2008 Election

Well, I must say. I am in a real confuddlement on the 2008 election. I've never really been this involved. I mean, four years ago, I couldn't tell you most of the beliefs of Kerry or Bush. I have made some efforts to enlighten myself this time around, though. I'll be eightteen next election, so the time for my opinion to mean something is close, and I plan on being ready. But this post is about the 2008 election.

For this election, I have followed some of the leading candidates including Obama, Clinton, Guliani, Thompson, Huckabee, Romney, and partially Edwards. Until recently, I have been 99% behind Obama, for several reasons. For one, I agree with him on many issues, including some of the ones I care about especially (Energy, the Environment, Immigration, the Economy, Stem Cell Research). I also believe that the election of a black president will make a statement about America to the rest of the world, proclaiming its status as a leader in the absence of racial hate and the presence of equality in civil rights. Then again, I suppose that Hilary's election would be a different means to a similar end.

I disagree on some issues with Obama, though. For example, he seems to want to focus on early education (elementary school), where I believe the problems are later on and should be addressed then. Also, his lack of experience is one of his weaknesses. This did not affect my opinion much, though. The real heart breaker has been that I recently found out that not only did he inhale drugs in high school (I knew that for some time), but that he currently smokes cigarettes. I mean, we are thinking of electing someone to lead our country; Don't you think that person should be somewhat of a role model to the children, teens, and people of the States? What kind of role model is someone who has done illegal drugs and currently smokes cigarettes. I know it is hard to stop, but the issue remains at hand. Now, I am not so sure I like Obama all that much anymore, because I can think of other candidates, the like of which I agree with less issues on, but they have more experience and set a better example. Just my little speech on Barack.

In other news, the Iowa Caucus is going on right now. For those who don't know what that is, it is the voting of people in Iowa on who they want for president, but it isn't their official votes. It helps figure out the feelings of a state before the voite, and the state becomes more informed on candidates. My personal prediction is the Obama will be the head of the democratic side and Romney will head the republican side. Some think that Edwards could win the democratic, and alot think that Huckabee will be the republican favorite. What do you think? UPDATE! UPDATE! Obama won the dem and Huckabee won the rep. Find an article on whatever news site and read more.

Now, on to some other stuff. On Hilary Clinton... I believe that her views are a little too left wing/democratic/liberal. There is a fine line between American liberalism and socialism. She is playing on several things, not the least of which are the idea of a woman president and the strong desire of many an American to get out of Iraq. I think she is an extremist, as I mentioned before, and personally, I would not vote for her were I given the chance.

The republican candidates do not appeal to me for the most part. However, I do think that Mitt Romney would make a pretty good president. Unfortunately, I know that many will not vote for him because of his religious denomination (He's a Mormon).

Anyway, that pretty much concludes my post. I'm wondering what other people are thinking on the topic of the 2008 election. Who do you support and why? Who do you not like? What do you think about some of the things I've said?

Well, Happy New Year, everyone.

~Tyler