Leaning the other way? Maybe not.
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Thought I'd share this real quick... it's apparently from Mad Magazine.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/400188993_07735f97e3_o.jpg
HA! Take that, you unfunny douche. >:D
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Anywho... lately I've been getting more in-depth on the stances Obama and McCain have taken on various issues. This doesn't mean I'm going to vote for him, but honestly? I'm finding myself agreeing with Obama on a lot more than McCain. I thought I'd list, in no particular order, the issues I care about, and how I grade the two candidates.
Gun Control:
McCain? FAIL
Obama? FAIL
^I'm not going to win with either candidate on this issue, really. McCain has RECENTLY declared his support for the 2nd Amendment, but in the past has backed several anti-gun bills. Obama has RECENTLY declared that he believes there is an individual right to keep and bear arms, but that it should be 'subject to regulation.' >_>
McCain's record on this issue is still better than Obama's, as every piece of tyrannical antigun legislation of the past several years has had his support. The two of them DID vote in favor of the law prohibiting federal and local governments from confiscating firearms during a disaster like Hurricane Katrina.
Abortion:
McCain? FAIL
Obama? PASS
^In the past, McCain had declared that while he didn't particularly like the concept of abortions, he supports Roe V. Wade. Recently however, he has declared that he does NOT support Roe V. Wade, and that it should be overturned. Barack Obama seems to be pro-choice.
Immigration:
McCain? PASS
Obama? PASS
^Honestly, they both seem to be on the same level as it pertains to immigration. The both of them believe in ending the influx of illegal immigrants, while making citizenship available to those already here(while weeding out criminals to be sent back over, of course), which is the method I believe in to deal with the problem of illegal immigration.
Foreign Policy:
McCain? PASS
Obama? PASS
^Again, a lot of their views appear to be the same, and there's way too many sub-issues within this issue to address here, but the most important(to me) difference between the two is that McCain believes in leaving Iraq once we are confidant the Iraqis can hold things down themselves(which I agree with), and Obama appears to support a slow draw-down of troops(rather than a full withdrawal), which could also work if we do it correctly.
The question remains, however, as to whether or not Obama would follow through on his big talk about Iran and other Middle Eastern states.
Israel:
McCain? PASS
Obama? PASS
^Both candidates have expressed strong support for Israel. This is largely par for the course for most Republicans, but too many Democrats seem to be either anti-Israel, or are not firm enough in their support of them. Jimmy Carter actually accused the Israelis of apartheid when they built border walls... y'know, TO KEEP SUICIDE BOMBERS FROM CROSSING AND BLOWING UP SCHOOLBUSES. Fucking idiot.
It should be noted that Obama condemned Carter for meeting with Hamas, stating; "Hamas is not a political party. Hamas is a terrorist organization."
LGBT rights:
McCain? FAIL
Obama? 50/50
^McCain opposed the Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman nationwide, and has expressed a belief that it should be up to the states to decide for themselves whether or not to ban or allow same sex unions. Recently, however, he supported the initiative here in AZ to ban gay marriage which was struck down and which is coming back on the ballots this year.
Obama believes in allowing Civil Unions with all the same rights as regular marriage, just with a different title, and that marriage as a legal term should remain between a man and a woman. While I feel like allowing such unions would be a step in the right direction... to put it simply, my stance on this issue is such: Total equality or GTFO.
Capital Punishment:
McCain? UNCLEAR
Obama? 50/50
^I am unsure of McCain's stance on Capital Punishment, but Obama, while supporting it, wishes to put forth legislation that would change how we handle cases involving the death penalty.
This would be fine with me, but he seems to think that a criminal engaging in armed robbery that results in an unintentional death should not be eligible for the death penalty. I believe that if you are engaging in unlawful activity of that nature and someone dies as a result of your actions, regardless of whether or not you intended for it to happen, you should be go up for Murder 2 at the very least. Don't like it? Then don't commit violent crimes.
Healthcare Reform:
McCain? PASS
Obama? FAIL
^McCain believes in working to make healthcare cheaper, but is against Universal Healthcare. Obama is for Universal Healthcare, which I disagree with. While I feel healthcare should be made more available to people that need it, I don't like Socialist reforms.
The problem with Socialized Medicine is the lack of quality. The way it works now is that doctors either do their best, or you'll go find someone better. Competition keeps the quality of service up. It's why, in my opinion, the school system is in ruins. Teachers have more or less guaranteed wages, so why should they give a fuck if their students learn? They'll get paid either way.
On the other hand, charter schools turn out better results because they know that if they don't do a good job, dissatisfied parents will take their kids elsewhere. The same thing, I think, would apply to the healthcare system. Do we really want a bunch of lazy people with guaranteed wages cutting us open? Do we really want a system in which the government decides which doctor you HAVE to go with? And if he turns out to be a butcher, tough shit? I sure as hell don't.
On the other side of this is the fact that some people need help deserve help... and some people don't deserve it at all. People like John & Reuben. Or Cathy and her family. I don't like the idea of the American Taxpayer's money going to pay for the medical bills of assholes like them when they get injured after playing Jackass at home.
There are other important issues, but those are the core issues for me.
So the score is 3 FAILs for McCain, 2 FAILs for Obama. Considering the gun issue is a big one for me, and I'm not going to win with either of them on that, the other issues speak even more loudly. I haven't decided, but I might end up voting for Obama. Or I might write-in Ron Paul still. Or I might just say Fuck It and stay home. >_>
(EDIT:) Added the issue of healthcare reform.
.
Thought I'd share this real quick... it's apparently from Mad Magazine.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/400188993_07735f97e3_o.jpg
HA! Take that, you unfunny douche. >:D
///////
Anywho... lately I've been getting more in-depth on the stances Obama and McCain have taken on various issues. This doesn't mean I'm going to vote for him, but honestly? I'm finding myself agreeing with Obama on a lot more than McCain. I thought I'd list, in no particular order, the issues I care about, and how I grade the two candidates.
Gun Control:
McCain? FAIL
Obama? FAIL
^I'm not going to win with either candidate on this issue, really. McCain has RECENTLY declared his support for the 2nd Amendment, but in the past has backed several anti-gun bills. Obama has RECENTLY declared that he believes there is an individual right to keep and bear arms, but that it should be 'subject to regulation.' >_>
McCain's record on this issue is still better than Obama's, as every piece of tyrannical antigun legislation of the past several years has had his support. The two of them DID vote in favor of the law prohibiting federal and local governments from confiscating firearms during a disaster like Hurricane Katrina.
Abortion:
McCain? FAIL
Obama? PASS
^In the past, McCain had declared that while he didn't particularly like the concept of abortions, he supports Roe V. Wade. Recently however, he has declared that he does NOT support Roe V. Wade, and that it should be overturned. Barack Obama seems to be pro-choice.
Immigration:
McCain? PASS
Obama? PASS
^Honestly, they both seem to be on the same level as it pertains to immigration. The both of them believe in ending the influx of illegal immigrants, while making citizenship available to those already here(while weeding out criminals to be sent back over, of course), which is the method I believe in to deal with the problem of illegal immigration.
Foreign Policy:
McCain? PASS
Obama? PASS
^Again, a lot of their views appear to be the same, and there's way too many sub-issues within this issue to address here, but the most important(to me) difference between the two is that McCain believes in leaving Iraq once we are confidant the Iraqis can hold things down themselves(which I agree with), and Obama appears to support a slow draw-down of troops(rather than a full withdrawal), which could also work if we do it correctly.
The question remains, however, as to whether or not Obama would follow through on his big talk about Iran and other Middle Eastern states.
Israel:
McCain? PASS
Obama? PASS
^Both candidates have expressed strong support for Israel. This is largely par for the course for most Republicans, but too many Democrats seem to be either anti-Israel, or are not firm enough in their support of them. Jimmy Carter actually accused the Israelis of apartheid when they built border walls... y'know, TO KEEP SUICIDE BOMBERS FROM CROSSING AND BLOWING UP SCHOOLBUSES. Fucking idiot.
It should be noted that Obama condemned Carter for meeting with Hamas, stating; "Hamas is not a political party. Hamas is a terrorist organization."
LGBT rights:
McCain? FAIL
Obama? 50/50
^McCain opposed the Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman nationwide, and has expressed a belief that it should be up to the states to decide for themselves whether or not to ban or allow same sex unions. Recently, however, he supported the initiative here in AZ to ban gay marriage which was struck down and which is coming back on the ballots this year.
Obama believes in allowing Civil Unions with all the same rights as regular marriage, just with a different title, and that marriage as a legal term should remain between a man and a woman. While I feel like allowing such unions would be a step in the right direction... to put it simply, my stance on this issue is such: Total equality or GTFO.
Capital Punishment:
McCain? UNCLEAR
Obama? 50/50
^I am unsure of McCain's stance on Capital Punishment, but Obama, while supporting it, wishes to put forth legislation that would change how we handle cases involving the death penalty.
This would be fine with me, but he seems to think that a criminal engaging in armed robbery that results in an unintentional death should not be eligible for the death penalty. I believe that if you are engaging in unlawful activity of that nature and someone dies as a result of your actions, regardless of whether or not you intended for it to happen, you should be go up for Murder 2 at the very least. Don't like it? Then don't commit violent crimes.
Healthcare Reform:
McCain? PASS
Obama? FAIL
^McCain believes in working to make healthcare cheaper, but is against Universal Healthcare. Obama is for Universal Healthcare, which I disagree with. While I feel healthcare should be made more available to people that need it, I don't like Socialist reforms.
The problem with Socialized Medicine is the lack of quality. The way it works now is that doctors either do their best, or you'll go find someone better. Competition keeps the quality of service up. It's why, in my opinion, the school system is in ruins. Teachers have more or less guaranteed wages, so why should they give a fuck if their students learn? They'll get paid either way.
On the other hand, charter schools turn out better results because they know that if they don't do a good job, dissatisfied parents will take their kids elsewhere. The same thing, I think, would apply to the healthcare system. Do we really want a bunch of lazy people with guaranteed wages cutting us open? Do we really want a system in which the government decides which doctor you HAVE to go with? And if he turns out to be a butcher, tough shit? I sure as hell don't.
On the other side of this is the fact that some people need help deserve help... and some people don't deserve it at all. People like John & Reuben. Or Cathy and her family. I don't like the idea of the American Taxpayer's money going to pay for the medical bills of assholes like them when they get injured after playing Jackass at home.
There are other important issues, but those are the core issues for me.
So the score is 3 FAILs for McCain, 2 FAILs for Obama. Considering the gun issue is a big one for me, and I'm not going to win with either of them on that, the other issues speak even more loudly. I haven't decided, but I might end up voting for Obama. Or I might write-in Ron Paul still. Or I might just say Fuck It and stay home. >_>
(EDIT:) Added the issue of healthcare reform.
.