Rate President Obama's speech

[Cobbler]

A. It was a much more optimistic speech and unlike the GOP, it talked about a future. I realize its all rhetoric, and Obama still has a record that is not up to what expectations were, but honestly I don't think he's been that bad and is genuinely trying to help this country. He may not be the best president, but he is at least talking about issues (unlike the GOP, who is just trying to get by with a "referendum"). I am having a harder time justifying my support for the GOP ticket, and could possibly vote Obama this November.

[Cobbler]

A. It was a much more optimistic speech and unlike the GOP, it talked about a future. I realize its all rhetoric, and Obama still has a record that is not up to what expectations were, but honestly I don't think he's been that bad and is genuinely trying to help this country. He may not be the best president, but he is at least talking about issues (unlike the GOP, who is just trying to get by with a "referendum"). I am having a harder time justifying my support for the GOP ticket, and could possibly vote Obama this November.

If you're not satisfied with the GOP, why not vote third party? Clearly Obama isn't living up to his own standards of promises from 2008.

Well, because in our system, I just don't think voting third party accomplishes anything. I mean, if suddenly Gary Johnson had a chance/was allowed in the debates, I'd probably vote for him. But that is incredibly unlikely. With the system as it is now, if I were voting for Gary Johnson, in essence it would mean the same thing: that I'd prefer Obama to win over Romney.

Plus, while Obama hasn't lived up to the hype, I do credit some of Obama's shortcomings to the congressional GOP being obstructionists. And to me, it looks like pure politics, about them just wanting him defeated so they can win. I often find myself asking, should I be rewarding this behavior?

[Cobbler]

A. It was a much more optimistic speech and unlike the GOP, it talked about a future. I realize its all rhetoric, and Obama still has a record that is not up to what expectations were, but honestly I don't think he's been that bad and is genuinely trying to help this country. He may not be the best president, but he is at least talking about issues (unlike the GOP, who is just trying to get by with a "referendum"). I am having a harder time justifying my support for the GOP ticket, and could possibly vote Obama this November.

If you're not satisfied with the GOP, why not vote third party? Clearly Obama isn't living up to his own standards of promises from 2008.

Well, because in our system, I just don't think voting third party accomplishes anything. I mean, if suddenly Gary Johnson had a chance/was allowed in the debates, I'd probably vote for him. But that is incredibly unlikely. With the system as it is now, if I were voting for Gary Johnson, in essence it would mean the same thing: that I'd prefer Obama to win over Romney.

...except Johnson is taking roughly evenly from both candidates.

That's not the point though. My individual vote means the same thing. As long as I am aware that Johnson cannot win, and I cast my vote for him, then its really in essence saying I'd prefer Obama to Romney, since it is a vote that otherwise Romney would have from me. That may not be the motive; after all, I might actually like Johnson the best. But in essence its the same thing.