This political season is just depressing me. I know I said I would not post on politics until the debates (9/26) and at the very least, if I did, it would be only on issues. I'm trying to stick to this resolve BUT it is so hard.
I know that you, whoever you are and wherever your politics lie, have probably made up your mind just like I have. I know that most people have done their research and selected their candidate. But know that there ARE people in this world that have not. There are LOTS of 18 year old kids who are going to vote for the first time in this election and they are not voting on research. They are voting on personal whim, on what others have told them, and what last sound bite they heard (either D or R, either way).
I am begging people to do your research. Find out what matters to you. Don't vote on one single issue. Vote for the good of the group; for the country. Country first. Dig into history. Look at what has gone before you and before this one election.
As for me, *deep sigh*, I'm just depressed. When Jimmy Carter (D.) was elected, I was in high school and just becoming politically informed. I had a GREAT American History teacher (I LOVE you Miss Whitehead!) and we talked politics in class. I can remember with startling clarity how I felt during that election cycle. I could simply not fathom the fact that America would elect this bumbling, ill-spoken person. (Neither could Miss Whitehead, for that matter). I was absolutely STUNNED when he won. I can remember thinking clearly that it was a bad dream and could not be true. I guess people felt like that when GWB won, too, maybe, to be fair.
I look today at the Democratic candidate and I get depressed. Last night at his Hollywood fundraiser he said "We may be passing on an America to our children that is less prosperous, maybe meaner and more divided than the country we inherited from our parents." He was referring to (in context) of what will happen if he is not elected. This comment depresses me.
Then you have Michelle: "It's easier to hold onto your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your ignorance. That's America."
And Barack: "America is no longer what it could be, what it once was."
Whatever the context (and that can be your defense if you wish), there is a PATTERN of statements from these two of a hatred, or at the least, discontent of their country. This scares me. Of course you don't have to blindly accept the status quo; of course not; but I would hope that the president of my country would at least LIKE the country. I just do not feel that the Obamas do. I don't.
Thomas Sowell, in his column yesterday, quoted Jean-Francois Revel: "A human group transforms itself into a crowd when it suddenly responds to a suggestion rather than to reasoning, to an image rather than to an idea, to an affirmation rather than to proof, to the repetition of a phrase rather than to arguments, to prestige rather than to competence."
I'm not going to copy and paste or excessively quote from his column because that would do it an injustice. Just read it; whatever side of the fence you stand on, just read it. Sowell says in this column what scares me most. You might not love McCain/Palin; they might even make your skin crawl (as Carter did mine). But if you simply want to know what I think and what scares me to death, what keeps me awake at night, consider Sowell's point. If you want to research both sides, read it.
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14 comments:
Other than reading the quotes the press writes about a candidate - are you reading the articles about our economy? Our banks dying off one by one, our mortgages being held by the government to keep folks in homes, the insurance companies falling - big Daddy government now owing nearly all banks, mortgages and insurance in this country - terrified to let those that fail - fail - and those that survive - survive - so just MAYBE we can start anew? Have you read about your country - and not how the candidate you don't like may speak trying to explain why he wants to change things? Your country is falling fucking apart - and a HUGE part of it - like it or not - has everything to do with the choices our government - the Republican party for the last eight years - has made. Obama is running for President. You think he doesn't like America because he shines a light on how ugly it is right now? McCain and his war medals are admirable and clearly (as Obama himself said in his speech at the DNc) - CLEARLY McCain LOVES his country. But his party, is killing it. We need a break from the Republicans. We just do. I myself - think you cannot find one person to fit all your needs in government - so often - I will vote for "one issue" - b/c I choose to put my energy into what matters to me. Some folks save the animals, some the children, some the environment - etc. I don't agree 100% with any candidate - so yeah, I often pick one subject. Either way - politics is scary - and frankly - it is ugly out there right now in our country. It is FALLING APART. We've had Democrats lead us in highly romanticezed war times - we've had Republicans defend us in very scary times - we need them both. But right now -in my opinion - we need the Democrats far worse than we need another 4 years of Republicans. I'd love to see who comes after McCain in that party. But he ain't it. On a lighter note - I think you should be Palin for Halloween. ;) ((shivers)) ;)
Did you read the Sowell column?
I started reading and stopped at the first misconstrued quote in the article. That was all I needed to see to not take that writer seriously because he doesn't have his facts straight.
And you'll never ever ever ever convince me Obama and Michelle hate their country. Never. I agree with what they say. The truth hurts, but they're right. I guess I hate my country, too.
oh wow.
I agree completely that most of us already have our decision made. I agree that most of us will not be deterred by a blog entry, or by decent argument.
I do like, though, the fact that we as dedicated americans can see the strange lines drawn between Hitler and the politics of today.
I see how obama has this cult following. I see how thousands upon thousands come to see him.
But I also see a republican ticket that is holding, on a pedestal, a vp pick that believes that I am undeserving of the simple rights that we have as gods children.
One point. One fact. One position. That is all it takes sometimes to not care if you agree with everything that someone on a presidential ticket feels. That one thing is my life. Palin will work towards making me a second class citizen. She will work towards making all gays second class citizens. And to me, that is worst than ever pointing out how this country is flawed. to me, making the citizens of your country, no matter how many, feel that they are unwelcomed...well, it trumps off shore drilling and p.o.w. status. To me, its my life, and it trumps all other issues.
but I did read this article...and I can guarantee you...if mccain was opposed to civil rights, with the author being a black man, he would ignore all the rhetoric issues and followings and quotes...he would vote obama as well.
luculent
web-justice.blogspot.com
While it’s true that there is lots of blame to go around for the current economic crisis, we should remember that the seeds of this started in the Democratic reign. It was the Clinton administration that dictated where mortgage lenders could lend; regulations imposed by the democrats forced lenders into high-risk loans or else they faced stiff penalties. This actually originated in the Carter administration, but Clinton revived it.
In 2003 Bush wanted to tighten oversight with a regulatory board but the Democrats blocked it.
What I find troubling is that Obama’s chief economic advisor is Franklin Raines who was the CEO of Fannie Mae from 1991 to 1996 and then again from 1999 to 2004. During those in-between years he was serving in the Clinton administration. Raines left Fannie Mae a millionaire; charges were filed against him and a settlement was reached in which he paid some fines but was allowed to keep most of his money. He was also one of the ones who received below market rate loans from Countrywide.
I understand the liberals frustration; I do. And their desire for “change.” My point is that “change” is not always good. Change sometimes can be bad. I have read Obama’s economic plan from his website (NOT just “what columnists say” about it); I’ve also studied his education plan in depth. It looks to my untrained eye that he’s going to be increasing a lot of government spending. It seems to me that he is against capitalism and the private sector and he seems to be in favor of income redistribution. Example – this $1000 tax break to the middle class he wants to do. This failed when McGovern suggested in 1972. I also find his Global Poverty Act rather ambitious (and expensive); it adds about 845 billion to our foreign aid expenditures over the next 13 years.
My whole problem is this. Both sides are dirty. First, for the politician, it is "What's in it for me?"
Secondly, "What's in it for my party?"
Hardly ever do I see a politician who, unless it's someone so obscure and out of the limelight, give one "rat's ass" about the country. It's rape the country for what I can get out of it and let the next poor schmuck fix it. Only it never gets fixed, because the next person who comes along is just as dirty as the first, if not more.
But what really makes irritates me about the Democrats and liberals is this. They create a problem and some how some way blame the Republicans (who are just as complicit as the Dems) but nothing ever sticks to the Teflon Democrats.
Ted Steven (Republican Senator from Alaska) got about $75,000 and a large bbq pit from some shady character, and the Dems go haywire wanting his scalp. And they should. Anyone who is diry needs to go. And the list goes on and on.
But when a Democrat does something dirty, it's a wink and a nod and "Nasty" Pelosi and "Dirty Harry" Reed turn away and say absolutely nothing or offer some excuse.
For instance, William Jefferson (Democrat, Louisiana) a.k.a. "Cold Cash" Jefferson from New Orleans was caught on tape taking money (about $90K) and stuffed it in a freezer. When Hurricane Katrina hit, he commandeered a National Guard truck and its crew, while people in NOLA were still waiting to be rescued, to take him to his house to get his belongings which included a freezer containing about $90K.
What happended to "Cold Cash"? He got re-elected.
Then there's the great John Murtha (Democrat, Pennsylvania) who called out troops in Iraq "Blood Thirsty Killers". Oh by the way, he was caught on tape soliciting bribes from an FBI agent posing as a middle eastern oil producer.
What happened to our great Vietnam Marine Vet? Nada.
Then there's Christopher Dodd, (U.S. Senate, Democrat, Connecticut). Let's see. U.S. Senate Chair for the Committee of Banking, Housing, and Urban Developement. Let's see, Oh contributions from Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and other loan institutions, and I think he was offer a "preferential customer" very low interest loan. I don't think he took it after being caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Barney "Rubble" Frank, U.S. House Representative, Democrat, Mass. Chairman of the House Finanical Services Committee. Wasn't he, along with good old Chris Dodd in the Senate, for the past two years, fiddling while the proverbial "Rome" of the housing market was burning. I think so.
Then there is sweet, kind hearted Charlie Rangel, Democrat, New York. A nice guy I'm sure, He's the Chair of one of the most powerful committees in all of Congress, The House Ways and Means Committee. The House Ways and Means Committee is the group you can thank for our befuddlng tax code. And the people who write the tax code should understand it, right? Wrong.
It seems that Charlie forgot to pay some taxes on some property he owned, a couple of houses here, a couple of houses there, and a little villa in the Carribean. Plus he was able to "Rangel" some rent stablized property, which seems to be a little problem, too.
Well, Charlie, bless his heart, said he just didn't understand the tax code well enough and that's why he's in the bind he's in. What is "Nasty" Pelosi and "Dirty" Harry Reid going to do about it. Nothing.
So you see, when I hear about the Democrats get indignant over Republicans, I get sick.
Clairfication:
I want to add an update on my comment yesterday: as of late yesterday and today the Obama camp, and Raines himself, are saying that Raines is NOT an Obama advisor. I drew the conclusion that he was from previously published articles in the New York Times and the Washington Post (some as far back as two years); as Obama is usually quick to correct errors in the press and this was never corrected, I assumed it to be correct. Now I can't say for certainty that it is (or is not) so I will leave that in question.
Either way, the original point of the original post was that young people voting for the first time should do their research. I was not referring to you seasoned and educated voters. Just for the record.
Correction on the "deal" Senator Dodd received, it was from Country Wide.
To clarify myself. I get just as angry when the Republican get indignant over stuff Dems do, when the Republicans have done the same thing.
If anyone has ever seen the movie "Dragnet" with Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks, you will know what I am about to say.
In the movie Rev. Jonathan Whirley,(played by Christopher Plummer) is preaching against the smut Jerry Caesar (Dabney Coleman) is publishing. There is a scene where Whirley and Caesar meets in a cemetery and Caesar tell Whirley to keep preaching against his smut, and he will keep fighting Whirley, and they will divide the people and they will both get rich (not exact quotes, but you get the drift.)
A couple of years ago I was rewatching Dragnet and saw that scene and had a feeling, and I know it's probably true, that's what goes on behind close doors in Congress.
Divide and Conquer!
I think it is fair to say, no matter how angry, fearful or passionate you may feel, that neither party and neither candidate hates their country. I feel the exact same fear that you express but for the McCain/Palin ticket instead of the Obama/ Biden ticket. I feel equally as passionate and worried about our future as you do. But I also feel strongly that this is not the best that Americans can do. Where we are now is not our finest hour and it is not the best we can do for our society. No one can tell me that things are great. They may be for some people, but they are not for most. They can bring in someone younger and better looking to sell the status quo, but I know how my life has been over the past eight years and what struggles I have faced as an average American. Democrats are not worried only about people who are lazy and want handouts, as is often implied. We are worried about regular people who have done all the right things and are still suffering. We are worried about people who have worked hard, have great college educations and contribute to society yet are not able to live a comfortable life with basic needs met. In this country it is a blessing if you and your family stays healthy or is wealthy enough to afford quality health care and a good education. If you are not so fortunate, too bad so sad. Those who have money and claim Christian values do not want to pay taxes to maintain a minimum standard of living for all of our citizens.
Yet, under a Republican administration we aren't living large under low taxes and a great economy. We are still being taxed heavily and all of that revenue is benefiting a few risky CEO's and the Iraq government. The past eight years have been some of the largest spending years of our government's history yet very little of that spending has benefitted our citizens. Also tragic is that the majority of the tax burden is on the shoulders of those with the least. That imbalance needs to change.
Also, I find it very hypocritical for a party to claim to want less government but support initiatives to allow the government control people's lives and bodies. My Christian values would never allow me to have an abortion but I do not feel the need to regulate others to espouse my religious beliefs. I will convince people with my actions and my life, not with a government strong arm which is inherently un-American. I also believe in a God that considers all humans equal and I will never support a party that does not reflect those values in their platform. It is part of our Declaration of Independence and it is the foundation of our government. It applies to people regardless of race, creed, national origin and sexuality.
All in all, I think that the Republicans spread the message that things aren't so bad and that everything is fine. They accuse those who don't agree of being unpatriotic and not loving our country. The truth is that we DO love our country and we are optimistic that we CAN do better. We have confidence that things can improve and we don't think that it's un-American to strive more. We think it is VERY patriotic and actually a responsibility of our citizenship to question our leaders and always aim to evolve and improve. Instead of fearing change we fear those that imply that we have reached our potential and tell us that things aren't so bad. Our best days are in no way behind us, unless we concede that we are fine and that things are great when we know that they are not.
I do agree that those of us who have made up our minds are not likely to change now. Still, I think that it is important to not villanize the other party and just agree to disagree. We are all wanting the best for the country and admitting that things could be much better doesn't mean that you don't love your country, only that you have a different approach to the difficult decisions that face our nation. I appreciate all engaged citizens and I am also hope that people are not making emotional but informed decisions. If we vote authentically for those whom we believe to be the best leadership for our country, then we are being honorable and patriotic regardless of the outcome.
I keep meaning to chime in on your debates. I like your long posts and the comments that follow. I have so much to say but I never have the time to really do my arguments justice so I refrain. But I think it's a healthy debate and it's great to have so much dialogue on your blog.
I also meant to say the other day that I like some rap music! But mostly, I agree with you on that topic. I haven't listened to it in a while, so who knows now, but I love some older groups that have a pretty light and upbeat message. Still, I'm not so into the gangsta rap thing. I'm sure your surprised by that admission since I have such obvious street smarts and a tough exterior. ;-)
OMG I finally got Stacy to chime in on politics! I love it! :)
And I love your eloquent, well-thought out response, even though we are on different sides of the political fence and look at the same issues differently (some of them).
I don't think Democrats "hate" their country and I don't even thing BHO does; hate is too strong a word. But I have no doubt that some of his associates do (Write and Ayers) and there is no possible way it can be denied that they were associates. Nikki made a good point when she said, "But I have some crazy friends, that doesn't mean I support their beliefs" and this is true, but in a political world like BHO aspires to, you must be careful about your friends. You just do.
As far as the status quo, I don't think all republicans are happy with the way things are either. I hate this buy out mess; John McCain does too, as he stated this week. He does not go along with it. This is not just a republican issue though; the democrats led is into it, but the republicans just didn't get us out of it. Lots of blame to go around.
I do agree that the tax code needs revision (as long as Charlie Rangel doesn't do it) but I am opposed to income redistribution. And I don't support the Global Poverty Act - not that I don't care about starving Ethiopians but I don't have much faith in the U.N. If things are so bad economically at home then sending over 800 billion dollars of government money abroad is not winning me over.
We aren't so far apart, really. As I've said before, McCain was not my first republican pick, but based on my study of democratic presidents in the past I just cannot support one. National security is a HUGE issue for me and I don't think the Dem. platform is tough enough there. Carter decimated the military, as Steve has posted. Clinton bumbled it as well. Anyway, I'm glad you're chiming in. I thought I might get you on the baseball post since you're such a sports girl!
Keep us posted on the job deal and I have a candle lit for you!
Pat stole what I tried to write earlier this morning.
I am a conservative independent, because I don't like the views of the Democrat Party, and the Republican Party, I feel, has abandoned its core values.
Reagan, who was once a Democrat, said he didn't leave the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party left him. Although I was never a registered Republican, I espoused to their political philosophy, at one time. But now feel the Republicans are leaving the conserative along the side of the road.
The Republicans has abandoned the conservatives and have started acting like Democrats. Earmarks to bring federal money home to build parks for a community or other things that have nothing to do with the well being of the country as a whole.
This is also done at the state levels. Why should my tax dollars go to building a "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alsaska? That's a local issue that should be paid for through local and state funds and not federal dollars.
I agree that the Republicans are painting a pretty picture, when things aren't that rosey. But on the other hand, the Democrats are preaching doom and gloom, and we're all going to die, when things aren't that bad.
Or when things don't go right, like the housing bailout, to save a progam created during the Carter Administration (remember, Jimmy still does Habitat for Humanity), and brought back during the Clinton Administration, but yet lay the blame at the feet of Republicans?
I don't get it.
As far as the tax burden being placed on those with the least, I disagree. The tax burden is place almost soley on the shoulders of the middle and working class. Poor people don't pay taxes. Those on welfare and food stamps don't even pay city and state taxes on food purchases. They pay sales taxes on certain items, but that's about it.
What I don't understand is Earned Income Credit in our federal tax code. This is where a person who makes under a certain amount of money as total yearly income, which doesn't even register on the richter scale of the tax code, but yet they get a "refund"?
The rich are the ones who own the companies and create jobs. When they feel Uncle Sam's tax pinch, they take their toys and go overseas. Now, where do we work?
Look around when you drive around. What do you see? Do you see manufacturing? A little, maybe, but you see lots and lots of restaurant chains and outlets that sells crap made in China. Manufacturing has gone overseas because of high labor costs and taxes.
Oh, who gave China preferred nation status and some of our military and trade secrets to bring them up to American levels? HMMMMM, could that be Bill Clinton?
But on the other hand, when you have a board traded corporation that is struggling to keep above water, and the CEO is raping it for $121 million in a separation package, that's indefensible.
It's funny that the Republicans receive all the blame for what evils large corporations do. But when you look at who has their hands in the cookie jar, there are just as many Democrats, but nothing is said.
Then there is the argument that the government shouldn't tell a woman what to do with her body. I agree, although I find abortion abhorrent.
But on the other hand, the Dems say that I, a law abiding citizen who has never broken the law, shouldn't own a firearm?
They also say that if I own a piece of property I couldn't use it for what I intended it for, because or some Red Cockaded Woodpecker has a nest in a tree on my property.
We are desperate for energy but can't drill for oil because some caribou won't be able to have sex and reproduce, or some other off the wall reasons.
We can't do this, we can't do that. Can't have a Big Mac, because it might make me fat. Got to protect those who don't even have enough sense to take care of themselves.
The hypocrisy goes both ways, but seems to lean more toward the Democrats.
As a conservative, I believe in the U.S. Constitution as it was originally intended. The federal government was established to oversee the affairs of the federal government, oversee the defense of the nation, and to oversee interstate commerce (that one state doesn't screw over another state) and that's it.
But we have allowed the Constitution to be bastardized. I'm not saying the amendments (especially the Bill of Rights) aren't important, because they truly are. What I'm saying is that we are taking issues that should be regulated or governed at local and state levels and making them federal issues.
Abortion should be a state issue.
Gay Rights is a state issue. Motorcycle helmet is a state issue. And education issues.
And my defense for this argument comes Tenth Amemdment of the U.S. Constitution
The Tenth Amendment reads,
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled."
Hi Anonymous,
I have a lot I would want to write in response to your last post but unfortunately I am still not done with my resume updates and my job search is in urgent need of attention. aahh!
But my one point: I consider abortion and gay rights to be people issues, not state issues. I firmly believe that and I can't imagine why anyone would feel like those things should be legislated. What gives us the right?
Anyway, I know that Democrats and Republicans inherently have different economic beliefs so I won't go there right now. But although I'm not one to spend time defending the Republican agenda, I also agree and am disappointed that the Republican party has abandoned it's core values. I'm surprised that I don't hear people say much about that assertion. I heard someone speak about this on NPR several months back and he wrote a book called, Reclaiming Conservatism, and although I haven't read it I thought it sounded really interesting and I imagine you'll agree with his perspective. It's on my reading list. His interview was excellent and I think he expresses what many Republicans feel but don't often say, at least not publicly or to a lefty like me. Check it out when you get a chance.
The book is "Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost -- and How It Can Find Its Way Back" by Mickey Edwards. Edwards is one of the founders of The Heritage Foundation, a former Republican congressman and a veteran conservative. The book gets five stars on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Reclaiming-Conservatism-American-Political-Lost/dp/0195335589/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222134095&sr=8-1
I suspect a Barack Obama victory in 2008 will turn Halloween 2009 into a a teachable moment during which parents will be able to teach their children about socialism.
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