One shocker for McCain and his advisers was when, instead of rallying to the Palin pick, a lot of intelligent conservatives called her obviously unqualified and a pathetic attempt at pandering.
This was my basic attitude about 6-8 months ago (I voted for Obama in the California primary, though that may have been as much voting against Hillary Clinton).
However, since then I’ve become a lot more wary of the likelihood of Obama promoting anti-freedom positions. He’s really bad on the Second Amendment, for instance, and I am always concerned that the sort of speech restrictions that prevail in Europe (at least for Europeans) will be adopted here. But beyond any particular issue, there is just the general cultural bias in favor of the undistinguished collectivity, against the individual.
I don’t see myself voting for McCain, but a third-party candidate is a much likelier bet for me than Obama.
That was actually my position up to about 6 months ago. But this has turned into a pretty much one issue campaign for me, which is the disastrous foreign policy of the last 8 years, (which is not unrelated to the current economic implosion we're now in. I am fully aware that many of Obama's positions are arguably anti-freedom; but so are John McCain's and the neocons'. And Obama has the better position on foreign policy, which is the deal breaker for me. This will actually be the first time I have EVER voted for a Republican or a Democrat for president. In an ideal world I'd be voting for Ron Paul, but I don't feel I have that luxury. Larry Hunter's Op-Ed piece also fairly well represents my feelings on the matter.
I was actually more open to Obama at the outset (since he seemed significantly more intelligent than usual for a politician), but I have become more skeptical with time. That may be in large part because of my significant distrust of the news media and total disaffection with Bay Area “Progressive” nimrods like Code Pink.
I expect Obama will win, and I hope that my concern is overblown and he won’t be a polarizing, repressive leader. But I wish I owned a shotgun.
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However, since then I’ve become a lot more wary of the likelihood of Obama promoting anti-freedom positions. He’s really bad on the Second Amendment, for instance, and I am always concerned that the sort of speech restrictions that prevail in Europe (at least for Europeans) will be adopted here. But beyond any particular issue, there is just the general cultural bias in favor of the undistinguished collectivity, against the individual.
I don’t see myself voting for McCain, but a third-party candidate is a much likelier bet for me than Obama.
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This will actually be the first time I have EVER voted for a Republican or a Democrat for president. In an ideal world I'd be voting for Ron Paul, but I don't feel I have that luxury. Larry Hunter's Op-Ed piece also fairly well represents my feelings on the matter.
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I expect Obama will win, and I hope that my concern is overblown and he won’t be a polarizing, repressive leader. But I wish I owned a shotgun.
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Andrew J. Bacevich is one of my heroes right now, old friend.
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