Not that I'm complaining about the wealth of good Democratic candidates or anything, but I am totally paralyzed with indecision right now.

Last week I was sure that I was going to vote for John Edwards. Yesterday I was swinging towards Hillary. Today, I'm feeling Obama-ish. All three seem pretty great, especially compared to the Current Resident aka Chimpface Motherfucker aka Satan's Tool.

Should I just vote on who is most likely to beat the Republican contender? Who has the most crossover appeal? What about Hilary's gender, or Barack's race, or John's good looks? Will they work for, or against, or not even factor in?

I dig Hill, but that vote on Iraq does stick in my craw, I'll admit it. I was furious with her at the time. At least John came clean on his vote.

Then again, that 2-for-1 Clinton deal is kind of tempting. I do like bargains. And really, I LIKE Hillary. She spoke at my university commencement and she was outstanding. Apart from some lovey-dovey moments with Republicans and that Iraq vote, I don't have much against her, and plenty for.

What was with all the "crying" business? I watched the video and she wasn't *even* crying. She choked up for a MOMENT. I'm so disgusted by the media attention to a SINGLE MOMENT OF EMOTION. Disgusted, I tell you. Disgusted. And then you get people saying that she didn't cry about 9/11, and blaming her for that. Give me a break.

Did George Bush cry over 9/11? I'll bet Dick Cheney doesn't cry when if he loses a puppy blood-drinking contest, sad though he might be. I feel like voting for Hillary just out of spite, because I'm so pissed off about the bullshit misogynist damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't media freakouts over non-issues. Her cleavage! Her teardrop! Her haircut! Her wrinkle!

Now Barack...Barack is exciting, and funny, and a skilled writer. No shortage of good ideas overall, but his policies seem pretty vague. He *could* be a uniter, not a divider, but to achieve what exactly? Does he have the experience to pull this off without blowing it? What about international diplomacy? Hope is great, but I don't know exactly what he is going to do to make wishes a reality. Too many questions. I should skim his book at least, I suppose.

John Edwards has it going on, in my book. The man tells it like it is. He is addressing issues dead-on that no one else dares touch - hello, CORPORATE GREED. He has less funding for his campaign because he does not accept corporate or PAC donations. He sees that this is a fight of "Lord of the Rings" proportions. Good vs. Evil showdown time. But does not selling out make it impossible to compete? Can we win primaries without the financial backing of Hillary and Barack, in other words...corporate special interests?

I love Elizabeth Edwards too. She's another 2-for-1 deal, and how heartbreaking it is that she may not have much more time. She's spending her last days on this, it's *that* important to them. OK? You can't call John Edwards fake, that's for damn sure.

I guess I need to really sit down and pore over the candidates' stances on the issues in detail and see if something jumps out at me.

Who are you voting for, and why that candidate over the others? Go on, sway me one way or the other. And dude, if you say Huckabee....well, read this for a good summary of THAT guy. Jesus Christ indeed.

Hmmm, I just read an article on Salon: Why I'm Still Not For Hillary Clinton. Honestly, that article did not sway me, but one of the letters in response did. I'll paste it below:

From AKA Smith

Like Frances Kissling, I am also a John Edwards supporter. He has the most detailed plan and makes clear how he would benefit women, children, and families. Unlike Kissling, Obama is not my second choice. Hillary Clinton is. Allow me to explain why.

John Edwards, like Clinton has disavowed his vote for the war. He did so more clearly and he did so earlier. However, I believe that all the Democratic candidates still viable will get us out of the war as soon as possible. I would like Edwards to have more foreign policy experience, but I believe he would do exactly what he says. I think Obama would also get us out of Iraq but I do not like some of the statements he has made on Pakistan. I think they show a sort of cowboy sensibility. Richardson is no longer viable. (I wouldn't be surprised to see him as the VP candidate.) I absolutely believe that, barring the recently dropped out Joe Biden, that Hillary Clinton is absolutely the best candidate bar none to lead us out of Iraq while still providing a safe exit for our troops. Do you wonder why working class and lower class voters in NH voted overwhelmingly for Clinton? Those aren't rich boys and girls dying over there. The military is peopled with men and women who often joined up to increase their economic opportunities as well as to servie their nation. It isn't enough to just shut it down. Early last year I read at Salon Hillary's tentative plan to take us out of Iraq. She was talking not only about exiting but how to exit. What route? We might need more cooperation from Turkey. How to get out with our weapons and equipment rather to leave them for someone who might turn them against us. I was impressed, impressed, impressed.

However, given the fact that I think we will get out of Iraq, period, I turn to John Edwards whose detailed social justice plan just sings to me. Edwards would do things like work to make sure that women, who make less money than men and who are more likely to spend time out of the job market for their children, have an improved access to better Social Security benefits.

Where is Barack Obama on that issue?

John Edwards would raise the minimum wage to $9.50, lift many numbers of poor women from abject poverty?

Where is Barack Obama on that issue?

In John Edwards plan is this bulleted statement: "Help families caring for their parents by expanding access to home health care, creating more choices for long-term care and offering respite care to provide caregivers a break." John Edwards understands how bad the second shift can really be when you are forced to choose between your children and your job or between your aging parent and your job. He understands that people cannot work 24-seven caretaking family members with no break that respite care would provide. Don't think this will ever be your problem? I have one word for you: Alzheimer's. Anyone out there with parents over 60?

Where is Barack Obama on that issue?

Both John Edwards' and Hillary's health care plan would cover everyone. Obama ran a bogus type scare campaign in Iowa alleging to college students that they would not have to have insurance and thus avoid a slight premium. What is bogus? Under Edward's and Hillary's plans, they both project that people with low incomes -- such as students -- would have to pay little to be covered.

Where was Barack Obama on that? Out to lunch! Or maybe he was just hoping.

Have you ever met a college student who is missing his arms and legs because he got into a car with a driver who'd had to much too drink? You think he might need medical care? Ya think?

I want to hope, but I know what I know. Obama uses Republican talking points, he is not clear on what he would do to protect Social Security, he has no more experience than Edwards, and I fear his non-partisan stance, which might lull conservatives, would lead him to make worse compromises with them than Hillary Clinton would ever make.

On foreign policy: Hillary's the gal.

On domestic policy: Edwards' is the guy and the true progressive.

And Obama? He's hoping.

OK, so the line that made me think was this:

However, given the fact that I think we will get out of Iraq, period, I turn to John Edwards whose detailed social justice plan just sings to me.

Where is Barack Obama on that issue?

Yeah, where IS Barack Obama on that issue? I'm just not sure. And that's why I think I'm going with Edwards...because he addresses the fact that there are scary times ahead, the fight of our lives, and tells us what he plans to do about it. Whether he can push his agenda through is another issue, but at least I know what he AIMS for, and that compromise is NOT one of his goals.

Barack, I'm just not sure. The vague smiley-face hope talk just rubs me the wrong way. It reminds me of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and can't we all just get along? Well, it would be nice if we could, but there are pressing issues in our countr that have come to a huge and horrific head and need addressing NOW. Edwards' plan does sing to me too, I'll admit it. That's a perfect word for it. It is absolute music to my ears hear someone speaking the truth as he does.

I'll think some more, of course...but in my gut I'm pretty sure I'm going with Edwards.