I started a chart like this yesterday but with a twist. Not all "issues" have equal weight. Some threaten the nation more immediately than others. Some will have a more powerful impact than others. And some, once a change is enacted, will never be reversed. I identified three categories for consideration:
I did this because it ocurred to me that while the issue of the Death Penalty or School Vouchers are important to me, the immediacy of their national impact, the level of negative impact of the wrong decision, and the ability to change them are all less threatening for these issues than the issues of Illegal Immigration or the War on Terror.
It's still a work in progress but so far my priorties based on this analytical evaluation are:
| Issue | Immediacy | Negativity | Changeability
|
| 1- Illegals’ Immigration | Imminent | Devestating | Unchangeable |
| 2- War Iraq & on terror | Imminent | Devestating | Unchangeable |
| 3- SCOTUS appts | Urgent | Devestating | Unchangeable |
| 4- Guns/2nd Amend | Urgent | Devestating | Unchangeable |
| 5- Pro-Life | Urgent | Devestating | Changeable |
| 6- Iran | Imminent | Powerful | Changeable |
| 7- Gov. Healthcare | Urgent | Devestating | Unchangeable |
| 8- Social Security | Urgent | Devestating | Unchangeable |
| 9- Internet Tax & control | Urgent | Devestating | Unchangeable |
| 10- AGW/Kyoto Treaty | Urgent | Devestating | Changeable |
| 11- Energy /ANWAR | Urgent | Powerful | Changeable |
| 12- Business/infla/rec | Imminent | Powerful | Changeable |
| 13- Globalism & Trade | Urgent | Powerful | Changeable |
| 14- Low TaxesTax Code | Urgent | Powerful | Changeable |
| 15- Gay Marriage | Serious | Powerful | Unchangeable |
| 16- School Vouchers | Serious | Strong | Changeable |
| 17- Guantanamo | Serious | Strong | Changeable |
| 18- Waterboarding | Serious | Strong | Changeable |
| 19- Death Penalty | Serious | Strong | Changeable |
| 20- Tort Reform | Serious | Strong | Changeable |
| 21- Federalism | Serious | Strong | Changeable |
| 22- Crime | Serious | Strong | Changeable |
If I'm left with the option of voting for either McAmnesty, the Flipper, Juilie Anne, or the Hickster I want to know which one is the BEST OF THE WORST on the most important issues not just the most numerically.
I'm still adding issues and planning a section identifying each candidates position as C- Conservative, M- Moderate and L- Liberal with a reliability factor built in.
What do you think of the idea?
What about my issue priortization?
Sadly, McAmnesty, the Flipper, Juilie Anne, or the Hickster will all apply moderate or liberal solutions to these issues. None of them are conservatives. They do not think conservatively and constitutionality, federalism, individual rights, fiscal restraint, etc, will not even occur to them. They’ll all apply big government solutions to solve societal issues that should be left to the states or to the people people or not tackled by government at all, ie, the Democrat way. None of them will be good on immigration, guns, judges, healthcare, social security, taxes, spending, etc. Huckabee is pro-life, Giuliani pro death, Romney claims to have converted from death to life, and McCain claims to be pro life. All claim to be suitable as Commander-in-Chief but only McCain has any experience whatsoever in military/national security/foriegn policy areas.
In short, if Thompson or Hunter don’t make it, were stuck with the dregs of RINOism. Not a conservative instinct in the bunch. Giuliani, as a gun-grabbing, abortion/gay rights activist and sanctuary city guy is a definite no. McCain is a turncoat, backstabbing Kennedy/Democrat lover and is out. Romney flip flops on all important issues and applies big government solutions to free market problems. No thanks. And Huckabee is a populist RINO. Can’t trust any of them.
GO, FRed, GO!!