"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

[herowlness]

I'd like to preface this by stating - first off - that the overriding point of this post is this: If you are an American, and your state is holding a primary or caucus tomorrow, get out and make your voice be HEARD. [Vote early and vote often! ... Kidding, but still, VOTE

Comments

[lloydsgurl]

A mosaic of cultures is a more accurate statement to use for the United States. Melting pots have connotations of everyone being dumped in and coming out the same (that was actually an image used when the term was first coined). Mosaics allow us to maintain our own unique culture while still being able to work as a cohesive unit. I've also heard salad bowl used :).

But yes, VOTE.

[herowlness]

Maybe it was 'mixing pot' I heard growing up? I forget now. =shrugs= But, at the same time, I know that my family has added new traditions from other cultures over the years, so mixing/melding is to some extent true as we all have an effect on those around us. I wouldn't say that that makes us all the same or anything, but it makes us a better people as a whole, I would think. :)

[lloydsgurl]

I think there is an urge for a new name when our immigration numbers are high. Where should we draw the line from melting into a majority culture or maintaining traditions? Is being "Americanized" good? Things like that.

hahaha, I think my race/ethnic studies classes are seeping into my brain.

[herowlness]

I ... don't really know. I like learning about new cultures/religions/etc., even if I don't adopt them myself. It's just INTERESTING. :D

[delicatelight]

I agree with pretty much everything you said up there. I'm completely in support of Obama, though I don't have the hatred of Hilary that so many (not meaning you) do. I think that she would be a decent president, but we don't need a decent president right now, we need a good one.

We've spent far, far too many years under a crappy administration, being led by a man whose intelligence is questionable, and from what I can tell, is blindly following the orders of a man I believe to be evil.

I've been voting for ten years now. In all the years, only once have I voted for a candidate that won. I never voted for Bush, and I'm still bitter about the 2000 election, when I did vote for the winning candidate, it just didn't seem to matter. The only time anyone I voted for won was in the 2006 election and the Democrats took Ohio. It was the first time in my memory we were a blue state.

I have so much hope for this election. I have so much hope for this country. I'm tired of us being considered as a war-mongering super power that

[herowlness]

I wouldn't say that I *hate* Hillary, but I definitely don't care for her. Honestly, even though I am fairly liberal, I think I would vote for McCain over Hillary, if only because I think that he's much more likely to be able to solve our problems through bipartisan efforts.

I've voted 3 times - 2004 Presidential election [Kerry, who lost] and the 2006 election [which was more because Wisconsin had an anti-gay marriage amendment that I had to vote against]. Living in two states, I don't feel *right* voting on issues that are non-National, usually. I don't feel the effects as much, so why should I affect how things are done? I totally caucused in 2004, though, and that was absolutely fabulous.

That same argument you've made about Hillary is one I've definitely heard before. Although the adjectives used were "good" and "great," IIRC. Still, the point remains the same. Why settle for "good enough" when you can have the spectacular? We shouldn't have to settle; we should dare to dream. :D

[weasleytook]

I think I would vote for McCain over Hillary, if only because I think that he's much more likely to be able to solve our problems through bipartisan efforts.

Honestly, I cannot fathom how anyone who wants big changes in this country would choose McCain, much less any Republican over Hillary if she gets the nomination.

McCain loves war, I don't. McCain would never get my vote because he seems to want us over there for the next couple generations. No thanks. He is certainly the lesser of the GOP evils and ANYTHING would be an improvement over the current administration, but that's me being kind. I guess it just boggles my mind when someone with liberal views would vote conservative for any reason because I would abstain from voting before I'd vote for a Republican. (And I love voting!)

McCain also supports Don't Ask, Don't Tell which is one of the dumbest things EVER.

[herowlness]

I admit that I'm not all up on McCain's policies - but that's something I will certainly read up on should Hillary win the nomination. Since I'm not educated on the subject, I didn't put that detail into my post since I can't say that I *will*, but that I'm considering it at this point. It's all theoretical for now as I will be voting for Obama [via absentee ballot] when Wisconsin votes in a few weeks. But as the months pass, I'll have to evaluate the political landscape. And, of course, a third party candidate could still run, so that would shake things up further

[herowlness]

The main players are Obama and Hillary - and I outlined some of their positions above, of course. The main Republicans are John McCain [who is currently the front runner, apparently] and Mitt Romney. Romney is generally considered to be more of a typical conservative Republican; John McCain doesn't vote down the ballot as a Senator and is probably more of a moderate.

That's just a quick run-down. Hopefully that helps, and - of course - if you have other questions, let me know. :)

[herowlness]

Yeah, I heard that she was doing robo-calls for Obama. It's kinda hilarious that you don't have any independent voters in your house though. Strange.

[herowlness]

=shrugs= I know my dad is registered Republican, so when we get those calls, I have fun messing with their numbers.

[carminaburana]

I voted for Obama already despite my primary being tomorrow (mail in ballots RULE

[herowlness]

I'm not a political science expert by any means, and I really only have distinct memories of the Dubya years. I remember Clinton's presidency, but I can't remember policy details or how he wielded the veto, etc., so I do appreciate your thoughts on the subject

[carminaburana]

The choir here is definitely for Obama and i'm sure he and Hillary are different, but it's just so hard to know how given the info we have. As for con law, most law students are required to know it (and undergrad political science majors as well for the most part), so most politicians who have practiced law (including both Hillary and Obama) should have a background, otherwise they have no business holding a law degree. Of course, D-average Yalie Dubya is a totally different story. HAHAHA

[herowlness]

That hawk-like explanation of Hillary's vote makes sense, and I can better understand why she made it. Still, I think Obama's point that he'll be better able to distinguish himself from McCain - should they end up as the nominees - is valid.

And, yeah, the Obama Kool-Aid fabulous. :D