Politics: Presidential Candidates

I share your sentiments, Circ. I am a registered Republican, but a libertarian at heart. I am conservative, and my personal views reflect those of most fundamentalist Christians. Being a libertarian, I feel that regardless of my personal beliefs, for example my belief in the right to live, we are a country that is founded upon the principle of freedom. We tow a very fine line between a country that upholds value and morality, and a country that supports freedom and liberty. This country was founded based upon our number one guide to morality, religion, but also with the notion that we are to be free from persecution and slander based upon our social, physical, or moral differences.

I was taken aback by Rudy's comments, paraphrased, that while he too supports the right to live, he does not believe it to be the place of the government to determine whether or not a woman can make that choice. I respect his belief, and even at this point I am under great moral unrest on this issue. This brings with it a great precedent, one that should not go unheeded. I do not personally believe that homosexuality has any place in the world - but this does not mean a government that reserves the right to limit these individuals from their freedom for their actions and beliefs is appropriate. I believe that should Rudy choose to run as a Republican, he may find that he will lose a large portion of of votes that he could otherwise have had. He may do better, given the current political situation, to renounce his Republican running and run as an Independent, and he may very well be very successful in doing so.

I support John McCain, and I believe that he, like Former Vice President Al Gore, is very passionate about what it is that he believes in. I do support his beliefs, and I respect the both of them for exactly those reasons. It may be unfortunate to know, perhaps, that McCain may change his devices in these new stormy waters for both parties, to maximize his political clout. Sacrifice is necessary, and perhaps excusable on some of these less-than-forefront issues. He has an excellent stance on the military, and I wholly support his approaches.

On the note of Al Gore, I think that while he "does not have plans to run for President", I think that a Clinton-Gore platform for the Democrats would be immensely powerful. Al Gore is extraordinarily passionate about what it is that he does (climate control), albeit a bit misguided. I respect and would consider supporting this man as a candidate for many things, and equally as possible if he would run on one of the existing platforms, should he decide to do so.

I also believe, rather firmly, that rather than quibbling over Democratic-Republican finger-pointing, even to the degree of right and left wing extremists taking potshots and making underhanded deals, we should instead be working fully together. I believe that our current Congress is undermining our effectiveness as a country, (though, they are doing better than I had hoped, I had expected a complete standoff until the next presidential election, at which point I'd imagine plenty of quick political maneuvering) and that the discernment of the media, fueling only the fire on both sides, is causing deep rifts in our country that may ultimately destroy us.

Why is it that all of our focus is upon a single third of our country's power? We are, in fact, a triplicate system. A balance of checks, a three-way handshake between our judicial, legislative, and executive branches. All are to play equal parts in our government, and we need to reflect that in our debates and outcries. This in mind, I believe that regardless of our next executive leader's affiliation, views, or platform - the judicial branch, primarily the supreme court - will play a crucial role over the course of the next six to ten years.

What happened to the power of our states? Are our state legislations afraid of making decisions for themselves? I see a few states making public decisions, and I respect our dear Ahnold for his attempts at righting the wrongs of his Cauliforneeah. It is prudent of our states to make these decisions, and it would be more prudent for them to assert their right to control and control the citizens within their borders. The national government plays far too big a role currently, and I believe that a large portion of that power belongs more locally. We are the United States - and I for one intend to live as united states, as a North Carolinian, as my brothers in South Carolina, in Virginia, in Utah and Alaska, across all of our amazing statehoods that make up our glorious unity. I intend to use my right to be a part of a Democratic Republic, in which I will vote to elect a representative on both the local, state, and national levels, to carry out the people's will. We deserve strong leadership in this nation, and we can not better serve ourselves than to get out, get educated, and vote.

Ultimately, it is important to note that regardless of our individual beliefs and morality, we are a democracy, and our government will reflect the will of the majority. At all points in time, people have the right to free speech and to demonstration, and at no point in history should these rights ever be revoked. Under no circumstances should any moral, religious, or social point of view be exempt from this policy, and under the same pretenses, no circumstance should ever warrant the right of any one body to persecute or chastise another based upon the aforementioned items.

Libertas praestantissimum donum.