Can I Get Political?
I’m trying to talk about politics more these days. It’s actually an area that interests me and it’s funny because it can really get people fired up. So sometimes I just say something to see what reactions I can get. The truth is I remember growing up and there were two things that were off limits for discussion: how much money my parents made and who they voted for. Politics and money were private issues.
I think I want to change that.
So here’s my thoughts. I’m wondering who the Conservative Right is going to vote for in 2008. I personally think you are going to see Juliani up against Obama for the Presidency.
If that’s the case, what do all the Right-Wing Christians do who have held up abortion as the defining issue for a candidate for so many years?
It’s a tough spot.
And… if it’s not Juliani, but McCain, then which is better… having a pro-life President who continues the war in Iraq? Or a President that is pro-choice, but puts an end to the war?
They’re just questions, so relax.
And it’s just a website, so don’t take it so seriously.
I think for me, the issue is becoming more and more about the war. And as such, I feel myself becoming more and more purple (let me know if you get that one). I would just like to see a more consistent ethic of human life. But I’ll talk about that later.
June 1st, 2007 at 11:18 am
There is one big difference between the war in iraq and being pro-choice. The soldiers who are over there have the ability to defend themselves while an innocent fetus does not. The two to me cannot be compared. It’s like trying to compare apples to oranges. One other view about the war in Iraq. To my family and I it would be like the US walking away from the Jews during World War II. We would never consider doing that so why do we want to walk away from the innocent people in the middle east who have been suffering abuse. There are more inncocent fetuses “taken care of” everyday than the total number of soldiers killed so far in this war. I always vote by my morals more than anything else, and to me that’s the most important thing. This is always an interesting topic to talk about!
June 1st, 2007 at 12:05 pm
I think it’s too easy for Christians to vote Republican. It doesn’t take a lot of thought because it’s what your suppose to do. I think it takes a lot of guts to educate yourself about Democratic candidates. I think it’s easy to slap a label on candidates like Republican and Democrat because it take the humanness out of them.
I better stop
Great Post
June 1st, 2007 at 12:29 pm
So how much money DO you make?
I ain’t takin’ the bait. Too early to tell (or in my case care).
June 1st, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Kris, with respect I assert that your missing one aspect of the war in Iraq - civilian causalities. Several months ago Lancet reported an estimate that around 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died since the beginning of the war. I distrust the validity of that number for reasons that I don’t want to get into right now. However, the BBC reported that an unofficial survey cites 10,000 to over 37,000 civilian lives lost…wow! Is this an acceptable loss of people because they’re Iraqis? I don’t think so. From what I understand of Christianity, Jesus cares just as much for the 10,000 dead Iraqis as he does for 10,000 dead babies. There is a huge ethical dilemma in supporting this war and any war for that matter if you are a follower of Jesus. I’m feeling that tension right now. Is God really on the United States’ side for this war? Or is He a convenient tool used to manipulate the masses by politicians?
June 1st, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I like to label myself as a Reagan Conservative and would love to see Fred Thompson run. I really don’t like the top contending canidates for the Republican Party; they are too moderate.
June 1st, 2007 at 3:42 pm
yeah, I feel ya on the “purple” joint….
Recognizing our common humanity and acknowledging that we all got the red and blue in us when it comes to all things political….
It would be pretty dope to start a new conversation, one in which we invite everyone to work together, with respect, to solve the problems that we face and help each other live up to our high ideals.
Yeah, I can dig the purple group….
……a house divided against itself cannot stand
June 2nd, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I would have to agree with Mr James. Fred Thompson will probably step in, a bit late in the game, for good reason. Most GOP/Conservatives will be tired of the front runners soon due to the fact they started so early and none of them are really strong candidates.
Now, I can’t say for me abortion is the defining issue. There are many others. Hilary and Obama both support a Socialist economy, though not by name. That bothers me. Euro business is completely controlled by the State, and both of those candidates have tended to view Euro as our guiding light. With some of Hilaray’s comments on shared prosperity, she might as well start pulling the Karl Marx quote book out. Universal Health Care would put a very high strain upon the masses. Canada and the UK both have this system and the taxes are massive just to support it.
National Security is still an issue. Steve, you said above that anyone who follows Christ should stay away from war. and I agree that we should never view war as our primary option, but as a Nation-State, i think you cannot rule it out. I’m not using this as a a set belief or anything, but a question posed about what about all the wars and deaths in God’s name in the Old Testament, post-ten commandments?
War itself is deadly, thats no doubt. I believe mistakes were made, but arent there always? If we pull out now, what will happen in the vacuum? Another post-vietnam where millions died because we werent there? If we pull out and we are attacked again, what do we do? Our Constitution and Declaration of Independence adn the Oath of Office all put in place the use of war as defense, can you not vote for anyone because they will be sworn to use those means in the event they must?
Good discussion.
Josh, I actually would like to ask you a few questions by email about some Columbus things. I think you should be able to see mine, do you think you could send me a line? We’ve never met so you don’t have to go like who is this? :D Thanks
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:44 pm
I believe it will be Clinton against Romney; although Giuliani has a bigger name. As far as the war goes, either fight to win or get out (I vote win). Political wars suck. Civilian casualties, I’d rather keep them over there than here. Abortion is an issue that won’t be solved no matter who wins, it comes down to the individual heart, people will do what they want to do; I’m more concerned with the protection of our nation. Shut down our boarders, kick out the ILLEGALS, and kill who we need to kill. If we don’t, we are dead. I don’t vote to a certain party, although I have always voted republican; just seems to be the better choice so far. I think Bush has screwed up a lot but dear lord, think if Kerry would have won. Hillary, she’s just a socialist, if she wins say bye to the America we know, and Obama is about as liberal as you can get. It will be a great time to vote, we have sooo many wonderful candidates running that are full of integrity, that I’m sure we can trust, that will hold fast the the promises they will make to us, and that have no personal agenda to profit for themselves; therefore always doing what is right, and not what is in their best interest.
As far as money talk in the home. My parents were the same way, we didn’t talk about it. I believe that is destructive to a child’s financial education. I will definitely talk about it with my boys.
June 3rd, 2007 at 3:09 am
Fred Thompson. I have never heard of him. In fact, I’ve started asking people and I have not found one person that knows who he is. Doesn’t look good with the primaries being months away.
And I think Romney is pretty far behind Juliani and McCain in the polls. Again, I just don’t know if he will be able to pull off anything in time to get the Republican nomination.
I really think that we’re looking at Juliani or McCain and Clinton or Obama. I just don’t think anyone else has the national recognition to pull it off.
June 3rd, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Fred Thompson is a former congressman turned actor (Law and Order most recently) who has a lot of backing in the Reagan line of conservatism.
It is kind of strange no one knew who he was, he is being mentioned on almost every national news network and shows. He just asked to be released from his TV contract and started an exploratory commission.
Will be interesting to see what happens.
June 4th, 2007 at 6:06 am
You ought to read the Drudge Report. You’ll find stuff regularly on all the candidates, including Fred Thompson.
Josh, you mentioned the polls showing who’s leading. I think once again the American public will be quick to forget the 2000 and 2004 elections and how the polls were so screwed up and highly inaccurate, even in the last remaining moments. Statistics are a tricky thing…and sadly you can make them say just about anything you want with just a little modification to a question, or dependent on what a person ate for lunch, etc. They are just not accurate.
I think it really is anyone’s game now. Some look stronger, but give it time. Those who are in the spotlight now will have a much harder time maintaining face as the light continues to shine on them. Masquerades can only be sustained for so long - human nature eventually leaks to the surface.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Yep, I don’t trust polls at all. They’re a bunch of crap; I believe mainly to attempt to sway or direct the public. The Drudge Report is a great sight. If I comes down to Juliani and McCain, I vote Juliani.
June 6th, 2007 at 4:38 am
The polls don’t matter. I think you guys are smokin’ crack. There may be some room for error in a public election, but the primaries have to happen first. So regardless of what the polls say, both parties have to stick someone out there and say, “This is our guy.” That decision is pretty heavily influenced by who is preceived to be “ahead” in the national polls.