Even without cable, I was able to watch much of both conventions. I saw John Kerry play out his war record and George W. Bush attack Kerry as a flip flopper.

I’m an independent voter — who always votes. The kind of person who used to be targed by campaings — at least when I lived in Ohio.

So, last night, I was thinking . . . . who am I going to vote for? Like choosing a school, or a house, I drew up a sort of pro/con list for each candidate.

Here’s my list for George W. Bush:

Pro Con
Tax policy proposal which promises to reduce the tax burden. Patriot act which promises to reduce the rights of everyone.
Legislation which aimes to curb punitive damages. "GitMo" policy which curbs the rights of enemy non-combatant.
Allowing Americans to invest their own Social Security dollars. Saddling Americans with Judical nominees in which they can’t invest their
faith.
A man who may not be smart, but was smart enough to avoid Viet-Nam. A man who appointed three smart men to engage in a preemptive war.

Then, I readied my pencil, to make my list for John F. Kerry. Hmmm. I got up, took a bathroom break, checked e-mail. Then I was back, just me and a blank piece of paper.

I couldn’t really think of anything I liked about John Kerry. He supported the war in Iraq — and would again — not too high on my list. He celebrated his two tours of duty (in four months?!?) in Viet-Nam. All my life the Viet-Nam war mongering has been villified — and now it’s popular? I’m still trying to figure that one out. When Dean spoke at the convention, I thought I could possibly support his candidacy. Al Gore, well I think he’s a quitter — and I still haven’t gotten over the Senate’s refusal to sign an objection to the electoral vote. But, I digress.

John Kerry. I’ve watched his speeches, watched his unblinking advisors. I’m not sure what he would do if he was president. When I ask friends who are Kerry supporters, I get the “anybody but Bush” answer. I don’t know if that’t enough.

Thank goodness for Ralph Nader.

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