America's turn: How bitter are you? Vote now

For days now we've all been reading about how bitter or not bitter small-town Pennsylvanians are.

All three major remaining presidential candidates -- Sens. John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who started this whole thing by blabbing on in some ill-expressed psychobabble at what he thought was a closed fundraiser in the smallest of small towns, San Francisco -- have been trying to use bitter to their own political advantage.

Big shock there!

Clinton and McCain have bitterly attacked Obama over his bitter remarks and he admits he could have said it bitter.

Besides the fact that, yo, even Pennsylvania's large cities are small towns, the Keystone State has had its say.

Now, it's time for the rest of us to weigh in. Vote away.

And if your ballot requires further explanation, use the Comments section below.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Greg]

I'm bitter as hell, but mainly at Americans in general. I'm not mad at President Bush. He's an idiot. Why should I be mad at him? I'm bitter towards the millions of Americans who voted for him for a second term. We should have the intelligence as a country and a democratic body to know idiocy when we see it. Our pathetic foresight caused these last four years of war, economic hardship and resentment by others towards our great nation. We need CHANGE! Whether it's from Obama or not, we need it desparately!

[Obamamania]

Obama is our Savior. Barak and Reverend Wright are Right, God D*** america. Now is the time to rally around Barak and Michelle and make them proud! These poor rural white folk with their guns and phony religion who are bitter and afraid of people not like themsleves should not be allowed to vote. Yes, no more so called elections where typical white people vote! And news flash america, Barak is right, your typical white american is a racist! Obama will apologize to our Muslim brothers for arrogant american policies of hate and slavery. Only Obama can forgive an evil nation founded on slavery. We gave cash payments to those Japanese who survived our uprovoked and vicious attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Reparations now for all Africans!

[NOWBaroque]

Living in Rural PA, I can honestly say, I am not bitter. I have a really bad taste in my mouth for Clinton and McCain because, as usual they both have blown things out of proportion.

It was just a few weeks ago when Clinton degraded the US military, by stating they did not give her the required protection on her trip to Bosnia, oh I am sorry that spin hasn't been spun, the media are just saying she misspoke! I cannot respect any women who allows her husband to emotionally abuse her, condoning his affairs and looking the other way. I think that this has made her the angry bitter person she is. How can anyone respect a woman who could not even stand up to one man, her so called husband?

McCain on the other hand, can't decide what side of the fence he is on. He was against the actions of Mr. Bush, then he was for him, to be honest I am not sure where he stands. He cannot be trusted. I think most Americans realize that.

It is a shame that our country has been beaten down to the level that it has. We have been made an embarrassment to many nations that once looked up to us. I think the thing that most Americans are now realizing is if we allow things to continue on their current track, we will be seeing 3rd World Nations pass us. I am not ready for that to happen, nor will I ever be.

We need a change, more than any other time in our history. We cannot allow our country to continue on this downward sprial.

So what is it going to be Democrats? Are you going to vote in a woman who condones extra marital affairs, publically states that the U.S. Military do not provide the necessary protection for the First Lady, has lied to the public on several occasions, been involved in a real estate scandal that sent the non-white house people to jail but not touched her, look at your history? Or are you going to support a man whose faults are he speaks the truth about PA, he hasn't been bought by big corporations, he hasn't had the "experience," or back slapping of Washington DC? A lot of people in PA are religious and gun happy and turn to that when they need support. If you want a real slanderous comment about the people of PA, and Alabama for that matter, look into what Governor Rendell said about PA, it was something along the lines of, we have Philadelphia on one end, Pittsburgh on the other end, and Alabama in the middle! I didn't see anyone in PA fighting that comment. Alabama was upset, but that is understandable. Ask Rendell what he meant by that. Oh yeah, don't forget, Rendell is a huge Clinton supporter.

[Sunny]

You're damned right I'm bitter! I'm the mother of 2 and it is hard for my husband and I to make ends meet. Everyday I tire myself out working and he tires himself out doing odd jobs and trying to find work just to pay the bills. While we hear this bulls**t about Americans not wanting jobs! Illegals get to take advantage of social services (I PAY FOR) until they run dry and a family like mines will NEVER see the benefit of ANY of those resourses because we don't qualify. Not to mention I can't send my kids to these sespool public schools or begin to save for retirement because the cost of living is too high! Barack hit it right on the money!! I'm middle-class, I'm BITTER and I'm tired of taking it in the rear by the govermnent that is supposed to protect it's citizens! BULL!!!

[Les Current]

The only thing that I am bitter about is the campaign and, that with all the problems that we have, the only thing that the candidates can talk about is the choice of words used in a speech. If he had said that the people were unset, would that have been O.K.? None of the candidates should be very proud of their conduct at this point. I'm not bitter. I'm disgusted with the whole thing. Why don't we talk about something of substance and use any words that you choose as long as they make sense.

[nathan]

I'm damn bitter.

[William Newton]

Bitter, HAH.

Mad is more like it.

Though maybe bitter about this complete mess that the current administration has gotten us into and from which it will be very hard for us to get out. Maybe bitter that very very few people have had to bear the burden of this war. Maybe bitter that the price of essentials is going up while the value of our homes and retirement savings are going down. Maybe bitter that almost everyone has lost ground on wages but the very top.

[T-bird]

I think HC Bowles has it right. I'm not bitter, but pissed that Americans have been duped for so long by the Republican Party's mantra that less government is better government and Corporate America can do no wrong. It is time for Americans to vote for politicians who will give us universal health care, bring the troops home from overseas, and start investing in American workers again. Obama '08

[Fred]

Can we please pay more attention to voting records and whether someone was truly in the crossfire in "yugoslavia" , rather than make a big deal about a word spoken by any fatigued candidate?

[Funkyflashback]

I am bitter that our country has been raped by a President and political party that initially didn't win the majority of the vote, and by the stupidity of the American people to re-elect the person again. And because of this person, big business made obscene amounts of money at the expense of the flower of our youth. Too many men and women have been lost in a war that was meant to benefit the wealthy. And he is leaving us with an economy on the brink of disaster. We will never recover from the disaster of this administration!

[Chris Lowery]

Take responsibility for your self and your actions. If you're situation and/or life are bad, change it. Stop whining and blaming others for your troubles.

No wonder the world can't tolerate us(America), most Americans don't appreciate how good they have it and don't have a clue as to how bad things really could be.

If your bitter about your situation, look in the mirror and ask yourself, how you got here and what YOU'RE going to do to fix it. Don't wait for some one else to fix your problems!

[natalie]

I'm bitter that Clinton who made 109 million dollars has the nerve to call Obama an elitist..excuse me but didn't he just finish paying off his student loans?yes! Shes such an opportunist its disgusting. Speak the truth Obama it will set you free.
Obama 08

[mike]

I am not bitter, but I am angry that we have a congress that can't build the fence, we are being over run with illigal immigrants, the subprime mess fiasco was allowed to materialize under the noses of our financial regulators, and the only 2 choices for democratic candidates are skim milk masquerading as cream. Hillary and Obama are so consumed with their lust for power that they have lost my vote. I am voting McCain. I love America and feel he is the right man to take charge for the next 4 years. Unlike many folks, I don't blame Bush for all of this, I blame Congress. We need to strengthen the dollar, balance our budget, and start fiscal and monetary restraint. AMERICANS NEED TO STOP COMPLAINING, GO BACK TO WORK, BORROW LESS, AND STOP BUYING SO MANY IMPORTED GOODS.

[nathan]

I'm damn bitter.

[Sven]

"Besides the fact that, yo, even Pennsylvania's large cities are small towns, the Keystone State has had its say."

Firstly, have you ever heard of Philadelphia?
Secondly, the primary is still a week away.
Thirdly, yo, get a clue!

Dear Los Angeles, please stop letting immigrants write for your newspaper.

[Judith Ferren]

To answer this question is easy...the answer is yes I'm bitter. I've watched my food bill go from $200 a month to $400. plus a month. I can't visit my family as much as I use to because of the price of gas. Heating my home cost an extra $400.00 plus a year. And living on SS benefits I am limited in earning extra money to pay these bills so my daughter who is disabled and I can afford to live on our own. So yes I'm very bitter over the last ten years or more with our government.

My huisband died ten years ago, sense then I and my daughter have been living on SS benefits, not much believe me. I would love to work to subpliment my income but because I am under retirerment age I can't earn enough to meet our needs for everyday living, much less some of the other cost that my daughter requires to meet all of her needs. With the cost of living so high the least the government could do is lift the cap of extra earnings for those of us on SS Benefits, it would keep us off welfare, (I'm not on welfare yet).I can't work full time anywhere, and I live in a small new england town where it is hard to get jobs , I'm not a logger or construction worker.

So bitter yes in deed.... I don't want hand outs, and gave up a profession as an LNA to care for my husband and daughter, until his death, and my daughter now. All we want to do is live and make ends meet.

Hope this answers your question..

[Jim]

I'm so bitter I'm going to have me a shot of whiskey just like Hillary. I think she takes shots of whiskey often because she looked so natural doing it. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER DRUNK FOR PRESIDENT!

[trapspam honeypot]

Bitter, yes. We have had a Bush Family Oil War that was never justified, costing billions, not counting the 4,000 plus lives wasted.

A president that does not even fill his own gas tank and has not concept what it is costing every day. But he is damn sure to track (via a outside firm) every damn dollar that fills his personal wealth.

Food prices are up while alternative fuel sources are squandering the world food market and will never really make a difference in available of bio diverse fuels here in America.

The Hillary Monster will never truly understand the anger of America until the election is over. Then she can join her ex-pres husband on the tour circuit to make an additional 100 million for their future security.

Damn right I am angry and I plan to vote and let every member of the current administration know I will no longer support their political views or programs.

[james olsen]

Angry, dissapointed, fed up, sick of it, embaressed, disgusted, and yes bitter with all of Washington, and every president that followed D. Eisenhower (sp?) and his warning speech on the military indusrtial (congressional) complex.

[k]

obamma speaks the truth.
stop fighting the future.

[Michael Dunphy]

Well ,we have a candidate that speaks the truth.. Any town that has lost out to foreign trade will be bitter and up in arms, I would be also, But it is the straight foreward remarks from a truthfull person.. Let McChain and Hillary go wtih the remarks. Here is a person that will speak the truth and what is on his mind ,and not what the people want to hear. I do not want a president that willl say what we want to hear.

But the truth. Obama is right, small towns that lose industry to foreign workers will be bitter, Hillary has jumped on the (NAFTA) Free trade agereement bandwagon after these remarks. Pollitices are great, lthey inspire me.....to go rafting.....

[Derek S]

Mostly I'm bitter about how ignorant most voters are.

[R.E. Schallert]

Here in Wisconsin, we "huddle"in our church congregations because they give us spiritual strength and family support. We also "cling" to our guns (and fishing rods!) because they help us get food for our tables.
However, we're frustrated, angry and (some) bitter because the incompetent nincompoops who are our elected representatives are just pandering to special interest groups and trying hard to pretend to serve the people so they can keep their jobs!!!
So, to some degree, Senator Obama was speaking the truth. BUT, no one wants to hear the truth! As for Hillary and McCain "attacking" him, their actions just prove that they are just like all of the rest of the useless politicians who pretend to be our "leaders". And, of course, there is the ultimate idiot in our system, i.e., our great, grand and glorious leader, Bubba Bush! How in the world were we fooled by this man not once, but twice???!!! He and his cohorts must continually be laughing all the way to the bank about the incredible docility, culpability and even stupidity of American voters. But we deserve what we've gotten, because we the people don't want to hear the hard truths about what to do to save and perpetuate this great country. In comparison to the "Greatest Generation", we're a bunch of pampered pets and cowards to boot!!! God bless America because we need all the help we can get!!!

[bruce becker]

I am bitter that the NRA boys voted Bush back in after he lied about the WMDs. I am bitter that Bush flushed our trillion dollars down the rat hole. I am bitter that Bush followed Karl Rove's book into Iraq but never went after Osama bin Laudin.
I am bitter that corporations have the rights of persons now in the USA and they interfere in referenda.
I am bitter that acountants and the current quarterly report are more important than people's lives.
I am bitter that they are not funding retirements, but they are still taking out dividends.

[James]

Damn straight I'm bitter. My house has lost it's value, my wages are declining, half my town's businesses have gone up in smoke, and the best Bush can do is offer me $1,200 and tell me to go spend it at Wal-Mart.

In the meantime, a carpetbagger in heels is telling me that she's just like me because she's shot a gun once in her life and that she believes in her faith.

Talk about changing subjects from this crap economy into petty issues. Does Hillary think we're stupid? She has went out an exemplified the very thing Barack was talking about.

Senator Clinton AND the media have distracted us from something important like the economy to focus on something stupid like my guns and my religion.

Seriously, I ask you again. How stupid does Hillary Clinton think we are?