The 2008 candidates

I just wanted to share my views on the 2008 Presidential candidates. Unfortunately, the one I support, Chris Dodd, has no chance of winning. Dodd is an experienced Senator and I agree with him on most policy issues, including ending the Iraq war and providing universal healthcare through a system that will utilize private insurers. Essentially, Dodd's plan would offer to all of us the coverage choices that members of Congress have.

I also admire Dennis Kucinich for his consistent outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq. Kucinich was saying in 2004 that we needed to bring the troops home. Most Americans did not imagine back then that we would still be stuck in Iraq in 2008.

I think most of the Republican candidates would be disastrous. Most would keep us in Iraq endlessly. Mitt Romney is an incredible phony who has changed his position on many major issues to pander to the right. Rudy Giuliani is decent on some social issues, but he would continue the nightmarish war and the Bush policies of imprisoning detainees without trials and spying on Americans without warrants. Giuliani was weak on civil liberties as mayor of New York and he would be weak on them as President.

I once admired Ron Paul for his antiwar stance and his principled opposition to big government. But the more I learn about him, the more bizarre he seems. In the early 1990's for example a newsletter was sent out called the Ron Paul Survival Report which made some hideous racist statements. Paul blames a ghostwriter for those staements and claims they don't reflect his views but I think that is a lame excuse. Paul also claims that he wishes the government would strictly follow the Constitution, but he ignores it at times. For example, he argues that children born in the US with parents who are illegal aliens should not be citizens. That would be unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment.

Odds are, we are in for a contest between Hillary Clinton and Giuliani. If that happens, I'll hold my nose when I walk into the voting booth and vote for Hillary. But I won't like it. I don't trust her and I suspect she'll keep us in Iraq.