Vote John McCain for President

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

By Judd Grossman

My wife and I are feeling a bit outnumbered at our own paper. We are conservative, but almost everyone that works for us is pretty dang liberal. I may be stirring up a hornet’s nest with my “radical” headline.  I think I’ll say it again, “Vote John McCain for president”.  God, that’s fun.

I’ve put together a voting guide based on my principals: conservative in general, and smart growth when it comes to local planning.

President
4John McCain/Sarah Palin (R) - McCain is a true American hero. He has the right approach to foreign policy. McCain’s visionary support of the surge turned around a potentially disastrous defeat in Iraq, and has brought us to the brink of success. Palin is an authentic fiscal and social conservative.

Barak Obama/Joe Biden (D) - Obama’s moderate rhetoric obscures a very liberal record.  I’m convinced he will slow the economic recovery by raising taxes. Obama will appoint liberal/activist judges, and impose inefficient government intervention into healthcare. Most importantly Obama is likely to prematurely pull out of Iraq, reversing the hard fought gains of the past 5 years.

U.S. Senate
4John Barrasso (R) & ÖMike Enzi (R) - Win in Iraq, lower taxes and spending.  Against the bailout. Won’t appease Iran. Pro-life.
Nick Carter (D) & Chris Rothfuss (D) - Want to pull out of Iraq without victory.
U.S. House
4Cynthia Lummis (R) - Win in Iraq.  Lower taxes and spending. Won’t appease Iran. Pro-life.
Gary Trauner (D) – Talented and articulate, but appears to be hiding liberal views in order to run as a moderate.
State House District 16
4Joe Schloss (R) - Conservative. Market solutions to health care. Broad property tax relief.
Pete Jorgensen (D) - Experienced and thoughtful, but too liberal.
State House District 23:
4Charles Strough (R) - Pro-drilling (energy independence), with better reclamation afterwards.
Jim Roscoe (D) – State should regulate minerals extraction.

County Commissioner
4Leland Christensen (R) - Limited density in the county. Workforce housing (rentals). Limit suburban sprawl.
4Dennis Triano (R) - Rabidly against subsidized home ownership (How refreshing.). Pro-affordable rentals. Pro-open space. Supports limited expansion of town densities onto north end of Porter Estate.
Andy Schwartz (D) - Lot’s of experience, but probably too pro-development for my tastes.
Claire Fuller (D) - Pro-affordable housing and open space preservation, but her positions are still evolving. The county commissioners are expected to manage a $42,000,000 budget.

Mayor
4Mark Barron - Higher density mixed uses in the core of town. Less sprawl out into county. (Eventually we will have to stop these suburban style developments in the county, and focus on a future of urban style development in town - the sooner the better.)
Mike Lance - Skeptical of the new urbanism downtown. Supports working class housing on the Porter Estate.

TOWN?COUNCIL
4Greg Miles & 4Mark Obringer - More density and mixed uses in the core of town. (We need to tweak it, so that we get a better mix of uses.)
Abe Tabatabai  - No 4 story buildings downtown. Annex Porter Estate.
Louise Lasley - Limit growth in town.

My endorsements will either be a boost to the candidates or the kiss of death, but just remember this guide is a work in progress. I’ll be watching and learning right up to the moment I step into the voting booth, and so should all of you. PJH


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