I endorse Barack Obama
As I've said before, normally I don't write about pure politics, since if my influence on Internet freedom is marginal, my influence on the electoral process isn't even a speck on the page. And while this election doesn't look close, you never know. I suspect my readership skews liberal and intellectual, but I probably have a few conservative, older, readers in the mix.
Vote for Barack Obama
I've never been one of the worshippers of "The One", but I actually have come to think more favorably of Barack Obama over the past few months. Politically, I am impressed by how he fought off the inevitable Swiftboating attempts, and the competence of the campaign organization overall.
In contrast, McCain's stunts like "suspending" his campaign during the financial crisis - and then doing nothing but grandstanding - refute any argument for his experience or leadership. Obama clearly demonstrated both intelligence and steadiness there.
By all governing measures, Obama has proved to be a better candidate than McCain - the people he surrounds himself with, the Vice President choice, the strategic decisions he's made - and I believe the policies he's advocated (Obama's quip "It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant" sums it up well).
So I endorse Barack Obama.
By Seth Finkelstein | posted in politics | on November 04, 2008 07:11 AM (Infothought permalink)
I guess at age 57 I might qualify as one of your "older" readers, but please don't assume that I'm a conservative. (Bite your tongue you young whipper snapper. :-) It's a mistake to equate age with outlook. I know some young people who consider themselves good conservatives. One of my daughter's boyfriends, now a Marine on his way to Iraq, says that I'm the most liberal person he knows.
I was happy to vote for Obama today. When he's elected, as it seems he will be, it will be time to start moving him toward more progressive domestic policies and an informed science and technology policy. His foreign policy seem to be a little aggressive, but not too far off track. I hope my congressman, Rush Holt, and my senators, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, join with other progressives in congress to guide President Obama in the correct direction.
Fred
I'm fairly conservative on some measures, and I typically vote for Republicans for the free markets thing, but I happily voted for Obama myself.
McCain is entertaining, but his choice of running mate lost my vote.
Fred: I didn't mean to imply all older readers are conservative, but that I'm not just preaching to the choir in terms of readership demographic.
Richard: Similarly, some conservatives didn't favor McCain, e.g. Chris Buckley.