I'll start:
Campaign overall: It's exciting. We're finally coming into the 21st Century with a woman candidate and an (openly) black candidate.
The Dems:
Hillary: Believe it or not, I'm somewhat ambivalent on her. I like her stance on the issues; she's good for small businesses and I'd love to see a woman in the Oval Office. Whatever her politics, we'd see a change simply because the views are coming from the distaff. However, as the first woman president, and a Democrat, we KNOW the Republicans would dredge up the Whitewater scandal and throw it in her face like the proverbial blue dress. I'm also not convinced as to what she'd do about the war. There's a lot she's not talking about.
Barack Obama: President Obama, visualize that! Nevertheless, I'm excited and encouraged about him. He's a man of the people and a <i>good</i> mediator. He was addressing a pro-choice rally in Chicago and there were a bunch of pro-life demonstrators outside. His minders tried to sneak him past them and he said, "No, let me talk to them." He did go out and address the group, placated them and got them to understand where the pro-choicers were coming from. We NEED someone who listens and has the trick of talking to all sides of the table.
John Edwards: I could tell straight off, back on that awful day of November 5 2004, that he wanted to keep fighting, even as his running mate Kerry was bowing out. John wanted the ballots to be counted to the last before conceding.
That said, I like his stance on the planks, too. He wants to give America universal health coverage, which is shaping up to be one of if not thee top issue of the campaign. Experience also states that traditionally, it's the southern states that win the White House. How long has it been since we had a President from north of the Mason-Dixon line?
Vilsack: Not a lot to say. Haven't done much reading up with him.
Reverend Al Sharpton...
Yeah, just TELL him about separation of church and state!!!! Senator Joe Biden. Don't like him. He's a hawk. I think we've had enough pugilistic types, haven't we? We need a socially liberal and financially conservative President.
The Repubs:
McCain: I liked him. He did his level best to kill BushCheney's torture bill. But he's a stealth conservative. He approves of the surge and that's what killed him for me.
Giuliani: I respected the guy. He did more for NYC on 9/11 than the whole of the Bush Administration did. He got New York standing tall and proud a month after the towers fell. BUT. I know a bunch of people who lived in the Big Apple under his watch as a mayor and they're all scared of him. I understand he has a horrible temper and he can be abusive. Smart, tough, dedicated, and boy does he have a reason to want Bin Ladin's liver and lights on a majolica platter. But I don't think we need an anti-arts bully in the White House.
The rest: They all know they're long shots so I'm not really paying much attention to them, save to get the real wingnuts and whackjobs on the radar and make sure they don't rise to the top.
Third Party: Define? Do you mean the Greens, the Libertarians, the Constitution Party?
Well, as much as I hate to say it, the Third Party in whatever flavour you see it, is shut out of the White House simply because of the Electoral College. As for the Libertarians, they never focused on the prize, all they're interested in is "sending a message." I voted Green in 2000 because I couldn't stomach either Bush nor Gore, and we all know what a fiasco that turned out to be. Libertarian is more like a way of politicking than a bonafide political party. IMO, it's the way the country should be, but we have the Two-Headed Monster, whether we like it or not. Personally I'd love to see the Electoral College jump on a slow boat to Antarctica, but that's not likely to happen in the next two years.
Okay. That's it from me. Discuss (again, civilly).
I think i need to read up a little bit more....oh heck i might just vote green again lol. I guess as things get closer i will become more informed. Or.... John Stewart '08 woot 
