I don't look at my vote as a referendum on the current administration. It's a "hope" that the new admin. doesn't completely fuck everything up. At least with the Republicans, and the last administration, I take consolation in feeling like I was sold down the river. I didn't consciously sign-up for the biggest increase in domestic spending since The Great Society. W just had a hard time telling this shit congress no thanks, try again. I regret being sold down the river.

At the same time, I cannot vote for a party whose answer to every social issue starts with "A new Gov't program that does..." From Universal Healthcare, to Freddie and Fannie, to a goddam federally-funded disaster insurance program (WTF?) gov't spending is going to turn this country into an all-inclusive Sandals. When China stops giving us cash, they'll just start taking land - from west to east. 

For me, the 2008 version puts a new spin on the tired mantras of the Democratic Party - class warfare, manufactured community, mandated societal responsibility. Ehhh, as soon as they start peddling the Tax-cuts for the rich crap, my eyes start to roll into the back of my head and I think to myself: the bottom 50% of earners pay a whopping 3% of the tax receipts. As for the bottom 40%, you cannot give a tax-break to a net negative. Give it all back and call a spade a spade*. Half of this country pays next to nothing in terms of net taxes. That is, when the benefits received are compared against the contributions, the sum is a net loss. Yeah, I'm an asshole for saying this group doesn't pull its weight. That misses my point. The reason this statistical fact is important is because it already points to a neighborly effort that is suggested we should posses. Point of fact: the minority of the US tax payers already support the majority. To suggest that they do not is disingenuous. To suggest that they should feel patriotic by doing more borders on malicious.

The popular Democratic theme of tax-cuts for the rich takes advantage a modest silence by the minority and leverages a statistical ignorance with trite class warfare. Yeah, it bothers me that much.

It makes me think about the salt-of-the-earth Truman-type Dems - Hoffa-type guys. Now that was a labor party. The current Dem. party has been hi-jacked by the far left loons that: think 9/11 was a conspiracy; do not understand UN or NATO resolutions; get sweaty when Europe farts. The right has their share of whacko's, they just don't get mainstream air-time on the View. I think about my grand parents, and other grand parents that I know - people that would vote Blue until they were cold and stiff - and I cannot help think that they would be lost today. A party of trial lawyers and political surrogates does not resonate with blue collar America. Blue collar America is fucking great. The message I hear from the blue camp makes me think they are all standing with their hands held out. The part of me that remembers growing up finds that offensive.

It's not that I think the Republicans are so good, it's just that the Democratic equivalent is corrosive to my internal chemistry. Back in 2000, the fact that Gore couldn't beat George W. Bush speaks to the Dem. candidates short comings. Clinton gave Al a so-so leave, the economy was still decent, but the scandals were rather note worthy to say the least. But the guy was a robot. And now we find that he's bat-shit insane. Remove all the fossil-fuel cars and convert them to a non-existent super fuel - in ten years. He knows that the average life span of a domestic vehicle is about the same amount of time, right? And then we got Kerry-Edwards. Holy fucking shit. Stop nominating trial lawyers and maybe the Dem. party will cease to be bi-coastal. A 20-year Senator who has zero examples of leadership, and an attorney that did all he could to inflate medical findings for his patients' gain - strange how Biden couldn't break through that select group and become the front runner.

After the Democratic Party went through internal convulsions trying to decide which had more merit: being the wife of the President, or hope; we get Obama, another lawyer with a record that is vacuous. It seems to me that a constitutional professor with a destiny for the change we are waiting for would have authored something that is worth review. I'm curious as to why a legislator that is running on political reform and leadership has little background to reflect this. Obama's Illinois state legislative background amounts to: controversial issues he has avoided; bills he has pilled on top of at the last minute. His Federal accomplishments amount to locating the public restrooms, the Global Poverty Relief Act, and his presidential campaign. Sign. Me. Up.

By way of comparison, I happen to think that JFK was a lightweight and that he was the justification behind the Cuban Missile Crisis. JFK had a twelve year congressional record on top of military leadership. Obama doesn't instill me with any confidence that the US is going to get taken seriously at any negotiations table that involves Iran, NK, SA, Pak, etc. *Clue: Russia will not support UN sanctions against their own country. And, they have a UN Veto.*

Add to those points the fact the Obama has been groomed by the Chicago political machine. His association with that, and the political machinations that make him associate with Ayers, Wright, Rezko, make me think that he is either: of the same mindset; or, goosing the system for his own political gain. Since he is running on change, I am persuaded to think that he is just as fatuous as any other candidate and less experienced. I don't have any evidence that Obama is going the make an immaculate transformation and reform the political bosses if he is elected president. Maybe I'm bitter. Obama's platforms of change are oddly similar to the common themes of past Dem. politicians: Federal mandates on Energy, Healthcare; increased taxes on the rich; increased spending on education; all with the hope that somehow it will be different.

I would be more inclined to consider a Dem. candidate:, Kerry, Clinton, Obama, etc. if they got their ass into the Senate Chamber and drafted some solid legislation that addressed a major issue. Take your pick: SS, healthcare, SCHIP, immigration. Get that pushed through and use it as their stump. Until that happens, it's all just a political speech from either a let-down or unknown.

I cannot vote for that.