USVI-On-Line

Abortion and gay marriage are wedge issues. People use them to win elections, and they're not really ever going to do anything about them. Back when John McCain ran as a moderate in 2000 (and I voted for him; don't fall off your chair), he was pro-choice. Now he says he isn't. Do you really think he has any intentions of even touching abortion as an issue if it somehow walks him into the White House?

It makes me sad that politicians play on people's fears in this country. It actually makes me a little sick to my stomach. And I feel really bad, that people fall for it.

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California Girl wrote:Sox - your wife just had a baby a couple of weeks ago. If something drastic had transpired and you had to choose between allowing your wife to live or allowing the baby to live. Which would you choose?

You should read the post I just sent to Flip. I apologized for my judgement and lack of compassion.

I don't know what more you want, CG.

SJfromNJ wrote:

Xislandgirl wrote:I am not going to get into this conversation agin but I really have a question.

Does anyone really believe that what they say here will change the mind of those that disagree?

No, just racking up the post totals.

If that is the goal, there are plenty of non offensive topics... like rum, or the beach

California Girl wrote:Sox - your wife just had a baby a couple of weeks ago. If something drastic had transpired and you had to choose between allowing your wife to live or allowing the baby to live. Which would you choose?

Sox, I too would like you to answer that question please and yes I did read your apology, but still would like you to answer.

Thank you.

Pia

SJfromNJ wrote:
Flip - Did you know you were at higher risk prior to having your son? If so you could have chosen to adopt a child over putting yourself and you child at risk. These are personal decisions which I am sure you thought about. I am glad eveything worked out for you and your family.

Not that I think it matters either way, but no I was not high risk with either of my pregnancies.

Both times, due to different problems, both ended up being high risk.

With my first I was diagnosed at 16 weeks with Cholestatsis of Pregnancy which can be deadly to the baby in the later part of the 3rd trimester. She was delivered three weeks early to save her life.

With my second, he was diagnosed with fetal hydrops at my 18 week sonogram. Very rare as well and typically never ends well. I had a perfect blissful pregnancy right up until the moment when the sonogram tech looked at me and said "This is catastrophic." I underwent two procedures to give him the hope of survival and we were extraordinarily lucky that he not only survived but is seemingly 100% ok. My ob, my two perinatolgoists, my pediatrician and every nurse we encountered thought he would die in utero or shortly after birth. He had a less than 5% chance of survival. I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Sox - I appreciate your apology. Good for you to discuss these things with your wife. I find that real people with real experiences can humanize issues that are so politically divisive.

I'm voting for Obama, there I said it. I admire John McCain as person, he has given a lot to this country. I have photographed him many times on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail. I can like someone but disagree with his politics. Especially on equal pay for women that he voted against. I'm not going to get on the obortion issue, that has been talked about a lot already. I'm not going to change anyone mind on that subject, nor will I try. I'm glad Soxfan apologized to Flip Flop, and I admire that. It is hard to walk in anyone's shoes. I hate that this election has caused so much turmoil on both sides. I was at a McCain rally last week here in Prince William County, VA. I was on assignment, as I was photographing people started yelling at us as if we were the enemy. "The Liberal Media". I was just there working, making a living. I was not wearing a Obama sticker. They had no clue who I was for, I did not talk about it with anyone. I could not believe the "Hate" that I saw. Has it really come to that, to hate and yell at people that you feel is against your beliefs? I was not hating them, I did not refuse to go, because I would have to photograph John McCain, that is not how I work. That is just really sad to me. Just something to think about, there are far more things to be upset about right now, and politics is not one of them.

DCphoto wrote:I'm voting for Obama, there I said it. I admire John McCain as person, he has given a lot to this country. I have photographed him many times on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail. I can like someone but disagree with his politics. Especially on equal pay for women that he voted against. I'm not going to get on the obortion issue, that has been talked about a lot already. I'm not going to change anyone mind on that subject, nor will I try. I'm glad Soxfan apologized to Flip Flop, and I admire that. It is hard to walk in anyone's shoes. I hate that this election has caused so much turmoil on both sides. I was at a McCain rally last week here in Prince William County, VA. I was on assignment, as I was photographing people started yelling at us as if we were the enemy. "The Liberal Media". I was just there working, making a living. I was not wearing a Obama sticker. They had no clue who I was for, I did not talk about it with anyone. I could not believe the "Hate" that I saw. Has it really come to that, to hate and yell at people that you feel is against your beliefs? I was not hating them, I did not refuse to go, because I would have to photograph John McCain, that is not how I work. That is just really sad to me. Just something to think about, there are far more things to be upset about right now, and politics is not one of them.

ZOIKS! be careful out there!!!

Wow! This thread really took off! It is very interesting for me to read. I'm happy that the majority of people on here have specific reasons WHY they are voting for their chosen candidate. So many people in my social circle who are voting for Obama just state they want things to change, but they have no idea of what Obama stands for (good or bad). Those who are voting for McCain have very specific reasons why and race isn't one of them.

So long as you make an informed decision, you make me happy!

In my line of work (clinical social worker/therapist) we have to be able to see and hear everything and agree to disagree. It does bother me when several of my patients are so enthralled with Obama because they believe they will start getting everything for free. All of my patients (except the one undocumented person from Mexico who is receiving his care free) have health insurance either commerical or government. Would you like to know how many of them have resources they are hiding so that they qualify for goverment assistance? I see so much fraud it isn't even funny! On the other hand, there are several people who deserve and need the extra help, but can't qualify for it. This system would require so much work to overhaul that no one will ever look into it correctly and make it work. I do have a problem using my tax dollars to pay for health insurance for the drug dealer driving the escalade simply because he won't pay a premium to get his family insurance every month. I'm afraid this will happen even more often under Obama.

My husband and I would actually get more tax breaks under Obama's proposed plan, but other things worry me more than money. For the record, I likely would have voted for Hillary over McCain. There are very few reasons why I will choose McCain, but he's the lesser to two evils for me.

I worry that the country will not be kept safe and you can call me selfish, but I want to continue living in a country that is powerful and it seems we are losing ground all the time.

I worry that the people I see who are already committing major fraud will benefit even more under Obama's plan to "redistribute wealth".

I worry that statements such as "In God We Trust" on money or adjustments to the Pledge will be made and approved by Obama so as not to offend anyone. I'm very strong in my faith and do agree that everyone has the right to believe whatever they choose. However, many of the founding principles of this country were based on a form of Christianity and personally I want it to stay that way.

Again, these statements are my opinion and fairly simple in explanation to keep this brief, there are other reasons, but those are the top ones. I also worry that many people (not talking to anyone on here) do not take personal responsiblity for their choices anymore and want someone to bail them out in every way. My friends/family with teenagers say that they see that entire generation as even more that way and it scares them, but they continue to play into the lack of personal responsbility. They admit they are doing that, but don't know how to change it! Granted that is not really a comment related to the election, but it's a scary thing to consider for our future.

I continue to appreciate everyone's responses on this thread.

Nic in KC wrote: All of my patients (except the one undocumented person from Mexico who is receiving his care free) have health insurance either commerical or government.

Nic, please understand that this is not an attack directed at you, but that you brought up a point that is very sensitive with me.

You used the word "undocumented person". It's just my opinion, but when did it become politically incorrect to call an illegal alien and ILLEGAL ALIEN? Undocumented workers, immigrants.... whatever anyone wants to call them ... they are ILLEGAL.

Maybe I'm just hyper-sensitive to this issue because I live in Southern California in a city that is "operating as a Sanctuary City" (quote from our Mayor!) but I'm just sick and tired of paying for people to enter this country illegally and then DEMAND rights. If I went to Mexico or Honduras, or even Canada or England.... I would not be entitled to any rights of any kind unless I did the proper paperwork. Our Governor is an alien...but he did it legally. I have no beef whatsoever with anyone who wants to come to this great country legally.... "give us your tired, your poor..." but do it legally!

Like I said, Nic, this is not directed at you... you just broached the topic.

Rant over.

cypressgirl wrote:OMG...I'm so sorry Sox is "out of bounds with the majority of the people on this board". Who says they are right>??????

I don't think he is "out of bounds" with the Majority on this forum. Just the majority that are liberal's and are defensive enough to take the time to post. I believe the Majority on this forum are Conservative, just to busy out makeing money to bother.

Soxfan; God Bless ya brother, love your new blog. Keep it up, we need it.

I don't think you have to worry about "In God We Trust" on money or adjustments to the Pledge being made by Obama. He is Christian. He was raised as a Christian.

In addition to that, he will want to be re-elected.

I am firmly for a separation of church and state but I have no problem with "In God We Trust" on money or the pledge in schools.

I do resent the implication (I am not saying that you are making this claim just that it has been made) that non-Christian = un-American or un-patriotic. My husband is probably the most patriotic person I know and he is not Christian by anyone's definition. He is however one of the kindest, fairest, most reasonable, consistent and honorable people I know.

jimg20 wrote:Sorry VickiH, you have forever surrendered the right to use the dumb blonde excuse. We now know that it is not true.

Hush it, Jim. You're going to blow my cover. I prefer to play dumb. People expect so much less of me that way.

JT - I love you buddy, and I knew what you meant. I just wanted to point out that even the best intentions can come across badly online.

Several here are making intelligent and thoughtful statements about individual preferences. That's cool. Others are getting rude and stupid. That's not. People with differing points of view don’t have to be condescending to one another or arrogant about their own position in order to make a point. Case in point, Flip Flop and I disagree on pretty much every issue. However, she is my good buddy. How so? I respect her and feel her point of view is a product of her own life and is as valid to her as mine is to me. I don’t think I am superior or inferior to her in any way. We are simply different, and that is ok.

Some of you ought to try it on for size. It feels pretty good.