Originally Posted by AVB-AMG

I was a moderate Republican for 32 years. While I have not significantly changed my stand on the key political issues, I have witnessed my party shift dramatically to the right. So by todays standards I am considered a conservative Democrat. I have lost faith that the Republican party will shift back to the center and embrace moderates like me, so I have changed my party affiliation this year to become a registered Democrat. Having said that my take on the candidates is as follows:

McCain: Was a moderate, maverick who has done a 180 deg. turn on a number of key issues to appeal to the right wing fanatics. He has abandoned his honest, straight talk pledge and is now following the advice of his Rove disciple aide and tell out-right lies. It is very sad to see and hear. I am also very concerned about his age and health will increase the chances that his insulting pick of the extremely light-weight Sarah Palin as his running mate to appeal to the narrow minded group of Republicans who only seem to care about where a person stands on the 3G's (God, Guns & Gays), regardless of whether she has capability, intelligence and education to serve as our President in a moments notice. (I do believe that the majority of registered voters of both Parties don't think she does have those vital qualities). I also am concerned that someone who has a literal belief in the bible, including creationism, would impose her beliefs on the rest of the country. McCain's unwillingness to consider negotiating with our adversaries and propensity to out-Bush GW by shooting from the hip, scares the hell out of me. I think he will commit our country to another military conflict or possibly war, that we cannot afford to fight, due to lack of money and manpower. Finally, what he has said and done in the past 3 weeks regarding the financial market crisis has convinced me that he is clueless on what to say and do (as well as to what not to say or do....), to help re-establish confidence in both the markets and public to loosen up credit to keep us from spiraling down into a recession, if not a depression.

Obama: He does not have enough experience, but then who really does, when it comes to the Presidency. I have more faith that he has had the solid education and has demonstrated the necessary intelligence, wisdom to make the right and best choices and decisions to get this country back on track. Also, it will be refreshing to finally have a President again who is able to articulate an idea or concept so we can clearly understand him and not be embarrassed, (unlike George Bush). Biden can be counted to put his foot firmly in his mouth, but has experience in foreign relations to serve as an important adviser to B. Obama. Also, if anything were to happen to Obama I believe that Biden could step in immediately and not totally screw up things. Therefore, I am planning of voting for the Obama/Biden ticket on Nov. 4th.
P.S. - In an ideal world, I would like to see an independent ticket of Michael Bloomberg as President and Hillary Clinton as his VP and Bill Clinton as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, (this would get him out of the country, far away from Washington. Remember, after the Monica Lewinsky episode and impeachment proceedings a poll was taken in Russia and a vast majority said they would like Bill Clinton to be the President of Russia.....)
So that is my 5 cents opinions....
AVB-AMG