Mitt Romney or Your Mom

I think I like politics for the same reason I liked skateboarding as a teenager; I enjoy being frustrated. I have followed the presidential primaries a little too closely this last year so I feel compelled to take some time to write about my own opinions to even out all the time I have wasted listening to the opinions of others.

In full disclosure a large part of the reason I took interest in Mitt Romney’s campaign is because we share the same religion. I think it is a valid reason to support someone as long as they also share secular ideologies. I am a registered independent because I am adamantly against the two-party system. If we had a stronger third or fourth party there would be a lot less pandering and a lot more honesty in politics. Even beyond that I am convinced that no political party should be involved in a presidential nomination. The office of President is meant to be held by an individual not a political party. Our country needs a president that is not aligned or committed to any particular party so he can stand on his own merits and judgment and not those of his political party. I’ll make my point before I digress further into my anti partisan gibber jabber. Election time is not a time for Americans to be polarized or separated. It is a time when Americans should be united in a great cause; sorting through the rabble that our political systems offers us and finding the candidate that is the least likely to screw up this great nation. (I will try to make that my last pessimistic remark, pessimism is too easy).

Now here is a quick summary of why I’m voting for Romney and why I’m not voting for the other leading politicians:

Why Romney: Here are my top 5 reasons: 1. When I listen to him I hear sincerity in his voice. He is a politician and he plays political games but beyond that I think he has sincere intentions. 2. He can lead; he has proven his leadership abilities in both the private and political arenas. 3. He can succeed: In the U.S. success is measured in dollars and he has more of them than any other candidate. Being rich should not be a crutch for him; we are a capitalist society and we are more likely to remain that way if Mitt Romney is elected. 4. He seems to be a man of good character, something that is lacking in many politicians. 5. I have yet to hear any “Washington Insider” in the media say anything positive about him, this is a plus in my book, we need someone who will stir up the pot not meld to it.

Why not Giuliani: His personal life has to come into play in my decision because character is as important as any other presidential trait. The facts that his children don’t back him and he was unfaithful to his wife gives me reason to question his character. He has had some great achievements in his life but none that make him more qualified than Romney and his social views are not in sync with mine.

Why not Hillary: I think it would be a waste of cyberspace to answer that question but I will simply say I don’t see anything on her resume that qualifies her to “fix Washington”.

Why not Obama: I think Obama is the most sincere Candidate on the Democratic ticket. I think he has strong principals that outweigh his ambition. I think he has good leadership skill and the ability to motivate others; however I can't vote for him because I disagree with him on almost every issue and don’t believe he is a capitalist

Why not Huckabee: I will be honestly shallow here – every time I look at him all I can see is Gomer Pile in a suit. I have a difficult time seeing Gomer Pile leading the free world. He seems like a pretty good guy but I don’t think he has the fiscal know how to run a business or a country.

Why not McCain: McCain comes in close second for me, however his biggest achievement happens to be his biggest liability in my eyes which is the number of years he has spent in Washington. All pessimism aside I truly believe Washington corrupts or at the very least deteriorates a person’s judgment. I think it is important to have a president with as few Washington “contacts” as possible.

That's what I think.