If I may be frank and candid - a third party or write in candidate is a throw away vote.  It comes down to Senator Obama or Senator McCain.  And while no one person can represent everything that each of us stands for on a personal level - we have to choose the person we feel could best lead this country out of the mire we are presently in.

We have had a year and half to examine the records of prospective candidates - we have had several months to examine the nominees.  I hear people I know saying, "I really don't know anything about either of them"  I tell them, "The only reason for your ignorance is that you haven't made the effort to learn."

Every politician makes promises to get elected.  Few of those promises are able to be carried through to reality because of our two party system. 

I was a lifelong registered Republican - until earlier this year when I registered as a Democrat so I could participate in the caucus.  I am voting for Barack Obama - and he does not stand for everything I believe in.

For example, I am a proponent of the 2nd Ammendment.  I am an NRA certified instructor and I also teach the Kansas Concealed Carry class for the Attorney General's office.  I own guns (never went hunting), I believe in the right to bear arms.  Senator Obama wants a gun ban - he wants the assault weapons ban reinstated - he even wants to ban handguns in all urban areas.  I totally disagree with this - I know for a fact that criminals will get guns illegaly and all this will do is server to disarm law abiding citizens who had to go through state mandated training and qualifications to carry a weapon.  Yet I choose Barack Obama because I believe he is truly sincere and committed to changing the state of affairs we are now in in the USA.

Our role in the global community is severely tarnished - we are hated by more people across the world then ever before - and it is because we are represented by our leaders and they are not respected.

Our economy is in shamble - verging on 1929 when people leapt off of buildings because things seemed so hopeless.  Fannie May and Freddy having to be taken over and rescued by the govt. - the collapse of Lehman Brothers - a company in business since 1850 - the spending of 22 Billion dollars a month in Iraq - the unaccounted money in Iraq to the tune of $80 billion dollars.  What that money could have done for our schools, medical research, outreach programs - such a waste.

I am willing to compromise on some of my beliefs that Barack Obama opposes because I feel he is the man for the job - we have two to choose from and I feel I must do my part (and have done so) to deeply research both candidates records and positions on the issues.

I had the honor of meeting Senator Obama in early February on his visit here to Kansas.  I drove for an hour in the snow to El Dorado, KS and was lucky enough to meet the Senator, shake his hand, share a few words, then watch him speak.

People say he is so popular he is like a celebrity - a rock star.  But if you watch him, listen to him, dig into his credentials, dig into his voting record, read his books - you find that this has never been about him - it has been about us - about serving the people - giving a voice to the voiceless.

Regardless of who you vote for - If you examine the campaigns closely - Sen. Obama has been touting his ability to be an agent of change.  McCain has only done so after he found out his opponent would be Obama.

And the one thing that scares the heck out of me is the thought of Gov. Palin becoming the president.  Statistically, Sen. McCain has a 1 in 3 chance of dying in office at his age.  I shudder to think of a Palin presidency.

Sorry for rambling, Denise.  I hope you take this as a sign of my passion - I hope I did not offend in any way.

And I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Matthew