Topic: Are you a Republican or Democrat?

clicketyclick: 1
Supermarioman: 0

Amazed this didn't descend into name-calling and get locked. Well done folks!

I made the mistake of registering Democrat for the 2004 election so I could make the mistake of voting for Kerry in the Primary (first time I've been down as anything but Green since the 1992 election when I voted Brown against Clinton, despite conceding Clinton was the better debater) -- Kucinich (sp?) was clearly more ideologically sound and morally consistent (honestly voting for the Iraq War and then running a campaign against it? Not very clever John.). Naturally I realised my mistake and then voted for Ralph Nader for a 3rd consecutive election as a write-in rather than back that loser.

I was going to skip this past election what with not living in the States for nearly a decade and having seen the outcome of the last one, but I simply couldn't pass up the historic opportunity to vote Obama this last time. Hopefully he doesn't squander the opportunity, but after Clinton's betrayals following the '92 election I don't have high expectations anymore...

In the UK I vote SNP all the way, but I'm not a joiner and in the UK joining a political party means actually being involved unlike the States where registering party affiliation has less meaning than supporting a baseball team.

Every opportunity to vote for any candidate is historic. You may never get the chance to again, unless they win and go for a second term.

I suppose, but Obama is a bit more of a landmark than say, John Kerry...

Obama is an incompetent stuffed shirt who will be remembered only for being black, unless he does something particularly disastrous while in office.

I hope one day we'll live in a post-racial era, in which one person's candidacy is viewed as no more historic than any others, not seen as some sort of imagined step forward for a certain group of people, but instead seen as no more than it actually is: one individual's quest for power.

I sincerely share Clicks' well-stated hopes, but I disagree that he is "incompetent," per se. He has proven himself extremely adept at perpetrating on the U.S. the "fundamental change" he made sound like such a beautiful thing during the campaign.
Now that people are coming around and realizing that the fundamentals of the United States, forged and tested and refind so auspiciously to its own benefit and to that of the world over the last ~200 years, were pretty solid and didn't need changing. And his approval rating plummets while voter's remorse skyrockets.
Add "mindless admiration" to "historic opportunity" as among the reasons the next four years and his lasting legacy will be little more than a stain on this nation's history.

Registered Republican, but I'm not tied to voting a party ticket. If a Democrat (or Independent) happened to share my values, depending on the vote or agenda, I would just as easily vote for them. I'm growing increasingly unimpressed with both parties, but realize that going independent/etc is basically throwing away a vote. (while, at the same time, hurting the 'lesser evil' you'd vote for ... and you'd miss voting in Primaries)

I basically view Obama as a vote for style over substance, but McCain wasn't exactly a stellar alternative either. It's essentially like voting for Bob Dole in '96 to avoid a second Clinton term, etc.

What non-US-savvy posters might not understand is that there is a HUGE divide in the American political system. (not just shades of gray, despite actual politicians mostly being the same gray scum) Beyond that, the divide is equally large in morality and views on society. It's why the two party system is here to stay, and also why it takes so much work to get anything done.

Speaking as a Brit, who knows next to nothing about what actually happens in US politics (as opposed to what I get fed in the news), I think Obama rocks and am impressed that America overlooked his skin colour and took the plunge. You voted (not personally I'm sure) for Bush two terms in a row ffs!

insert picture of drunken Randy Marsh

Fixed it for ya. Personally, I feel very strongly that race should have no part whatsoever in the selection of any individual for any job - but hey, that's me.

So in theory then, a female presidential candidate will be a shoe-in at the next election. Uhoh!

Sadly, yes. This has nothing to do with a specific woman's ability to lead and govern, but everything about making news, headlines, and the business of media hype.

I disagree. I believe Obama will have really sullied the "historic vote" value by then and hopefully - HOPEFULLY! - people will actually vote substance and values over style and marketing. Or to put it another way, I believe voters can use the '08 election as a "teachable moment," if I may use his own language.

@ 93, 94
Not entirely true. Almost no one cared about a woman running for vice president last election because people thought she was clueless, and though the lesser position, it would have been equally "historical." And it's not like Obama was the first African-American to get in the Democratic primaries. You still have to at least look like you know what you're doing.

There has been far too many political scandals in my lifetime for me to trust any politician.They are far to busy feathering their own nests to be sorting out the needs of my once great country (UK). I believe that a more locally run government would be far more efficient and useful and who's members should include shock horror residents of the town. Each district is different and requires different policies and funding.Each town should have their own council and residents should be consulted (and actually listened to) before any big decisions are made.My country is rapidly going down the s****er thanks to the many years of incomptent goverments and corrupt politicians.They think that if a problem is growing then throwing around a few buzz words and policies that are as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike will solve problems that run far deeper and cannot be solved within one term in office. You can feel the resentment in this country towards the goverment more and more ,for example our population (not me BTW) just voted in two members of the BNP (British National /Nazi Party) into the european government as a protest ,most likely against years of being shat upon by our so called leaders.Big change is needed but I fear will never happen ,our apathy runs deep (which is of course what they want). I am seriously considering emigrating to europe as I do not want my children to grow up in this country anymore .I still love this place but it's in serious decline as regards to violence, employment and all round civility. I could go on but I'm depressing myself. :')

@Luigi78: I was rubbing my hands in anticipation when the disgusting expenses shocker became known. I was waiting for heads to roll, from the bottom, all the way to the top. Did anything ****ing happen, did it ****! They're a dodgy bunch of self-serving *******'s and I hate them!!!

Luigi78 for Prime Minister!!!

I like cheese.

im a marxsist!.... Groucho sort.
90% wont get that joke

Exactly. That is just the kind of thing I mean.If that had of happened in a normal workplace the guilty would all have been fired. What happened? A couple of snivelling apologies and a couple of resignations and everything gets swept under the rug and carries on as if it never happened.And what do we ,the great british public, do?? We grumble away in our closing down pubs and rotting communities and put our heads back in the sand and watch coronation street. A revolution is needed but whenever you mention it to most people they look at you like a crazy man but how long are we gonna let ourselves be trodden on? After all it is us who employ these f****r's. Guy Fawkes FTW!!

Viva la Revolution! Let's follow Luigi78 to victory

Woo hoo. That's 2 votes, with a bit more vote rigging I could be in parliment this time next week.
now where did I put that expenses form?