Why I'm voting straight Republican

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 10:00 PM

In response to "Independents need to take a stand" by Gregg Mumm [Viewpoints, June 6], I agree 100 percent. I am taking a stand. I am an independent/conservative, and for the first time since the 2000 election, I am going to vote a straight Republican ticket in November.

It was an easy decision this time as well. It's not that I consider Obama a lousy president; I don't. I do consider him somewhat hypocritical considering he campaigned on rhetoric and promises that he pretty much abandoned after his first year in office. In my heart I always knew he would end up following the same foreign policy path that Bush did, and Obama did not disappoint, nor did he shut down Guantanamo.

My issue is more with the economics and the national/state debt. When you campaign about cutting the deficit and then turn around and actually increase it, I have a problem with that. When the only answer the Democrats have is to blame the GOP, the former administration, those evil rich folk and corporate America, well ... it's time for a change that we can really believe in.

I am backing Romney because of what he is, a man who has a business mind and has proven that he can succeed in both the private and political sectors. I am voting mostly against the Democrats because of what I have seen that party do to this state. I would love to hear an explanation as to why Illinois is so broke despite a state income tax that almost doubled; high sales, property, liquor, and tobacco taxes; a lottery; tolls; and pay-to-park as far as the eye can see.

Although I am an Illinois resident, I was glad to see Scott Walker win that absurd recall vote in Wisconsin. The recall vote was supposed to be a tool to remove a governor who was guilty of misconduct, not just because "wah-wah we lost the election, don't like his policies." Ironically, Walker erased a huge state deficit. I am also voting for Romney because he is not a member of the party that destroyed this state's economy.

Oh yeah, one of the last Democrats I voted for was Rod Blagojevich.

Emerson Bolen
River Forest

Reader Comments

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Comment Policy

Posted: June 29th, 2012 1:30 AM

"Just pass the bill, you can read it later."

Posted: June 29th, 2012 1:23 AM

The Unaffordable Health Care Act deemed to be a tax as most of us recognized at the onset and still viewed as unconstitutional by most reasonable people despite the pathetic Supreme Court ruling. The middle class will be the hardest hit by this tax along w/Medicare receipients as 500 B already taken out of its budget. Certainly another reason, among countless others, to vote straight Republican to rid ourselves of this anti-American regime.

MichaelO from Oak Park

Posted: June 26th, 2012 9:05 PM

Emerson: Bush - 100,000 Iraqis killed in an illegal war spearheaded by the most powerful country on earth. Millions of Iraqi lives ruined. You got nothing, sport.

Emerson Bolen from Chicago, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: June 26th, 2012 8:40 PM

Part II: I will judge George W. Bush on his entire 8 years in office. He took over a failed foreign policy, an economic recession, and a White House in disgrace...and a general lack of respect of the U.S. internationally. After 9/11, both Al-Qaida and the Taliban were defeated and driven out of Afghanistan. We took out Saddam Hussein. The U.S. recovered from a Stock Market crash and an airline industry collapse. Between 2003-2007 the U.S. economy had record growth, low unemployment, and record Stock Market averages. Yes, the budget grew but we were fighting TWO wars, and yes I supported them both. Bush did not "cause" the current recession OR the lending institution/housing market fiasco (you can go back to 1993 and 1997 to the two pieces of legislature that were enacted that set the groundwork for those disasters). I also don't blame Obama for the bad economy or high unemployment nationwide, but I will hold him accountable for his attempt to pass the buck and the Democrats for the fiasco in this state specifically.

Emerson Bolen from River Forest

Posted: June 26th, 2012 8:14 PM

Dylan, before you start touting Clinton's budget or bashing Bush's spending, take a real hard look at the facts. Clinton's budget surplus came at the expense of the U.S. foreign policy and a time when HE should have been dealing effectively with both al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Hussein in Iraq. Clinton failed miserably in both areas. The economy? He handed Bush an economic recession that began in the 3rd quarter of 2000. Part II coming...

133 Days Until The National Nightmare Is Over

Posted: June 26th, 2012 2:46 PM

Tick Tock..........

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 26th, 2012 2:22 PM

rj, here is the explanation that you fit. Paranoia is an unfounded or exaggerated distrust of others, sometimes reaching delusional proportions. Paranoid individuals constantly suspect the motives of those around them, and believe that certain individuals, or people in general, are "out to get them."

Posted: June 26th, 2012 1:45 PM

Q- Wrong again. Paranoia is when there is suspicion & mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification. Your failure to recognize the evidence does not render me paranoid.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 26th, 2012 1:18 PM

rj, your rantings seem to be of a paranoid person. Obama is not going to take your money away. Romney will make sure that his attention is only on his buddies, and not you or yours. You are getting to worked up over nothing. Obama will get the 2nd term, although he doesn't deserve it. If the republicans could pull off another voting scam, they would, but it's not going to happen this time. Obama was a 2 term president as soon as he was voted in. Obama hasn't done anything against the billionaire

Posted: June 26th, 2012 12:32 PM

Q-Your are delusional & out of touch. Obama has & is picking your pockets as we speak. Have you ever seen that debt clock ticking away your grand kids money they'll never see? You better hope that Romney gets elected so those millionaires & billionaires can remain so to be able to continue to feed into that parasitic government you so relie on. Four more years & you can kiss your government entitlements away. Is that serious enough for you?

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 26th, 2012 11:44 AM

rj, don't get your bowels upset. Obama is not going to take any of your money and share it equally. The only time things get done is when there is a republican president, and that's the problem. Republican presidents get things done for their friends to make money. You think Obama is the opposite and wants to give your billionaire's friends money away. That is not going to happen. Don't take all of this political stuff so seriously.

Posted: June 26th, 2012 11:26 AM

Q - Pay attention- I am quoting Obama - he said he needs to legislatively redistribute our wealth. He is telling you he is a Marxist and apparently you have no problem with that. You have demonstrated time and again you are incapable of dealing with current facts and can only offer up lame comparisons about everything irrelevant. A sure sign of immaturity and a need to control your misguided dialogs based on your misguided beliefs. There is a name for this condition.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 26th, 2012 11:15 AM

Cont... America is still a great country, but with people being convinced that they are safer with spying is wrong. It was proved in Nazi Germany, that spying on their own people was wrong. If you follow how hitler manipulated the citizens of Germany, you will be able to track every step of what Bush and Cheney did. Cheney was head of the NSA, and Bush's father was the director of the CIA. They enjoy spying as long as they aren't spied on.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 26th, 2012 11:11 AM

Cont... Bush made it legal to spy on American's, by tapping phones, satellites, texts, e-mails, tracking devices, bank accounts, and then people like you said go ahead, I have nothing to hide. If you have nothing to hide, why don't you make public everything you do? Because you enjoy the freedom of privacy in America, but accepted being spied on. Obama was the possible change, including Gitmo, but Obama didn't do anything accept keep in practice what Bush and Cheney started. Cont...

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 26th, 2012 11:07 AM

rj, you make it difficult to pay attention to what you are saying when you say Obama is taking apart the Constitution. Bush is the one who took that apart, and he warned everyone when he said, "This is a new America". Why do you need to have your ass checked at an air port? That was to scare American's into giving up their personal freedom's for the bigger cause. That cause was for rich republicans to sell security equipment to the government. No other transportation uses it. Cont..

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: June 26th, 2012 10:44 AM

Luke, how about we stop trying to paint these pictures with a broad brush? The discussion stalls when it focuses on catagorizing individuals.

Luke ScottWalker from Oak Park

Posted: June 26th, 2012 10:21 AM

Jim C, we get you're point. There is a reason GWB had a 20% approval when he left office. Conservatives found him lacking, and most had the intellectual honesty to jump ship in the wake of NCLB, Scrip drug program, & yes, his lack of respect for the constitution. Liberals in general lack that same honesty, because emotion & ideology are the religion of the left & it's almost impossible for them to admit they're wrong on most things.

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: June 26th, 2012 9:46 AM

"The Constitution is an outdated document" - Alberto Gonzales

Posted: June 26th, 2012 3:10 AM

"The American Comstitution is outdated and flawed. Supreme Court has failed to break free essential constraints that were placed by Founding Fathers in the Constitution. Courts failed to enforce redistributive change. The Legislative Branch is more effective forum for bringing about economic justice & redistribution of wealth". Barack Obama 2001 Chicago WBEZ

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: June 26th, 2012 1:36 AM

"Stop throwing the Constitution in my face. It's just a goddamned piece of paper." -George W. Bush.

Posted: June 26th, 2012 1:18 AM

Q- When are you going to get this right? We are not a democracy - we are a Constitutional Republic. Though for the past 3.5 yrs this admin has shredded the Constitution & is ruling w/unlimited powers making or breaking laws "for the greater good", which, in most cases ends up abolishing personal rights as a result. This is why our economy is stagnant. Obama is the private job killer. He's a disaster! Obama is everything you fear Romney is. Again you've got everything upside down and backward.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 25th, 2012 4:09 PM

OPRFDad, it doesn't really matter who you vote for, because decisions are made by others. Votes are just to make people think they can make a difference. It makes us feel like a democracy.

OPRFDad

Posted: June 25th, 2012 3:13 PM

@Q, I'll vote for anyone who isn't Obama.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 25th, 2012 1:39 PM

OPRFDad, in agreement with you, but come on, you wouldn't vote for Romney, would you? He would be worst towards the working person. He is the guy who takes the jobs away from working people. It just isn't a fair system when you can't bring in another Democrat to run for president. Obama has not earned another term.

OPRFDad

Posted: June 25th, 2012 1:23 PM

@ Nelson, given what is happening with our neighbors to the north, the answer in IL is pretty clear.

OPRFDad

Posted: June 25th, 2012 1:22 PM

Why would anyone who works for a living vote Obama?

steve

Posted: June 25th, 2012 11:58 AM

Has any public employee going to receive a pension or currently receiving a pension ever look at the quarterly financial reports to see where their money is invested. Take a look. Look at how much money is invested in stocks, stocks of banks. Why bad mouth banks when your future pension relies on them. The best outcome for your pension is for bank stocks to rise exponentially. A strong private sector will lead to a strong public sector.

Nelson Taruc from Oak Park

Posted: June 24th, 2012 11:49 PM

Forget the presidency: Can someone explain how voting straight Democrat will fix the woeful performance of our Democrat-controlled state government over the past decade?

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 24th, 2012 5:53 PM

rj, politics doesn't do anyone good unless you have the money to help a politician get elected.

Posted: June 24th, 2012 3:06 PM

Q Yes, it's called Super-Pacs. Obama in 2010 State of the Union address scolded the Supreme Court for ruling in favor of SuperPacs. He's now endorsing SuperPacs to fight the GOP in 2012 elections. The typical' "I was against it before I was for it." Keep demonizing the opponent for doing the same thing we're doing. Maybe they won't notice that we're so desperate & we always have the MSM watching our back in hypocritical matters like this.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 9:14 PM

rf, it's groups of people who have the ok from Obama's people in charge of campaigns.

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 7:24 PM

Q Who do you think is getting the money - Romney?It's Obama approved by the campaign - funds are way low from 2008!

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 7:09 PM

rj, I tried the link but did not notice anything about donating money to Obama, instead of to the married couple. Just so you are aware of it, that is not Obama's website, it is PAID FOR BY OBAMA FOR AMERICA.

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 6:02 PM

Q - I can't believe you can't find this . Try barackobama.com/obama-event-registry2012. Weddings, showers, anniversary, birthdays, bar mitzvah, Christmas, Hanukkah - one stop shop - something for everyone. Don't over do it now. You will find that it was a waste of money.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 2:46 PM

rj, it should be very easy for you to provide a website. They aren't lies about Bush, they are facts that you can't change.

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 2:36 PM

Q Try Obama 2012 or Obama websites/weddings. It's all over the internet. You can't make this stuff up. Are you trying to make a donation?! Get over yourself already with the Bush lies. Do your grand kids a big favor and vote Romney. They will be forever grateful.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 1:49 PM

rj, what is that website, and regarding fraud voting, how do you think Bush became president? He wasn't even voted in as president, and every president took the traditional walk along Pennsylvania, but he didn't.

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 12:48 PM

Q Obama has a website requesting couples who will marry to ask their guests to donate to the Obama campaign in lieu of wedding gifts. This also extends to anniversary and birthday gift giving to Obama campaign. Desperate, crass and should be embarrassing to his followers. ROMNEY will win big time despite voter fraud - the deceased and illegal democratic base.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 12:34 PM

eenuf is eenuf, save your money if you are givng Romney it. He won't win.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 23rd, 2012 12:33 PM

rj, what is this about Obama asking couples getting married to tell their guests to give Obama the money instead? Can you give some specifics on that.

eenuf is eenuf

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 11:16 PM

I love Romney. He is my guy. Go Mitt. Obama has NO chance.

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 10:47 PM

Obama has relied on vast grassroots network to coerce, bully, boycott & vilify individuals lawfully taking part in the political process for Romney as his own donors & supporters are freely allowed to engage. Why? You know money game not going well when his campaign is encouraging couples getting married to forgo gifts & ask guests to donate to his campaign instead. What will it take to be further embarrassed or enraged by this poor excuse of a president?

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 8:15 PM

Jim Coughlin, it wasn't meant as a nasty comment. It is apparent to me that Obama has not followed the position that a democratic president would follow, and he has taken money from a group who favors republicans and you have proved the facts. We don't need a republican president, we need a president for the people, and Obama is not it, but because the way the system works, democrats only have Obama to vote for, and an independent is not going to win, and Romney won't either. It will be Obama

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 7:30 PM

Q, sad to read the nasty comment you posted about President Obama. Did not expect that from you. I'll leave you to your thoughts but be aware that in 2012 Goldman Sachs has given $577K to the Romney campaign. Compare that to the $91K they've donated for Barack Obama and also know that 71% of Goldman Sachs' $4.6 million in total political contributions for just this year have been accepted by GOP candidates. We should all agree that the influence of money in politics needs to be addressed and try to work together to find a solution. But lowering the bar to support your position crossed the line.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 6:29 PM

Goldman, Sachs would be a good start.

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 6:27 PM

Q- What are those wealthy ties?Can you elaborate?

Q from Oak Park

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 5:25 PM

rj, the only ties Obama has is with wealthy republicans. They play the song, and he knows the dance.

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 4:40 PM

That's nonsense.

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 3:03 PM

The biggest threat we have are the people who vote for someone who continues to cede our rights to illegitimate global organizations, favors crony-capitalism & continues social engineering via policies (for votes) minimizing our rights & freedoms from womb to tomb, while bankrupting us & erasing any future for those we leave behind. Obama just happens to have ties w/communists, socialists & other anti-American extremists. It is & will continue to be your fault - stupid is as stupid does again.

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 1:19 PM

Mitt Romney has yet to offer much in the way of specifics or details regarding how as president he will address the issues relating to the economy and our national debt. I believe Romney has stated support for the budget plan offered by Rep. Paul Ryan. Does it provide a fair shake for the middle class and working families? I don't see it that way. Mr. Bolen argues that it is unfair to "blame the GOP, the former adminstration, those evil rich folk and coporate America". That leaves us with an unaswered questioned. "Who is to blame?" Do we point that finger at Obama voters, government workers, union members, veterans, poor people, senior citizens, school children, etc.,. and say to them, "It's all your fault!"

Russ

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 1:08 PM

Defense spending needs to be cut too. Just because there are jobs associated with some form of government spending, does not mean it shouldn't be cut. Heck, the IRS employes tens if not hundreds of thousands of people both dirctly and indirectly. That doesn't mean we should jack up taxes just to keep these people employed. I'd have more respect for both parties if they just EVERYTHING by 25%. No sacred cows.

So, you will do

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 11:54 AM

Of course government creates jobs. Best example is defense spending... a sacred cow to repubs. Why don't they want defense spending cuts? a clue for you: it is not national security it is because it creates tons of jobs. Private sector jobs, I get it. Build/rehab a road and private sector contractors build it with government money just like defense. People have money they spend money which creates more jobs like restaurants and shopping and movies, all which create more jobs.

Oh no you don't from Oak Park

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 11:08 AM

What you call obstructionist, I call principle. If I as a congressman think that creating more debt in order to line the pockets of my public union cronies in state govt is bad policy, then I'm going to do my best to stop it. Same w/Repub Govs, who turned down "stimulus" $$ because of too many strings & the fact that it would further hurt the nation long term. Govt's do not create jobs, entrepreneurs do & this Pres & Dems have a deep, fundamental distaste for the producers of this world.

So, you will do

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 10:34 AM

@Oh no you don't: So you will also blame the congress for being obstructionist, right? Despite the rhetoric, the president has done some good things to turn the economy around. And it could have been better if the congress worked with the president rather than against him, you know for the people not the party. Also repub governors turning down stimulus money so what, they could make the president look bad. Back in the bush days it would have been called treason, now it is just politics.

Oh no you don't from Oak Park

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 8:55 AM

I, & most all conservatives have always criticized Bush for his free-spending & lack of focus on limited govt. I.e. the war vs radical islam was the correct decision, but execution & strategy were flawed. The Pres Drug plan & NoChildLeft were bad ideas. That some probs started under Bush doesn't absolve Obama from criticism, especially since most of his initiatives & ideology have & will continue to make things much worse. He said if he didn't fix the economy he'd be a 1-termer. I agree w/him.

So, you will do

Posted: June 22nd, 2012 7:57 AM

@Oh no you don't: do the same kindess for Pres Obama? add the deficit of bush years, the two un-budgeted wars (now on the books)and Tarp and the stimulus plan (started under bush) and free failing unemployment until Obama was elected and while we are at it include fast and furious started under bush and ended by Obama? Add to your own creditability by admitting that all that is bad is not because of what Obama has done but what Obama was handed.

Oh no you don't! from Oak Park

Posted: June 21st, 2012 11:44 PM

Dylan, the Wis budget deficit on the day Walker was inaugurated was $ 3.6 Billion. That's right, Dylan. 3.6 BILLION DOLLARS, created by Dem. Gov Jim Doyle, and Dem state house & senate. Your blatant error on this one key point renders everything else you said worthless. Also, it's not at all a fact that Pres Obama's increase in spending is low. He (& you) conveniently omit the 2009 budget which his speaker (Pelosi) wrote & he approved. They tried to pass off that lie, & got caught. Research it!

Dylan

Posted: June 21st, 2012 11:15 PM

Lastly, Again if you did research you would know that before Walker came to office there WAS NO BUDGET DEFICIT. Walker and the Republican government created the budget deficit with tax cuts. Basic math would tell you that if you reduce your overall revenue, and do nothing to your spending then you will have a deficit. The deficit was created by his policies. Its sad that folks like yourself are okay policies that create a deficit to then take food off the table of middle class families.

Dylan

Posted: June 21st, 2012 11:12 PM

Please, without attacking the otherside, tell me a time that a Republican President in the past 30 years has reduced our nation debt. Over the past 30 years it was a Democratic President that created a surplus. So please, unless these facts are untrue, please educate me as to when we have a fiscal responsible President that Balanced the budget and reduced the debt over a 4 year term.

Dylan

Posted: June 21st, 2012 11:09 PM

Its curious the selective memory some have. They selectively forget that it was our last Republican President who also promised to reduce the deficit, but blew it up with unpaid for tax cuts and two wars. (We have never in our History engaged in wars while also giving tax cuts - thats a fact.) Furthermore, its also a fact that the increase in government spending is lowest under President Obama than any GOP Pres since before Reagan. Don't Believe me? Research it.

Dylan

Posted: June 21st, 2012 11:06 PM

Matt, explain some of this "far left" policy from Pres. Obama?

Matt Gipson from Oak Park

Posted: June 20th, 2012 8:39 AM

Very well said Emerson. I too bought into the "hope/change" hype, even though I knew more about Mr Obama's background than the average Oak Parker. My fear was he'd revert to his hard left roots in many areas, and I was right. A second term would be much worse, especially in expanding statism, growing the debt and making the future worse for my kids & grandkids. You're correct also, in that we in Illinois need our own Scott Walker.

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