Two Things:

1:) I watched about equal portions DNC and RNC and got the same vibe from both. They were very polarizing, a lot of eye-roll moments, but I didn't find either quite as horrifying as you seemed to. If you want to see Jesus in Barack, go right ahead. I've got a lot of friends persuaded to vote for him come November (me, I'm probably a write in, or Bob Barr). As an individual he's probably the best thing the Dems have put forward for a long time (though personally I liked Dean and Obama annoys the **** out of me). I doubt, however McCain and Palin are Anti-Christs anymore then I doubt Biden or Hillary's sincerity (Well...maybe Hillary). They're just people trying to maintain control because they think they're right.

The obscene apathy in our country as it is, part of their reasoning is probably you gotta get them scared/angry at something or they won't even bother to vote. Make 'em think the house is on fire so at least they'll keep the floor clean of obstacles. Not saying it's right, but just looking at the two-party system that we have and the riffraff filling most of our government, I'd say it's probably an accurate way to hold the line.

2:) And while Jesus did "hang out with the average people," he wasn't canvassing for Federal Officers either. I think both parties over-politicize Jesus' actions and teachings. His sermons were extremely personal and were meant to take to the heart and not the Senate Floor, per say. If one voted 100% for Jesus' teachings to be made Law we would have a mostly communist market (since everyone would be forced to give their money to each other), divorce, laziness and gluttony (in addition to gay marriage) illegal, and I don't even know how you would handle prosecuting crime ("pray/bless for those that hurt you"). To make law Jesus' teaching is to dilute the potency that is The Christian lifestyle (for if the State makes Christ-like behavior The Law, what is it for Christians to behave in such a way?). To make mandatory the Bee Attitudes would have all of the effect of Prohibition; it does not make men sober, but merely illegal drunks. I say all of this to offer a slightly different opinion to say that I think an Old Testament v. New Testament viewpoint may be too binary. Because remember, while Jesus taught us how to live For God's Kingdom on a personal level, many moments in the Old Testament and Law deal very specifically with Government. Remember that Jesus said that Moses didn't allow divorce because it was right, but because it set limits to the Israelites wickedness. The same is true of a lot of Old Testament law. Does that I mean that I think we should canonize all Old Testament law? No, but I think that there's a lot we can learn and practically apply to contemporary government instead of toss it out because of a "New Promise New Grace" philosophy. Especially when Jesus said He didn't come to Abolish the Law but to Complete it. I'm not saying McCain fulfills that, obviously, but I am saying that voting for someone because their politics resemble Jesus' teachings might be missing the point of them, which was to change hearts, not Laws.
 

I feel like you spiraled off in directions that my brain wasn't ready or trying to go to, but let me see if I can process this properly.

1) There's a difference between being a politician and being aggressive and hateful. What I saw in the DNC was straight-up, standard politics. It's not always pretty, but it's more-or-less fair and is part of the game. What I saw in the RNC was bile. A desire to tear America in two and obliterate the inferior half. They were trying to inspire their base by riling them up -- not with political speeches and encouragement and half-truths about the opposition, but with a seemingly genuine hatred and distrust for the Democrats, for the Left, for everyone else. It wasn't straight politics. What I saw was the angry, underhanded, say-anything, do-anything vitriol of a party that had power and would rather see the country destroyed than give it up. I'm sure I'm reading part of my own bias into that, as we all do, but I've never been more disturbed deep down in my spirit than when I watched the RNC. Such Pharisee-like arrogance. I saw nothing nearly that ugly during the DNC. Bottom line, I'll side with the party that uses hope to encourage its base, not fear and anger and distrust. I don't know which scares me more, the Republican politicians or the Republican voters. I've seen, and known, people like them, hardcore Republicans. It scares me to see them being fed such dark material. It does nothing to aid the evil Christian mentality that we are at-war with everyone else in America.

2) I'm not trying to suggest that Jesus could be or should be a politician. Frankly, I don't think Jesus would want to run this country in any way like it's currently being run, or even any way that it ever has been run. As far as I'm concerned though, when I look at a politician, I look at two things: First, their policies, and second, how Christ-like they are. Do they seem sincere? Do they really seem to care? ... And when I say that Jesus hung out with non-believers, I'm not saying that Democrats hang out with average people -- I'm saying that, as Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to throw our lots in with people who aren't Christians. And I also didn't say whether Jesus' teachings should be made into law. That's not even somewhere I want to go, right now.

I'm going to stop there. I feel like you read way too much into what I said, or missed the point... I don't know. I just don't see much in your comment that I feel directly addresses anything I said. I'm sure some of it's me, but I think there's been some misinterpretation here.

Also, write-in? Really? ...Really? ;)
 

Amen. Wow. I agree entirely, so much so, that I am going to steal this and repost it. With credit affixed, naturally.
 

Thanks. Now, while you're affixing that credit, how about making some time for a little nerd activity?