What factors/issues do you consider when voting for the president of the USA?

Question

I know some people are single issue voters and others look at the big picture so I wanted to ask this question to a large number of people...

Answer 1

Good judgment mostly, and some hope of a solution to this mess in Iraq and with illegal immigration.

Answer 2

I believe I mostly vote on the issues and how the candidate presents his/her solution to solving the problems we all face. Since taking this approach usually means I vote democratic, then that is perfectly fine. Appealing to voters is all a matter of how the candidate frames the issues, and this is key in winning over followers.

On the democratic side, right now, I don't believe Hillary has been able to frame the issues very well, if at all. Barack has done some framing, but he hasn't been very specific. Edwards has done the best job of framing the issues and offering solutions.

I haven't really paid any attention to what the republican candidates are saying so can't offer any insight on that aspect other than after reading George Lakoff's "Moral Politics", it does give me a better understanding as to why conservatives vote the way they do and why liberals vote as they do.

I've brought up this book in previous answers, so I hope someone actually takes me seriously and reads it. It really opened my eyes.

Answer 3

What is the most, and what is the least damage that he can do.? Who will be trying to advise him? What is his track record and government experience? Is he respected by his colleagues? Has his campaign been based on issues or bad mouthing his opponents? Who is financing him? What will be the payback? Is he mainstream or extreme in viewpoints? How does he present himself? This person will be dealing with other high level foreign statesmen, so a level of sophistication and manner is important. there is more, but that is enough for now. Best wishes

Answer 4

Race and gender is not a factor for me, I vote based on the issues and if i feel the potential president is capable, honest and truly loves this country. I am an independent, I wanted Colin Powell to run ,that man has integrity.

Answer 5

I seem to be in the rare breed that wants to look at what the runners did in past post. From there I try to make a pick on one that will benefit the working class and make sure that we will survive as a nation. When the person seems only do things to help the rich and this does not help the working class then it only to help themselves get richer or more a powerful post. In both cases it to get richer.
Seems lately I been picking the least of two evils.

Answer 6

An honest concern and hope for their country

Anti Abortion

Anti gun control

Strong economy

Education

Less Government, more personal responsibility

Tough laws against criminals

Social programs that encourage Independence, not dependence

A plan on dealing with the increased illegal aliens in our country

Homeland Security

Answer 7

Balls. Toughness.

Tired of listening to the do-gooder lawyer politicians who talk too much, and only say what the general public wants to hear in vague, invigorating non-statements.

What this country needs is a selfless man who doesn't care as much about what the general public thinks of him, and instead sets his focus on doing his job honestly and efficiently.

I'd love to have a female or a non-white president. Something to help spark that the racist / sexist era of this country is over.

Answer 8

Great question! I used to look at the big picture, but in the next election I will be voting for whom ever is tough on illegal aliens.

Answer 9

I don't. I'm a libertarian.

I believe that both parties are fundamentally ideologically corrupt and corrupt in practice.

Conservatives think you have the right to make your own money and not have your pocket book interfered with, but they think that the state has a right to mandate moral choices regarding what you do with your body, who you do it with, etc. They think it is personally acceptable to have a totalitarian big brother state is perfectly acceptable in the name of capitalism. Secret prisons abroad, warrantless wiretapping, funding paramilitary groups in Latin America...the list goes on of conservative offenses.

Liberals believe that everyone has a right to make their own moral choices, but they also believe that everyone deserves a government handout at the cost of everyone else's pay checks. This form of big brother doesn't care about what you do in private, but they damn sure will keep an eye on you to make sure that every bum riding the gravy train gets a cut out of my pay check. Our culture of personal irresponsibility can largely be on liberal philosophy and ideology put into practice.

Neither party respects the primacy of the individual and both are statist. Our two party political system sets up a dynamic where both parties are dealing with so many issues that it is impossible for either of them to be ideologically consistent or even consistent in practice.

The party that is closest to representing me (the Libertarians) is filled with a bunch of equally contradictory viewpoints and starting a third party is a waste of damn good money and resources considering all of the institutional barriers to actually having a chance at winning. For example, third parties don't get invited to televised debate. They aren't elligble for federal funding unless they can pull a significant amount of votes (yet those votes only come through funding!). Third party politics just isn't feasible in this country because of the way the game is rigged...and the current two parties both suck butt.

It really matters little to me if a democrat wants to rob me and forcibly take money out of my paycheck to support some crack head in New York or a republican wants to tell me I can't have anal sex in the privacy of my own home. Neither one respects individual rights. They just disrespect them in their own unique ways.

Thus, I refuse to vote because like our patriots of old...I actually believe in the saying, "Don't tread on me" and I refuse to sanction policies and politicians that don't serve my interests and actually act AGAINST my personal interests. They are going to do what they want anyway. I don't have to give them a free pass.

Answer 10

I vote for the person that I think is going to help the Midele Class more and I also want them to support stem cell research since I have a paralyzed son.