Ex-Pats, Others Sound Off Before Presidential Vote

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I'm an ex-pat who is not being driven to vote for Obama. When neither party offers a candidate that I believe in, I will send a message by not voting. I think it is very short-sighted to vote for Obama as it indicates support for him and his policies, rather than disgust of the Republican parties. The lesser of two evils is still evil. I'm sitting out on this one. -- Joe Stites, US Minor Outlying Islands

I'm an ex-pat living in Belgium. I agree entirely with my fellow US Americans' choice in choosing Obama. Taxes, our foreign policies and our image abroad really concern the heck out of me. All expats abroad have a title called "unofficial ambassadors" and most people never see us as such. But we carry a certain and specific aura in how we present ourselves, and the last thing we need abroad is someone threatening our unofficial status by making things worse for us abroad. -- Lundy, Belgium

Obama may have charisma, but lacks experience, writes one reader

I never thought I'd see the day when someone with virtually no experience at any political level could become president. Apparently, in this election experience and a track record of achievement are irrelevant. Obama has charisma and great speech making abilities. I guess that's enough today. But lack of experience and hardcore ideology is a dangerous combination that leads to spinning wheels in pursuit of objectives with little chance of success -- careful what you wish for. -- Steve, US

European leaders will put plenty on the table for Barack Obama to deal with if he is elected president of the United States of America. Basically George W. Bush's two terms have been very ordinary, and how he got there was in controversial circumstances for both elections. The drawn-out war in Iraq and Sept. 11 will haunt Bush's presidency. Plus the stock market crash of 2008 and subprime mortgage issue by the financial institutions will also go down as a negative attribute for Bush and his administration. His father, George H.W. Bush, was sensible not to go into Iraq during the Gulf War of 1990 as history has proven. We know that Barrack Obama will bring hope to many people in the USA and what changes will occur for the poor and middle classes will be interesting to see. To me, this election in the US reminds me of the "It's Time" campaign in Australia in 1972 by Edward Gough Whitlam. However, Whitlam had many problems once he became prime minister of Australia. I hope that Obama can rise above his problems, not only in Europe and the rest of the world but can also provide the American people that elect him hope and vision for the future. -- Stuart John Pearson, Australia

After months of campaigning, the day of decision has come

I am an ex-pat living in Italy. I find that McCain's entire campaign based on being a maverick, saying "trust me, my friend," saying he isn't the same as Bush though he voted with him 90 percent of the time, being anti-choice and pro-war is absolutely repugnant. Then there is the choice of Palin. Anyone who would vote him in, knowing that Palin could become president, would put our country at serious risk. Not only is she not intellectually ready to be president, but she has worked hard at dividing America rather than uniting it at a time when we need to be joined together by our strengths and common goals and interests. The United States is strong by its very diversity: from country people to city people, from scientists to farmers, from waitresses to political scientists, from teachers to plumbers, from engineers to seamstresses, from holy rollers to atheists, from born-in-America Americans to immigrant Americans. Palin's "real" America is artificial and divisive, and she is not the person to bring out our strength and unity. Her knowledge of the world outside of Alaska is pathetic and would only damage our standing with our allies and enemies as well. It is time to move on to Barack Obama, who stands for unity and building our best aspects and strengths in order to try to overcome the horrid problems facing America today, thanks to a Bush administration that has trashed our country for all it's worth. -- Sienna Reid, US

McCain makes too much of being a maverick, comments a reader