2008 Presidential Election

**Webmaster** · 10-22-2008, 10:30

As most of you know, the US Presidential Election is on November 4th, 2008. However, yesterday, early voting started yesterday. So let's hear who you have actually voted for (NOT who you will vote for). So if you have already voted, you may vote in this poll. If you have not voted, please wait until November 4th after you have cast your vote.

If you would like to discuss in this thread why you have voted the way you have, please feel free, but let's not get into a back and forth debate between members on the merits of your particular candidate. Just keep it simple and state why you support your candidate if you are so inclined.

Please note that your votes will remain private.

Finally, while I realize that this election has the attention of the international community, I do ask that non-US citizens be honest and please not cast a vote in this poll.

**John Bennett** · 10-26-2008, 08:26

Ack! I voted in this poll before reading the post asking to wait until after we actually voted.

I always vote on election day because I'm gonna be there anyway to attend the party precinct meeting afterwards.

**jwinch2** · 11-04-2008, 20:23

9:20 EST and it looks like it is over. Viva la Revolucion...

Hope....

change...

how? no no, don't ask how...

hope...

change.....

ok, that's better. crap.

**Webmaster** · 11-04-2008, 21:27

Yep, not looking good. Oh well, easy come, easy go.

**Jeff Burger** · 11-04-2008, 22:32

Well my guy lost.

One of my local votes lost as well. They will now decriminalize Marijuana in Mass.

Too many pot smoking hippies.

**Ramirez** · 11-05-2008, 06:22

Originally Posted by Jeff Burger

Well my guy lost.

Too many pot smoking hippies.

Hippies? Where? The retirement homes?

anyway the marijuana keeps them mellow, that way they don't riot at the next Pink Floyd concert.

I didn't post while the election was on but I have to say that McCain had a good chance except some for huge blunders.

1) Palin, even rabid conservative pundits like Parker and Frum were saying she was an embarrassment.

2) The economic file, early on I read Carly Fiorina was one of his economic advisers...the same Fiorina that almost drove Hewlett-Packard into the ground. He didn't reassure the public (and I mean globally too) that he could handle the financial crisis, I don't blame him but his advisers didn't prepare him, I doubt Obama is any more of a economic expert but he sounded more prepared.

3) Going negative on Obama. You could tell McCain wasn't comfortable with this, to his credit I think he is too honorable a man to campaign like that. It seemed forced and phony coming from him.

**Cliff Hargrave** · 11-05-2008, 06:52

Those are cute ideas Mark, but they are really off base. Palin is the only thing that made McCain even competitive. Without her, half of the conservative voters would have just sat this one out. McCain isn't considered a serious conservative in the party.

You probably can't find one out of a hundred voters who know who Fiorina is.

Negative ads work. They always have. That's why he had a slight bump in the polls at the end. He should have went negative much earlier and more often. He ran a way to nice campaign. Heck, Hillary should have went negative more, she probably would be the next president now.

Obama is the president because the stars lined up perfectly. The media crushed Bush and the Republicans for eight years straight. The Iraq war dragged on way to long, gas prices went nuts, and economy took a huge hit right at election time. Plus Obama did something a lot of Democrats try to do and never succeed at, he got minorities and new young voters to actually go vote. They traditionally try to get them out, but those groups are notorious for not showing up on election day. Finally he is just a great speaker, looks good, and appeals to a wide group. Face it, McCain is just another old politician. All of these things just made people want to try something new.

**Ramirez** · 11-05-2008, 06:59

Originally Posted by Cliff Hargrave

You probably can't find one out of a hundred voters who know who Fiorina is.

I like to give voters a bit more credit than just falling for hype.

It is not so much that the voters don't know who Fiorina is but the quality of his economic advisers, if he had gone into that bailout meeting and taken charge I think he would have done a lot better. Facing what might be the greatest economic crisis since the Depression, I think people want reassurance.

I saw some exit polls last night where the economy was the major concern for 61% of the voters.

**Cliff Hargrave** · 11-05-2008, 08:19

Originally Posted by Ramirez

I like to give voters a bit more credit than just falling for hype.

I try also, but I keep getting disappointed. This election is a prime example.

**Ramirez** · 11-05-2008, 09:11

In any case Cliff, getting elected was the easy part, I am going to be interested to see how he is going to handle the vast problems facing the US and the world.

When the economic crisis hit we had an election in Canada and the US, and I was thinking who in their right mind would want the job of national leader.

Lost in all the hysteria about Obama last night is the cold and harsh reality that he will have to face, the bloom might come off the rose in a hurry unless he can deliver.