POTUS08

A friend recently asked me who I liked for President.  This year I’ve been taking a big interest in the race and have come up with the following – Ranked in order of preference (and why):

1. John Edwards:

John Edwards seems to have put the most comprehensive plan together for ending corporate control of the American government. Right now, every single solitary politician plays the corporate lobbying game, which means that they are working for them and not us. This has to stop before any real progress can be made. What John Edwards lacks is the infrastructure and will-to-power to actually defeat the republicans should he be nominated. I fear an Edwards presidency is unlikely at this time.

2. Barak Obama:

Like John Edwards, Barak Obama has put forth a real plan, though maybe not as detailed as I would like to see. He also brings to the table real star-power and a charisma that hasn’t been seen since Bill Clinton was president. I believe that as long as he can get beyond his past, and the distortion of it the republican dirty-politics machine is already starting up, he has a real chance of winning.

3. Hillary Clinton:

Hiliary has put out a great plan for fixing the country. It’s a pity that it will probably never be realized. Hiliary Clinton can’t get past the one thing that will hold her back at this point, and that is being a Clinton. If she should win the Nomination, no matter who the republicans nominate they will unite against her in a way we haven’t seen. Moderate or Conservative, Religious or otherwise, republicans are all united in their hatred of the Clintons. Maybe it is because they can’t stand the idea that Bill’s presidency was and still is a high-point in our country’s history, with record employment, a record budget surplus, and a time of peace and respect in the world. Clinton would get my vote in the primary if I thought she could win the general.

The rest are irrelevant.

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As far as the republicans go, there isn’t a single one of them that doesn’t scare the crap out of me for one reason or another. However it’s only fair that I put my two cents in for the republicans as well, even though there isn’t one of them I would even consider wanting as president.

(In no particular order)

1. Ron Paul:

Here’s an out of nowhere candidacy that no-one ever thought would really matter. Don’t know where he’s getting his money from but he’s finding unique ways to spend it. His ideas on the consumption-only tax system are worth looking at, if we were to be taxed on what we consume (IE a sales-tax) it would encourage savings and provide for a better quality of life for everyone. It would also ensure that the filthy-rich pay their fair share. (or buy fewer BMW’s)

2. Mitt Romney

Scares the crap out of me. I don’t know much about the Mormons except to know that they ultimately work for the church. No matter what he says, I don’t have any faith in his ability to disconnect from his faith in the same way that JFK did. He’s got enough money to go it alone, but i think after another 2nd place finish he’s going to drop out. He’s smart, smart enough to know that you don’t continue to throw good money after bad.

3. Rudy Giullani:

A man defined by one thing. 9/11/01. No-one really knew (or cared) who he was until then. He performed admirably then. He also has a great record for cleaning up New York. But I don’t think you can fix the country’s problems by shipping the homeless people to Jersey.

4. Mike Huckabee:

This is another one who scares the crap out of me. My wife has told me that if he’s elected I’m to start looking for consulting work out of country, and by the look on her face when she told me, I believe her (and agree). Mike Huckabee would bring religious fundamentalism to this country in much the same way the terrorists would like to. Choice would be gone. Not just in the Pro-Choice/Anti-Choice debate, but choice of religion, choice of education, anything. He’s an extremest and as such should be treated similarly to Osama BidLaden.

5. Fred Thompson:

A joke. People thought he was going to be the next Regan, until he abjectly failed to do so. The only similarity between Fred Thompson and Ronald Regan are the afternoon naps. Thompson should go back to Law & Order and give up on this failed bid to popularize radical-conservatism.

Nuff Said.