FOR: I like Obama. I really do. He has a great personality, he’s knowledgeable and impressive on the issues, he seems to have a healthy sense of humor, he has conducted probably the greatest presidential campaign of my lifetime, he has a diplomatic ability that could bring America together and actually make the rest of the world like us again and he represents a new, fresh, modern vision of what this great nation stands for. He will govern pragmatically. He represents the slogan the founders of this country gave it: E Pluribus Unum; Out of Many, One. We may finally get some healthcare reform and the possibility of a sensible federal drug policy. He’ll use war as an absolutely final resort. Plus he’s cool.
AGAINST: On the other hand, the allegations that Obama is a socialist ring true in his policies, I don’t think he has the right to distribute anybody’s wealth but his own, I disagree with his opinion about the role of government, he seems incapable of defending individual liberty with any consistency or appeal to principle and he will govern pragmatically. (Yes, that’s a plus and a minus for pragmatism.) He may attempt to infringe on our rights in many unprecedented ways – our guns, our fast food, our wallets, our broadcasting – it’s possible nothing will be safe. And he’s most likely to appoint Supreme Court justices who will reinterpret the Constitution rather than appeal to what the framers intended.
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FOR: Positively, McCain appears to understand capitalism and how much we rely upon it for our standard of living and our good economy, his message of cutting government spending and lower taxes is very attractive, he is a true hero who has displayed an extensive commitment to his country and his love of it, he isn’t afraid of making decisions which are unpopular that need to be made and he has a steely resolve that would bode well in our fight against terrorism. Guns and wallets will be somewhat safer if he’s elected and he’s probably the least religious of all the candidates, which bodes well for those of us who don’t want to see censorship on the broadcast media and other moralizing restrictions on consenting adults. And he’ll appoint judges to the Supreme Court who faithfully apply the Constitution as its framers intended.
AGAINST: On the other hand, McCain won’t represent as big a change from the policies of Bush, his approach to foreign policy won’t extinguish as much hatred and anti-Americanism as Obama’s, he’s chosen a vice-president that – unfortunately, for she’s a great woman – is the focus of similar criticisms to Bush with regard to intelligence and competence, he is old and a career politician rather than a fresh newcomer with the energy and vitality to see America through the next 4 years and he’s a Republican (a party which doesn’t deserve to be in office right now). He’ll jump to war faster than Obama. Plus he sounds like the Penguin.
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Who to vote for? Penn Jillette says nobody. Some folks at Reason say Bob Barr (Libertarian Party). I don’t get a vote (since I’m not a U.S. citizen), and maybe it’s just as well, since the current crop of candidates isn’t a choice at all for people who want small government. Obama and McCain aren’t that different really, and the libertarian candidate won’t make a dent in the process. So, I find myself simply looking forward to a change, whatever it may be. It will be nice to be analyzing the new president’s progress with all these wonderful campaign promises throughout 2009 and proving some right- and left-wing zealots very, very wrong.