Generation Gap

I don't agree, Patrick. It isn't all as easy as black or white. A hypothetical example:

Congressman Smith wants better benefits for veterans. He wants lifetime medical care for those injured in war. Right now they get care for 4 years after service.

A bill comes through the house that increases coverage for 3 additional years. Now Congressman Smith thinks this bill isn't good enough, so he cannot vote for it. However, it is better than what they have now, so he can't vote against it, either.

In the end he chooses "present" to express his dissatisfaction with the bill but does not block its passage so that in the meantime, they get more medical benefits.

These are the types of situations that call for a "present" vote.

Thank you PoliticalGeek for the dose of education. It was obviously needed. Before people start making assumptions about a persons character, political candidate or not, on a decision they once made they should take the time to consider, with common sense that things may not be so simple as they may think it is. The world is full of things aren't so expressibly written or said, but it is up to us to interpret them in a way that is both fair and logical.

Assuming fear or the need to hide things is a bit extreme in this case I think. As for your latter comment about the college kids being nasty, i will half agree, because I'm sure some have been more, er, passionate in a more negative connotation, but I am also sure that there are some who like myself are equally respectful. I do have to say though PatrickEdwardMurray that I commend you on not generalizing as grossly as Ms dcrc9596 had before you. People should learn to express themselves in such away, as you did, that is polite and respectful no matter how passionate they are about a subject. Thank you for that. Lets start lessening the Toxic conversations out there people!

I find this comment to be derogatory toward Obama supporters. Just because you don't agree with his policy, doesn't mean that those who support Obama are doing it blindly. This 41 yo "kid" will pick Obama long before I'd ever vote for McCain/McBush.

Voting "present" is a strategical move. When a bill is good but not good enough, they don't vote for it but don't block it either. But yes, his stance on gay marriage is not progressive enough - you're right there!

I feel that your post is definitely a bit rude, labeling all college students as people who 'haven't paid a bill' and 'look to mommy and daddy' for everything. Thats nasty, and unjustified just because you've gotten bad attitudes from Obama supporters on the site and abroad. Making generalized comments like that only make you look naive and bitter towards the youth, seeing as how you by your attitude your obviously leaning toward the older side. I personally don't mind the fact that you dislike Obama, but to try to 'ram' your opinion down others throats isn't going to help your side much either. And who said that the youngest generation voting has no respect for their elders. Yes people have made change in the past and that seemed to work ok then, but those changes don't accommodate the world today. The world has always been and always will be a dynamic thing, so changes will always have to be made, despite the changes in the past. So that being said, theres no disregard for the people who made (GOOD) changes in the past, its simple acknowledgment of the fact that yet again the world has changed dynamically and needs a new refitting for the changes. I remembered the Clinton administration, one the better times in my life, but I know youth who disliked him as a president despite the fact they were democrats. So its not about lumping together 'eyes glazed' on a primordial wagon. Its about who we need as the people of the future to lead us to a better tomorrow, and to end the prolonged suffering we've seen under the Bush administration. The people need someone who they can relate to, some (more of the older people voting) will choose the side of McCain just because of his 'track record' and his 'experience' but as for the future, its obvious to see that the younger people want someone who less likely to die of old age in the office, but I digress... Simply put, the youth is getting involved, because they want change, they don't fit the views of the past anymore, and since Obama is the one talking about changing the system period, your damn right the youth is gonna put their faith in him, because hes the one who has been talking about it for the longest. So keep your views, your dislike for Obama, your negativity and your damn bumper sticker,enjoy them, but I hope your sure McCain will look out for your senior life, because when your older and you have to make a trip to the pharmacy to get your live saving medications, I can only hope you have the health care you need or you may have to make the choice that many of the seniors of today have had to make, food or this pill that'll keep me a live longer. I hope you realize that you should also have respect for the youth, because its about damn time, and we'll probably be the ones putting in our tax money to keep you in your senior age, in a better living situation. Think about that before you go insulting us and labeling us.

dchild, I am 30 years old, I know ALL about healthcare! I am ill, been fighting for my life for 12 damn years. I know a hell of a lot aboutit than you do!! As for Obama, let me enlighten you, My maiden name is DUNHAM, No one in my branch of the family is voting for him, mostly because his family has been into identity theft since before it was cool. As for McCain, I am not a big fan, but I do know enough to recognize someone that is dangerous and to avoid that even when all of the Obama supporters like you have an attitude about someone calling him out for his problems, which he does have. If you think that you are so informed than prove it, make a decison based on the hard facts, read his voting record, read his books, and then compare it with his website. I would have happily voted for Hillary, I know what she stands for, I do not feel Obama can deliver anything on the empty promises he is making. Until you have actually expereinced any real hardships in life, I am ill from spending most of life seriously underwieght and homeless alone as a teen. Yes we need change, but what we need is someone who can actually deliver it NOT JUST REPEAT THE WORDS A LOT!!! I want a president not a f*cking greeting card. He shows himself by not debating McCain, it says he cannot think on his feet, that he is afraid, what kind of president that can't debate can effectuate change. The Bush Administration has been horrible, I campaigned for Gore and for Kerry! I don't think that lacking expereince and intellect is limited to the youth, nor did I say it was, I am saying that it is something that is obviously more prevelant in younger people. When people get older they realize how foolish they were as children, and just because some one is 18 doesn't mean they have grown up, it means that thier bodies reached 18 years, not thier minds. I am not at all putting down all young people, but I will say, having spent a great deal of time with people 18 to 24 over the last 6 years, that there is a majority that don't make good decisions and don't think about what they are being told,they lack critical thinking skilld, mostly to fit in with their peers. I do have friends that are 18 that I think are highly intelligent that can have an actual conversation about the facts and can support their decisions with facts not opinions about how we need change, NO ONE IS DEBATING THAT!! Just the capacity of Obama to deliver it. That being said at least you do think about politics, maybe you are in the minority that have read the information available, but most Obama supporters cannot tell you anything that he has accomplished, that includes senators that support him. If you want to have a conversation about what he stands for and are coming into the situation with more than what HIS website has to say on what he does and what he says, than I would be glad to discuss it with you. You should however be aware that even college professors I know have difficulty in keeping thier facts straight in their eagerness to support him, they only pick up what they want to hear and come across as unable to reliable and makes them less effective in thier careers. As for insulting your age group, I am simply stating an honest observation. As fr labeling if you think that my statements about the majority of younger people applies to you than that just means that you are seeing some truth in the statements, and you cannot say that you know NO ONE your age that what I said is not true about, if you say you don't you are lying.