ELECTION UPDATE: I am still not “exactly” sure if I go with the devil I know or say “no” and go with the devil I dislike to hopefully ensure there’s no devil, so-to-speak, in my “tent” next time around. Well, how likely is it that there are going to be so many fed up intelligent, fairly conservative, anti-government, godless voters like myself making a stand? Probably not enough to make it clear to the GOP that I am not satisfied with their infatuation with legislating morality, pandering to the religious right or McCain’s turnaround late in the game to support more regulation in a way that I think is an overzealous knee-jerk response to the recent bank failures.

(I will move the rest of my long exercise in mental masturbation on the other end of the link if you dare to follow along.)

For all my disappointment with my fellow conservative-types, I am as much or more-so turned off by the liberals on the left. There are some ignorant types that I’ve ranted about over on the right. They are pretty stupid, and anti-intellectual, and in some cases racist, but I’ve decided that the really bad ones are few and far between. Most are well meaning, even though I may disagree vehemently with their view of the world (read: fundies). The liberals who post YouTube videos are unable to tell when some people are saying inflammatory things just to disagree with the liberal holding the camera. They even have a hard time keeping a straight face. The critics on the left are unable to fairly interpret events because they have a dogmatic belief that conservatives are all evil, greedy, racist, rednecks. They will disagree with this assessment, but I can see they aren’t being objective. In fairness, it goes both ways, but I watch chat rooms and read blogs and all the conservatives I know are intelligent and fair-minded. Sometimes they harp too much on ACORN or something like that, but they pale in comparison to the vile hateful language and personal attacks that I see coming from the left.

I am sensitive to my own personal bias. I am so ashamed of the childish, petty personal attacks coming from the left that I want them to lose so I can feel good about myself and see them miserable. I try to take that into account and remain fair and evaluate the facts, nevertheless, before voting. I try to dismiss “personal” reasons that I might want to see one side or the other lose. As I’ve said, there are reasons to want both the left and right to fail. But, when it comes down to it, I am for conservative fiscal policy, limited government and limited taxation. I am opposed to class envy tactics coming from the Democrats. They pit the haves against the have-nots, and promise to steal from the rich and redistribute the wealth to the poor. In the end, a fair third-party evaluation shows that the Obama plan will do less to stabilize the economy, add jobs and boost the GDP than McCain’s plan. Although, as a good friend pointed out, you are really only presented with Socialism and Socialism Lite in this election. Not much of a choice.

I am concerned about both politicians owing too much to their wealthy contributors, and party bosses. I worry that Obama will be a puppet of Pelosi, who is in turn a puppet of the wealthy liberal elite. The Democrats are so eager to oust the Republicans, they don’t care who does what or what comes out of their candidate’s mouth. They will buy it because it is coming from a Democrat, and they demonize anyone associated with the “enemy camp”. Even if the facts are presented fairly, they will hear only what they want to hear. When it comes to McCain, I worry that Palin is evidence that the party higher-ups are forcing McCain to capitulate and change to fit the agenda of the religious right wing of the party. Still, I can’t believe McCain would allow himself to be controlled like I think Obama would. Frankly, Obama talks a lot and says pretty things, but I don’t have any confidence in him or his independence.

McCain knows more about foreign affairs (example: Obama promises to unilaterally re-negotiate NAFTA, and claims Colombia is a human rights den of iniquity.) Obama surrounds himself with academics and McCain surrounds himself with experts (i.e. generals). Obama at least openly supports intellectualism, but I question how much of a realist he is. McCain is more strongly pro-nuclear, which is important to me. McCain concerns me because at his age, he might start having more senior moments and may have a hard time managing the White House, but so far there is no proof of that.

Right now McCain looks better for the economy, better on foreign affairs and better on energy, healthcare and taxes. Obama would promotes secularism in government, which is good. He would promote educations strongly, but promoting the unions and more spending which I don’t think is a fix for the failures of a broken public school system. I don’t think McCain has better solutions, but at least they both agree that No Child Left Behind was underfunded and only trained kids to take a test, not understand the material better. Obama would regulate more, propose more entitlements, tax more and be a wildcard in foreign affairs. If I supported raising taxes on successful people and corporations, with the misconception that giving it to people making half what I make would improve the economy, then I would be for Obama. If I thought pulling out of Iraq quickly, making lots of unilateral foreign affairs and trade changes would stabilize the country (rather than just pandering to the protectionists) then I would support Obama. If I thought big government programs would give us the best health insurance and care, then I would support Obama. I think Obama is slick and sexy, but I don’t think his intentions make up for his lack of experience. He’s not dumb, but while he talks the talk, I don’t believe he will walk the walk. I frankly think we know better what we’re getting with McCain, and I do not believe McCain will govern like George W. Bush, or that he will be manipulated by a cabal of neocons. If there is anything in the next two weeks that makes me think McCain will be a replay of GWB or come with Wolfowitz and Chaney pulling the strings, I would definitely not vote for him.

I can’t in all honesty support Barack Obama. It’s like voting for a pedophile instead of a rapist. If McCain/Palin is a ticket I cannot in all good conscience support, then I might not vote. I think that in our two-party system, not voting for either party is a valid choice (regardless of what P.Diddy says). If I think McCain is better for the economy and the safety of our country, which I do, then a vote for Obama would be simply a vote against McCain’s fairly extensive baggage and acceptance of the harm to the country that comes with Obama’s team for the next four (or so) years. Palin is also a wildcard, but as long as she is second fiddle, it doesn’t matter and she has time to prove herself. She may be a tough-as-nails maverick, but she is also inexperienced and doesn’t seem to be up to the caliber of Obama. Fortunately, neither Palin or Biden is number one on their respective tickets.

So, I am faced with weighing the pros and cons to decide what is best overall for the country. It would be good to move the national dialogue on race by electing a black president. If the Republicans lose Congress and the White House, they will have to retool for the next election or two. However, that may push them further to the right, rather than making them more rational, intellectual and secular. Those things may not come for decades, until the average voter is better educated and better off (the rationale is that people who believe strongly in lifelong education, math and science will be more logical and less likely to believe blindly in priests and politicians, or be swayed by jealousy and make better collective decisions).

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