[bobthecockroach]

As the new presidential shopping season will be beginning soon, I thought now would be a good time to talk about what you're shopping for in a candidate.

(In other words, what issues are you looking for certain stances on.)

[acrossthesirion]

Can you just move my post in hear from my other thread? Please?

Edit:
Or should I post it in hear?

[bobthecockroach]

No, I can't. I'm not a mod in here. You could post it in here though and close your other thread.

[Fandrew]

*Having a withdrawal plan for Iraq.
*Optional privitalization of Social Security
*Pro-Life
*Looking to reduce federal spending

I'm hoping Mike Huckabee of Arkansas will announce his campaign soon.

[acrossthesirion]

1) Out of Iraq, although it not immediately or drastically, making sure that there is some stablitity before leaving. Maybe even making working for it to become three countries (Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites).

2) Work to get rid of the deficite, even if it means raising taxes (yes I said it).

3) Work for more affordable Healthcare.

4) Work to increase funding to help the poor.

5) Pro-life execpt when the mother's life is in danger or rape; but also working to stop the need for abortions (I like Huckabee's line "Pro-life doesn't stop at birth).

6) Something moderate on gay marraige, maybe move "marraige" to the Church only. Something different than just for or against.

7) Promote civil society

Basically liberal on economic issues and moderate to conservative on social issues. What do they call that, populist party maybe?

[thesteve]

I'm shopping for Duncan Hunter, R-CA, unless someone else comes along.

[jfahler03]

Here's my list:

1.) Exit plan for Iraq

2.) (If we aren't already at that point by '08) No interest in invading Iran, North Korea, or Cleveland, Ohio

3.) Legalization of gay marriage

4.) Something regarding a national health insurance (hah... I doubt this'll happen...)

5.) Some sort of initiative to respond to No Child Left Behind

6.) "Strategic" government spending - e.g. spending where it's needed... rather than wasting billions on a silly war while our citizens starve

7.) If either "Pro-Life/Pro-Choice:" Some sort of financial or other form of backing to mothers in order to assist them

oh...and finally...

8.) Cheaper tuition. A long shot, I know... but it is a "wish list"

[Boy Genius]

Someone who realizes that ethanol is not all that much of a viable alternative fuel for America.

[Fandrew]

Someone who realizes Foreign oil REALLY isn't the fuel for America

[Jenacen]

1.) Less trying to sweet talk dangerous foreign political leaders such as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Kim Jung Il and Hugo Chavez
2.) Finding a time when we can stop paying social security and medicare taxes and make people responsible for their own future. While we're at it, let's strip away the million and a half taxes that, 100 years ago, didn't even exist and America was doing extremely well (such as death taxes, the sin tax, the inheritance tax, etc.), and replace it with a flat tax
3.) Completely cut the political correctness about Islam and actually acknowledge the fact that a lot of the terrorists that we have faced--and still do face-- are muslims.
4.) Absolutely no acknowledgment of homosexual marriage or unions, nor any indication of homosexuals as a legitimate minority group
5.) The turnover of Roe vs. Wade and the acknolwedgment of unborn babies are real, actual people
6.) Prayer allowed back in school and an end to the non-Constitutional concept of separation of church and state
7.) Less taxes and government regulations on businesses that do more harm than good
8.) Drastically reduced government spending on thoroughly useless projects
9.) A tax refund for whenever the politicians that I helped put into office don't do what they said they would do
10.) Someone who doesn't overemphasize "bipartisanship," doesn't stress over what the world opinion is, and just wants to get the job done, and he wants to get it done right

[Boy Genius]

Originally Posted by Jenacen

1.) Less trying to sweet talk dangerous foreign political leaders such as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Kim Jung Il and Hugo Chavez
2.) Finding a time when we can stop paying social security and medicare taxes and make people responsible for their own future. While we're at it, let's strip away the million and a half taxes that, 100 years ago, didn't even exist and America was doing extremely well (such as death taxes, the sin tax, the inheritance tax, etc.), and replace it with a flat tax
3.) Completely cut the political correctness about Islam and actually acknowledge the fact that a lot of the terrorists that we have faced--and still do face-- are muslims.
4.) Absolutely no acknowledgment of homosexual marriage or unions, nor any indication of homosexuals as a legitimate minority group
5.) The turnover of Roe vs. Wade and the acknolwedgment of unborn babies are real, actual people
6.) Prayer allowed back in school and an end to the non-Constitutional concept of separation of church and state
7.) Less taxes and government regulations on businesses that do more harm than good
8.) Drastically reduced government spending on thoroughly useless projects
9.) A tax refund for whenever the politicians that I helped put into office don't do what they said they would do
10.) Someone who doesn't overemphasize "bipartisanship," doesn't stress over what the world opinion is, and just wants to get the job done, and he wants to get it done right

1) So we just invade? Or how about nukes? Those always work.
2) Do you mean kill off Social Security completely? Or reform it (i.e. private accounts)?
3) Don't forget the anti-government militia movements hiding out in the Rockies. You know, like the ones who blew up that building in Oklahoma.
4) While we're at it, we can stick them all in psychiatric wards until they get cured
5) I do actually agree somewhat with this one.
6) While I won't wade too much into that debate, student led prayer is still allowed; we do it where I live at graduation every year.
7) Exactly. Let's just let businesses get back to the Standard Oil model.
8) Such as?
9) Let's flog them too.
10) Right on. Screw everyone else. Losers in any election should just suck it up and shut up until they're back in the majority.

[jengoesup]

Well, my ideal candidate will...

1. ...lead us quickly out of Iraq and not into Iran.
2. ...not be reckless when it comes to foreign policy; someone who will build America's image and reputation.
3. ...not be white and male and Protestant.
4. ...see that marriage shouldn't be a legal term. Change the definition of civil unions and make them represent what marriage currently represents, and create another term for what civil unions currently represent. Allow this new civil union to be open to either same sex or heterosexual couples.
5. ...invest in alternative sources of energy.
6. ...be in general, socially liberal.
7. ...not intend to regularly use executive orders to gain more authority in the Presidency and/or conduct illegal wiretapping programs or hold people in places under similar circumstances as in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay.
8. ...get things done.
9. ...not adhere to screwy party lines in order to protect others, etc etc (in general, avoid the evils of partisanship). Oh, AND, someone who will not appoint Michael Brown types to large federal organizations.
10. ...get the military to change the way medals are awarded to soldiers in Iraq.

But will I get what I want? Probably not.

[jengoesup]

Originally Posted by Boy Genius

8) Such as?

http://www.cato.org/dailys/08-10-01.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/me...30/iraq.audit/

[Boy Genius]

Originally Posted by jengoesup

http://www.cato.org/dailys/08-10-01.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/me...30/iraq.audit/

Thank you.
Actually, I know of cases like this; I just wanted the person to whom I was replying to be able to back up vague statements.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by jengoesup

3. ...not be white and male and Protestant.

why does someone's race, gender or religion matter? it shouldn't. what should matter is their views, plans, past voting record, track record on other issues, etc etc, you know the important stuff.

4. ...see that marriage shouldn't be a legal term. Change the definition of civil unions and make them represent what marriage currently represents, and create another term for what civil unions currently represent. Allow this new civil union to be open to either same sex or heterosexual couples.

or we could just allow homosexual marriages, who cares what the government says about marriage?