So who do you like for President? (Obviously, a political thread!)

[indianasmith]

I don't want this one to be a flame war, but at the same time, we are heading into what could be a very consequential Presidential election.  The Democrats are renominating President Obama, of course, but the Republican field is still pretty wide open.  Without a bunch of debate and argument, tell me who you like (either by voting anonymously, or voting, then posting the reason why).  This is for no other reason than my own curiosity.  Thanks for your participation!

[indianasmith]

Since it's my thread, I'll vote first.  I genuinely like Rick Perry and he has been a good governor for Texas, for the  most part, but the more I hear Herman Cain the more I like him.  He is eloquent, persuasive, and seems to have a clear idea what to do.  If he is still in the running when we get to the Texas primary, he's got my vote (for now, anyway!)

[Leah]

NONE, they should have the guys from Iron Maiden as the prez. they would liven things up a bit!

[akiratubo]

Aliens who take over Earth.  They couldn't do any worse than we have!

[Mofo Rising]

Nobody really, but since Bill and Opus were nominated, I am going with them.

I'll probably end up voting for Obama, but it's really an evil of two lessers vote. The last four years have been... uninspiring.

I don't like Rick Perry, but I dislike when politics get in the way of reason. If a candidate ever arose with a reasonable background in the sciences, I would probably vote for them. Then again, they'd probably be a horrible politician.

[Derf]

Indy: I've got a question for you about Perry. I'm surprised you would support him after what he's done to education funding in Texas. As an educator, what is his appeal to you? I personally could not support him whatever his stance on other issues might be just based on his devaluing of education in a state that so desperately needs reform in that area.

I personally kind of like Cain, but I'm still undecided.

[The Burgomaster]

There is no one in the current stable of candidates that instills confidence in me.

[FatFreddysCat]

I would vote for Bill and Opus in a heartbeat.

[Jack]

Oh god, are they going through that charade again?  Remind me to not watch TV for the next 13 months.

[Rev. Powell]

No strong feelings but Romney for now.  I don't think I could justify a vote for Obama.

Ron Paul is interesting and I agree with a lot of his politics, philosophically.  But 1) he's unelectable and 2) I have a feeling that if he did somehow manage to get elected it could be a disaster.  I think Congress would run roughshod over him.

[bob]

Obama...I guess. I think he's the lesser of the evils in this case.

[Flick James]

Of all listed, I would prefer Ron Paul. He represents the antithesis of everything I hate about politics. I watched The Ides of March yesterday, which exemplifies everything I hate about politics. Rev is right though, he is practically unelectable. I wouldn't say unelectable outright, but the only way we could get elected would be if he had dedicated himself as a third-party candidate and the planets aligned just right. Remember, Ross Perot did quite well as a third-party candidate and doesn't carry near the political weight that Ron Paul does. Highly unlikely, however.

Our system is broken, however. The budget deficit is a bigger deal than anybody wants to admit. It can be solved, and it really wouldn't hurt as much as everybody thinks it would, but the two parties refuse to budge on what is to be cut because, ultimately, by giving up they give up power. The Reps are just as guilty of this deficit as the Dems are, but finger-pointing is all we've gotten from them, and it's all we're going to get.

So, ultimately, unless Ron Paul actually gets on the general ballot by some means, my vote will go where it always has, to the libertarian candidate. I don't compromise my ideals at the ballot box.

[Vik]

I think almost all of the candidates are dumbass cretins, but that's just me. I voted Obama, mainly because I liked a lot of things he SAID he wanted to do four years ago, but really didn't. Rethinking it, "NONE OF THEM" would have been a more true option for me (so ignore one Obama vote). I like some of the ideas Ron Paul has, but I wouldn't vote for anyone who's not for the seperation of church and state, this simply ignores what Thomas Jefferson said. Then again, I live in Europe so what I think doesn't really matter at all.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I gotta say Bill and Opus... But I'll stick witH Obama.  So far the Republican slate is just trying to court the nutty people vote WAY too much.  I got nothing againsta  good fiscal conservative, but sheesh...bring us jobs and leave the gay people alone.  I worry about kids eating and having doctor's access, not legislating social issues.
-Ed

[Flick James]

I think almost all of the candidates are dumbass cretins, but that's just me. I voted Obama, mainly because I liked a lot of things he SAID he wanted to do four years ago, but really didn't. Rethinking it, "NONE OF THEM" would have been a more true option for me (so ignore one Obama vote). I like some of the ideas Ron Paul has, but I wouldn't vote for anyone who's not for the seperation of church and state, this simply ignores what Thomas Jefferson said. Then again, I live in Europe so what I think doesn't really matter at all.

Well, Obama is a hell of a speaker. Nobody can deny that. Even I get caught up sometimes when he starts talking, then I have to bring myself back and realize that he is definitely style over substance. The problem is the style portion of the equation is just too damn good.