In the 1972 Nixon – Mc Govern campaign, a vote for Nixon to have a second term was a no brainer. I’d returned from Viet Nam a few months earlier and was stationed at Fort Hood, Nixon was the only choice. In ‘Nam we had attacked into Cambodia, and then things were pretty quiet for a long time afterward. He had also given the military much needed raises. That was my first time voting. – over 4 years in the Army, nearly 3 in Viet Nam, and I was finally old enough to place my vote.
The next election, 1976, pitted Ford – Carter. This one took little thought. Ford had been appointed, not elected, whereas Carter was lily - white by comparison, and an ex submariner. Carter got my vote.
1980 pitted Carter – Reagan. Carter’s a true Southern gentleman in every sense of the word. Not Presidential material however. The final straw was the embarrassment of the hostages in Iran. Ronnie Ray-guns with all his actor’s background and carefully scripted delivery won in a landslide. Reagan got my vote. The military really needed friends in high places.
1984 is hardly worth mentioning. Reagan – Mondale. Another stunning landslide for Reagan. Ronnie was kicking Commie ass and knew it. I was stationed in West Germany, (’80-‘87} saw first hand the effects of opening the Iron Curtain even a little. Reagan again got my vote.
1988 brought Bush – Dukakis. The opponent from Taxachussets hadn’t a chance. The end of Cold War was in sight and Bush was riding Reagan’s coattails. This was the year I retired from the military. Dukakis was no friend to the military. Bush got my vote.
1992 gave us Bush – Clinton – Perot. Perot was interesting but made a poor choice for VP, and lost interest in the game for a few months. He still got a whole lot of votes, and probably changed the outcome. Bush appeared to lack real enthusiasm for the campaign, but got my vote. Clinton was known to me from his antics in Arkansas and would never get my vote.
1996 brought Clinton – Dole – Perot. Dole was a joke. Somehow he bullied his way into the nomination as no other willing Republican would stand up to scrutiny. Perot wasn’t much of an influence. Clinton got it again, but without my vote. Closest I’ve ever come to sitting an election out. I voted for Dole, more against Clinton than for Dole.
2000 provided Bush – Gore. After suffering through 2 terms of Clinton I was in an "anybody but a klintonite" mood – especially toward Gore. Didn’t expect much from Bush, and had it not been for 9/11, he would have been a rather mediocre 1 term President waiting for both parties to come up with viable alternatives. Trouble is, 9/11 happened and the entire world changed.
2004 and now we’re presented with Bush – Kerry. Bush has been a disappointment, even given the rather modest expectations I had for him at the onset. There’s a lot unsaid regarding Kerry. Long time Senator now a Dem candidate and in so many ways a complete unknown. If I can get over Bush’s antics from his younger days and accept him as POTUS, then I can also ignore Kerry’s antics from that time as well. This election should never have gone 30+ years in the past just to dig up crap on each other. Has nothing to do with today. I really want to like Bush, yet too much gets in the way. I don’t trust Kerry.

A Hobson’s choice election. Get out and vote on Tuesday if you haven't already.