This will be my fourth presidential election since turning eighteen, and I must say that each campaign has altered the way I select my vote for Leader of the Free World. In 1992, I voted FOR change and Bill Clinton. In 1996, I voted FOR third party relevance, the Green Party and Ralph Nader. In 2000, I voted FOR indifference and Nader again. Now, for the first time in my life, I'm not voting FOR anything. I'm voting AGAINST.

Before the Democrats even selected their seven dwarves for candidates, they had my vote. If they had gone with Raging Dean, I would have howled and pushed his button. If it would have been Goofy Edwards or Candid Clark, whatever. The jackasses had my vote. Even wacky Kucinich would have gotten my tiny tick of approval. They went with Kerry, and he didn't have to campaign at all to impress me. I honestly don't think he will make life much better for me, but unlike the president, I believe he won't make it worse.

The list of atrocities this administration has committed reaches far and wide. The Patriot Act, tax cuts that benefit the wealthy, massive prescription drug increases, job loss, alienation and scorn from the world, resistance to modern science and stem cell research, an embarrassing and ever growing record deficit in less than four years, and on and on. All these horrors have been committed in some way by other presidents, but this president lost me forever when he preemptively attacked the glorified third world country of Iraq on the false pretense of WMDs and the rallying cry of 9-11.

Not only did Bush ignore the warnings from other nations (the world can't tell me what to do), he also ignored the largest prewar protests held in his own country (I respect their right to free speech). He took the tragedy of a one-day attack to start two wars. Afghanistan was understandable and frankly expected. America has always been an-eye-for-eye kind of nation. Iraq was unnecessary and, to be quite frank, ill-planned.

To quote one of the finer war movies around:

Princess Leia: When you planned on getting in here, didn't you have a plan for getting out?

Han Solo: He's the brains, sweetheart!

President Bush Sr. went to war in Iraq when I was 17 years old, and it was very sobering. I was months away from having to register for civil service. Fortunately, he knew how to pull off a war. In and out in 90 days with minimal casualties. When I went to the polls in 1992, I didn't vote AGAINST Bush Sr. I voted FOR Clinton.

President Bush Jr. went to war in Iraq when I was 29 years old, and it was very deceiving. Saddam already had weapons inspectors combing his land and oh by the way, we were already bombing the country on a regular basis. More than a year later and a rousing Mission Accomplished moment, over 1100 American soldiers are dead. With thousands more Iraqis dead (much more than the 9-11 casualties) and no exit strategy, my president's plan is to "Stay the Course." What's the course? What's the plan? People are still dying every day because of our president's decision to invade and occupy a country that was barely a threat to American sovereignty. People are still dying every day! I vote AGAINST, AGAINST, AGAINST!

I have no illusions about what my vote means. It's one tiny blip that might be miscounted or lost in the process. There's some redneck hick out there in the hills of New Mexico whose vote is worth just as much. If nothing else, I know my vote will cancel out that guy, and visa versa. That's it. That's all voting does. It doesn't matter how many bumper stickers you put on your car or signs in your yard. You get one vote, and most people don't even use it. All over the country people will vote and cancel each other out until the Supreme Court declares the election over and decides for themselves who is the winner.

If you read this column, I'm sure you are intelligent enough to make your own decision. It's not that complicated. Both sides have stated their case. Which propaganda do you want to side with? Which way do you want to spin? What's your favorite distortion of the facts? If you don't vote, you are voting for the winner, and let's face it, you're also a pretty sorry citizen of the United States. So vote. If you don't know who to vote FOR by now, then be like Chris Jungle. Vote AGAINST.

Mr. President, I am AGAINST you.

Chris Jungle is a registered independent voter.