Web Logs
11/2/2004 - A Vote Against George Bush
This election will mark the first time I've ever voted against a candidate. Previously my ballot has always gone for the person(s) I felt best represented my own ideals, but this time I want to see George Bush lose.
To be clear, I'm not a democrat. I generally see more wisdom in voting Republican. The GOP may be poisoned by religious bigots, but its unwanted laws (oppression in the bedroom) are generally much easier to avoid than the Democratic's (oppression in my wallet) In short: sex laws - easy to evade; the taxman - not so much.
But this time around George Bush has really angered on a number of issues. To be specific (and in order of importance):
- Fiscal Conservatism - This is what we're supposed to admire in Republicans - tight purse strings, but Bush has shown no inclination to reduce the size off government, cut government spending or engage in any budget deficit reduction.
- The Mishandled War on Terror - Afghanistan went well, but Iraq has been a fiasco. From the war's questionable justifications to its current chaotic quagmire Bush has made a mess of things. He's made a mess and yet not fired a single underling along the way. It seems likely Bush wanted a war with Iraq and used Al Qaeda and 9-11 as a pretext for waging it. In doing so, he has indeed distracted us from the real threat.
- Religious Legislation - I have no problem with Mr. Bush's personal religious convictions, but when foists them on the rest of us as legislation and government policy, I want him out. This man just seems to have little regard for the notion of separation of church and state, evident in his support of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, faith-based initiatives, bans on stem-cell research, and even support for teaching creationism (yikes!).
So there you have it, my litany of grievances. I'm working from home today so I should be able to slip over to the polling place when the lines are brief.
Who do I think will win? To damn close to call. In general I favor Kerry because he's held the support of independent voters for quite some time, but war can make people awfully hesitant to change horses in mid-stream, so I won't be a bit surprised if Bush carries the day. And no, I don't think this election will end in a judicial tangle like the last one.
We'll see... (posted 7:05 a.m.)
