Who Are You Voting For This Election

[Laurel]

I am VERY happily supporting and voting for Hillary Clinton. I admina Democratic FB group and I get asked why I support her all the time and this is my standard reply:

I am voting for Hillary Clinton because she has been politically active since she was a middle schooler.
I am voting for her because she has taken leadership roles since high school.
I am voting for her because she went to college a Republican like her parents and left a Democrat because she didn't just accept what was fed to her but instead went out and found her own truth and then dedicated her life to it.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because after MLK was assassinated she organized a protest on her college campus that led to a change in fair hiring practices there.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because she spent her college and law school summers doing things like working with migrant workers and registering Latinos to vote in Texas.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because after law school she went to work for the Children's Defense fund instead of a big law firm.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because she went undercover in the deep south to expose private schools who were still practicing segregation.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because when she sat on the board at Walmart she was, according to Sam Walton, a "thorn in his side when it came to women and worker's rights".
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because while sitting on many boards and working as a lawyer when her husband was Governor of Arkansas she ALSO championed a preschool program that has since spread to 26 states and fought for juvenile justice reform in the south as well as many other things like that.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because as FLOTUS she championed healthcare and programs for women and children and pushed for recognition of Gulf War Syndrome when everyone else was ignoring it.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because she went to China and declared women's rights were human rights.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because as a Senator she never stopped fighting for equal pay.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because as a Senator she fought for healthcare for 911 1st responders.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because as a Senator she took it to Wall St and the banks before the crash.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because after a hard loss to Obama in 2008 she stood behind him solidly and worked tirelessly to promote his agenda around the world.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because as SOS she extended full benefits to same sex partners of US diplomats.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because as SOS she stood on the floor of the UN and gave the first speech on global LGBT rights and pushed for a UN commission to address their issues.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because as SOS she brokered a cease fire between Israel and Hamas that lasted nearly a year and put in place the sanctions that brought Iran to the table for the nuclear deal.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because her family foundation has raised and spent billions of dollars to try and make things better here and around the world.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because she has been a tireless voice for the voiceless for almost 50 years.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton because she is the most qualified and accomplished human being that we have ever had run for President of the United States.

This is so good! She is my back-up candidate.

[permanentvacation]

I don't really get into politics. I thought I was going to vote for Hilary (simply because she's a woman and since she was married to a president, she has a good idea of what the job entails) a while ago. But then I saw some thing on tv where she was talking and started CRYING! That lost my vote right there. I honestly don't remember what she was talking about, I just remember that she stood there crying about whatever she was talking about. I immediately thought, "And you want to have the responsibility for sending people off to war!?! You can't handle that responsibility if you are going to cry about it!" In my opinion, crying does not show a person who is capable of handling the extremely difficult challenges that a president will have to face.

As you all know, I've been through Hell and back throughout my life. I've been raped and molested when I was a kid, had to be the 'man of the house' by the time I was 9 years old, watched my mother suffer for years with cancer and then was the only person with my mother in the hospital when she died while I was 3 months pregnant with my first daughter, had an abusive husband, and an abusive daughter. But I NEVER let them see me cry! I cried AFTER things happened. I cried by myself, to myself. I never let them see that they 'got to me' or that I couldn't handle what they dished out. I never let them see that I became weak and broken. I only showed them that I was strong, capable, and could handle what was being thrown at me at the moment.

That's what we need in a president. Someone who's strong and capable of handling whatever is thrown at us. How is Hilary going to be able to handle whatever is thrown at our country if she is going to break down and cry whenever we are hit by someone/something?

And then Trump... I guess he's just going to call his lawyers and sue whatever country or terrorist group threatens us! OH PLEASE!!!


Now, as much ranting as I just did, please keep in mind that I have only accidentally (by flipping channels, couldn't find anything better, and decided to watch a couple of minutes of something political before turning the tv off) seen a very small handful of anything political in years. So, there might have beem plenty of times when Hilary didn't cry over major events and Trump didn't run off calling his lawyers to sue someone. But, based on the couple of things I've seen, my opinion of them is what I stated above.

[Controlled Chaos]

This is so good! She is my back-up candidate.

I thought of you all today. I spent all day at the state convention. We picked our party's governor candidate and senate and house candidates. It was so awesome to spend the day with so many people who care so deeply about our state and country's future.

Trump- he speaks from such a place of hate. That scares me. My Muslim refugee friends do not even hate the people who killed their family members back in Iraq. They pray for them. Policy should start form a place of love not of hate and fear. a wall Mexico will never pay for is not a well thought out plan in my opinion.

I vote for candidates who trust doctors to make the right choice with their patients regarding birth control, abortion and medical marijuana. I am Catholic, but my faith is my own and i would never put my faith onto someone else's body.
Candidates who will legislate for equal pay for equal work.
Paid maternity leave. (I know too many mommas who had to return to work after less than a month)
Expanding Medicare in states that didn't originally. My husband has epilepsy, his medication has been more than or rent for much of our relationship. How can we build and save towards a future paying $800+ a month for his medicine WITH insurance!?
LGBT rights and protections. As a bisexual this is close to my heart.
There is more, but I am tired

Thank you all for participating in this discussion.

[permanentvacation]

I have noticed the same thing NightOwl has. The younger generation is all for Sanders. My 21 year old and her friends that she grew up with all want Sanders to win. Many of them keep up to date with the politics, attend rallies, and are often on Facebook stating their approval of Sanders. These are kids that I've known since they were 10 years old. They NEVER cared about politics before. But this year, everyone that I know that's between 17 and 30 keeps themselves highly informed of the presidential candidates' stands on each issue and all of them want Bernie Sanders to be the next president!

[Laurel]

I don't really get into politics. I thought I was going to vote for Hilary (simply because she's a woman and since she was married to a president, she has a good idea of what the job entails) a while ago. But then I saw some thing on tv where she was talking and started CRYING! That lost my vote right there. I honestly don't remember what she was talking about, I just remember that she stood there crying about whatever she was talking about. I immediately thought, "And you want to have the responsibility for sending people off to war!?! You can't handle that responsibility if you are going to cry about it!" In my opinion, crying does not show a person who is capable of handling the extremely difficult challenges that a president will have to face.

As you all know, I've been through Hell and back throughout my life. I've been raped and molested when I was a kid, had to be the 'man of the house' by the time I was 9 years old, watched my mother suffer for years with cancer and then was the only person with my mother in the hospital when she died while I was 3 months pregnant with my first daughter, had an abusive husband, and an abusive daughter. But I NEVER let them see me cry! I cried AFTER things happened. I cried by myself, to myself. I never let them see that they 'got to me' or that I couldn't handle what they dished out. I never let them see that I became weak and broken. I only showed them that I was strong, capable, and could handle what was being thrown at me at the moment.

That's what we need in a president. Someone who's strong and capable of handling whatever is thrown at us. How is Hilary going to be able to handle whatever is thrown at our country if she is going to break down and cry whenever we are hit by someone/something?

And then Trump... I guess he's just going to call his lawyers and sue whatever country or terrorist group threatens us! OH PLEASE!!!


Now, as much ranting as I just did, please keep in mind that I have only accidentally (by flipping channels, couldn't find anything better, and decided to watch a couple of minutes of something political before turning the tv off) seen a very small handful of anything political in years. So, there might have beem plenty of times when Hilary didn't cry over major events and Trump didn't run off calling his lawyers to sue someone. But, based on the couple of things I've seen, my opinion of them is what I stated above.

Check out this video to see who cried in office. The list is even longer if you include world leaders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eENVZm73wC0

P.S. Edited to add that former Speaker of the House John Boehner cried often. He is kind of famous for doing that. As long as we don't just point our finger at the female candidate when the men cry too, I'm fine with that, at least that is fair.

[Blackcat31]

My vote will NOT go to someone that does not support the second amendment.

[permanentvacation]

See, I told you I don't keep up with politics. I had no idea that all of those other politicians/presidents cried. I would have reacted the same way to them; talking to the tv and asking them how they are going to protect us, defend us, and send people off to war if when the going gets tough, they sit there and cry.

Of course, that's exactly what my ex drilled into my head about crying. Like I've said before, he wouldn't allow me to cry about my mother's death. So he trained me on the 'rules' of crying. Now that I think of that fact, my way of viewing someone crying were taught to me by what I believe to be a narcissist (among other things). Therefore my way of thinking regarding crying is probably all screwed up! I'm trying to learn what aspects of myself need to be 'reprogrammed'. This might just be one of them.

[kidsandchicks]

I'm a fan of limited government in pretty much every aspect. I think so many of us here in this forum can agree that more regulations and oversight to a program, whether it's education, healthcare, business, etc., does not always make for a better program. When I look at Sanders and Clinton, while they are making promises for more 'free' stuff, all I can see are more regulations. More beauracrats sitting behind a desk telling the people who are actually in the trenches of whatever field how to do their job.

Trump I don't trust. While I do agree he has the skills and experience as a business man to possibly make some strong decisions for our country when it comes to trade, he lacks tact and self-control. His ego is too big for his own good. He doesn't know how to be humble, apologize or just shut up when he's dug himself in to a whole. He doubles down and keeps shouting about how smart he is and that drives me nuts.

So, all that being said, I'm voting for Cruz, should his name end up on the ballot. He is the most 'limited-government' choice that we have right now. He's a champion for states rights AND US soveriegnty over other nations coming in and trying to dictate what we do. He's on the right side of trade agreements, how to deal with ISIS and he is super-smart. ;-) He isn't doing a very good job of making himself look like-able (hence all the comments about him being creepy). He's a serious guy, for sure. Although, did anyone catch him on...was it Fallon's show? He appeared in a skit with 'Trump' and it was funny. Anyway, if people could get past wanting a rockstar, media-whore as a president and look for someone with experience and skills, I think more people would like Cruz.

[Michael]

I think what most Trump supporters like about him is that they think he's business savvy and will create wealth for our country. It's a very interesting debate, and it sounds great, but we all know that money doesn't appear out of thin air. If he runs the country as the CEO of the United States, how does he propose to generate revenue? Reducing the amount of income your company is bringing in (taxes) is a great way to go into bankruptcy, which Trump has done four times. On four separate occasions, Trump has been forced to file Chapter 11 by racking up enormous debt and not having the income to satisfy those debts. I find that to be very poor judgement and poor leadership, and it makes me very nervous that his business skills are the reason people are choosing to vote for him.

Another thing that worries me very much is his lack of political savvy dealing with other countries. He has already made enemies around the world, so much so that many countries are debating banning him from entering their country. In January the British Parliament actually came very close to it, after a huge petition was passed around their country. I'm very nervous about Americans electing a leader whom the world hates. I am not saying we need to bow down to anyone, but what's gonna work? TEAMWORK! He's a bully, not a team player, and there's just no place for bullies on the world stage. America is an amazing country that I'm so proud of, and I want our leader to represent the best qualities that we have to offer, such as wisdom, innovation, and above all else, compassion.

I was rereading this very informative and enjoyable thread again and thought I would comment on your post as a businessman.

Washington doesn't file for bankruptcy, businesses do. Washington simply prints more money, businesses can't. In doing so, the Fed devalues the dollars we use as citizens for products and services which then cost us more. What Washington is doing is using more and more credit cards to pay for more government agencies and social programs. While many of these services are needed, Washington has no incentive to streamline or make more efficient those programs. Its easier for them to throw more money down that hole. How about Washington help the private sector, mostly small businesses, to create its own prosperity which in turn creates more tax revenue for the government?

Here's an idea. We spend billions for people not working who stay at home getting food stamps and social services. Mind you, I was on both of those programs once. Why not lure companies back to the US and put those people to work but the government pays for half their wages? The company pays $7 and the government pays the other $7. Instead of paying the money for people to stay at home, bring the business back from other countries and use those same dollars to put our people back to work where they want to be. It will give incentive to companies to locate back in the states.

As far as worrying about what other countries think of the US; I want our adversaries to fear us. One thing I am sure our adversaries see in Trump is that he has a definite red line not to cross. He is a decent person until he is attacked or disrespected.

There is a power hierarchy in the world and three countries that could be its leader. China, Russia or the US. There is no such thing as everyone working together to be nice to each other. Deals are made through strength. I don't know about you but I would prefer the US to be that power broker.

If you've ever played chess or poker, you could better understand Trump. Look up Teddy Roosevelt and you will see instances of Trump and the instincts he naturally seems to maneuver with.

President Theodore Roosevelt sued 45 companies under the Sherman Act.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_antitrust_law

President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy was Machiavellian.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stick_ideology

[sleepinghart]

I don't know what level of businesses you may have had experience in but I can tell you many successful people have failed miserably on their way to success. The fact that they persist and do get to their goal should be celebrated.

I guess I am biased since I've lost several businesses and had to let people go for simple reasons that can't always be controlled. I don't think I was the bad guy but I can see how people may not have liked the end result. Its not always easy and is much harder to succeed with your own business.

~...Just wanted to say that I lovethis, and that it is so true! happyface

[sleepinghart]

April 26th 2016 State Primary Results: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maryland

~Trump wins all 5 stateshappyface

~Hillary wins 3- Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland

~Bernie Sanders wins Rhode Island(and leading in Connecticut)

-Will update...

[Michael]

April 26th 2016 State Primary Results: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maryland

~Trump wins all 5 stateshappyface

~Hillary wins 3- Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland

~Bernie Sanders wins Rhode Island(and leading in Connecticut)

-Will update...

I like Kasich but I have a feeling he shot himself in the foot calibrating with Cruz in the upcoming states like Indiana. I think Trump would have used him as VP for his delegates if he came up short on the 1237. Trump still needs Ohio in the general so Kasich may still be available.

I hate to see Bernie get stomped so badly by those super delegates. It would make it a much better election for the DNC. He has the energy with the public like Trump does. I think Trump can only get more popular while Clinton will have a hard time with the hard core Berners moving over to her. I think HRC would pick Warren for VP but I'm not sure Warren would move away from Sanders. I think she was hoping to be on the Sanders ticket.

This election is as addictive as the OJ trial was and that was tiring after a while.

[sleepinghart]

April 26th 2016 State Primary Results: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maryland

~Trump wins all 5 stateshappyface

~Hillary wins 3- Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland

~Bernie Sanders wins Rhode Island(and leading in Connecticut)

-Will update...

~Okay, it looks like Clinton ended up winning Connecticut; so she won 4 states and Sanders won one- Rhode Island. ~For a full delegate total see link below, and just click on "Republican" and/or "Democrat" for whichever result you wish to see:

https://www.google.com/?ion=1&espv=2#q=april%2026th%20primary%20results&eob=m.09c7w0/R/4/short/m.09c7w0/

[sleepinghart]

I like Kasich but I have a feeling he shot himself in the foot calibrating with Cruz in the upcoming states like Indiana. I think Trump would have used him as VP for his delegates if he came up short on the 1237. Trump still needs Ohio in the general so Kasich may still be available.

I hate to see Bernie get stomped so badly by those super delegates. It would make it a much better election for the DNC. He has the energy with the public like Trump does. I think Trump can only get more popular while Clinton will have a hard time with the hard core Berners moving over to her. I think HRC would pick Warren for VP but I'm not sure Warren would move away from Sanders. I think she was hoping to be on the Sanders ticket.

This election is as addictive as the OJ trial was and that was tiring after a while.

~In the beginning, I liked Kasich. I mean, he wasn't a fave of mine, but I liked him well enough. That opinion changed when he started putting himself before the country and refused to drop-out even when it was obvious he didn't stand a chance(*unless they change the rules, and as I already stated earlier, I am suspicious of that), and even when doing so would have benefited the country. ..But anyway, that was enough to turn me off Kasich and this new "deal", or collusion, between him & Cruz is just the latest. It just looks bad. Heck, it is bad. ~As far as Kasich getting VP, I can't see Trump offering nor can I see Kasich accepting...Although I do agree with you that it may have been a good thing. I am seeing a lot of Christie...Chris. Did you see him standing behind Trump last night at his winning speech? What do you think about that pairing or do you see that as a possibility:confused:?

~Though I'm not a fan of Bernie...well of his politics, beliefs & such anyway, don't know about as a person or in general, but you do have to feel bad for the guy, and I do. Even Donald Trump felt bad for him saying yesterday, and then again last night during his victory speech, something to the effect of he(Bernie) was being treated terribly by the democrats and that he thought Bernie should run as an independent(..which of course would most likely greatly benefit Trump), but still.


(Michael quote)"He has the energy with the public like Trump does. I think Trump can only get more popular while Clinton will have a hard time with the hard core Berners moving over to her"(end quote)

~I totally agree with this.

(Michael quote)"This election is as addictive as the OJ trial was and that was tiring after a while"(end)

~Tell me about it! I literally have to take a step back every once in awhile and take a break from anything & everything related to the presidential race....FB, twitter, the news, this thread::everything. It's just really overwhelming for me at times.

[Meeko]

Well, as a resident, I can't vote.

If I could..."None of the above" would suit me.......