Recently, Obama has said that he wants to open the oil reserves in Alaska to lower gas prices, even though theres not much oil there http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/us/politics/05campaign.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.  He also recently voted to allow illegal wire tapping.  http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/02/america/obama.php

This is truly disgusting, and I'm beginning to think that it doesn't matter if hes better than McCain, they both suck.  I might end up voting for myself.  Its true, you can do that.  All you have to do is write your own name on the ticket.   

     I've been toying with the idea of voting for a Republican in the upcoming primary elections.  As a West Virginia Independent, I am given the opportunity to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary as described here (http://www.wvsos.com/elections/voters/partyregistration.htm).  I've never voted for a Republican before and thought this might be the best time to do so.  I don't like Hillary Clinton (voted for the Iraq war and declared Irans military as a terrorist group http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/weekinreview/14cooper.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) and Barack Obama seems to have the John Kerry flu (never can give a straight answer.).  I like Kucinich, but he did claim to see a UFO (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSRWRbuMqyc) which seems a little crazy to me.  Biden wants to partition Iraq into three countries based on religion (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/opinion/23galbraith.html?_r=1&oref=slogin), now tell me, how has that worked out for India/Pakistan and Israel/Palestine?  Edwards just seems ingenuine to me, I don't have a link for that, he just seems like a phony.  Bill Richardson is by far my favorite but I even have ticky tack problems with him, and it doesn't look like he'll win anyway.  However, even with the problems I have with the Democrats I truly believe that any one of them would make a capable President (well, maybe not Edwards).  So, by the time West Virginia rolls around to its primary on May 13th, We will probably be down to two candidates, Clinton and Obama.  Between the two I don't care who wins, I might flip a coin, heads its Obama! 

       Now, as far as the Republicans go, theres only one I could even dream of voting for, and he may be able to get me out of voting for one of two Democrats I don't particularly like.  Ron Paul.  I am now going to break down this candidate by the issue according to his website and tell you what I think...

On the environment...

     Congressman Paul states that the key to sound environmental policy is the respect for private property and that to punish polluters we as Americans should sue the polluter.  In that case, I should sue Masey for blowing up my mountains here in Kanawha county WV.  Tell me, who's going to have the better lawyers?  What Ron Paul forgets (and its the downfall of all Libertarians) is that the government IS the people.  I shouldn't have to sue a company.  Thats why we have the WV EPA.  The government is there to protect us, not hurt us.  Sometimes they do screw up, but its better than not helping at all.  Minus one for Ron Paul.

The war in Iraq.....   

     He wants out of Iraq in a big way.  Plus one to Ron Paul.

Universal Health Care......

     Against UHC.  Minus one to Ron Paul.

Public education....

     Against federal funding of schools.  For giving tax breaks to parents who want to send children to religious schools so they can learn all about creationism.  Minus one to Ron Paul.

Roe VS Wade....

      Against.  As President would do his utmost to overturn.  Minus one to Ron Paul.

Second amendment.....

       Against any restriction of fire arms.  Plus one to Ron Paul.

Right to Privacy.....

       Against the National ID and wants a repeal of the USA PATRIOT ACT.  Plus one to Ron Paul.

Those are the issues that he lists on his website that I care about (notice immigration is not one of them).  His total score is -1.  Alas, with a score of negative one, I cannot vote for a Republican in '08.  The search continues...........