The million dollar question is, “who are you voting for to be the next president of the United States?” I’m tired of defending my liberal beliefs to Republicans. But I’ll go through it one last time before the elections on Nov. 2.

In the end I know I’m not going to change a hard core Republican’s view, and they are not going to change mine. It all boils down to your personal beliefs, your views on the economy, and how you feel about the war. John Kerry stands behind my beliefs, and I’m sure Bush stands behind some of yours. I didn’t want Bush four years ago and he has done nothing to change my mind today.

I think if we are to be honest most American’s wanted a fight after 9/11. However, we are not a savage war-hungry society as a whole, and even if we were itching to hold someone responsible you expect the president to act rationally. There were no weapons of mass destruction, and now even Rumsfield says there were no ties to Al Qaeda. It shocks me the numbers of right wingers I hear say that they don’t care about Osama Bin Laden, and that it’s more important to fight the war than win the battle. I can’t argue that type of stupidity.

I also believe in a woman’s right to choose, and so does Kerry. I do not believe in third trimester abortions unless the mother’s life is at risk. I believe it’s frightening to live in a country where a man in Washington can tell me or any other woman what to do with her body and her life. Kerry holds this same view even though he is a Catholic, but understands that it is not for him to tell a woman what to do with her body and life; even if he would counsel her otherwise.

Kerry believes that a marriage should be between a woman and man, but he isn’t getting all crazy spreading hate into the constitution to make it impossible for two people to get married simply because they are the same sex. Listen people, it should be left up to the states. If there are enough people that want this within a given area, then it should be so. Remember democracy not what your religion tells you. I believe the bible says, “Thou shall not judge less ye be judged.”

The next president of the United States may have the opportunity to appoint up to three new Supreme Court Justices. It is imperative to me that these new Justices represent my beliefs at least to an extent. I would trust Kerry’s decisions appointments. Bush saying he doesn’t have a litmus test is silly; of course he does he’s just been advised that it would be really dumb to say who he would choose during a debate.

Lastly this is where all the Republicans are going to really throw rocks at me for being a tree-hugger, but I want a president who cares about the future of this planet. Clinton did a lot to ensure that our National Forests were protected, and that big corporations were responsible for their polluting. Bush has done a lot to reverse this.

I’m not telling you whom to vote for, you wouldn’t necessarily listen. Yet we all have the right to vote and put our two cents in. I have my beliefs and Kerry is the best choice for me.