Lumino's staff gives John Kerry the nod

By JON SINGER and Lumino's staff

Why young people so often side with the idealistic left is unknown. Do they become conservatives with age and experience, or is America going to be full of hard liberals in 25 years?

For now, though, Lumino's staff is generally young and raging angry at President George W. Bush. Let the bashing begin!

Barry Brecheisen, Chicago – As with every single year of my voting life I'm voting for the lesser of the two evils. It's just that plain and simple. I've never ever felt the glee of excitement for a candidate that has compelled me to back him with support. Instead, it has always been about the fear of a candidate running our country that has determined my vote. This year is no different. I have always considered myself a Democrat so that helps determine my decision. The fact that I think that our current president is a complete moron solidifies my choice. I was never a fan of his father but at least I felt George Sr. had a brain and he used it even if it was for evil! Let's also show for the record I have not seen "Fahrenheit 911," so you can't blame Michael Moore on this one.

Ryan Cox, Austin, Texas – I'm voting for John Kerry because I’m terrified for my safety and way of life. Rather than make us safer, the war in Iraq has diverted billions of dollars and manpower away from fighting terrorists in order for Dubya to fight a personal war. Because the divisiveness in America right now, deliberately fostered by Bush and his ilk for political gain, is the saddest and most cynical thing I’ve ever experienced in my short life. Because John Kerry entered politics because he actually wanted to make a difference, and Bush entered politics because it was just another door opened to him by a privileged, white family.

Dan Crask, Cincinnati – Faced with the realization that those in our current government who claim to be conservative are not, I was open to voting for a liberal who was consistent. That's why I wanted Gov. Dean to be the Dem's man. Nothing better could happen to conservative America than a Dean Presidency. It would be a rallying cry not seen since Lincoln. But I digress. Even though W is too liberal for my world view (yes, too liberal), I will vote for him. There is no shortage of Bush big government policy that I oppose, but he has remained consistent throughout the historic four years of his presidency. He's no Reagan, but he'll do.

Scott Cullen, Trenton, NJ – I'm voting for John Kerry primarily because of his stand on social issues and I would much rather have a Democrat picking future Supreme Court justices than our current president. That said, if I thought he had a chance to win, I'd vote for Ralph Nader in a heartbeat. That's someone who actually stands for what he believes in and makes few compromises.

Beata Dziedzic, Chicago – Yes, he's a flip flopper and I don't even like his personality, but this country desperately needs some kind of change and hopefully he can provide it. PIus, I'm a Democrat and I like his stance on many issues including environment, gay and abortion rights.


August Forte, Chicago – In the past four years Americans have seen their good names dragged through the mud by an administration that boldly challenges the democratic principals that a nation's citizens have the inherent right to affect change, voice disapproval and expect that its elected leaders will work in the interest of every man – not just the sons and daughters of privilege. On Nov. 2 I will be voting for John Kerry because I think that a change in administration is crucial if the United States is to regain the global respect that it has lost so drastically under the Bush administration
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Josh Gloer, Los Angeles – I am not voting. Its hard to argue that its not out of sheer laziness, but its really not. Its also not because I am uneducated, as I have a college degree and am still taking night classes just to keep the gears in my mind well oiled. The truth is, I have never voted, and don't intend to start with this election. Every four years we are bombarded with smear campaigns, protestors and activists who try to strong arm the voting public into a decision. The truth is, no one really knows anything about the candidates, and no one ever really will. They will say whatever they think you want to hear, and let's be honest, whatever they think you want to hear has nothing to do with how they will run the country. Therefore, I abstain.

Adam Kotlarczyk, Chicago – I am a registered independent and honestly, before Sept. 11, never cared enough about politicians to vote. But I read the news. Under Bush, we've lost jobs – the first President to do so since Hoover. We've let Iraq distract us from the war on terror. We've squandered the world support we had after 9/11. We've let energy companies dictate environmental policy. We've turned a federal budget surplus into the biggest deficit in history. This cannot continue. For the good and security of our country and those soldiers who fight for us, on Nov. 2, I will vote for John Kerry.

Mario R. Martin, Milwaukee – While most people don't believe it, I reside in the hard right. I'm voting for George W. Bush. I know the terrible things people have to say about him and the administration, but it truly reflects ignorance about the topics at hand. I care very little about the spoken flubs or the lack of charisma. I do, however, care about the policies. After watching W. pick up the country's pieces after 9/11, which incidentally affected me directly professionally, I was certain he was able to repair many things that are wrong with the greatest country in the world. Vote Bush!

Bridget Middaugh, Washington state – I still do not know who I am voting for this election. On one hand I can not stand President Bush. But is John Kerry really going to do any better? Do I agree with a war? No, but do I think we should finish what we started. You can't just pull out of Iraq and leave a country in shambles. So I am confused still and I am not sure if I will know until I walk into the voting booth.

Ned O'Reilly, Chicago – The other day I saw a clip of John Kerry addressing a roomful of people. He spoke of mistakes he believes George W. Bush has made. His tone was one of needing to remove someone who was not doing an effective job as president. I then saw a clip of Bush talking about Kerry in front of a roomful of people. He spoke of something Kerry supported last year, then laughed at him as though no decision he could make would hold any water. Bush is not only dangerous and incompetent - he's mean-spirited, as is the Republican party. Theirs is a bully mentality and I will never vote to support it.

Ryan Rademacher, Normal, Ill. – In one sense I am voting for John Kerry because they are not George "Dubya" Bush. In another sense I am voting for Kerry because I am a feminist and Bush's policies regarding women (and to some extent men) are counter-productive to the work women and men of all shapes and sizes have been doing for the past 40 years. Simply put, we need to re-defeat Bush.

Karen Scherer, Minneapolis – John Kerry is my choice for the upcoming election, and here are some reasons why: President Bush, despite stating he would renew the Assault Weapons Ban four years ago, allowed it to lapse. There is no reason anyone outside the military needs an AK47, and statistics show the ban was effective. If he wants to make America safer, why not renew it? Kerry doesn't instill fear in order to gain support for his policies. He gives rational perspectives and solutions to both foreign and domestic issues.

Steve Seamandel, Milwaukee – When I think about why I’m voting for John Kerry this November, I think of Lisa Simpson saying, "He’s the lesser of two evils." Unfortunately, I feel Lisa’s political quote sums up our system at the time, which isn’t fair. Smaller parties that exhibit my true political beliefs just can’t rise to the top above the almighty Democrats and Republicans. While Kerry surely doesn’t have a spic-and-span voting record, hearing about the decisions that Bush makes on a daily basis simply make my head spin. Four more years of Bush might be a good thing, though – Lumino might inherit a Toronto After Hours section.

Molly Shalgos, Los Angeles – If I could vote for Jon Stewart, I would, but I'm voting for John Kerry. Why? Because there's no way in hell that he could screw up our country any more than President Bush has. Kerry might not be able to make it all better, but I have no doubt that all Bush will do is make it worse.

Chad Sullivan, Chicago – It’s simple algebra, really – a rational equation: Nearly 3,000 individuals perished amidst the smoldering embers, the twisted, mangled pylons and acrid smoke of the Twin Towers, add to that more than 1,000 unnecessary, flag-draped caskets and the thousands of American service men and women wounded in action in Iraq – the fresh amputees, paraplegics and quadriplegics returning home – add the charred remains of civilian contractors hanging from a bridge in Fallujah and the videotaped beheadings, add Abu Ghraib, add the sickening toll on Iraqi civilians, add the lies perpetrated by our government, by our current president. Now subtract WMDs, subtract Osama bin Laden. All this equals my vote, John Kerry.

Dawn Van Dyke, Des Moines – President Bush has tried to make this election about fear, but this is about quality of life. Bush rushed to war and then a few months later advocated a cut in combat pay. Is this how he supports the troops and their families? This administration is systematically tightening a noose around women’s rights and with four more years may relegate the female gender to a second-class citizenship. Bush is even more blatant in using his radical ideology as justification to discriminate against gay Americans. Bush has lost millions of jobs, made the country less secure and is still telling the American people things have never been better. Are you better off now than you were four years ago?