What follows is the official Ponderstorm Political Endorsements for the 2008 political season. Please note that apart from the Presidential race, these endorsements cover what is on my ballot (see sample ballot – pdf) for the 3rd Congressional District and the Northern Supreme Court District in Mississippi.
You will notice a strong Republican bias. I am urging support along those lines on the federal level since the Republican Party, in spite of its many faults, remains the only party willing to even half-way protect social values, win wars and promote the free enterprise system of economics. Here are my endorsements and some reasons for them.
President/Vice President – John McCain & Sarah Palin (R)
For me, the choice of voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin was easy to make and decided months ago. McCain and Palin are social and fiscal conservatives who believe in protecting the United States and winning wars. Need I say more given the alternative?
While I could easily argue that John McCain is not my ideal candidate, he is light years ahead of his opponent on issues that deeply matter to me and to the integrity and safety of this nation. In a tight election year like this, I gladly endorse John McCain and Sarah Palin for President and Vice President, respectively.
MS Senate – Thad Cochran (R)
Senator Thad Cochran has served Mississippi since 1972, first as a United States Congressman and in 1978 as a Senator. When he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978, he was the first Republican in over 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi.
In the years since, Cochran’s voting record has been consistently conservative. He leads with humility and an unassuming manner that has earned the respect of millions on both sides of the political isle.
MS Senate (special election) – Roger Wicker (R)
Senator Roger Wicker was appointed to the United States Senate on December 31, 2007 by Governor Haley Barbour. Wicker’s appointment, due to the resignation of retiring Senator Trent Lott, fills that vacancy in until the general election on November 4, 2008.
Prior to this Senate appointment, Wicker served in the House of Representatives since 1994 and the Mississippi State Senate from 1987-1994. Wicker, though guilty of using earmarks to bring special projects to his congressional district, has a socially conservative voting record overall and, I feel, remains the better candidate to serve Mississippi in the Senate.
MS House District 3 – Greg Harper (R)
Greg Harper is running as a fiscal and social conservative for Mississippi Congressional District 3 (see map on left). Among other things, his platform includes securing our borders, protecting traditional marriage and the unborn, restoring fiscal responsibility, and defending our right to keep and bear arms.
There are no State Senate or House races this year. There are no other statewide races or ballot measures this year in Mississippi; however, there are four Mississippi Supreme Court seats up for election in 2008.
Mississippi Supreme Court justices are selected via nonpartisan elections for eight-year terms. There are three Supreme Court districts in Mississippi (see map on left — Supreme Court District Map Legend: 1 – Central District; 2 – Southern District; and 3 – Northern District).
MS Supreme Court Northern District – Ann Lamar & David Chandler
Justice Ann Lamar was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court by Governor Haley Barbour on May 21, 2007 to fill the position vacated by retiring Justice Kay Cobb. Prior to her service on the Mississippi Supreme Court, Lamar served as a circuit judge from the 17th Circuit Court and as a district attorney and an assistant district attorney. Lamar has been endorsed by the Mississippi Republican Party. Learn more about Ann Lamar.
Judge David Chandler currently serves on the Mississippi Court of Appeals. In addition to his current position with the Mississippi Court of Appeals, his experience includes serving on the Choctaw County Board of Supervisors, as a municipal judge for the City of Weir, and as an adjunct professor of law at the Mississippi College School of Law. Chandler has been endorsed by the Mississippi Republican Party. Learn more about David Chandler.
Helpful links to voter information and political party values comparisons:
Mississippi
- Mississippi county voting registrars contact information
- Mississippi Voter Information from the Mississippi Secretary of State
National Candidate & Party Comparisons
- Party Platform Comparision 2008 (pdf document) by iVoteValues.com (compares Republican and Democratic Party platforms)
- AFA Voter Issue Guide for the 2008 Presidential Race
- ChristianityToday Platform Comparison (compares where the two main political parties stand on abortion, faith-based programs, religious liberty, and other issues)
- Priests for Life 2008 party platform comparison handouts for churches – Side and Side 2