Gadgetlady, The Watcher, and all in between...

[stevegoad 32]

OK, we have about 5 debates going on about the presidential elections, and two things are really coming out of it all:

One: We have some sharp divisions in this group as far as opinions go.

Two: On November 4th, either McCain or Obama will be elected president.

My question: With the various viewpoints, what will we do.

To those on the right (middle right, far right, etc) - what will you do if Barack Obama becomes president?

To those on the left (middle left, far left, etc) - what will you do if John McCain becomes president?

To all: What can we do to gain some unity in our country.

Note that, no matter what, there will be politicians, judges, reporters, bloggers, etc., who will make waves long after the election (saying this, people are still ranting about the 2000 elections).

But it is up to the individuals at the grass roots to make unity. So the question: How can we get there?

[clusk 0]

Stevegoad

Great Question!

I think if the polls stay as they are to election day showing Obama with a distint advantage and he looses, it is going to get ugly. The left is not going to hand this one over.

[BethFromVA 5]

I expect riots either way. If he loses, it'll simply be worse. If he wins, it'll be like the idiots that tear up their towns after winning a soccer game.

I have seen less and less unity across the country for decades now. It didn't begin with the Bush election and it won't end with this one.

[Jodi_620 37]

I am in the middle, an Independent who really does not like either choice. I STILL have not decided what I am going to do. Up until now, I planned on voting only on some very important local issues and skipping over the choosing of a presidential candidate. If I do decide to vote for either one, it will not be a vote FOR a candidate but rather a vote AGAINST the guy that I dislike/distrust the most. But I am just so tired of voting for the lesser of two evils.

So, it doesn't REALLY matter to me which one gets in, both have me pretty disheartened. At this point I think I would rather see it be McCain over Obama but that is not to say I think McCain is so great. I think it is going to be closer than some people think and see either side being sore losers and hope we don't have another "hanging chad" election.

I am not sure what we can do to unify the country. I think the separation between party lines keeps the division going. As and Independent I sit back and watch the hardcore Republicans fighting the hardcore Democrats and vice-versa, both sides have on blinders and can't see the bad in their own candidate and most will deny that THEY are being blind. They allow themselves to be distracted by polarizing issues rather than keeping focused on the issues that could really see change for everyone. When choosing the candidate for their party, rather than choosing the best guy, they vote for the guy that has the best chance of beating the guy in the opposing party, this allows some very good potenital leaders to fall through the cracks.

Honestly, I just can't wait for it all to be over.

Edited October 27, 2008 by Jodi_620

[plain 12]

OK, we have about 5 debates going on about the presidential elections, and two things are really coming out of it all:

One: We have some sharp divisions in this group as far as opinions go.

Two: On November 4th, either McCain or Obama will be elected president.

My question: With the various viewpoints, what will we do.

To those on the right (middle right, far right, etc) - what will you do if Barack Obama becomes president?

To those on the left (middle left, far left, etc) - what will you do if John McCain becomes president?

To all: What can we do to gain some unity in our country.

Note that, no matter what, there will be politicians, judges, reporters, bloggers, etc., who will make waves long after the election (saying this, people are still ranting about the 2000 elections).

But it is up to the individuals at the grass roots to make unity. So the question: How can we get there?

I'm waiting for folks to start quoting the Hollywood elite with stuff like " If (insert Obama or McCain here) wins, I'm leaving America and moving to (insert locale here)".

I'm not certain if we can ever be truly unified. Much more than republican / democrat, I think the division is conservative / liberal (not counting the rabid extremists on either side). I would hope that we could put aside some things for the good of America.

[Jodi_620 37]

I'm waiting for folks to start quoting the Hollywood elite with stuff like " If (insert Obama or McCain here) wins, I'm leaving America and moving to (insert locale here)".

I'm not certain if we can ever be truly unified. Much more than republican / democrat, I think the division is conservative / liberal (not counting the rabid extremists on either side). I would hope that we could put aside some things for the good of America.

LOL, I have an elderly neighbor,a true dyed-in-the-wool Rebublican who uses that quote at every election. In the last election, he was taking down the American Flag if Kerry got in in this election he was moving to Candada if Hillary got in now he will move to Canada if Obama gets in. Other than disagreeing with his political views, I just adore the guy so I tolerate him during election time. :biggrin:

I also wanted to say I agree that the extremist liberal /conservative are another polarizing problem in our country. And I just don't think it will ever change.

Edited October 28, 2008 by Jodi_620

[gadgetlady 4]

Wow. I don't know how I feel about being in the title of a thread . . .

To those on the right (middle right, far right, etc) - what will you do if Barack Obama becomes president?

Not much I will be able to do, except, through voting, try to reverse things again in 2 and 4 years. The problem is once entitlement programs are established, they rarely get reversed. If things get as terrible as they could with potentially all 3 branches of government being extremely liberal, sadly, my family might consider moving out of the country. I don't know all that expatriation involves, but it is something we are toying (currently lightly) with.

To all: What can we do to gain some unity in our country.

Note that, no matter what, there will be politicians, judges, reporters, bloggers, etc., who will make waves long after the election (saying this, people are still ranting about the 2000 elections).

But it is up to the individuals at the grass roots to make unity. So the question: How can we get there?

Unfortunately, we have such divergent values that I think there is very little common ground. Please know that when I use the terms "right" and "left" below, I mean the "true believers" in each party.

Those on the left truly believe in socialism and the redistribution of wealth; those on the right truly believe in capitalism and the right to keep what you earn. I don't think there's any "middle ground" in the two extremes. We are not fighting a "common enemy" as we have in past generations (whether it be England, Russia, Germany, etc.); what we are fighting is each other. Our ideological beliefs are so far apart that it will be difficult for either side to truly stand behind the other.

I wish there were a solution, but I just don't see one. Politics has become so corrupt, so dirty, and so underhanded it's just plain scary.

[gadgetlady 4]

I'm waiting for folks to start quoting the Hollywood elite with stuff like " If (insert Obama or McCain here) wins, I'm leaving America and moving to (insert locale here)".

HA HA! I didn't read through everyone's responses before I posted mine! LOL! I sincerely hope it never comes to that. I must say I've traveled much of the world and haven't ever found an (insert locale here) that I like as much as the place I live right now.

[stevegoad 32]

Hey Gadgetlady,

I was afraid you had me on ignore. I didn't mean to offend you putting you in the title, but you tend to be one of the more noted names on the conservative side of the political spectrum.

I know there there is a sharp divide in our country. I laughed when hollywood elite said they would leave the country if GWB became president (I noticed that Barbara is still an American Citizen, and the Dixie Chicks are still hanging around as well).

I might not see that raising taxes on some is really socialism... it is a fact of life, as it was when George Bush 1 did it. I will not be offended when my recording studio hits that 1/4 million dollar mark at paying more taxes, and I doubt most business folks would.

But talk of whether it is socalism or just making our tax system more fair or whatever isn't so much the issue as the fact that we are still citizens of the United States of America. At this point, making claims of who is friends with whom, what company has what candidate in their back pocket, etc, are somewhat moot points.

The fact is, one week from now, our government, our economy, our military, and every other facet in our lives will be generally the same (baring something on a personal level that will change us as individuals). Governments will be the same with just a new name making plans to sit in the oval office.

I just am wondering how we, as Americans, will go on working together at the grassroots level to make it better.

[BethFromVA 5]

LOL, I have an elderly neighbor,a true dyed-in-the-wool Rebublican who uses that quote at every election. In the last election, he was taking down the American Flag if Kerry got in in this election he was moving to Candada if Hillary got in now he will move to Canada if Obama gets in. Other than disagreeing with his political views, I just adore the guy so I tolerate him during election time.

I find it hilarious. Hillary and Obama are both socialists. Why would he escape their "reign" just to run to a completely socialist country?

[Devana 0]

I find it hilarious. Hillary and Obama are both socialists. Why would he escape their "reign" just to run to a completely socialist country?

I beg your pardon? Canada a "completely socialist country"???

Can you explain please?

[green 6]

I find it hilarious. Hillary and Obama are both socialists. Why would he escape their "reign" just to run to a completely socialist country?

Send us Barack Obama instead, please. He is very, very popular up here in affluent "Soviet Canuckistan." In fact, as the polls show, we Canucks prefer him to our local political offerings, and Obama, a Chicagoan, will find our dreadful climate to be similar to what he is now accustomed to.

Yes, we have universal health care (which means that my cancer treatment didn't cost me one thin dime), legalised abortion, and same sex marriages. We also have wealthy Canadians and a generally high standard of living.

[green 6]

HA HA! I didn't read through everyone's responses before I posted mine! LOL! I sincerely hope it never comes to that. I must say I've traveled much of the world and haven't ever found an (insert locale here) that I like as much as the place I live right now.

We are very different. Although I really love living in my large multi-cultural city, I have been in many parts of the world where I felt that I could live very happily. Indeed, I did live happily in the south of France for a few years.

[BethFromVA 5]

Send us Barack Obama instead, please. He is very, very popular up here in affluent "Soviet Canuckistan." In fact, as the polls show, we Canucks prefer him to our local political offerings, and Obama, a Chicagoan, will find our dreadful climate to be similar to what he is now accustomed to.

Yes, we have universal health care (which means that my cancer treatment didn't cost me one thin dime), legalised abortion, and same sex marriages. We also have wealthy Canadians and a generally high standard of living.

I've read and heard about Canada's universal health care. With all respect, thanks but no thanks.

[clusk 0]

Most americans are open to some type of Universal Health Care. Something like Medicare. Hopefully we might see it in the next 4 years.