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I abstain usually from groups, joining or otherwise as opinions are like noses, everybody should have one. Also as I paraphrase the late Groucho Marx as saying, I wouldn't want to belong to the group that would have me in it as a member.
But now seriously, I use three criteria for chosing any one for any office where the decision making effects me and mine.
1.) Must respect the sanctity of human life from conception to old age.
2.) Must know and respect the sanctity of traditional marriage and the family.
3.) Must speak to truth, truthfly in all things.
If they pass this simple test of basic human character qualities I feel that they can make affective decisions inso far as regarding the integrity of community life. For this requires some form of a personal rubric that they may apply in order to qualify and quantify important areas of human life.

I'm glad Tiffany wrote what she did, but I'm saddened that she didn't ask her friend what in Obama's "past" led to that particular belief, though I can understand she didn't want to disrupt a social evening by a discussion about politics.

However, I do wonder if it might be possible for Tiffany to ask that question of her friend on a one-to-one basis letting her know that the dinner comment was very surprising. That way, hopefully Tiffany would be able to have a discussion rather than a debate about the election with her friend who may be "well educated in politics" as noted, but may not have a realistic understanding of what communism is or have a reliable source of information about Obama's background.

Who knows - perhaps such a discussion might bring about an opportunity for Tiffany's friend to really check out the sources that led her to her position - and who knows, ultimately to change her opinion of Obama. However, as she's a Republican, it's likely that she won't change her vote, but hopefully she'll stop passing on mis-information and adding to the gossip, innuendo, slurs and downright falsifications of truth about Obama that are circling this election.

By engaging in a conversation, Tiffany could be part of Obama's "change". I truly believe that if we don't express our opinions, if we don't ask (not debate or challenge, but simply and gently "ask", being willing to really listen to the other's perspective) those difficult questions of our friends and families, we will not be part of Obama's passion for "change." Like Obama, I believe that authentic change really does come from the ground-up, not the top-down.

I can't help but be reminded that a tiny raindrop may not seem like it can have much of an effect on its own, but when droplets of water are put together, great things can happen: parched dry crops can be nourished by life-giving rain, flowing rivers can abound with salmon, glistening snowflakes can remind us of our individual uniquenesses, magnificent waterfalls can bring forth powerful energy. If these can result when tiny droplets of water come together, it is awe-inspiring to realize what can be done with tiny droplets of conversations offered by those who are genuinely wanting change in this world.
May individual conversations in the coming weeks before the election result in cascading waterfalls of healing and change for a hurting country; and may each of us be part of the change that is so desperately needed in the United States - in our world.

Tiffany, please be assured that this was not meant to be a criticism of you but rather a contribution to Betsy's original question which sparked responses. The result of your dinner's conversation has brought forth much ... you've taken a broader interest in the election, have become more knowledgeable about the issues; know who you will vote for - and why; and have contributed to a most important cyberconversation.

I'm not going to be in the running for the membership, but I just wanted to say thank you to you and those who've commented. You see, I went to dinner with a good friend not long ago. She is a highly dedicated Republican and although I don't always agree with her views, I've always respected her beliefs.

At dinner she blew me away when she said Obama was a communist!! She didn't really explain herself other than it had something to do with his past. I still didn't understand, but as my husband and I looked at one another, I knew well enough not to ask more. My blood pressure began to rise and I knew I needed to avoid an uncomfortable debate between friends. Besides, in my belief politics should be discussed and not debated.

So for the past week I couldn't get this comment out of my head. I kept thinking, 'Is there something she knows that I don't?' Because she's always been well educated in politics and I've respected her for that. It just so happens that most of the time we're on the opposite side of the fence. But I could not for the life of me understand her sarcastic comment of 'communist'.

This week I've really paid attention to the national news - even the BBC to get news about the US outside of the US. With that plus hearing the comments above, I feel so much more at ease. I still don't understand her comment, but frankly, now I don't care so much. I know what I know and I'm more comfortable with how I'm voting today than I was a week ago and that's what's important. So thank you again!

I don't want a gold membership that bad that I would waste my brain power on McCain/Palin anything. Give the membership to June, she earned it.
Your Humble Servant

If you actually listen to what Obama is saying about the issues, you'll realize he's waaaay more it touch with "real people":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zAbeu3v3Wc

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve always been tragically out of touch when it come to the political arena. It’s a topic that garners in me such feelings of pessimism, an emotion I’m not terribly comfortable with, that my only defensive tactic is to ignore it entirely. Of course, the act of consciously withdrawing from the subject just makes me feel guilty because I realize that it is my civic responsibility to be involved in the electoral process. I realize that it is a rare privilege to be able to participate, even minimally, in the governing system of one’s country, and it is an opportunity not afforded to a vast section of our global population. But just when the guilt begins to take hold, the pessimist is quick to retort that it really doesn’t make a difference anyway, as the last presidential election proved. Even when the majority makes a decision, it is somehow undone, ignored, and replaced.

Still though, I want to do what’s right. I want to hold up my end of the bargain and participate. I want to take my place in line and make my choice. But again, the pessimist rears his ugly head to illuminate the fact that my choice is a only a myth. The options from which I can make my selection are but cleverly arranged labyrinths of smoke and mirrors. My decision is between two puppets on opposite hands of the same bureaucratic beast. And although it will passionately debate the contrary, that beast cares nothing for me or my family. It wants only for me to make my mark in the appropriate box, to do my duty.

And I do. Every four years I stand at my little booth, looking over the menu, feeling like I’m being forced to choose between two equally disgusting entrees; knowing that no matter what I choose I’m not going to enjoy it, and I’ll likely end up doubled over the toilet. Sometimes I‘ve ordered one of the appetizers, just to spite the two main courses, but in the end I realize the only person I’m sabotaging is myself.

So when asked to give advice as why one suit should be chosen over the other, I’m at a loss to provide anything in terms of specific substance. I can only provide speculative ramblings laced with broad generalizations steeped in bitter anxiety. It’s all so depressing to me because the system seems to have undergone a wholesale bastardization from it’s original intent. I honestly believe if Thomas Jefferson were alive today he’d kick both candidates square in the groin and tell them they should be ashamed of themselves. And perhaps we should all be ashamed as well, because somewhere along the lines “For the people, by the people” seems to have taken a back seat.

In its place we find smear tactics and candidate bashing, it’s like Jerry Springer with nice suits and a larger vocabulary. The presidential hopefuls cavort about the country pandering to demographics with sound bite size portions of false compassion. Try as we might to make it about the issues, it always seems to get reduced, sooner or later, to which side has the more provocative slander. Choosing our leader has become a glorified popularity contest. It is the definitive reality show, with bonus points being awarded for demonstrating proficient use of cliché. In fact, I fully expect Regis Philbin to be hosting “American President” in November, 2012.

I could, no doubt, continue this tirade for several paragraphs more in an effort to further illustrate my disdain for the modern political machine. Ultimately though, it wouldn’t matter, because its incessant gears would continue to turn nonetheless. And in fact, if I were honest, this entire discourse is fundamentally the work of a hypocrite. Because there is an ulterior motive beneath all the carefully chosen words which I’ve crafted as best I could to stealthfully avoid the prescribed topic. And even though my sentiment is sincere, ultimately, my efforts have been focused solely on one objective. To earn your vote.

*This message has been approved by Michael Mize
**Paid for by the Michael Mize for Gold Membership Election Foundation.

OK, June...you are definitely in the running! THANK YOU for joining in the discussion and not being afraid to voice an opinion & let me know that I'm not just hearing 'crickets' out in cyberspace when talking politics. In my opinion, you nailed it....We live in one of the greatest countries on the planet and yet when it comes to politics - everyone scurries into the darkness for fear of ruffling someone's sensibilities. Voting on who leads us into the future couldn't be more important based on the last 8 years. Having Humour...ahhhh..the saving grace of insanity as we watch the mud fly....

Sarah Palin is in my radar next.......as the mother of an extraordinarily 'special needs' son, I have some thoughts. Here's a sexist comment....if Sarah Palin were a man....would John McCain really have chosen her as his running mate? Let's be real! This is politics at it's best. Sad but true: women all across America will vote for McCain because they feel sorry for her because she's getting picked on. But this is for another post...

Thanks June!

You asked "Does anyone care?" Sure - I care - care a lot!

You want a convincing argument that John McCain is the best possible choice for President of the United States"? Here goes.

1. Running Mate: He chose Sarah Palin as his running mate ... demonstrates his ability to make a decision (bad one but a decision)

2. Economy: He has seven houses ... he's keeping the real estate market busy.

3. Education: He went to school (okay, so he was in the bottom ten of his graduating class but he finished his schooling)

4. Taxes: He doesn't want to pay much and his friends don't either so he's going to raise taxes for those people who aren't his friends ... so be his friend and taxes won't get raised.

5. Foreign Policy: He likes to travel and make foreign (as in 'strange') political statements which he'll continue in similar vein if elected.

6. Health Care: He cares about health so he's big on "health-care."

7) Executive Qualifications: ooops, he doesn't have any, but then again, according to him, neither does Obama so score is tied.

8) Selection of Running Mate Who Can Fulfill the Term of Office Should McCain Be Unable to Do So: mmmmmm, this one's a toughie made even more difficult by the recent Facebook Group entitled "Intelligent Women Against Sarah Palin."

But,if McCain died in office, his 'executive qualifications' would have led him to realize the importance of having his running mate in on all serious discussions and he would have had lots of private conversations with Palin telling her "what to do should X happen" so she'd have that knowledge with her to make the decisions that she'd need to make so that the United States of America could be a safe, economically-sound, environmentally-concerned, reasonably-taxed, educationally-well grounded and respected leader in the world.

9) And finally, "Why is John McCain the change candidate having voted with Bush 92% of the time over the last 8 years? Because he's changed his tune, changed his mind, changed his campaign to say whatever needs to be said so that he's elected.

Vote for McCain and you'll get all of the above! Yipes!!!! Scary, scary thought ... but I really want a Gold membership to ArtID so thought I'd put fingers to keyboard and see if there could be any reason people would seriously vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin and you know what, there isn't. Not one. It'll be more of the same old, same old. It'll be "God's will is to do ..." It'll be election promises made and broken within weeks or perhaps even days. It'll be the downfall of the United States of America. And it'll mean the future for our children and grandchildren will be lost.

Bleak? You bet! Scary? Even more so.

You asked the question ... "Does anyone care?" I sure hope so, because if we don't; if we don't vociferously express our opinions; if we aren't part of the change Obama speaks about, then if McCain/Palin are elected and the future becomes as anticipated, we will only have ourselves to blame.

Thanks for the question - and hopefully this offering will qualify me for one of your much-sought-after Gold ArtId memberships. ;-)