So tomorrow I cast my vote in Ohio...

[Comicfilmer]

I'm a registered Democrat and tomorrow is our primary here in Ohio. I have not made up my mind 100% on who to cast my vote for. Here is your chance to present me with the pros and cons of both Clinton and Obama.

What are the differences between the two? Their policies seem quite similar from what I've been able to gather from the debates. Aside from personality differences and "experience" (which as far as I'm concerned neither one has - not that I think they need much more than they have), what is the critical thing I should be looking at here?

I'm asking you to help me clarify things and make my choice. Maybe with this move I'll discover some new avenues and realize things that I previously haven't. So, what say you?

 

[SuBe]

READ the Forum. Or ask StorminNorman who to vote for.

 

[Comicfilmer]

I've been reading around here for the last few months. I just want to hear the arguments from both sides in one place (minus the photoshopped pictures, jabs at candidate personalities, personal attacks, jokes, bickering, etc.). You don't have to post here if you don't feel like it. Maybe someone else will. Who knows? I'd just like to hear another batch of arguments from both sides. A forum is a good place to get that and this is the only one I frequent that even tolerates religious / political posts.

 

[Matt]

Write someone in.

 

[rdh007]

Yes, Matt, but who in Ohio is there that would make a good presidential candidate?

*sets ball on tee*

 

[Comicfilmer]

Yes, Matt, but who in Ohio is there that would make a good presidential candidate?

*sets ball on tee*

I think this is the part where Matt says: "Sherrod Brown." ...No?

I think I'm leaning towards Obama but it's really only because Hillary gets on my nerves - all because of her personality. I'd like my vote to have more substance than that...

 

[The Senator]

Don't vote at all. Nothing says you have to...

 

[souvlaki]

I think this is the part where Matt says: "Sherrod Brown." ...No?

I think I'm leaning towards Obama but it's really only because Hillary gets on my nerves - all because of her personality. I'd like my vote to have more substance than that...

In all honestly, that's pretty much what it's came down to for me as well. When all things seem to be equal, I'd rather vote for the person that doesn't make me want to shut off the television every time they speak. But you are right, however. No matter how much people on both sides try to spin it, when it comes to policy and experience (taking into account their own experience, not their spouses), there really isn't that much of a difference, especially when you compare it to their Republican counterparts.

 

[bell110]

No photoshopped pictures? Well, I guess I'm useless

Vote for Ron Paul anyways

 

[Matt]

Yes, Matt, but who in Ohio is there that would make a good presidential candidate?

*sets ball on tee*

Umm....umm...damn, I know this...Mark Warner...NONO, Evan Bayh...WAIT...NO! I KNOW THIS!!!

Spoiler

Russ Feingold?

But still, doesn't the fact that I can pull at least 10 Democrats off of the top of my head, with national recognition, more experience, and clearer and better platforms than Obama or Clinton but did not run or win because the media set up these two super candidates right off the bat because of their skin color and gender say something?

 

[Matt]

I think this is the part where Matt says: "Sherrod Brown." ...No?

I think I'm leaning towards Obama but it's really only because Hillary gets on my nerves - all because of her personality. I'd like my vote to have more substance than that...

If you don't like either candidates write someone in. Don't vote for someone because you think they are "likable." That kind of "I want to have a beer with him" menatality is what gave us 8 years of Bush.

 

[Comicfilmer]

Well, it's not that. I just can't seem to differentiate between Clinton and Obama aside from their personalities. I was hoping someone else was having more luck.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Well Clinton's a ***** so basing on personality, Obama wins by far.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Well, it's not that. I just can't seem to differentiate between Clinton and Obama aside from their personalities. I was hoping someone else was having more luck.

If you can't differentiate, then don't vote. My dad here in Texas is not voting. He says he will vote for whoever is the Democratic nominee in November but he is like you and doesn't see much difference between the two.

 

[souvlaki]

If you don't like either candidates write someone in. Don't vote for someone because you think they are "likable." That kind of "I want to have a beer with him" menatality is what gave us 8 years of Bush.

Jesus Christ people... when did he say he didn't like either of them? All he said was he had trouble differentiating the two policy wise, which is completely accurate. If that is the case, why is voting for the person he likes more so terrible? Matt, I know you don't like either of them, but that doesn't mean he should just not vote or write someone in because he cant tell the difference between both of them policy wise.

 

[Matt]

Well, it's not that. I just can't seem to differentiate between Clinton and Obama aside from their personalities. I was hoping someone else was having more luck.

They don't have many policy differences.

In regards to Iraq, Clinton wants to have a time table set up for withdrawl where we meet certain benchmarks throughout. Obama wants to immeidietly pull out all but 5,000 troops. He claims however he will send troops back if there is evidence of Al-Queda bases being established in Iraq (which is odd as we know there are. They are called "Al-Queda in Iraq,").

Economically...well, basically no differences. They want to get rid of the Bush tax cut and set up their own tax cut all the while increasing social programs and spending more money (which doesn't make sense to me, especially considering our deficit).

NAFTA- They both want to set up requirements for Mexico or we pull out of NAFTA (though these requirements will no doubt simply be a dog and pony show as neither candidate has the balls to pull out of NAFTA).

Healthcare - To be honest, both plans seem the same to me and they are simply debating the linguistics one another uses.

So yeah, there isn't much of a difference. If you agree with their policies. If you want to go on experience, Clinton probably has a slight, albeit not major edge in terms of national politics. If you want to go on likability, Obama has an edge. My advice, just close your eyes and pick one or don't vote. If you do not agree with their policies and feel there is someone who better reflects yours, write them in. Oh, and John Edwards should still be on the ballot. I'm guessing he got his signatures in before he dropped out and they won't take him off of the ballot even if he did drop out, so vote Edwards.

 

[Matt]

Jesus Christ people... when did he say he didn't like either of them? All he said was he had trouble differentiating the two policy wise, which is completely accurate. If that is the case, why is voting for the person he likes more so terrible? Matt, I know you don't like either of them, but that doesn't mean he should just not vote or write someone in because he cant tell the difference between both of them policy wise.

I misread it, calm down.

 

[souvlaki]

I misread it, calm down.

Nah, it's cool. I wasn't necessarily talking to you. I just couldn't believe how many people were encouraging him not to vote when he said nothing that indicated he disliked both candidates. He just said there wasn't much of a difference policy wise. I came to that conclusion a while ago, so I based my opinion on who I thought could work better with Republicans to get things done, who would energize the Republicans the least in November, and who pisses me off the least. Obama won all three of those categories easily.

 

[Matt]

Nah, it's cool. I wasn't necessarily talking to you. I just couldn't believe how many people were encouraging him not to vote when he said nothing that indicated he disliked both candidates. He just said there wasn't much of a difference policy wise. I came to that conclusion a while ago, so I based my opinion on who I thought could work better with Republicans to get things done, who would energize the Republicans the least in November, and who pisses me off the least. Obama easily won all three of those categories easily.

Well, I can't disagree with that. Unfortunately, I have to vote my conscience and simply cannot vote for either of them on the grounds that they are Democrats or they will beat McCain. I did that in 2004 by voting for and supports a candidate whom I did not truly believe in and I won't do it again.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Well, it's not that. I just can't seem to differentiate between Clinton and Obama aside from their personalities. I was hoping someone else was having more luck.

Yeah, they don't have much difference policy wise, so maybe you should vote for who you think has a better chance in the general election. Remember that the last to Democratic candidates lost because of their personality, in my mind, that kinda makes the choice clear.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Well, I can't disagree with that. Unfortunately, I have to vote my conscience and simply cannot vote for either of them on the grounds that they are Democrats or they will beat McCain. I did that in 2004 by voting for and supports a candidate whom I did not truly believe in and I won't do it again.

Yeah, I didn't agree with either candidate in 2000 or 2004, so I just threw my vote alway by voting for a random third party person I knew nothing about. Not that it mattered since I live in Illinois and there's really no surprise which party will win the state.

 

[souvlaki]

Well, I can't disagree with that. Unfortunately, I have to vote my conscience and simply cannot vote for either of them on the grounds that they are Democrats or they will beat McCain. I did that in 2004 by voting for and supports a candidate whom I did not truly believe in and I won't do it again.

Nah, it's understandable. I wish more people voted my conscience. I personally like Obama, but to each their own. He has the potential being our version of Tony Blair (energized people, made people think he was something new and different... then it turned out he wasn't so much), but I'm just willing to take my chances because I also think he has the potential of be a really amazing president. I guess what it comes down to is how much people believe he will follow through with what he is saying he will do.

 

[Comicfilmer]

I voted Obama.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I voted Obama.

Same here...my polling place is right by my place, so I went there before going to class this morning.

 

[souvlaki]

Hey SpiderFan, are you in Texas, or Ohio? And if you are in Texas, are you planning on going to the caucuses tonight? If so, keep us updated on how that goes.