How do you decide who you will vote for President?

MSgt James Mullis — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:19:28 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 2:21 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:21:36 -0400

Issues and character!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 2:23 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:23:46 -0400

Which ever (especially in this race) is the lesser of the two evils.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jul 29 at 2016 2:24 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:24:55 -0400

It's like "Pin the Tail on the Donkey!" You can't win for loosing!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 29 at 2016 2:27 PM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:27:44 -0400

Whoever the lame stream media says I should vote for, I vote for the other candidate. Not really, but that's what it seems like.

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made Jul 29 at 2016 2:29 PM

SSgt Ryan Sylvester — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:29:33 -0400

Research. You have to be careful with it, because as useful as the internet is for disseminating information, there's tons more disinformation that gets propagated just as quickly. However, it's fairly simple for me since I really have only one candidate to worry about researching whether I bother to show up at the polls or not. The other two, I already know what they're about... keeping the system going as it has been by keeping the country divided, so the Hill can keep lining their pockets.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Jul 29 at 2016 2:35 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:35:08 -0400

None of the Above.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 29 at 2016 2:52 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:52:58 -0400

I actually went so far as to listen to a whole Trump press conference. It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd been led to expect. In fact, he sound more reasonable than any California candidate I've ever seen (think Pelosi, Feinstien, and Boxer). To be fair, all political events are tedious. Conventions are the worst. However, the parties have made the differences crystal clear. The GOP likes war heroes. The DNC likes thugs. The Libertarians like weirdos.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jul 29 at 2016 2:53 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:53:06 -0400

I do my research, from many sources. I try to remember that all politicians lie and will say anything to get elected. Either way, it will be a choice of the lesser of two evils.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 3:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 15:02:01 -0400

First I look at the platforms and see how closely the parties are aligned with my political position, then I look at the candidates. For me Jill Stein ranks highest, with Gary Johnson in second place. Clinton and Trump are tied for third place.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 29 at 2016 3:11 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 15:11:17 -0400

When it comes to this election I'm voting for whichever one will benefit just me.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 29 at 2016 3:43 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 15:43:47 -0400

This year I am voting AGAINST Hillary Clinton.
The opposition party could run a Dead Monkey with a Candy Cane and I would vote for it, just to make sure Hillary did not win.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jul 29 at 2016 3:59 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 15:59:46 -0400

What their public body of work reveals about them.
Whether or not they appeal to our better nature or our fears and prejudices.
Their impact on the nation as well as our allies.
Who they surround themselves with
and lastly who I would trust to look out for my interests.

Response by SGT Jimmy Carpenter made Jul 29 at 2016 4:33 PM

SGT Jimmy Carpenter — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:33:53 -0400

I'm voting against Hillary. There is no way in hell that p.o.s. should become president.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 4:36 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:36:19 -0400

And most importantly with four likely openings on the Supreme Court, who WON'T appoint religious conservatives.

Of course there is also who isn't a hate-spewing, bigoted buffoon.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 6:48 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 18:48:58 -0400

I always flip a coin and then choose the Republican!!!

Response by PO1 Joseph Glennon made Jul 29 at 2016 8:00 PM

PO1 Joseph Glennon — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 20:00:07 -0400

Due diligence. I find as much as I can about the candidates - if they've held office, I look into their votes on record (about things I care about and things I don't).
Whether or not they have a record of public service, I look into comments / books / papers they've published about just about everything that I can find (admission: I didn't read Trump's books). I see what they've said and done in public, how they've treated people who can't do anything for them.

The candidate who's demonstrated values closest to mine gets my vote in the primaries (I've only had that same candidate still there to get my vote in the big show three times) - in the general election, it usually turns out that the candidate who's demonstrated values most opposed to mine is who I vote against.

Hillary Clinton has only ONE redeeming quality - she's stayed married to Bill. *Caveat: if multiple (as in, well over a dozen) witnesses are to be believed, she enables his adultery, and their marriage is only for political expediency.

Response by Maj Rob Drury made Jul 29 at 2016 9:03 PM

Maj Rob Drury — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 21:03:49 -0400

Any candidate who can't call Rush Limbaugh a liberal by comparison is not qualified to be president, so I vote for whoever most closely meets that standard.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 9:14 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 21:14:24 -0400

I consider any candidates from the Republican Libertarian, or Constitution parties. Then I see which one is more faithful to the enumerated powers of government in our Constitution, and vote for that one.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 9:31 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 21:31:11 -0400

What happened to Character & Vision?

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jul 29 at 2016 10:22 PM

MSG David Johnson — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 22:22:51 -0400

It doesn't really matter who I vote for. My vote does not count, neither does anybody else's vote. It's all decided by what color your state is, I'm a Republican that lives in a Democratic state. My vote will not count until we get rid of our democratic leaders in this state. Washington state has been controlled by democrats for the last 32 years. How many times in those 32 years has a republicans vote ever counted.
The Electoral College (sp) is the only thing that counts. Yes, there is the favorable vote, that's where EVERY vote is counted, but the favorable vote doesn't elect the president.

Response by SSG Benny Stewart made Jul 29 at 2016 10:27 PM

SSG Benny Stewart — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 22:27:42 -0400

My way of deciding who to vote for i look at the person past history and how much lies they have told when they wont be trueful.also look at what they say about things they are going to do for our country..also the most important thing is the supper packs that fund the person they will wont something in return who says they are going to more for our country,and they will honer and respect the constution

Response by MSgt Richard Rountree made Jul 29 at 2016 11:14 PM

MSgt Richard Rountree — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 23:14:06 -0400

I decided many many years ago to never vote for a liberal democrat...ever. This decision was a direct result of the Carter fiasco and how he, and his socialist allies, treated the military in the late 1970s. Over the years my decision has morphed to include not voting for RINOs and, eventually, included not voting for 99% of any so-called democrat at any level of government as most slid down the slope of liberalism/socialism. I lean strongly towards Libertarian views but as a realist, I can't vote for Libertarian Party candidates that have no possible mathematical chance of winning a national election. The next best thing is a Libertarian leaning conservative Republican who will uphold, defend, and preserve the U.S. Constitution and State's Rights--when we're lucky enough to get one. This year the choice, for me, is a no brainer. Mr. Trump is the only candidate standing that even comes close to meeting my standards. I don't refrain from voting when the best choice isn't a perfect choice.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jul 30 at 2016 1:00 AM

Capt Michael Greene — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 01:00:08 -0400

I judge presidential candidates mainly by character. But this time, I'm going to have to go with the one who is not mentally ill.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2016 2:04 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 02:04:23 -0400

Whoever my friends vote for I vote the opposing side. Many of my friends are voting Trump so I will be voting Hillary.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2016 12:14 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 12:14:33 -0400

Research and just watching what they respond to and how. I've never trusted Clinton, she has a history of back peddling, changing her views due to climate, and trying to hide the truth.

Granted that's the majority of politicians and I've seen Trump do the same just to a lesser extent.

To be quite honest I don't care for either candidate. However Trump at least has a track record that's pro military while Clinton... Now that could be seen as self serving supporting someone who supports the military while in the military and maybe it is but I know there's a lot of brothers and sisters out there that could benefit from some support now and then and I just don't see that support from the Democratic side.

I'm hopeful of a future Congress where it is once again a majority of Veterans. While we all won't agree with each other on every subject I know that at least we all have our core values and principles. Rather than that of lawyers and business leaders who make up our Civilian leadership now.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2016 12:54 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 12:54:54 -0400

I base my vote on who will be the best for the military. There is a lot to factor into that, not just defense spending.

Response by SFC Richard Giles made Jul 31 at 2016 9:08 AM

SFC Richard Giles — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 09:08:39 -0400

In a couple of past elections I just couldn't see any individual I liked from either party so I wrote in Abraham Lincoln. I've wrote myself in for one election. Not saying I could do a better job then anybody on those ballots. But I feel if you don't vote then you should have no voice in what is going on. Some people don't feel this way but hey this is America.

Response by CSM Kenneth Crow made Jul 31 at 2016 12:06 PM

CSM Kenneth Crow — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 12:06:08 -0400

That is a great question. Here is my response; Consider the fact the population of veterans is shrinking as we are losing the last of our WWII veterans and are in the midst of losing our Korean war veterans. In 2000 there were 26 million veterans and today there are 21 million while the population of the U.S. continues to grow from 219 million we have today. A shrinking population means less of a voter representation and less advocates to fight the good fight to keep earned benefits. Democrats are notorious defense cutters. Donald Trump promises to grow each military service. This does two things. It levels off decreasing numbers of future veterans and it ensures future peace through strength. There is a huge disconnect between main street USA and Ft Benning. America doesn't understand the its' men and women in uniform. This will only get worse with an ever shrinking military. One could also surmise major war will fix the declining veteran population out of the necessity. Throughout history precipitous troop reduction have always begot major war. Today, the dates are different but the results will be the same. Major war will be on the horizon with further reductions.
Another point is studies prove Red States are much friendlier to Military and veterans than Blue States. Conservatives by in large are much more supportive towards service members. Case in point, When was the last time anyone witnessed a conservative burning and stomping on a American Flag?
Let's be perfectly honest about the candidates. Donald Trump has his warts but Hillary Clinton is a leper in comparison. It is time people woke up and smelled the coffee! Go and see Hillary's America the movie. That is the coffee that will wake you up!

Response by SFC Alfred Galloway made Aug 1 at 2016 11:23 AM

SFC Alfred Galloway — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 11:23:34 -0400

I fully believe that if your candidate of choice meets at least 80% of your values and only 20% is onerous then that is the person you should vote for with one caveat' . That person should not be swayed by the social issues of the time, it should revolve around Jobs/Economy, Fiscal state of the USA, about tax spending, protecting the Constitution, protecting our sovereign lands from aggressors (eg terrorists or enemy countries) and limiting the reach of government. Anything else, is fluff and pandering to a segment of society that sadly only wants to get their cake and eat it too. Not about the problems with government.

Response by SGT Alejandro Sarandrea made Aug 1 at 2016 1:24 PM

SGT Alejandro Sarandrea — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 13:24:07 -0400

Depends. When I was in the Army I voted for whoever didn't want to cut our budget. When I became a civilian I vote for whoever is fighting to decrease the wage gap.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2016 6:58 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 18:58:16 -0400

Whoever votes for donald trump is just plain out retarted. I think its funny that alot of yall reallu thinks this joker has a chance

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 1:27 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 01:27:01 -0400

I vote for anyone reasonable and I do NOT vote to keep someone out. Vote for someone that represents your values and mine just so happens to be Gary Johnson.