None of the Above (?)

Every election cycle some group of ‘political activists’ in our area vote for some dude in the Rastafarian party.

How do I know this?

Our local cable access channel publishes the results.

Either these folks see the process as a joke or they have the gumption to believe that one day our country will inaugurate its first Rastafarian.

It’s the latter hope that I admire. Not the Rastafarian hope. The hope that their voices will grow and make a difference. (Can you believe I just had to refrain from using the word ‘change’ b/c I’m so sick of it?)

They refuse to go with the flow and pick from the standard 2 party system because they hold their convictions above electability. (at least this is what I’m taking from their vote)

I think our country is heading toward a place of settling for candidates we’re less than enthusiastic about.

When both parties this year actively encouraged the other side to vote in their primaries, we wound up with what we have.
Republicans were encouraged to get involved in picking the Democratic candidate as were Dems for Repubs.
The result is that I am not excited about either candidate – many people are not. Ask the Hillary supporters.

A very good conservative friend of mine told me he’s seriously considering Obama this time out for a variety of reasons – chief among them were his disillusionment with the Republican party and Obama’s stated “heart for the poor.”
To say I was shocked is like saying that you just heard the Pope say he’s become Hindu.

Mr. Obama may have a heart to see the less fortunate lifted up, but with an accomplishment record that is sorely lacking (not to mention foreign policy) as well as not willing to make a moral stand in line with his own beliefs (which are what ? anyway) – I cannot in good conscience vote for him. But McCain fans don't get excited just yet...



I am not a socialist.

I am not a Marxist.

I believe life begins at conception.

I believe traditional marriage is important.

I know we spend more per child in education than any other country and have less success to show for it.

I believe anyone who thinks a divided Jerusalem is a good solution has zero concept of history in that neck of the woods and is basically just allowing a massive war to start.

I believe the Constitution is the founding document for our country and that our laws are defined by it – not the other way around. I do not believe the Constitution needs revamping (read: it is not a “living” document).

I do not believe in Judicial legislation. I was taught in school that is the sole responsibility of the Legislative branch as outlined in above stated Constitution.

As part of an ethnically diverse family, I could care less what race a candidate is, and voting for a someone because they are of "____" race is just as racist as voting against them for that same reason, just 'moralized'.

Back to Barack's heart for the poor: “But as a Christian, don’t you see Jesus’ heart and commands to help the poor?”

Regarding the desire to have the government redistribute wealth because ‘Jesus cares about the poor’ I think is a gross oversimplification, and an unbiblical solution.

Yes, Jesus cares about the poor – the Bible is replete with commands to do so.

BUT – the Lord was pretty clear that He’s after heart change, not upping taxes.

In the Bible, Governement serves a very specific role – protection from foreign enemies and punishment of crime.
When Christians abdicate care for the poor to the government, who gets the credit; who gets the glory? An elected leader. A political party. Even a collective “us”. It’s a self-righteous tower of Babel. “We” get the glory.

I think it’s one of the reasons I once heard an African-American preacher say that God will frustrate the secular attempts of mankind for racial reconciliation. Because only through Christ is true reconciliation possible.

It’s about heart change. Otherwise at best we’re white-washed tombs… and worse begrudging servants.

There is no joy in forced servitude.

The disciples in Acts gave of their own free will. They shared with all as there was need – out of free will. It was not their taxes to Rome that paid for it. It was AFTER TAX money they used.

We followers of Christ serve out of gratitude, and love for fellow human beings who are also created in God’s image. When we see those God dearly loves in distress, our hearts are moved to action – or should be. And, when we give up vacation time and worldly treasures to serve the less fortunate, those devastated by natural disaster and sin and disease and poor choices and war. When we “lay it down” to lend hand the door for the Gospel is opened.

“Why are you doing this [helping me]?”

“To show you God’s love…”

To God be the glory, great things HE has done – to borrow from a hymn.

We point to the Answer, and He does not run for office.

Mr. McCain, while touted as a “maverick”, gave us McCain-Feingold which tears apart the 1st amendment and without which I may have never heard the name George Soros. And his leading of the “gang of 12” regarding Supreme Court nominees/filibuster debacle disheartens me. Wonder how he will feel if, as president, his nominees get the treatment that Bush's did? And then there are McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Lieberman, McCain-Edwards -- which are socialist, anti-speech, open-borders, enviro-Marxist measures.


Let me also add this – while I was an enthusiastic supporter of Bush 43, I no longer hold him in high esteem. I have learned since then again and again that as a Christ-follower my allegiance is to Christ and His inerrant, counter-culture Word. I no longer will wear a party label.

So my dilemma this: where does my vote get cast this November? While ruling out the “0”, and very, very wary of McCain.. do I go 3rd party or sit this one out?

And this kind of filth riles me:
“Sen. Barack Obama was likened to Jesus Christ on the floor of the U.S. House today by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn), while Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was compared to the Roman governor responsible for ordering Jesus' crucifixion.”
source: http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=74896


This article hits on some of the reasons I don’t like either candidate (I do not necessarily agree with every statement)
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=72716

PSALM 146:3

If you’re reading this and have advice... ring, email or IM me for coffee... a back-and-forth blog or IM ‘discussion’ about this is like eating soup with a fork. Please don’t load my comments box with facts and figures supporting either major party candidate - they won’t be published. I want face to face dialog on this one… and I could use a strong cappuccino. =)