***UPDATE: Check out the comments for further dialog and updates from tonight's vote*** 
… you all are just waiting on pins and needles to learn who I voted for right? I mean… with my narcissistic tendencies, I can just imagine that you are sitting there … pensive, forgetting to breath, fingers poised over the keyboard to alert all your friends … just waiting for my decision.
I know this …because, I can "sense" it. ::: laugh ::: I know in reality you are probably not really caring too deeply but I have a high verbal quotient so thanks for hearing me out.
I share this and all of my political views on my own behalf NOT on behalf of Exodus. Exodus takes no position on endorsing any candidates. That said, our employees are US Citizens, so they can choose whoever they want and believe me … we are all over the map. We even have one staff member supporting Ron Paul.
::: wiping forehead ::: I just got dizzy.
Last night I wrote about my "who should I vote for?" angst and late last night Romney came to mind. I hadn't considered him really all the way up until last night. But this morning after praying I couldn't stop thinking about his possibly being the next President and what that would actually mean. At 8:15 am, on my way to vote, I called one of my best friends and said, "I can't believe I am saying this but … I am going to vote for Romney!" I talked it out with him and he totally understands even though I think he is going to vote for someone else.
When it comes to Romney, I realized that his Mormonism was the main reason I wasn't going to vote for him in the first place. I have many Mormon readers and friends. They know that I have the views of most other Christians that Mormonism is based on a false gospel. That being said, I know many Mormons who act more Christlike than many people from the mainline denominations. I love my Mormon friends and would rather be lovingly honest than to hide such a fundamental disagreement with them. Plus, I mean, they believe I am following an incomplete Gospel so … it is obvious we can be friends beyond those serious disagreements. Even so, I worried, and do worry, that a "President" Romney will further spread Mormonism.
Another issue is that I had heard about was that the Romney campaign was doing things that were questionable with regard to disseminating information about the other candidates. I actually got to speak with someone from the Romney campaign a couple of weeks ago and he was very nice, informative and professional. I trust the people who shared the reports but the two times I have actually interacted with the Romney camp, once with the Governor himself (very brief introduction), they have been very professional with me and answered all my questions.
I didn't care for some of the answers Governor Romney gave in the earlier debates but here lately he has been stronger and more forthcoming concerning his position on social issues.
I have been a Huckabee guy for quite a while but if you have read my blog and all my friends know… I have had serious reservations of him being President. I have read all the material, heard all of my friends who love him and can come up with a LOT of very good reasons to vote for him … but in the end, I just can't. I am afraid that he doesn't have the same experience. I want the culture war to change or even end and I don't see him helping in that area. I don't see the type of leadership in foreign affairs like I would like too. Plus, if he were elected it would be perceived that he is the evangelicals pick and while I love President Bush (another evangelical pick) … I don't want to be strung along by the RNC for my evangelical"ness" any more. I am not saying Huckabee would do that, or that Bush has been, but it concerns me that this is setting up along the exact same lines.
If you are reading into this that I have problems with the party … you would be correct. That's a different issue.
When I think if Huckabee as a Pastor, I am very cool with that and would probably go to his church. When I think of him as Vice President and possibly President at a later time, VERY cool with that… but his overall presentation has left me thinking that he is not the most qualified for actually being elected President right now in 2008.
I am not an analyst and am not going to break down all the issues here even though in my own mind I have. After all considered, I believe Romney is just all the way around a better qualified person for the position. His management experience, his executive experience… the man knows how to build and lead a team. He is strong, decisive and visionary. I believe he has good policies and will be good at hiring great minds to advise him.
I am convinced that the United States is headed for some terrible times. I pray to God that I am wrong. If I am looking for someone with a comprehensive skillset and a great Executive presence and experience, I have to go to Romney.
I do believe that the core issues do boil down to Christian worldview versus Secular Humanism. I don't think Romney is going to help along those lines (I might be wrong) but in this age and time…none of the candidates will do that being that. It is up to the church to step up its apologetics and start serving instead of arguing more. The President can only do so much and I believe too many Christians are only relying on public policy battles and not actually relating to the people we interact with on a more personal level.
I can hear some of the people I know questioning my salvation. I can hear others calling me an "evan-jellyfish" (having no spine.) But what I have heard from close friends and leaders I deeply respect is that we have to respect each others individual choices and come together once the nominee has been picked. I agree.
Well, there it is. Please let me know what you are thinking.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Great Choice Randy!! I’m an evangelical Christian and I’m convinced that Romney is the best overall choice by far. He’s the best choice for our party, nation, and for conservatism. I don’t think you’ll regret your vote.
On to Super Tuesday!
Thank you Dan.
Randy, Dan…
I am glad that you both voted according to your consciences. I, however, do not share your conviction that Romney is the best choice for “our party, nation, and for conservatism.” Despite his claims, he is by no means the heir apparent of the Reagan legacy. The only true conservative, Fred Thompson, has left the race. He obviously lacked a real vision and the prerequisite ‘fire in the belly’ necessary for presidential politics.
Sadly, I don’t share your enthusiasm for Governor Romney. Watching and listening to him, I get the same slimy feeling I got when watching ‘Slick Willy’ in ‘92. If he is the nominee, I am not sure what options there are for me.
Thankfully, God is sovereign and as the hymn goes…’holy is will abideth.’
Dwayne
Well, looks like McCain took it. I have to say that I’m disappointed! But Romney is my number two.
Hi Dwayne. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and I shared your conundrum until last night. I can’t say I’ve gone out and take up cheerleading for the Romney campaign but I am good with my vote today. I am feeling more comfortable with him as I listen more deeply but I understand what you are saying. He is polished, he doesn’t have a long track record of all three conservative legs of the “Reagan” approach.
. He might be able to explain his support for Romney than I could.
I would disagree with you on the slick willy thing. Even when I was not for Romney I never thought of him in those terms.
I was about to go back to Thompson (he was my choice before Huckabee) but the very next day he dropped out!
Dwayne, I completely agree with you on God being Sovereign. He even used “unbelievers” to bless his people so I think you will know what your options are and they very well could be different convictions than mine. This primary stuff will be over in a blink of the eye and we have much more important things to be concerned with (the Gospel.)
Dan, who commented earlier, has been a supporter of Romney far longer than my not yet 24 hour endorsement
Thanks again Dwayne.
Mike… I am so glad Romney is your number 2 to endorse. The Mensley endorsement is a high prize.
Yes, indeedy
Giuliani is going to drop out and endorse McCain tomorrow.
Oy.
I think I voted for Buchanan by mistake.
BTW, I’m in Orlando.
Steve ::: laughing ::: I bet you probably did. I think the weather got nicer just for you. Have a great time roller-coastering around Central Florida. Scream like a two year old little girl on The Hulk at Universal and they will mistake you for me.
Just ask Mensley.
John McCain is the only one who can beat Mrs. Clinton, thus I voted for John McCain. He isn’t perfect, but I believe that he will keep our nation safe. Too, I have a sneaking suspicion that he will ask someone I truly respect to be his Veep. This is an interesting election, though.
I agree with you Alan a 100%. I believe John McCain is the best pick for Presidency.
Randy, you said: “It is up to the church to step up its apologetics and start serving instead of arguing more. The President can only do so much and I believe too many Christians are only relying on public policy battles and not actually relating to the people we interact with on a more personal level.
I can hear some of the people I know questioning my salvation. I can hear others calling me an “evan-jellyfish†(having no spine.) But what I have heard from close friends and leaders I deeply respect is that we have to respect each others individual choices and come together once the nominee has been picked. I agree.”
I agree with you completely, Randy. All the above is sort of why I believe the Republican party is going to move more to a moderate/conservative stance. People are tired of the one-sided, far right extremism.
I’ll also agree with Alan and Amy. I think McCain is the Rep’s best hope for beating any Democrat. I’m actually rooting for a McCain/Huckabee ticket. But whoever becomes VP, I’d say it’ll probably be a strong religious conservative to help balance the ticket and hold the Republican base together.
No offense to Romney though. Or to you for having voted for him. Everybody makes mistakes.
You wrote “I want the culture war to change or even end…”
Can you explain what you mean by that? What change are you looking for? How do you envision an end to the culture war?
Well, I want a President who can transcend the culture war to unite us on other issues. If I knew how to end it altogether I guess I would be running for President.
In the grand scheme, I see two sides locked in overworn talking points that blind and don’t reflect reality. I think both sides are complacent and believe that somehow public and social debates are the end all of everything. I think they are important but we need to move beyond that because real life already has.
The culture war only wounds, what I am looking for is honest civil disagreement that actually leads to more understanding for both sides.
I could write a book on that but I will let this stand for now. Thanks for your comment Sonja.
Alan, Brandon and Amy I hear you but at the same time… McCain is very liberal on different issues. Some of the conservative pundits are hopping mad about what happened. Conservative bloggers are fuming … there are a LOT of people who don’t trust McCain at all.
I don’t know what to think anymore and am getting tired of the whole process. I don’t think it is fair to all the citizens and candidates for us to have staggered primaries like this.
Yeah, you’re probably right. The thing I see about McCain is just that he seems to be willing to work with people of opposing opinions to come to a consensus on issues that otherwise wouldn’t be worked out. But I do think he leans a lot more to the right than to the left. He’s a moderate/conservative, so to speak.
I’ll definitely agree with that last point you made. Why in the world do the primaries have to be staggered this way? It’d be so much better if they’d just have all the states vote on the same day like in the general election. At least that way, everybody’s vote would make a difference. I live in KY and by time we’ll get to vote most of the candidates will have already dropped out. That’s how it usually is.
I don’t know the history of why the primaries are staggered like they are but competitiveness among the states might work against having a national primary date. I hope that changes because the only people profiting from this are the mainstream media. The rest of us are going crazy.
. That said, I would vote for him before I would stay home or vote for Hillary or Obama.
I definitely agree that McCain leans to the right but he is “leaning” not standing
Hey Brandon, I am testing this new comment feature of being able to comment to each other’s comment. I hope it works
It worked!
Actually … the threaded comments only worked in Firefox and not internet explorer. I turned them off