Super delegates who can vote without regard to the wishes of the voting public should not have the power to determine the candidate.  Where is the democracy in that process?  Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are viable candidates.

Talk show hosts need to “calm down” as John McCain has stated.  The also should control their sentiments and provide more “fair and balanced” coverage of the political races.  The could attract for more listeners and viewers if they followed this advise.

Rabbis, ministers, and preachers and their groups should stay out of politics.  Religious differences can destroy a nation.  Iraq is a good example of the strife that those differences can bring.  Separation of church and state ought to be honored by everyone.   

I am disappointed that both Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards have left the race for president. Both would have done a very good job.  The remaining candidates have too many flaws.  I will be forced to make an unenthusiastic choice.

John McCain is almost the moderate Republican that I could support.  He has three serious flaws.  He is opposed to any form of universal health care.  That is an issue that is very personal for me.  My son has no health care plan.  My wife and daughter have plans that are very expensive.  Second he says, if it is necessary, he will keep troops in Iraq for a hundred years to win the war. The third issue is his age.  He will be 72 years old on inauguration day.  The job of president is very demanding and one that really requires the attention of a younger and healthier person.  Whomever he selects as vice president has to be someone that really can step into the presidency.  Is that the way we want to select the next president?  

Mitt Romney has a history of changing positions on too many issues.  I do not know his real views on any major issue.  His flip flopping and turning and twisting tell me nothing about what he would do as president.

Barack Obama stands for “change we can believe in” and has a poster reading “stand up for change.”  I do not know what that means.  He has no administrative experience and has had a very short time in the senate.  He does have chutzpah.  Many younger voters are supporting him because they find him inspiring.  My question is, “where’s the beef?”

Hillary Clinton has experience and knowledge of the working of government.  She also has Bill Clinton and both of them are too much the manipulators.  Her campaign methods make me uncomfortable.  It’s her “know it all” attitude that bothers me.  We need a president that can bring our nation together.  She alienates people.  Who would agree to be vice president or secretary of state for Hillary Clinton?