Polls

I like many other people, are watching the progress of this year's election with great interest. I have voted in many elections since I became of voting age. I wish I could admit to the fact that I have voted in every election. In any case, this election is holding my attention to a much greater level than any of the elections I have participated in prior to this one. Why am I and so many other people so "glued" to this election? Are the canidates that exciting? Is one of the canidates that outstanding? Are we expecting a surprise ending? Or is it just the simple fact that it appears to be a very close race, and that raises the excitement level? I have been watching the polls as reported on the following web pages: www.electoral-vote.com slate.msn.com www.electionprojection.com None of which match by the way. You would think that since they all use the same source, that they would all report the same results... Funny how they don't. The reason there are "swing" states is because people can't make up their minds and depending on what people see and hear on TV, radio and the newspapers that day is what they decide to follow. Why can't they decide? The reason is that neither canidate is able to capture the hearts and minds of the American people. Before I go on, please let me tell you where I stand. I am a registered Republican. I say that and tremble as if I am saying something bad, because I come from a highly Democratic part of the state of Pennsylvania. I am a Republican because I believe in certain concepts, and I believe that the Republican Party better represents those ideas. My top three issues are:

1. The war on terrorism. I believe that President Bush, and his administration are doing the right thing. They may not have always done it the right way, but they are doing it. We need to attack and eliminate them. We need to show the world, and the terrorists that we will not cower from them. We are not afraid. We need to free the many people who have been held in place by a few. With Freedom, the Middle East can become whatever it chooses to become. And I believe that they will become a place that people will want to go to and live in instead of a place to fear.
2. Sanctity of life. I believe that all life is sacred, and should be protected. I also believe that to protect life, sometimes life has to be taken, as in capital punishment. I believe that without that deterrent and punishment that people who don't hold life as sacred will destroy it. I believe that President Bush and the Republicans hold the same opinions, that I do about abortion, stem cell research, and capital punishment. And this position is in line with my first position above.
3. Lower Taxes, Less Government. I believe that less government involvment in my life means more freedom to do what I want. The less government there is the less I have to pay for it. I believe that the economy thrives and grows when there is Freedom, and the more of my own money I have the more Freedom I have to spend it the way I want. I am more likely to buy items (big and small) when I have on hand cash. I don't like credit, so I like it when I can keep more of my money. I believe that is the same for businesses small and large. I have never heard of a company without money or a bankrupt company giving raises to people, or hiring new people. Although companies with money or profit, usually give raises, and hire new people. Tax them and us, and we all lose.

I believe that the Democratic party believes in the opposite of most of those concepts. They believe that the war on terror should be waged reactively instead of proactively. They believe that life is a choice of a mother, and they believe that more government means more oppurtunity.

So I am voting for George W. Bush. Not because I think he is an outstanding president and captures my heart and mind as a great leader... No I am voting for him, because he more closely represents my ideals as opposed to Senator John Kerry.

I hope that in the next presidential election I can vote for a person that I feel strongly about as a person, not just by the party he or she represents. And then I won't need to follow the race minute by minute.

Later Lou