Because, at the end of the day, leadership is a factor of many things. Character, despite the Clintons' attempt to say otherwise, does matter. What kind of leader you might be is also a factor. I can't help but think that could be a factor.
Dave G. | 01.31.08 - 2:15 pm | #

I think that's true, that we end up with the leadership we deserve as a society. Pretty depressing to look back over the last few years. On the bright side, the fatigue on the Left with the Clintons seems genuine which I admit I really did not expect. So, color me "suprised", for once.
Celtic Fan | 01.31.08 - 2:35 pm | #

I think you hit the nail on the head in this post. So much of these elections come down to personality.

I guess I could be described as one of those conservatives who likes Obama (at least as a person), though I will NOT vote for him as long as he holds his pro-choice views (unless he was running against someone equally pro-choice, in which case I might consider it). I like McCain also, as both a person and a politician.

You have to admit, whatever his flaws, that Obama is 5 million times better than Billary. The Clintons are just horrible people. Obama seems like a decent person who has unfortunately embraced some immoral policies. It does seem like he's genuinely willing to listen to the other side. I have this hunch that he would be more likely than most other pro-choice politicians to change his mind on abortion. Of course, it could all be just a big act and I could be completely wrong. But it seems like he hasn’t been corrupted the way most politicians are – at least not yet.

I think Obama would be great in terms of uniting the country, getting past this “red state/blue state” nonsense, reversing Bush’s torture policies, and re-earning our country’s respect in the world. At the same time, though, he would be disastrous in terms of abortion and other life issues, which I believe trump all other issues.

I’m torn over who I want to get the Democratic nomination. I would vastly prefer an Obama presidency to a Clinton one, and I would vastly prefer McCain to either of them. I think McCain would be more likely to beat Clinton than Obama, but at the same time, a Clinton nomination means we risk another Clinton presidency.
Sarahndipity | Homepage | 01.31.08 - 4:27 pm | #

I can't help but conclude that most elections are hugely influenced merely by personality and not by the candidate's actual views on things.

Absolutely true and always has been. Even the elections when issues have supposed to matter, most campaigns have centered--and succeeded--on enthusiasm and personalities. Lincoln's campaign in 1860 was far more about the mythical "Railsplitter" than the now-memorialized critic of slavery. "We like Ike" was far more important in 1952 than debates over geopolitical strategy.
Br. Bob | Homepage | 01.31.08 - 4:31 pm | #

Ugh...I just reread the ugly grammar in my previous post. I failed to proof before posting. I apologize.
Br. Bob | Homepage | 01.31.08 - 4:33 pm | #

If I were voting in November, I wouldn't vote for anyone ... except maybe, just maybe John McCain. Don't like Obama, don't like Hillary, don't like Mitt... thank God I'm living in the People's Republic of Maplegrad!!! Seriously though, I really don't understand the fascination with Mr. Obama, and was quite disappointed with caroline Kennedy's endorsement of him. He just seems somewhat "off", and Sen. Clinton ... well, I don't think she's super-evil, but I just don't like her. And since a "Mitt" is something I put on in cold weather, it's hard to take a grown man with that name seriously. (What were his folks thinking?)
Patricia Gonzalez | 01.31.08 - 5:40 pm | #

And since a "Mitt" is something I put on in cold weather, it's hard to take a grown man with that name seriously. (What were his folks thinking?)

It's an American thing, Patricia. As another Aussie once remarked, "only a woman from the American colonies would submit to having the Christian name of Randy."

I like Americans, but some of them sure do have some weird names.

Well, not you, Mark.

Mark is right about the shallowness of voters, though. Some of the more aggressive anti-feminist men (I am quite anti-feminist myself) make stupid remarks about the shallowness of women at elecion time, ("He has such a nice face" etc) but I think men can be just the same.
Louise | Homepage | 01.31.08 - 7:38 pm | #

"And since a "Mitt" is something I put on in cold weather, it's hard to take a grown man with that name seriously. (What were his folks thinking?)"

Actually, the name makes perfect sense:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom.../Romney_(sheep)

What else do you make mitts from?
current lector | 01.31.08 - 9:37 pm | #