The 2008 Election, & my 2 cents!
by robin2008September 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Filed under: Politics
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Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, I hate getting involved in such a discussion, but here are my two cents. It is unfortunate that with all the talent in this country that our choices are so limited. Politics has become a spectacle much like the "bread and circus" of the Roman empire just before it bit the dust - heavy on form and light on substance. Since we have limited choices, we then have to deal with the lesser of two evils. Regarding the VP choices, it is all politics, and when you reach this point in the game, the decisions become strategic and tactical. First the Democrats - It is not even arguable that Obama has the thinnest credentials of anyone who as ever run for the presidency including Bush. He was a Senator for 141 days before he decided to run for the presidency - a seat he won against Alan Keyes who was "carpetbagged" in by the Republican because they didn't have a candidate. Chicago has historically been a far left democratic strong hold. Keyes was a joke, because he was to the right of Attila the Hun. Prior to that, Obama was an inner city activist and a state legislator, a seat; he won by disqualifying all his opponents on technical grounds -so he won unopposed. He has sponsored no meaningful legislation, has never voted across party lines, has no history of compromise, and on controversial matters, he voted "present." He has never managed business and didn't practice much law but did teach at the University of Chicago. Obama is officially classified by the National Journal as the #1 most liberal Senator in Congress - just ahead of Kennedy and Biden. He a brilliant orator, has great speechwriters, and reads the teleprompter as well as any TV anchor. His candidacy has played to his speaking strength. The large crowds, the broad based promises, have been skillfully structured. Who can argue with a "chicken in every pot” Where he falls short is in detail –i.e., how these things will get done, and how they will be paid for is a mystery. He doesn’t flip flop. He flutters. His rhetoric takes both sides of an issue, or modifies his position until it is acceptable politically. He is a political animal, not an outsider. He promotes change but has no history of initiating or leading change. Most troublesome, is after 2 years of campaigning we don't know much about him. He has had long time questionable associations with Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers, the terrorist weatherman, and convicted felony, Tony Rezko. The press has been so biased that he has yet to be adequately vetted. Most damaging is both Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton are on record saying, “he is not yet ready.” So much for Barrack! Biden was a good pick, but is a double edged sword. On one hand, he gives him foreign policy credentials. On the other hand, his picking a 20year insider doesn't really validate his promise for change. The Democratically controlled Congress has a 9% approval rating - pretty dismal! One third of Bush's approval As for the Republicans, McCain is old but is experienced in the workings of the Congress. Even the Dems have praised him. He's been a maverick, and although I didn't agree with him on immigration or the tax cuts, I admire his courage to stand up for what he believed. Character should be an important issue. He has since come around on taxes, immigration and drilling. He has seemed to have re-grown some of his conservative roots. With regard to his choice of VP - it was tactically brilliant. What did he accomplish? He took Obama’s big moment off the front page, and even the Obama biased news focused on McCain’s pick. She was the best pick because she is a down-the-line conservative guaranteed to energize his base. She is a woman, which trumps the Dems dissing of Hillary. She is the only one of the four candidates with executive experience. She was a Mayor and a Governor and ran a business. She has the rep of being a fighter, and even bucked the Republican establishment in Alaska. She is a self-made woman of accomplishment while having 5 children- one headed for Iraq, one with Down syndrome. She will make it hard for Biden to debate her because a woman requires a degree of sensitivity. Remember how Hillary exploited that in her Senatorial run in New York. The problem with Romney is even though he had great credentials, he never connected with the voters. He, being a Mormon, didn't help and he came across too perfect. He'll probably be offered a cabinet position. The others, on the short list, brought no excitement. As for the education issue, I would like to point out that some of the most successful people in the country and in history didn’t even have a degree For example; Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Harry Truman, Earnest Hemingway, Walter Cronkite Eleanor Roosevelt, William Faulkner etc etc, etc. The real question is, Can you learn and can you lead? The old adage is “those who can’t do, teach ! The education argument is mute. The question to ask is, what kind of country do you want? One that leads the world through strength and example, or one who tries to be liked with appeasement. With McCain you know what you will get. With Obama... nobody knows for sure! I do know that his hubris was showing even before he was officially nominated. What will it be like if he gets elected? Your argument concerned about Palin about a heartbeat away? Obama IS the heartbeat ! Finally I don’t get the logic that says trying to get elected, and caring about the country are connected? If that were the case, which it is not then Obama is the perfect example of do anything, or say anything to get elected, not McCain. A rock concert in Germany - His acceptance speech like halftime at the Super Bowl? Where’s the beef? McCain has shown time after time that he willing to take unpopular positions. He said he’d rather lose the election than lose the war. He is a patriot. Are you really willing to take a chance? |
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caligolferchic on October 24th, 2008 at 9:16 AM
I love this article and I am shocked my friend shallow, who wrote I Am American on this site, didn't comment. I am shocked I am the first one to comment, actually. You are obviously well educated on both candidates and the topics at hand. You are so right, we have no idea what we will be getting when Obama becomes President. He is not at all qualified, nor experienced enough, to run a country. Also, why Joe Biden if he is for change? Joe Biden is an old schooler and is the very last person I would have picked if I was promoting change! This should be a featued article and I agree with every single word written!
I certainly am. I early voted for Obama yesterday.