Note: You can view a personalized sample ballot on the NC State Board of Elections web site, here: http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/VoterLookup.aspx Polls are open 6:30am to 7:30pm at the regular precinct locations on November 4th. (It is also possible to vote early.) If you did not register to vote on time (by Oct. 10, 2008), or if you have moved, it is still possible to vote, using the new "early voting with same-day registration" procedure. See: http://www.burtonsys.com/2008_one_last_chance_to_register_and_vote.html
First, a few words about who I am and what I believe... (If you disagree with me about such things, then my opinions about the election are probably of no use to you.) I am a Christian, and I am a fiscal and social conservative. I am pro-life when it comes to babies, and pro-choice when it comes to education. I do not think Sarah Palin's Christian faith makes her unfit to hold office, and I do not think that praying for someone is "attacking" them. I am glad that Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq's Saddam Hussein are no longer trying to build nuclear weapons, and glad that Saddam is no longer committing genocide against the Marsh Arabs, filling his country with mass graves, and supporting terrorism around the world. I am grateful to America's soldiers for that welcome change.
Economic situation got you worried? Want Change?
Don't forget who is currently in charge! This is who is in charge now (in approximate order of importance for determining economic policy): U.S. House: Democrat U.S. Senate: Democrat President: Republican NC Senate: Democrat NC House: Democrat Governor: Democrat Lt. Governor: Democrat I can also recommend this eye-opening little history of the current economic crunch (in the form of a YouTube video).These are my recommendations for the Nov. 4 election:
Presidential preference: McCain / Palin (R)
McCain (R) Obama (D)
♦ Character & ideology:
McCain is a moderate, and I am a conservative, so he was
not my first choice. But he is level-headed and experienced,
and a man of integrity, and he is clearly the best choice
in this election.
In contrast, Obama is the most extreme left-wing
presidential nominee from a major party in American history.
Perhaps worse, Obama is an habitual liar, even about
easily refuted things (like what committee he's on), and
even about very minor things. He even claimed to be a
"constitutional law professor," when he was actually a mere
lecturer. (Note Luke 16:10.)
♦ Babies:
McCain opposes abortion except in rare circumstances,
like rape.
In contrast, Obama is an extreme promoter of abortion.
Obama has said that he wants, as one of his first acts as
President, to sign into law "FOCA," which is a bill to
re-legalize the banned partial-birth abortion procedure, and
to invalidate all State parental consent & notification
laws, and all right-to-know/informed-consent laws. He even
supported infanticide of babies who are accidentally
born-alive during a botched abortion, though he has retreated
from that position. (And he lies about this issue, too.)
♦ Commander-in-chief:
In most areas, the President shares responsibility with
other branches of government. But the President, alone, is
Commander-In-Chief of the military. It is his most important
job. In this area, Obama has almost no relevant experience,
and McCain shines. That's probably why America's soldiers
overwhelmingly prefer McCain over Obama - a Miltary Times poll
put the McCain margin at 3-to-1.
♦ Veep:
I am also very impressed by Sarah Palin. She's a sincere
Christian, with a sharp mind and a heart for children. Despite
being focused on State & local issues until a month before the
debate, she still held her own in the debate with Biden, who
had been studying and debating federal issues for 35 years.
That's amazing! In fact, Biden made many more factual errors
than Palin! Obviously Palin is a very quick study, and I think
she's a terrific choice for the understudy/apprenticeship
position which is the vice-presidency.
U.S. Senate: Elizabeth Dole (R)
Dole has been a steadfast supporter and sponsor of
measures to reduce abortion, strengthen families, and
promote traditional values. She was also one of a few
Senators (along with McCain!) who tried to reform the
regulation of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, a couple of
years before the crisis that they precipitated. (The
Democrats blocked passage of their bill, unfortunately.)
US House District 2: Dan Mansell
US House District 4: BJ Lawson
US House District 13: Hugh Webster (Hugh is a personal friend of mine!)
Governor: Pat McCrory (R)
Liutenant Governor: Robert Pittenger (R)
Attorney General: Bob Crumley (R)
State Auditor: Les Merrit (R)
Les is a personal friend of mine, and a wonderful
Christian gentleman.
Insurance Commissioner: John Odom (R)
Agriculture Commissioner: Steve Troxler (R)
Labor Commissioner: none
I'm not one to let perfect be the enemy of good. I
often support the "lesser of two evils." But, in this
case, I simply cannot bring myself to vote for either
Cherie Berry or Mary Donnan. Donnan is a very liberal
Democrat. Berry is a close ally of Richard Morgan, and,
when she was in the NCGA, she was the chief water-carrier
for the abortion industry.
Secretary of State: Jack Sawyer (R)
Superintendent of Public Instruction: June Atkinson (D)
The Republican nominee, Richard Morgan, is really
a Republican in name only, with a horrible record of
deceit, betrayal & corruption in the NC General Assembly.
State Treasurer: Bill Daughtridge (R)
I know the Democratic nominee, Janet Cowell. She
is currently my State Senator. Though a liberal, she
is a pleasant person to talk with. Unfortunately, you
cannot trust her word. She made a promise to me (to
co-sponsor redistricting reform), and then reneged.
Wake Co. Register of Deeds: Laura Riddick
Laura is terrific, and a personal friend of mine.
Wake Co. Commissioner, District 4: Kenn Gardner
Wake Co. Commissioner, District 5: Venita Peyton
Wake Co. Commissioner, District 6: Larry Tilley
NC Senate District 15: Neal Hunt (Neal is wonderful!)
NC Senate District 16: Johnny Alexander
NC Senate District 17: Richard Stevens (Richard is terrific!)
NC House District 33: Paul Terrell
NC House District 34: J.H. Ross
NC House District 35: Eric Weaver (Eric is excellent!)
NC House District 36: Nelson Dollar (Nelson does a wonderful job,
and he's my good friend. He's twice introduced redistricting reform,
which is one of my pet causes)
NC House District 37: Paul "Skip" Stam (Skip is wonderful,
and my good friend!)
NC House District 39: Duane Cutlip
NC House District 40: Marilyn Avila (Marilyn is wonderful,
and my good friend, and an active member of my church!)
NC House District 39: Bryan Gossage
NC Supreme Court (Edmunds Seat): Bob Edmunds (Bob is my friend,
and he's doing a wonderful job!)
NC Court of Appeals (Stephens Seat): Dan Barrett (I've met Dan, and I'm
very impressed)
NC Court of Appeals (Wynn Seat): Jewel Ann Farlow (her opponent is very liberal)
NC Court of Appeals (Arrowood Seat): Robert Hunter (his opponent is very liberal)
NC Court of Appeals (McCullough Seat): Doug McCullough (Doug is
doing an excellent job)
Wake Co.:
District Court (district 10): John Miller
District Court (district 10): Walter B. Rand
District Court (district 10): Anna Worley
Johnston & Lee Co.:
District Court (district 11): Gary Ragland
District Court (district 11): Paul A. Holcombe
Other judicial races: For party registration information for
all 223 "non-partisan" judicial candidates in NC, see:
http://www.mooregop.org/2008_judicial_candidates_clean.html
Sources for Additional Information:
Wake Co. voters can look up their voter registration info at: http://msweb03.co.wake.nc.us/bordelec/Waves/WavesSearch.asp That will tell you your precinct number and districts. For a list of Wake Co. voting locations see: http://msweb03.co.wake.nc.us/bordelec/downloads/PollingPlaceDetails_Web.htm Wake Co. Board of Elections: http://www.wakegov.com/elections/default.htm Wake Co. Republican Party: http://www.wakegop.org/ Wake Co. Democratic Party: http://www.wakedems.org/ Judy Keener's Picks (Wake Coounty, NC): http://www.burtonsys.com/2008_judys_picks.html (Judy is my very wise & dear Christian friend) Called2Action: http://www.called2action.org/ Family Policy Council of North Carolina: http://ncfamily.org/voterguide2008-general/ Faith2Action's detailed presidential voter guide: http://f2a.org/coast2coast/voterguides/F2A-Presidential-2008.pdf Marty McCaffrey's very thoughtful (and detailed) analysis of the Presidential race: http://www.burtonsys.com/DearYoungMom.html Carmen Ledford's picks (Lee County, NC): http://www.burtonsys.com/2008_carmens_picks.htm (Carmen is my very wise & dear Christian friend) Katy's Conservative Corner: http://www.katysconservativecorner.typepad.com/ Wake County Taxpayers' Association: http://www.wcta.org/ Old "Dave's Picks" recommendations, from previous elections, are here: http://www.burtonsys.com/davespicks.htmlDave Burton Cary, NC H: 919-481-0098 W: 919-481-2183 M: 919-244-3316 10/24/2008