Super Tuesday

Scribbled by Steve on February 5, 2008 - Comments

After an absolutely Super Sunday – far exceeding my expectations, thanks, Eli – we have Super Tuesday. It’s a bit off topic for this blog, but I did meander on with a political blog for three years before relaunching six months ago, so forgive me. Throughout my adult life I’ve formed opinions on political candidates quickly and decisively, based on their promised policies (and yes I know they always go poof and disappear once elected) and their – for lack of a better word – charisma.

Today, for the first time in my adult life, I’m actually torn about my choice in a primary – and my choice will be made in a state where the result will matter. Now, my decision isn’t indicative of future success. I have voted for a presidential winner exactly one time in my life so far. Other than that, all losses (and incidentally, I voted for third party candidates twice so I knew they were losers in advance). This time I think it’s too important to vote for a third party candidate, although Bloomberg would be interesting.

So here’s what I’m asking – feel free to express yourself in comments to influence my vote in the critical New Jersey primary. And if you are in a Super Tuesday voting state, go vote. Whether you are a Republican or Democrat or Tory or Whig or Green voter, vote. The stakes are too high to avoid it.

A lot of personal finance bloggers won’t talk politics, but politics affects personal finance more than almost any other factor. Taxes and monetary policy and the strength of the dollar and the dependence on foreign oil – all of them impact your wallet, now. If you want to be rich, you have a choice to make. It may be the wrong choice, but it’s important for you to express yourself.

So wish me luck in making up my mind on Tuesday. I won’t say if I’m voting for Barack Obama or John McCain or Mitt Romney or Hillary Clinton or Mike Huckabee or Ron Paul, but I can promise you I will be voting. Let’s go.

photo by joebeone

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  • I'm voting for a McCain/Clinton ticket. A girl can dream, yeah?
  • I personally think the internet skews the true life reality when it comes to politics. If you scoured the internet you'd think everyone was a Obama or a Ron Paul supporter - but that's only because their supporters tend to be younger, more internet savvy people. The silent older majority are not but they tend to come out to vote when it really matters. My 2 cents! :)
  • Thanks for the comments, all! Actually I find it fascinating that it's not clear what my political orientation is. I guess I've done a good job of masking it on this blog! But if you saw the "old" brip blap political blog - before I relaunched it and made it more of a personal finance and self-improvement site - you wouldn't have even a vague doubt. I am debating as I type this whether I'll reveal who I did vote for. I struggled right up to the minute I punched the button, but now that I made my decision I feel very happy about it. After voting and watching the Giants' ticker tape parade and topping off my lunch with a red pear I'm feeling pretty durn good.
  • vote for RON PAUL.
    RON PAUL, RON PAUL, RON PAUL!!!

    he's one of the few politicians who understands anything about economics. as a pf enthusiast, I'd definitely for him.
    did you see the site: whoshouldivotefor.com (or somthing similar to that). even they said I should vote for him.
    did I say vote for ron paul ;-)
  • jules
    This chart pretty much sums it up. (not my blog, but totally agree)

    http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2008/01/your-h...
  • Involvement in the political process relevant for all...
    And like you said, it affects our finances more than we may care to acknowledge.
    Participation is key to making the changes we need in our economy.
    Congrats on taking the time to participate by voting...
    I would prefer you vote for Obama, but I will also assume your Republican, so anyone but Romney!
  • guinness416
    Well you know I'm an Edwards gal, and I'm sad because he would have made a fine president, but in his absence vote for Obama. Clinton was my senator for a while, I've met her and liked her, but Obama, apart from being a good choice in his own right will win in the presidential election.

    I assume you're not voting republican, but in the unlikely event that you are vote McCain - I've heard the red-meat voters don't like him on immigration (which of course, I do) so will stay home :)
  • Clinton.

    But if you're a Republican, there is no contest, the only acceptable candidate is McCain.

    Now that I've given you my pronouncement, you can go and vote. :)
  • Ruth
    Thanks for the call to action, Steve. I, too, will be voting only I can't vote until next Tuesday when, possibly, the nominee will have been decided. Even so, I always vote and I hope all of your readers will, too. This is a privilege that far too people in the world enjoy and it is an obligation we ignore at our collective peril.
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