Presidential Guide

Well, before I post my thoughts on the candidates, I thought you should look at the 2004 AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SELECTOR. Again, thanks go to the Triple S Blog where they apparantly would prefer that no one ever talk about politics. I can understand where Triple S is coming from, it is the source of much anger in this country, but since I've been a political junkie from an early age its just not going to happen.

Anyway, I put in selections, and here is what the Selector spit out:

The Results:

1. Ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Libertarian Candidate (65%)
3. Bush, President George W. - Republican (55%)
4. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (45%)
5. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (40%)
6. Gephardt, Rep. Dick, MO - Democrat (35%)
7. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (34%)
8. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (34%)
9. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (34%)
10. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (32%)
11. Green Party Candidate (31%)
12. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (29%)
13. Socialist Candidate (29%)
14. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (24%)
15. LaRouche, Lyndon H. Jr. - Democrat (22%)
16. Moseley-Braun, Former Senator Carol, IL - Democrat (19%)
17. Hagelin, Dr. John - Natural Law (14%)

At the top end, I think its mostly accurate (or at least between the first three choices). I have no ideal candidate who agrees with me on every issue. No one should, unless your supporting yourself. I am philosophically a liberatarian before I am a Republican, and have a lot of concerns with some Republican positions. But like any family, Republicans tolerate a large diversity of viewpoints (certainly more than the Democrats) and thats why I almost always vote Republican (I say almost always because I have pulled the lever for Libertarian candidates before - ie: when I lived in Vermont where they stood a chance of winning and Rhode Island where hell would freeze over before a Republican won).

I think Edwards falls about right. He's failry disarming ... and thats one of the things I don't like about him. But generally, he seems to sit on the fence like any good politician. I'm shocked John Kerry places so high, but chalk that up to his political pandering for votes and adotion of such soft positions he wants everyone to like him. Truth his, he should be down somewhere in the 14% range with Carol Mosley Braun, the Socialist Candidate, and Lyndon Larouche.

I'm most surprised about Lieberman, and can't really figure out why he places so low. This poll is all about percentages, and the difference between the Green Party Candidate at #12 and Dick Gephardt at #6 is only 4 points. Still, I would have thought Lieberman ranked higher, closer to the 45% or so that Kerry gets. I like Lieberman alot (falling for the Climate Change hoax notwithstanding) and hope, for the sake of a strong democracy and the Democratic Party, that he is their eventual nominee (though I guess I might be able to stomach Edwards even though i don't care for most of his positions). In fact, I plan on voting for Joe in the primary here in Virginia. So, go figure. I thought he did a great job the other night.

Well, I got to run and get to the Doctors appointment. I'll post more later.