What are your biggest issues regarding the presidiential election?

[Diraker]

Just curious.

I've said this before but my biggest concern is what type of judges the POTUS would nominate and appoint. Foreign policy is also high on my list. But stuff like immigration, gay marriage, taxes, military spending, and the economy are practically non-issues for me. And of course there is overlap amongst the issues, for example judges impact gay marriage and Roe v Wade.

What's your issues when deciding who to vote for?

[Saleen]

Economy and keeping jobs in the US, and stop sending them to fucking china/india

[Konrad]

My top "issue" for the election is foreign policy/ "War on Terror". I want a candidate who believes that their top priority is the physical defense of this country, and recognize the threat posed by Islamists. This doesn't mean I want them blowing up the Middle East, but I want them to understand how vitally important it is for an American military presence in that region...not just as an effort to stop terror but to ensure the free and safe transport of resources through the waterways.

My second "issue" is economics. By economics I mean that I want somebody who supports private property and will work to cut taxes, especially the death tax. I also want somebody who will stop, read veto, pork spending. It would also be nice to have an administration that understands the difference between a positive economic stimulus and a neutral economic stimulus, and will make decisions that will affect the economy instead of only focusing on the poll numbers.

Those are my two main issues, but I also want a president who will appoint judges who will not legislate from the bench, and who will interpret the Constiution and our various laws as they are written. Whether those decisions hurt or support my ideological beliefs I don't care.

Immigration is important in that I want our laws respected and citizenship to have some meaning. The influx of illegal immigrants needs to stop, but there needs to be a reasonable solution.

I would love to see a President who would raise the pay of American troops to the level of civilian government employees. The fact that an E2 who is putting his life on the line in Iraq is only pulling 14-15k a year is disgusting. If you need to, fire more bureaucrats to pay for it.

[Mutt]

You have soldiers working for 14-15k a year?

[Silver]

My top "issue" for the election is foreign policy/ "War on Terror". I want a candidate who believes that their top priority is the physical defense of this country, and recognize the threat posed by Islamists. This doesn't mean I want them blowing up the Middle East, but I want them to understand how vitally important it is for an American military presence in that region...not just as an effort to stop terror but to ensure the free and safe transport of resources through the waterways.

My second "issue" is economics. By economics I mean that I want somebody who supports private property and will work to cut taxes, especially the death tax. I also want somebody who will stop, read veto, pork spending. It would also be nice to have an administration that understands the difference between a positive economic stimulus and a neutral economic stimulus, and will make decisions that will affect the economy instead of only focusing on the poll numbers.

Those are my two main issues, but I also want a president who will appoint judges who will not legislate from the bench, and who will interpret the Constiution and our various laws as they are written. Whether those decisions hurt or support my ideological beliefs I don't care.

Immigration is important in that I want our laws respected and citizenship to have some meaning. The influx of illegal immigrants needs to stop, but there needs to be a reasonable solution.

I would love to see a President who would raise the pay of American troops to the level of civilian government employees. The fact that an E2 who is putting his life on the line in Iraq is only pulling 14-15k a year is disgusting. If you need to, fire more bureaucrats to pay for it.

Well said.

[Konrad]

You have soldiers working for 14-15k a year?

When I was in the Army...I was an E3 and made something around $1100 a month. Now this was before jump pay and hazard duty pay, but most soldiers didn't earn those extra stubs.

[Silver]

Soldiers should be making a minimum of 30K p/y

[Diraker]

I didn't want to get into opinions of the issues but I can't let the comment "legislating from the bench" go unaddressed. If you look at who actually "legislates from the bench" you'll see that it's the conservative judges who do so at a much greater frequency than progressive judges. "Legislating from the bench" is right wing double speak for "judges who don't impose right wing ideology". Liberals have also used this phrase too so it's not all just conservatives trying to undermine the courts, just mostly and most recently.

Anyway regarding foreign policy I am hawkish unlike most other liberals. And I pretty much agree with Konrad regarding this.

[Ablate]

Fuck me you could make that at McDonalds, and you wouldn't even get shot at.

[Drekor]

Yea I know soldiers here start at 30K/yr, that goes up nearly 70% over 5 years to. They also get some nice benefits. Most of the bases here are in smaller towns so cost of living is very low so 30K is decent for the area.

[Konrad]

I didn't want to get into opinions of the issues but I can't let the comment "legislating from the bench" go unaddressed. If you look at who actually "legislates from the bench" you'll see that it's the conservative judges who do so at a much greater frequency than progressive judges. "Legislating from the bench" is right wing double speak for "judges who don't impose right wing ideology". Liberals have also used this phrase too so it's not all just conservatives trying to undermine the courts, just mostly and most recently.

You'll notice that I specifically stated that whether such "legislating" benifited my ideology or not. I firmly believe in the seperation of powers and we should leave legislating to the legislature.

[Konrad]

Fuck me you could make that at McDonalds, and you wouldn't even get shot at.

That paycheck does not include any signing bonuses, Army College Fund, or the GI Bill. When I enlisted, I got a $20,000 signing bonus for joining the Rangers as an 11C, $50,000 for college, as well as the GI Bill. I was one of the very few that actually qualified for all of that though, as I had my high school diploma, a 3.0 GPA, and nearly aced the ASVAB. Most guys I know ended up with around a $2,000 signing bonus and $20,000 for college.

[Diraker]

Fair enough but when the legislators make laws that are unconstitutional (or just bat shit insane) I am glad that the courts step in. I support the separation of powers but I also support checks and balances.

[Konrad]

Fair enough but when the legislators make laws that are unconstitutional (or just bat shit insane) I am glad that the courts step in. I support the separation of powers but I also support checks and balances.

Agreed. I don't want a Theocracy any more than you do.