Andy's Blog

I am currently sitting in 13D on a US Airways flight bound for Phoenix. If I were to guess, we are at 36,000 ft, right over Birmingham. Allen's asleep next to me. My thoughts drift to our conversation this weekend (and Monday in Fresno) on the radio show. If you missed it, I said that if it comes down to McCain and Obama, I am voting for Obama...

Fresno


WSB

I am a Christ-centered Bible believer, usually Conservative, who believes big government is the worst thing that can happen to this country. So why in the hell would I vote for Obama? Good question...

I think to answer this question I must respond to why I wouldn't vote for Obama.

Issue #1: Abortion. I am pro-life. I am about as pro-life as they come. I support repealing Roe v. Wade. I also support taking care of the poor, especially children. I have stated it a million times, but being pro-life is more than just anti-abortion. But here is my rub Republicans. You have had 20 of the last 28 years in office. Many of those were when you controlled both the White House and Congress. NOTHING has happened on Roe v. Wade. And even if you did do something (unlikely), it just goes back to the States. So I am sick and tired of abortion as the wedge issue and I for one will no longer allow it to dictate my voting. So even though Obama is Pro-Choice, I am not ruling him out.

Issue #2: Taxes. I hate to break it to America, but the President isn't suppose to have anything to do with taxes besides approve or veto. Constitutionally speaking, it is Congress' job to propose and set the budget. My disdain for the past 12 years of Congress should not be minimized. You have done a worse job than Carter - and I mean that! You have essentially become a worthless body that gets nothing done and passes all responsibility to the President. You undermine the very nature of Check and Balances, and then just blame the President when all goes to crap. So I have two motives in voting for Obama. One, I don't think he'll do much to raise taxes because Congress won't let him. But IF he does successfully do that, I think it will finally be the wakeup call to America to kick Congress in the pants to regain their true Constitutional authority.

Issue #3: Health care. Universal health care is the absolute worst idea this country is facing. We have the best Doctor's in the world and we need to keep it that way. Inversely, the Fair Tax is probably one of the best ideas available to this country. Neither will EVER pass. No matter what a President has to say, Congress, and the American people, will never allow for Universal Health care (or the Fair Tax). Obama likes it. I don't. It won't pass. Doesn't rule him out.

Issue #4: Government size. I hate big government. I hate it so much I think the seatbelt law is unconstitutional and should be revoked immediately. My philosophy is that the government has two jobs: 1.) protect us from others and 2.) do only that which it solely can do (i.e. road building, education, etc...). So why would I vote for a man who is a borderline socialist? First of all, the government has increased in size ever since FDR, mainly thanks to Republicans (including Bush). So Republicans, you aren't any better. Second, I am again charging Congress to find their collective balls and take control of this issue. It is Congress' job to keep government small.

So I have provided four major issues I disagree with Obama. Why am I still voting for him? Because of cheerleading. That's right! Cheerleading...

The largest threat this country currently faces is from a radical Islam that wants America wiped off the face of the earth and a global image that is increasingly anti-American. We are in a worse PR situation than Brittney forgetting her panties.

But what America fails to realize is that this is not the Cold War. This is not World War II. We are not fighting a war against an enemy we have/had formal relations with. Or an enemy that has borders. We aren't fighting a war that cannot be won by brute force. We are fighting a PR war. So America needs to put their panties back on and get out there, and voting for Barack is the first step.

America is the greatest country in the world. But we have become like that gorgeous girl in high school who thinks she is fat and ugly, and nobody likes that girl even though everybody wants to sleep with her. Everybody wants to "sleep" with America, but nobody likes it (except for maybe Australia). And what is worse, Americans don't even like it. We have become ashamed to be Americans. This seems like a minimal concern, but it has large implications for our domestic safety, our international image, and our economy.

Barack seems to be someone who remembers the greatness of this country and more importantly inspires others to see the greatness. Even though he makes JFK look like a Conservative, he does share the JFK-esque of inspiration. When Kennedy said we were going to put someone on the moon, he meant it, and we did it. When Barack says America is great and change is coming, I believe it, and I want it. He seems to stick up for what is right and his intentions are good, even if I don't agree with some of his methods.

The election is 9 months away. I might change my mind. There is still a lot to be said. But for now, I am going to buy America some panties and support Barack Obama.