Ladies and Gentlemen,
I didn't want to write this; I didn't. But, the time has come.
I'm an Independent. I represent myself, and to an extent, that margin that gave the Democrats their margin of victory in 2006.
Why should I vote Democrat in 2008?
Here is my reasoning after the fold...
No, I'm not going back to the Republican Party. They have shown themselves to be a Party hijacked by those who are corrupt and only looking to destroy the country I served.
But, why vote for the Democratic Party in 2008 other then the candidate I already support; John Edwards?
Let's take the Tax Rate Extension Billl that was voted on, where E. Benjamin 'Ben' Nelson (Democrat) voted NO and Jeff Bingamen (Democrat) didn't even vote.
Let's take the Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment where Max S. Baucus and E. Benjamin 'Ben' Nelson voted NO and Jon Stevens Corzine didn't even vote.
Let's take the Health Care for Veterans Amendment where Daniel K. Inouye voted NO and Jon Stevens Corzine didn't even vote.
Those are the last 3 veterans Bills to come before the Senate alone. Nelson, Bingamen, Baucus and Corzine have shown themselves to hate veterans... all "Democrats". That was 4 votes.
Let's take the Security of Cargo Containers Amendment where Mary L. Landrieu and E. Benjamin 'Ben' Nelson voted NO and Daniel Kahikina Akaka didn't even vote. Landrieu, Nelson and Akaka all showed they didn't want our ports secured. That was 3 votes.
Let's take the Restrictions on Troop Deployment where Sen. Tim Johnson didn't vote. That was 1 vote. It has been brought out that during this time Johnson was hospitalized... and I can find no evidence to dispute that he was... so... will retract that he hates our troops.
Let's take the Habeas Review Amendment where Senator E. Benjamin 'Ben' Nelson voted NO.
I could go from one Amendment and Bill to another, but, my point is that electing Democrats is not the answer when they vote against the will of the people and the good of our country.
There is a portion here at Kos that understands, as I do, that having a "D" in front of your name isn't the answer (just look at Lieberman who went from "D" to "I" and is really an "R"). That we have to have Democrats who VOTE Democratic.
But here is what gets my goat; the cry here is that you have to have MORE "D"'s or you just can't do sh*t.
Why? You have Democrats now who don't vote with your own Party. What good will more Democrats be if they don't vote with your Party? The answer is simple for anyone living in reality; zero.
Yeah, the Democrat's have Chairmanship. What good has that done? Who is in jail? Who has been held in contempt? Who has been held to account? Nobody. Having Chairmanship means nothing if you don't use it.
I am getting to that point with the Democratic Party where I say, "what's the point?" I helped elect you to office in 2006, and so far, nothing of any substance has been done.
Don't give me "oh, the Republicans are blocking everything". They are supposed to do that. Did the Democrat's block the Alito or Roberts nominations? NO. The Republicans threatened to take away filibustering, and yet, here the Republicans are filibustering and did the Democrats in Congress threaten the same thing back? NO.
Don't give me "oh, but we don't have a super-majority to overcome a veto or cloture vote". Neither did the Republicans, but they passed sh*t Bills as well. What is the Democrats excuse then?
Yeah, I'm about fed up with both Parties. No, I won't vote Bloomberg. I'll vote Edwards, maybe Obama, or, I may just write my own name onto my ballot since I could do more for my country then any other politician on the ballot.
Hate me for it? Sure, go ahead. Just show me in the Constitution that I fought to protect where I have to vote for one of two Parties. Do it. Show it to me. Show me where it says, in that Constitution I protected, where I had to. If you can't, then STFU. The Constitution is what it is, and either you support it fully, or you are just another partisan hack who cares more for your Party than you do for anything else.
Here is reality folks...
No matter who gets the Presidency in 2009, we are not leaving Iraq.
American foreign policy since the 1950's has been to get military bases into the Middle East and get control of the oil. That is reality. Bush invaded Iraq with that intent, and, we are there now. NO President is going to pull us out totally no matter what Party they belong to now that that reality could come true. Hillary has flat said she wouldn't pull all of our troops out. WTF do you think that means? I'll tell you; it means keeping those bases we've wanted for over 50 years.
Here is another reality folks...
Oil has already hit its peak. The supply is in decline. That is why Bush has said that future historians will view him favorably, because, he knew we needed the Middle East under our control to keep control of the oil. Do you think any President will think otherwise? Get off your high-horse and think for a minute. You are in the position to get the worlds biggest oil reserves for your own country when it is in decline and you can let it go, or, you can take it. Get a clue people. NO President is giving that up.
So here is my last reality folks... we aren't leaving in 2009 no matter who is in office.
Our troops are f*cked. They will be in Iraq for the next 50 years. In that time you will see WWIII. That's right... WWIII. When Russia needs the oil, China needs it, as the United States uses all of its means to keep it for ourselves, that war will be nothing more than the war in Iraq was; a war for needed resources.
I want a maverick. I want someone who can see this. I want someone who understands where we are heading and is willing to step up and stop it before it can get there.
I'm 40 years old. I will still be alive to see what is coming as will be my daughter, because, we don't have another 100 years... so, tell me again why I should vote for Democrats who sell our country down the river to the very destruction that even I see in our future?
Iraq was a war of resource; oil. The occupation is about keeping that resource under our thumb. The inevitable result is WWIII as other nations who need oil will fight to get it, and we have "pre-empted" that by getting it under our thumb now.
Yeah, I'll vote Edwards, and maybe Obama, but tell me why I should vote for Democrats in 2008 who have sold out our nation time and time again.