Comments on: Going Neutral

By: Pete Abel

Pete Abel — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:48:08 +0000

Kudos, Alan. It’s amazing to me, how many of us are in the same boat.

By: wj

wj — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:56:04 +0000

It is a lot easier to be enthused about the John McCain that was on offer in 2000 than about the candidate we’ve seen this year.

By: mw

mw — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:14:50 +0000

“But antagonizing both sides of the political aisle is something Iâ€™m pretty good at…”ASC

I also consider this my strong suit and will strive to support you in this particular endeavor.

By: mike mcEachran

mike mcEachran — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:20:14 +0000

This is a most respectful and insightful chain. Thanks to all. Kranky – thanks for pointing to the process as the culprit that brings us more of the same “politics as usual”. I think these are two great candidates who are struggling to remain “independent” within an old, creaky, two-party, corporate and lobbyist dominated system. I think they’re both doing a good job. But either through luck only (which seems improbable) only Obama’s type of leadership is getting traction. The movement can no longer be dismissed as a fad. A of once-in-a-lifetime event is taking place. I respect McCain; but we are a new generation.

By: kranky kritter

kranky kritter — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:51:08 +0000

I’ve been undecided all along, though leaning towards Obama. But I am leaning his way less-so every day. I am starting to get the feeling that as the stakes rise, each candidate becomes less and less capable of giving any sort of straightforward answer. They’re both becoming ruled by their fear of saying anything that could cost them a vote.

See, the way I feel, is “show me you’ve got what it takes to be a leader….tell me something I DON’T want to hear.”

Folks who feel that way must inevitably become more disenchanted as the process unfolds. For some time now I’ve felt that either guy represents a much better than usual choice. It’s the best pair of finalists I’ve ever had to choose from. But now I wonder whether the process itself turns each candidate into a proto-John Kerry.

By: Jim S

Jim S — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:44:58 +0000

Sigh…the 2004 election, not convention.

By: Jim S

Jim S — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:43:59 +0000

I used to respect McCain even though there were things he took stands on that I couldn’t vote for. Then when the unofficial campaigning started just after the 2004 convention and he became in large part no different than any other Bush supporter that respect went away. He’s not a clone of Bush but he has become his fraternal twin. Extremely similar but not identical. That’s enough for me to consider him becoming President a disaster.

By: Dennis Sanders

Dennis Sanders — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:34:13 +0000

I am with you, Alan. I was excited to vote for McCain, because he always been such an independent voice. Now, not so much. I think he’s starting to do things that is causing moderates and independents to lose interest in him. That doesn’t mean I am supporting Obama, but like you, both McCain and Obama have to show that they are really trying to bring something different.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:40:40 +0000

I respect your point of view. The rare centrist who sees the pros and cons of both candidates/parties is a breath of fresh air.

Like you, I see McCain supporters every day regretful of the candidate he’s become. My father couldn’t wait to vote for him, ever since he fell in love with his maverick persona in 2000. He, like you, is also undecided, and it has more to do with the campaign McCain is running.

I long for the old days when you made your choice, and if you lost, you still respected the winner as your president and commander in chief. But politics has become us vs. them, win at all costs, demonize your opponents. I support Obama because he has mostly avoided negative campaigning, despite what McCain, and Clinton before him, would have you think. If someone like that wins, it can only help to bring a sense of bipartisanship and decorum back to the process.

By: Surabaya Stew

Surabaya Stew — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:15:01 +0000

Thank you for your honesty, Alan. While I had somewhat suspected your sympathies for McCain for some time, you have always been respectful for Obama on a personal (if not political) level. It is that kind of respect and bi-partisan sprit that is desperately lacking in the blogispere. At any rate, I really like your post very much.