I am a lifelong Republican (age 67) who now advocates voting a Democratic ticket.

The Party

I am outraged at my party:  After decades of minority status and preaching fiscal responsibility and cutting spending, when they finally controlled both houses of Congress and the Presidency they spent money worse than the Democrats ever did.  They were disgusting and non-repentant about it.  For example, Ted Stevens of Alaska and the "bridge to nowhere".
They passed horrible socialist legislation such as the prescription drug program. The size of government increased 40% under their "leadership."
They passed the Patriot Act. This would be okay as a temporary measure during war time. If the war was declared, a definite enemy identified and victory defined so that we know when it is over. But this is an undeclared war which they say will take decades and it will given the war strategy they have chosen. As such the Patriot Act is now a permanent part of our legal structure and a dangerous violation of our individual rights.
They passed Sarbanes Oxley which criminalizes the most productive class of our society - its business men.
Republicans also deserve to be punished for being ruled by religious fanatics who want to destroy the separation of church and state.

The Presidency

Both candidates for President are advocating socialism and both of them will create disaster.

Obama

It is hard to say what Obama stands for he is so unprincipled. Change? To what; from what? But we can deduce a few things:
He is anti-American. He is certainly a socialist but he is more open about it than McCain. Obama's programs if implemented will bankrupt us.
He is utterly naive and probably inept at foreign policy. He will negotiate with everyone and fight no one.
If some terrorist attack occurs again such as 9/11, Obama - like Bush - will treat it as a criminal issue not a war issue. He will go after the particular individuals who committed the act and not consider waging war on the countries who harbor them.

McCain

McCain is a militarist, socialist, environmentalist. His hero is Teddy Roosevelt a socialist, militarist and environmentalist.  McCain believes in Kantian type duty and sacrifice.  As President he will reinstitute the draft only this time it would be a universal draft of all young people for some kind of national service.
McCain still gives lip service to capitalism but the actual policies he espouses put the lie to that claim.
McCain gets an edge over Obama in foreign policy. He knows the subject and is more likely to act in our self defense. However, will he have the ability to identify the true enemy: Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia? I doubt it.  He is more likely to get our young people killed in side shows like Iraq. When he does go to war will he reject "just war" theory and fight ruthlessly? I doubt it. (Frankly, I am fed up with these undeclared wars we have been fighting since 1950.) I would rather not fight at all than have any more Koreas, Vietnams or Iraqs.

Though not known for being especially religious he will not be able to defy the religious fanatics who rule his party. This is proven by his choice of running mate, Sarah Palin -- the speaking in tongues, anti-abortionist, hick who will be almost as embarrassing a representative of the country as George Bush. Notice that the right (i.e. the religious) wing of the party suddenly jumped on the McCain band wagon when Palin was selected.

Strategy

Given the above, why not just abstain - go to the poles but vote for Mickey Mouse?
 
First, the Republicans are still viewed by the people as the party of big business and capitalism. The country is going to hell whichever man wins but if a Republican is President when it happens capitalism will get the blame even though McCain is not a supporter of capitalism. (You can see this today in the way the general populace has viewed the credit crisis.)
 
Secondly, there are still a few good voices on the right even in Congress as evidenced by the fight over the bailout bill.  These voices will be stifled if their own President advocates socialism.  Whereas with a Democratic president they will speak out freely as a loyal opposition should.
 
In short let's make sure the political philosophy- socialism - which is to blame gets the blame.  There is precedent for this; it is what happened with Carter in the late 70s. The socialist policies of that era, the resultant stagnant economy plus the bumbling and tragic foreign policy caused the shift to the right which we enjoyed from 82 to 02.
 
I will understand if you can't vote for Obama; I'm not sure my stomach is strong enough to do that either.  But please don't vote for McCain
 
As to other offices be aware that, at least in the South, a vote for a Republican is usually a vote for a theocrat. That alone is reason to vote against any candidate not to mention all the reasons this article began with. If you know of an exception great; otherwise vote Democratic.