Focus on the War

[KSCFAN]

With the risk of being kicked off of DU I am a Conservative/Libertarian that will vote for Obama. There are two reasons for this.

The most important is we need a BIG change in our foreign policy. I don't agree at all with the Progressives on their economic solutions but that is insignificant to the cost of our foreign policy of maintaining an empire. If Obama stays on point about ending the war and bringing not just the troops in Iraq but from everywhere home I will vote for him. The cost savings alone will more then make up for any domestic programs that could be put in place. We are talking about Trillions of dollars for this crazy neocon foreign policy of policing the world. Well you know what? The world doesn't want to be policed anymore. Let them run their own lives.

In addition I trust our civil liberties to Obama more then "I think it's OK to spy domesticly without warrant" McCain.

My advice? If you want to attract people like me concentrate on the war and foreign policy. After saving the taxpayers a Trillion bucks a year you should be able to get some of your programs passed easily.

Peace.

[dubeskin]

1. Welcome, and we hope you stay!

It's nice to see other viewpoints on here, regardless of how some may interpret them or comment on them.

I've thought that as well. I think that the Iraq War, as well as a possible one with Iran, is so unpopular now, and if Obama can back up his claims with facts(the cost, the death toll, etc.) I think that this election will be a steal for the Democrats. Haha, actually, I think it will be no matter what. But Obama has been able to inspire many from all side of the political spectrum, and proof like you show just how pivotal it is that he appeal to your crowd.

[KSCFAN]

2. I'm being honest here

I cringe when I hear things like "We will make the oil companies re-invest their profits in alternative energy". That doesn't play well with many people. Something like we will end tax breaks is fine. I think all corporate welfare is moraly wrong anyway.

Changing the foreign policy will do so much good I'm willing to overlook the other stuff for now. I know you crazy progressives have your hearts in the right place. I just don't trust the feds to do anything right. A good argument to use against republicans is the following.

Ask them why we shouldn't have nationalized healthcare.
They will say the feds can't do anything right.

Ask them why we shouldn't have higher energy standards set by the fed.
They will give the same answer that the fed doesn't do a good job on anything.

Then ask why they trust the same government to run Iraq....

[dubeskin]

4. I can respect however you want to think

Logically, removing ourselves from Iraq and refocusing our military strategy in the world and our diplomacy abroad I think will be able to solve a lot of problems here at home. The exorbitant amount of money invested in this war can be put elsewhere, or help even to recover the large debt we have incurred from it. I think a lot of America's problems today can be traced back to Iraq's failed foreign policy.

And sort of on your other point. I think a large part of "The Feds can't do it right" derives from the fact that a lot of the things that come out of "large government" are often times experiments in an early stage. Look at a lot of the post-Depression social programs. Many of those were experiments that tried to heal the wounds of the economic problems. I think that if we can overcome that boundary and say "Look. Here's what we want to do" and explicitly lay out a plan for, nationalized health care for example, I think that it could be successful. A government is only as strong as the support that it's constituents give it, and a government is only as trusted as it is appealing to all people; black, white, poor, rich, Democrat, or Republican.

[KSCFAN]

6. Very True

Well he will be the commander in cheif. He can bring the troops home regardless of what Congress wants. All Congress can do is threaten cutting off funding of something else.

My feeling is when he changes the foreign policy and people see how much richer we get as a nation they won't mind spending money on things like national healthcare.

It's a big stange but think of Star Trek. They have replicators that can make anythig they want. That is the ultimate in productivity. With such technology when you can have anything you want people are never in need since the cost of providing what they need is so cheap. I think that's why people donate so much to Third World nations. You can feed a family for a few bucks a month you feel like you are really helping someone. If we stop this foreign policy we will be so rich the costs of providing for everyone won't even show up on the radar.

[uppityperson]

3. Welcome and it sounds like you support much of what we do.

Civil liberties, ending the Iraq debacle and saving all that money, good things. Will you vote for Obama if he does not bring every military home from everywhere in the world, or will Iraq be enough of a start for you? Don't forget Congress has some say in things, and voting for people who will support his policy is necessary also.

[KSCFAN]

7. I can read between the lines.

I haven't read anything directly but unlike other "Bring the troops home now" candidates I am pretty confident Obama gets that this foreign policy has to change. The beauty is that he can do it all by himself. He will be commander in cheif. He can tell all the troops there is a strip show in Vegas that needs protecting and restation them all. Congress can't do anything but whine about it.

So to answer your question he will get my vote.

[SpiralHawk]

9. Definitely bring the National Guard home

our AWOL-in-Chief is using the Guard for a Republicon program of Nation Building & oil profits protection in Iraq -- far far far away from the USA, where they are supposed to be.

Bring our Guard home to guard our home.

And bring the rest of our sons and daughters in uniform home with them.

[KSCFAN]

10. How can you lose with that promise?

It's sad to me. They say unemployment is a problem in Iraq. Well no kidding our military is doing everything for them. I hate to be blunt but screw them. Bring the all the troops home and save Trillions of dollars a year.

[mdmc]

5. Thanks for the advice my friend

I hope that you don't get tombstoned.
If I may ask, why Obama? Why not Bob Barr? You can pm me if you don't want to reply in public.

I have many libertarian friends and they were digging Ron Paul pretty hard. They don't seem to thrilled with Barr (perhaps his drug war thing bums them out).

[KSCFAN]

8. Bob Barr

Truth be told this is the first year I donated to any political candidate. It was Ron Paul. It's funny Paul and Obama have nearly the same foreign policy and civil liberties views and completly opposite economic views. I've done the third party thing before but the system isn't set up to allow that to happen. If Bob is polling neck and neck with Obama I may vote for him but we all know how unlikely that is.

Finally I think Obama is really a good man. I can't say I agree with him on the Progressive economic message but in these days and times I really worry how close we are to the breaking point in terms of civil liberties and the empire.

Just curious what is Obama's view on the drug war?

Peace.

[mdmc]

11. Obama does the Bigdog thing with the drug war

He might oppose it, but fears being soft on crime. Of course he is smart enough to understand that treatment is more effective then jail.

I live in NYS, so I will probably vote for Barr. I want to see the GOP and the Con parties become more conservative (thus, less electable in NYS)...