"johnny2bad" had made a useful start on some of "Reasons Not To Vote For John McCain", with the following starter-list of treasonable acts perpetrated by the party of John McCain:

-- Starting an illegal war using lies. (International war crimes)

--Outing CIA agent Plame. (treason)

-- Politicizing the justice department.

--Legalizing torture.

There would be plenty more such reasons.

As an outsider (a non-US citizen), I believe one major reason that US citizens should strongly feel is that John McCain has supported and is supporting the criminal politicies of GW Bush and Gang - which have brought the world to the brink of disaster (for the whole human race and to many other species living here).

John McCain is also being supported in his bid for US presidency by War Criminal GW Bush. (I have plenty more reasons to put up - but my reasons are irrelevant in this election, of course, so I shall refrain).

Whether or not my stated reasons above are accepted by any US citizen (who are obviously the only ones who count in this coming election), I feel that items on a list of "Reasons Not To Vote For John McCain" should be categorised in a way that would enable contributors clearly understand just how damaging voting for John McCain would be disastrous (for the US; for the whole world; and for them as individual US citizens).

Here are some categories that I feel should be explored:

-- War Crimes committed by GW Bush and Gang

-- Acts of treason (by GW Bush and Gang) against the US as a nation

-- Acts of incompetence (by GW Bush and Gang) AND the costs of those acts of incompetence to the US; to individual US citizens; to the world

-- Acts that have damaged the US in the eyes of the world

(There would be many other categories of course).

One issue that should be explored in some depth: Specifically why should those acts by GW Bush and Gang be held against John McCain?

To be fair to John McCain (and to US citizens generally), it would also be appropriate to list in detail just why US citizens SHOULD vote in McCain's favour against Barack Obama.

And there obviously should be lists of elements for and against Barack Obama, as well - Democratic voters should list all of these as well: as the Republicans will be listing all the reasons NOT to vote for Barack Obama - inventing a large number of them, in fact, out of whole cloth, so to say - it would be useful for Democratic voters to anticipate those reasons in order to be able to counter them effectively.

If there is adequate examination of such listings by US citizens AND if there is enough democratic reasoned debate of the elements appearing on them, then I believe US citizens would have a good grip on how to make a good vote in the coming election.

[Obviously, these lists when made effectively cut through to the very heart of the election process. (If then they are discussed effectively, the US would have a 'good and truly democratic election'). At this point of time, I do not see these basic underpinnings of enabling US citizens make a good vote being put in place. Alas].

GSC

Well, notwithstanding the trolls like our 'robot', 'elephantman', 'berlet98' and other assorted vampires and monsters, it does seem as though Obama is likely to be the next US President, unless:

+++

1) He/his campaign fouls up in some really major way;

2) He chooses someone as his Veep who manages to lose it for him;

3) He is assassinated;

4) He doesn't learn how to swiftly and powerfully counter the Rovian tactics that are being prepared for him. (Those Rovian ploys have already started: one major newspaper already spoke of him as "Osama", you will recall; there was something else also... - that was just 'testing-the-waters' kind of stuff, much more is being planned, that's for sure).

5) ...

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Items No. 1 & 2 seem to be unlikely. Watch out for Items No. 3 and 4 and stuff of that nature. If you feel sceptical about this claim of mine, just remember how the 'Swift Boat Veterans campaign' and the 'wolves lurking in the undergrowth' advertisement helped seal the issue against Kerry-Edwards in 2004...there will be much more and worse to come now against Obama.

GSC

I left out the following thought: try and get together with some of the good and healthy people who can empathise with you and help you out of our troubled states.

--GSC

LW, walkingonsunshine, any others who've had such horrific experiences as you've described:

My heart really goes out to you; I'm afraid cannot offer any useful advice on how you may heal except to say that the human mind (and heart) itself/themselves can and do try to heal most such traumas.

Cary's thoughts seem, to me, to be sound - but then what do I know about the effects on your mind and psyche of the trauma you have suffered?

If you can bring yourself to do it, do think of exposing the people who molested you.

-- GSC

"apology" (not apoloty as posted), of course. Sorry about that.