romney, ryan, republican, rachel

Being a member of the Republican Party, I have been looking "forward" to this election since four years ago.

Hahaha!

Get it? Forward?

Oh, man. Political jokes are the worst.

My dad, may he rest in peace, was a political man. Not the crazy kind who are out there bashing everyone who doesn't agree with him. Just like ol' Thomas Jefferson said, "I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause from withdrawing from a friend." My dad respected others enough to let them have their own opinions. He was always current with the events. Ask him anything about anything going on and he'd be able to give you an answer on the who, what, where, when, why and how. He is the reason why I love politics. I don't love-love them, I actually hate them. But I love being able to read up on the issues and decide for myself who and what I want to vote for.

I was excited to turn 18 years old and having the opportunity to cast my vote. One thing that I always loved doing was being able to walk into the voting booth and fill in the little boxes. Washington State changed the rules a couple years back, and we now have mandatory mail-in ballots. It's just not the same thing. I don't get a "I Voted" sticker anymore. Horrible!

Elections are always exciting, the anticipation to see if others are voting the same way you are. Presidential elections are the same, multiply the emotions by a million. It's a political media war out there, but for the most part, people know who they want in the White House the next four years. This is what I wrote up four years ago:

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Since tomorrow is "THE DAY", important on so many different issues; I thought I'd write up my little politico manifesto. I hope it makes some sense.

I love America. I love where I live and the freedoms that I enjoy. I love the history of our country and have a deep love for all of those inspired men who sacrificed so much for what we have today. The Founding Fathers were inspired by God. This is the Promised Land and we are so blessed to be living here. I'm proud to be an American. I believe in hard work. Our Founding Fathers did not intend for our country to be Socialistic.

I love life. I'm as Pro-Life as the the earth is round. I don't believe in the term Pro-Choice. The choice was made; and now you're having a baby. Own up to your actions. You decided. It's a selfish thing to make the "choice" for your unborn baby. Elder Russell M. Nelson says it so much better here.
He said, "Elective abortion has been legalized in many countries on the premise that a woman is free to choose what she does with her own body. To an extent this is true for each of us, male or female. We are free to think. We are free to plan. And we are free to do. But once an action has been taken, we are never free from its consequences.

To understand this concept more clearly, we can learn from the astronaut. Anytime during selection or preparation, he or she is free to withdraw from the program. But once the spacecraft has lifted off, the astronaut is bound to the consequences of the previous choice to make the journey.
So it is with people who choose to embark on a journey that leads to parenthood. They have freedom of choice—to begin or not to begin that course. When conception does occur, that choice has already been made.
Yes, a woman is free to choose what she will do with her body. Whether her choice leads to an astronaut’s mission or to a baby, her choice to begin the journey binds her to the consequences of that choice. She cannot “unchoose.”
When the controversies about abortion are debated, “individual right of choice” is invoked as though it were the one supreme virtue. That could only be true if but one person were involved. The rights of any one individual do not allow the rights of another individual to be abused. In or out of marriage, abortion is not solely an individual matter. Terminating the life of a developing baby involves two individuals with separate bodies, brains, and hearts. A woman’s choice for her own body does not include the right to deprive her baby of life—and a lifetime of choices that her child would make."

I love families. I therefore believe in the sanctity of marriage to help protect the family. Marriage is to be only between a man and a woman. If you need further clarification see here.

My dad sent this in an email today...but it was said by Elder Neal A. Maxwell at a BYU Devotional on October 10, 1978. 30 years ago.

He said, Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions.  President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.'
This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ....Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted....This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.
Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost.
Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do.
We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

I wanted to give them each a fighting chance. I want to make the right choice. I want to go into the booth tomorrow knowing that I'm making an educated vote. I've watched the debates, discussed with family and friends, and read news articles that have scrutinized the opposing policies. But every time I think about Obama as President, it makes me sick.  I don't agree with McCain on everything but because of what I believe above, it was easy to decide which of the two candidates will be receiving my vote tomorrow.

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I feel the same way about the above items. 

Today, I believe that Mitt Romney is the right choice for America. Obama gave it a shot and came up short on a lot of things. A lot. People thought they had their Hope, but really were just caught up in the Hype. See what I did there? With the 'o' and the 'y'? Clever, huh? I know.

One of the most important issues this election is the economy. Obama has no idea what he's doing. Romney is the most qualified candidate to get America up and running again. If you need any proof, re-watch the Presidential debates. Especially the first one; it's the perfect example of the difference between the two candidates. Romney showed up prepared for everything. Obama thought he'd be able to throw around his usual catch phrases and smile his way through. The one-two punch from Romney really left him and his lefties spinning....and they continued to spin everything they could to try and make Romney seem incompetent in the eyes of voters.

Mitt Romney is not just some rich, white guy without a soul. He knows what his talking about. He answers questions with direct answers. He loves his family. He loves his faith. He loves America.

It should go without saying, but I am not voting for him because we belong to the same church. It's an election, people. Not a sustaining.

I know not everyone feels the same way about the why's. I love you anyways. I am voting for who I believe to be the best man for the job. Another reason why living in this country is great, we each get to vote for who and what we want.

It's going to be exciting as the results come in tonight.

My finger's are crossed that I'll be just as excited with the final outcome.

U.S.A.!
U.S.A.!
U.S.A.!