So why did I vote for Obama?

Yeah, politics. The race is over, he's president-elect. In not too much more time, he'll be President. So, what got me to vote for him? Was it a reaction against Bush? Am I a loyal Democrat?

I don't belong to any political party. It's a personal view of mine. I don't want to be "counted" as probably voting one way or another, or having someone trying to take a shortcut counting me among X many other Republicans or Democrats to say "There's this much support." And I don't think either party really stands completely for what I do.

I see myself more as a centrist. I'm for rights and government aid - with restrictions. I'm for smaller government, but not just blindly cutting away at services and departments. I hate votes going with partisan lines. I believe fully in the right to bear arms and private gun ownership - but believe before you can own a gun, you should be licensed - or rather, have to go through gun safety courses and get an approved area to store them. This can be handled by the NRA, most likely. I'm for supporting welfare and universally available health care - but with limits, and with care, unless circumstances dictate otherwise, tied to attempts to gain employment and/or "paying back" with civil service. I support the cause of same-sex marriage - as well as the right of any religious institution to protect *their* beliefs by refusing to hold the ceremony. I believe we have the right to defend ourselves as a nation and promote our interests - but when they involve other nations, that we should have a solid case for what we're doing and tacit support.

Part of this is what lost me to Bush in 2004. Kerry spoke about being part of the international community again. Bush twisted this into "He thinks we need France's permission to defend ourselves." Meanwhile, we'd invaded a nation (Iraq) on what turned out to be incorrect intel, a nation that we already had sanctions and *supported* military presence on (no fly zones and the like,) and that was barely more of a threat to us than Mozambique. Saddam was bad, yes, but he was also anti-Islamist, not for the sake of the world, but his own regime. He rejected the Taliban and al-Qaida.

Compare it to Afghanistan, where we *had* international support and backing, proof that this IS where the attack came from and that we *did* have to go in. And we were doing well... until Iraq. Our outgoing president seemed to have forgotten that.

Did I think Kerry would make a great wartime leader? Though he was a soldier, probably not - but I *did* feel he'd be better at regaining support, stabilizing Iraq faster with help, and bringing our troops home.

John McCain, in 2004, had he won the primary, would have had my vote unchallenged and unreservedly.

The John McCain I saw in 2008 was a vastly different person. Hostile, heavily partisan (and trying to pass himself off as a "maverick,") but indecisive and somewhat out of touch, relying on attacks instead of *information* on what he'd do. He didn't impress me. In fact, he repulsed me. I was actually *hoping* he'd get the nod at first, before the campaigns really kicked in.

The selection of Sarah Palin came off to me as a cynical grab at female voters, as well as trying to get more into bed with the heavily right wing Religious Right groups - another reason I wouldn't vote Republican. She had no experience, and while "folksy" came off as generally evasive and ignorant to me. An ideologue, perhaps - but we've had too much of them.

Obama, meanwhile, came off as respectful, but driven. Someone who knew how to present his ideas and defend himself without (much) slinging of mud. He turned his back on some of his supporters when they started attacking McCain personally (like... whatsisface, the rapper,) saying that was not what he wanted in his campaign. When he spoke about others attacking his patriotism and love for the country - and in that same speech, said that nobody could question John McCain's patriotism, either, that he had given more than he had to in serving, enduring torture as a POW, then coming back and entering public life, that he had respect for him - Obama definitely had his hooks in me then. He got me.

In debates, he didn't get into what could have been very frustrating, emotional debates, such as the charges about "palling around with terrorists." That debate also turned me against McCain. He brought that up, and Acorn, and Obama just waited his turn, said "Let me address that, since it's being brought up so much. I was eight years old when he did those acts. he was on a board with me in Chicago, along with so and so, so and so, so and so (a republican,) he's not part of my campaign." Very clear and concise, unemotional - and McCain went back to beating the drum about it the very next time he got to speak.

He showed himself a calm, rational thinker early on, understanding individual situations while keeping a bigger picture in mind, back when he spoke to General Petraius. He maintained that even with the oil problems and economic crisis. And even now, as he puts his cabinet together, he's not making a *democratic* cabinet. He's picking and choosing people from both sides who can get the job done - including people from teh current administration.

I dont' think I'd have seen that from a McCain-Palin administration.

And that is what convinced me he'd be able to look past The Democratic Party Line and do what's best for the country. That's what gave me hope for the future... and what still does.