Election 2012

Some pundit criticize the late undecideds.  Some have called them names.  I'm an independent and undecided but getting close.  When I look at a candidate, I think I look at different things than these pundits.  I look at history, I look at the persons reason for seeking the most conspicious office in the world, I look at intelligence, I place the candidate in the context of history. I compare them to the greats, the Lincolns, Washingtons and Jeffersons. Ideology is one of the lesser important.

My independence is as such:  I voted for Reagan twice, George Bush Sr twice, Bill Clinton once, Al Gore once, never for George W Bush and once for Barack Obama.  I'm generally against abortion with some exceptions but I'm for stricter control. 

This year, when all the garbage advertising is over, there are really two issues.  First is that something big is going to happen with Iran, second is this fiscal cliff.  How would each do as president.

President Obama:  He has really done a good job on foreign policy and I trust him on this.  I do not think he leads from behind - that is - the U.S. does not always have to be the one to be first to engage. I mean we are only one member of NATO, they are closer to the trouble spots and I like him forcing them to do more with Libya. The Obama administration has pulled much of the world together against Iran and the sanctions are just about doing them in.  I think this is going to force them to do something because they already had a near revolution several years ago and they are likely to go the way of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and now Syria.  Without American getting our own killed and our budgets overspent.  I like this foreign.

Mitt Romney has much less foreign policy experience and like George Bush, is likely to surround himself with advisors - some neo-cons.  He is more likely to intervene militarily.  I think that is a bad solution.

The fiscal cliff - really, there is not much a president can do.  A president can break an economy like guns and butter at the same time of tax cuts - but it is difficult for them to fix it.  Really their power to fix the economy is more wishful thinking than reality. Ben Bernanke has more power than they do and there is little he can do.  There is little Congress can do.  So what will happen is the great American free enterprise will take over and correct it. It may result in austerity, recession - inflation, who knows but on this one - neither President Obama or Governor Romney can do anything but preside. 

I don't think President Obama has done a bad job, not enough to turn him out of office.  So I'm decided, its President Obama.

One the state level, I think Berg is a Norquist signer, is interested mainly in power ( he moved from the house to the senate).  He is less likely to use his own mind, he will follow party line.  Heidkamp is more likely to work across the isle.  So it is democrat this time.  For the house - undecided, I have more studying to do.