RE:  So . . . what do you think of each of these candidates?

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OK, you asked:

1.  Obama

My liberal/intellectual side loves his oratory skills.  I think he's the only candidate who could actually transform the discourse while in office, but I'm not sure that even he could be successful at doing so.  My concerns about him are that he falls into the trap of thinking that the solution to any problems we face have to be government-driven.  I've seen the results of that sort of attitude in Venezuela, and what it brings is neither solutions nor freedom.  My gut feel is that Obama has the smarts to know how to walk that line, and that he COULD grow into being a good president.  His campaign has shown tight organizational skills beyond what Hillary's has. 

2.  Hillary

I dont' like the idea of Presidential/family legacy, for starters.  I'm very concerned about Hillary's bald-faced lies, which seem to confirm the worst tendencies of her husband.  I think she has overplayed her "experience."  However, I don't think she would be anywhere near as bad a president as the right would have us believe.  I do not like here health care proposals as I don't think that free health care is a right, especially with some of the terrible personal health decisions that people make.  I actually like Obama's health care proposals best.

3.  McCain

I flat out don't believe those who see him as a tool for the right.  His record just doesn't show it, so a McCain presidency would be far from a continuation of a the current Republican lunacy, especially with the Democrats holding majorities in Congress.  I'll admit that his age and the spectre of cognitive decline is a concern.  Some of McCain's compromise bills really haven't turned out so well (campaign finance for one), so I think his record and judgement are a concern.  I think the next president will be forced to raise taxes, so all comments on this point are moot.  But McCain might stand the best chance of limiting increases.  I think the first round of Bush tax cuts were a good idea in their time as were the capital gains cut (it was an unfair double tax).  Unlike many of you, I don't want to see an immediate pull-out from Iraq.  I think it would lead to greater disaster than what we have today.  All (yep, every one) of the military people I know have expressed the same thought.  I'll trust the judgement of those who have been there themselves.

Although I'm not pro-abortion on a personal level, I don't want to see it illegal.  I'd rather people be allowed to make that choice themselves.  Adding another more liberal Supreme Court justice for balance would be a good thing.  On the other hand, I don't like the fiscal implications of a Demcrat president with a Democratic Congress. 

In short, I haven't made up my mind yet, but I could vote for any of the three.  With some reservations in each case.

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I wrote this in one stream-of-consciousness rant, so . . . fire away at the holes in my logic.