Knowledge is Power - Republican Candidates

Considering I usually lean a little more left than right I don't expect I'll have much in common with the Republican candidates. Let's see though. Again please feel free to comment, correct or call me on anything. My opinions are in red.




Sam Brownback

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No. I am almost completely opposed to everything Brownback stands for: opposition to abortion, embryonic stem cell research, backed President Bush’s tax cuts, so on... He has drawn some more attention to Darfur, which is good. But his positives are so small and his negatives so big. Never would I vote for him.


Jim Gilmore

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Again, no. Gilmore's speech is decidedly "anti-liberal", he seems divisive and scary. I am in opposition on many of the same issues that I was in opposition to Brownback on. Nope, wouldn't vote for him either.


Rudy Giuliani

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On a few social issues he seems reasonable, but his rhetoric frightens me. Aside from his hate-mongering speech, I differ from him on most issue from taxes to Iraq. Sorry Rudy, couldn't vote for you either.



Mike Huckabee

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I like his pro-humanitarian roles, but not his "culture warrior" mindset. Most issues he and I do not agree on. Another no for my vote.



Duncan Hunter

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I respect him for completely laying out his beliefs and policy ideas in a straight forward way on his website. Simple and easy to understand. And again I don't agree with 95% of them. Another no vote from me.


John McCain

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I like John McCain as a person, he seems thoughtful and reasonable. I disagree with him on a lot of issue, including Iraq. But I do agree with him on some issues too, like the right to human dignity for prisoners and reforming the rules for special interest groups and lobbyists. The republican could do a lot worse than McCain, but he is still not in step with where I want the country to go exactly.


Ron Paul

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Paul is in step with a few of my beliefs, property rights and eminent domain issues and on privacy rights. We differ on foreign policy and taxes. Perhaps one of the best candidates along with McCain the Repubs have, but I would have to know more before even considering him for my vote.



Mitt Romney

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Some issues Romney has the right idea on. Supporting technological growth in the US and some of his ideas on immigration reform or worth listening too. I would put him in the McCain category too, he appeals to me a lot more than the other candidates.



Tom Tancredo

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Everytime I read something good from Tancredo, I read 2 things that are bad. *sigh* For instance, I am with him on being pro-stem cell reserch, but not with him on gay rights and abortion. Sorry guys, as of right now, nope and nope for my vote.



Tommy Thompson

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I don't know what to think of this guy. But from what I have read, a quick "no" I think says it all for me. Guess I'll see in the Republican Debate this Thursday.

Knowledge is Power - Democratic Candidates

My opinion on each candidate will be in red. Feel free to comment yourself, or make counter points on my opinion even. Politic discussion and debate makes for a better and more informed decision.


Hilary Clinton

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She is a little too hawkish for my tastes in general. She stands as a very divisive figure in politics, many on the right can't seem to even stand the sound of her name. I liked her attempts to reform health care during the Bill Clinton years of the presidency, though her position seems to have become more moderate in this respect (to be honest I am not sure where she is on this issue right now, more moderate is the feeling I got from the recent debate). On the plus side, she is one of the Senate's strongest supports of nanotechnology and the sciences in general and she voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment and against Alito's appointment to the Supreme Court. As a negative, she voted to go into Iraq, she seemed to support certain types of censorship. She still hasn't won me over to be honest.


Barack Obama

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I am still unsure about Obama. I should know more about him, but I don't. His inexperience on a national political stage makes me nervous in supporting him for the presidency. I do agree with his support of higher education and his call to bring an end to the Iraq War (although that is generally a given among the dems). He would be a great candidate for 2012 I think. But he hasn't won me over yet in 08.



John Edwards

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Ok, next is Edwards. I generally like Edwards, generally. The plus side for Edwards is his work with the poor and his focus on the two Americas (the haves and the have-nots) and his want for some equality there. He also has admitted to making a "mistake" in voting for the Iraq War. He thinks that Karl Rove should be fired. He seems to be in favor of the working man's rights. All good things, no, great things. But he is in support of the death penalty (as best as I can tell) and he used to be a personal injury lawyer. If he got the nomination, I would support his campaign probably.


Bill Richardson

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Richardson is interesting. I like him for a number of reason. One he is to be capable of rational thought and action. He did a lot as governor of NM. He is a seasoned diplomat and has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize four times. He has been very vocal about ending the horror in Darfur. He also actually has a plan for Iraq and the withdrawal. As for the negative, he is I have heard the NRA's number one candidate. And before I cast my vote for him I would like to know more, but so far the +'s win over the -'s for him.



Dennis Kucinich

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Anti-war in Iraq from the get-go. Anti-Cheney. Anti-space based weapons. Pretty good from where I stand. He seems to be a thoughtful politician who cares for the people. He also has a specific plan for withdrawal from Iraq. I really like Kucinich. He is stricter on gun control than myself (wow, never thought I would say that!). And he could use a few lessons in persuasive speaking but I would probably vote for him right now.


Chris Dodd

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Dodd has a long and distinguished career in Congress. He is vote generally in line with most of my politics, I am investigating more about him. He has been in some ways tied to special interest groups as a negative. I do want to learn more, but right now undecided for Chris Dodd.


Joe Biden

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Biden is really hit-or-miss for me. I like some of his Senate record and don't like some. He speaks well when he doesn't have his foot in his mouth. He does have a plan for Iraq. I just can't say I would support Biden yet...


Mike Gravel

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For universal health care, nice! Anti-war in Iraq, cool. For a national sales tax... no way dude! *sigh* I like his fire and his general stance, but this one issue is enough for me to already say no to this candidate. I feel strongly about that one. I would favor a progressive tax or a flat-tax with exceptions for those under or near the poverty line, but I hate the idea of this Fair Tax BS!



Are my opinions arbitrary or strange? Probably, but that is where I stand with the dems after watching the MSNBC debate last week and doing a minimum amount of research. I would love to hear what anyone else was thinking about these candidates.