The Speech
I would like to start off by talking about Senator Obama's speech at the Democratic convention. I think I finally understand how my parents felt when they heard John F. Kennedy or Dr King speak. That moment will be something that I will be able to talk to my nieces and nephews about some day (no kids for Ben). I'll be the old guy that can tell the kids about when I heard President Obama (fingers crossed) speak at the DNC. The day that 45 years after his speech Dr. King's dream was starting to be realized. Not because he's black, but because the fact that he's black is unimportant. He is simply the best man for the job. He is being judged on the content of this charicter not the color of his skin. As far as the speech itself I thought it was amazing. He had the usual poetry that we expect from him, but there was something more. He was able to lay out the differences between John McCain and himself, and he also talked about the specifics of his policies. I have heard people say that they thought maybe it was a little too negative. For months now many of us Obama supporters have been wondering when is he going to strike back. McCain has been leveling attack after attack, and unlike Senator Kerry, Obama finally struck back. However in doing so he took the moral high ground by saying that he doesn't question what kind of a man Senator McCain is, only his stance on the issues. It is a moral high ground that I hope Senator McCain agrees to join him on, even if he has been running his campaign to the contrary so far. I doubt Senator McCain will do so, because on the issues he's not very strong. Poll show that majority of Americans want the war in Iraq to end, don't like the Bush economic package, and think that the country needs to go into a new direction.
The Scary
I went to sleep Thursday night on cloud nine, and then was awoken this moring with a possible storm. Senator McCain picked his VP canidate. I understand he didn't want Senator Obama's amazing speech to be the lead on the news cycle. The weeks leading up to the choice I was filled with hope. He was going to choose Romney or Pawlenty. Either of which I think the Obama camp could have handled easily. I also heard Lieberman. What a perfect dream that would have been, might have as well started planning the inaugeration. Then I found out this morning it was Governor Patlin. Who? The governor of Minnesota, and she's a young woman. Now I think this is a huge gamble for McCain, but it is a scary one for me. Obviously I like the fact that McCain really can't bring up the experience factor anymore, since this woman really doesn't have much. She is a relative unknown, which has pros and cons. While she doesn't have a popular name, people will want to know about her. With only two months left until the election I hope her story doesn't mask Senator McCain's stances on the issues. Also there is the ticked off Hilary voters, who seem to think that Barack somehow stole the election. ( they obviously can't do math) I hope that they see through the show of a woman VP to see that she comes out on the opposite side on every issue with Hilary Clinton. I hope America is smart enough to vote for the canidate that emodies their beliefs about our government, not just for the woman or for that matter the black guy. However this is a country that has given us about 26 seasons of The Bachelor. I want to have faith in our country that they will make an informed decision, but it scares me. One final thought I've had. There are going to be some ignorant people that will refuse to vote for Obama, because he's black. Aren't these some of the same kind of ignorant people who wouldn't vote for a woman. Now who are dumb rednecks going to vote for?
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4 comments:
I can't decipher the "scary" perception you have...is it because the risk may pay off or because she's a bad person? It sounds like you're saying Americans are too stupid to vote for McCain-Palin, but beware the mass insults. Some people actually don't like Obama (and in most cases hopefully has nothing do with race) and - hopefully - aren't deserving of the "stupid" label you offer.
The mainstream media and the left have been extremely quick to criticize Palin. But as far as I can see, she/her selection has 3 objective negative traits that I can see:
1. She's a conservative. (automatically negative to liberals)
2. She's under investigation for abuse of power.
3. Her selection is seen by many as a ploy to get the Hillary voters.
What else? That she may pay off? You can't count that against her.
The fact that she's an outsider, isn't a career politician, is opposed to corruption even in her party are all things to celebrate - no matter which presidential nominee you support!
That she cut Alaska's spending in massive ways and that she made good on all of her campaign promises within 20 months of becoming Alaska's governor is a credit. That she walks a fine line of knowing the need for oil drilling and not getting in bed with the oil companies is impressive.
Sure, if McCain had picked Jeb Bush then you could legitimately complain that this is the Republican machine at work. But this selection cements that McCain is not cow-towing to the RNC. Liberals should be scared, because while it is a risk, it certainly might just work.
Those conservatives who didn't write off Obama simply on his lack of experience but in many ways appreciated the potential it brought were just given a gift of someone who exemplifies "Washington outsider" even more than Barack Obama who has been being groomed by the DNC machine itself for the last four years since the day he gave his speech at the 04 convention.
All that to say...don't be too quick to play the "America is stupid" card for voting for someone who has some pretty impressive - and admittedly risky - credential. Obama's credentials bare the same risk, and in his ticket's case, he's the one sitting in the White House.
You know I love ya Ben...don't take the spirited discussion as anymore more than a challenge.
What I am scared of is liberals who are so upset about Hilary losing that they vote for a canidate that doesn't agree with any of their principles just because she's a woman with a good story. I think anyone who votes for the McCain/Patlin ticket just because there's a woman on it is being stupid. On the flip side, I think anyone who votes for Obama just because he's black, is being stupid. I'm not saying the support for a certain canidate is stupid. However supporting a canidtate based on race, gender, or even what party they are affiliated with is just plain ignorant. What I am trying to say is people should vote on the issues. If you like the way the country is going right now vote for McCain. If you don't you should probably be voting for Obama.
Also anyone who has ever supported Pat Buchanon is scary to me. Seriously that guys about a half step away from George Wallace.
love ya too john. Hug that baby for me.
Thanks for the clarification...that makes sense. I'm glad you don't think I'm stupid.
I will say though that I don't buy that a McCain-Palin ticket is an extension of the last 8 years. W's been an exception to conservativism. We don't think he represents conservative values well. McCain doesn't much either, but in different ways. Palin represents the conservative values that Bush doesn't.
I seriously would love a Biden-Palin presidential race...
If McCain didn't want to be lumped in with President Bush, maybe he should have broken from him on a major issue. He supported with his votes Bush's economic policy, foreign policy, and social policies. Unless he plans on changing his views when he becomes president, it would seem that things would not change.
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