Presidential Debates
Well, it's not a polite topic, but why not?
First, I finally did my 30 minutes of Obama homework, and I was wrong. For some reason I had it in my head that Obama was a financial guru. In actuality, he is a constitutional law expert, and had taught that at University of Chicago Law School. I'm disappointed that he doesn't have the financial background, but I am happy that he has the ear of Warren Buffett.
I have a couple thoughts about the race itself. I am glad that it hasn't completely devolved into character assassination. I really think that would benefit Obama in the long run, since McCain was reprimanded for defending a man who defrauded thousands of retirees of their savings. Obama has mixed with radicals, but not in their radical phases. I am happier hearing their evasion of the issues, since that will at least let me know what they are afraid of.
Speaking of evasion, that is the one thing about Obama that frustrates me. He lies by omission, and I think it's unnecessary. Obama has the demeanor that would allow reasonable discussion of difficult topics. Rather than talk about how taxes will be raised for some small-ish businesses and people in order to balance the budget, Obama just avoids the issue entirely. I have more respect for poeple who can justify unpopular viewpoints, rather than people who simply tell me what I want to hear.
Speaking of pandering, what has happened to the Republican party? It's as if the entire conservative movement has been led by Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and their progenitor Rush Limbaugh straight out of discussion and into a soapbox convention. I get so frustrated watching McCain and Palin both ignore anything said to them in order to tear down some perceived notion in their heads. Specifically, McCain will cry and moan about how Obama will raise taxes everywhere. He completely missed out on the specifics that Obama avoided, and it destroyed any meaningful discourse from either of them. It's like trying to talk with a sibling about who needs to do the dishes, and suddenly you are being screamed at for not vacuuming the living room two years ago.
This is the same mode of conversation that Palin constantly uses, and I can't even stand to watch her any more. The longer that Palin continues this behavior, the worse she makes hockey moms all over the country appear. In six weeks, Palin has destroyed any professional respect that Hillary Clinton fought so hard to earn for strong women in politics. This makes me so incredibly angry, and it truly makes me wonder what has happened to Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy? It's almost a self-serving cycle, if women are distrusted with any intellectual capability, then women's choices, rights, and roles will no longer be theirs to control. I don't want to be distrusted because I am smarter than a vice president.
One issue that I heard about tonight for the first time is the notion that the government will be intervening in home mortgages. This scares the hell out of me. I'm even more worried that it's McCain bringing it up, and then telling people that he's against big government. WHY DIDN'T ANYONE CALL HIM OUT ON THIS?!?!?!?!? I do NOT want the man who has a history as one of the Keating Five to be telling banks how to disperse mortgages.
I'm not happy at all with this race. I had truly hoped that Obama would have more of a JFK-esque mood to his campaign, but that hasn't happened. In the end, I feel that I should remember that the president isn't always as important as his circle of advisers. Well, as Bush has taught us, as long as he listens to his circle of advisers. And so far, McCain hasn't given any indication that a maverick is willing to listen to advisers.
First, I finally did my 30 minutes of Obama homework, and I was wrong. For some reason I had it in my head that Obama was a financial guru. In actuality, he is a constitutional law expert, and had taught that at University of Chicago Law School. I'm disappointed that he doesn't have the financial background, but I am happy that he has the ear of Warren Buffett.
I have a couple thoughts about the race itself. I am glad that it hasn't completely devolved into character assassination. I really think that would benefit Obama in the long run, since McCain was reprimanded for defending a man who defrauded thousands of retirees of their savings. Obama has mixed with radicals, but not in their radical phases. I am happier hearing their evasion of the issues, since that will at least let me know what they are afraid of.
Speaking of evasion, that is the one thing about Obama that frustrates me. He lies by omission, and I think it's unnecessary. Obama has the demeanor that would allow reasonable discussion of difficult topics. Rather than talk about how taxes will be raised for some small-ish businesses and people in order to balance the budget, Obama just avoids the issue entirely. I have more respect for poeple who can justify unpopular viewpoints, rather than people who simply tell me what I want to hear.
Speaking of pandering, what has happened to the Republican party? It's as if the entire conservative movement has been led by Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and their progenitor Rush Limbaugh straight out of discussion and into a soapbox convention. I get so frustrated watching McCain and Palin both ignore anything said to them in order to tear down some perceived notion in their heads. Specifically, McCain will cry and moan about how Obama will raise taxes everywhere. He completely missed out on the specifics that Obama avoided, and it destroyed any meaningful discourse from either of them. It's like trying to talk with a sibling about who needs to do the dishes, and suddenly you are being screamed at for not vacuuming the living room two years ago.
This is the same mode of conversation that Palin constantly uses, and I can't even stand to watch her any more. The longer that Palin continues this behavior, the worse she makes hockey moms all over the country appear. In six weeks, Palin has destroyed any professional respect that Hillary Clinton fought so hard to earn for strong women in politics. This makes me so incredibly angry, and it truly makes me wonder what has happened to Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy? It's almost a self-serving cycle, if women are distrusted with any intellectual capability, then women's choices, rights, and roles will no longer be theirs to control. I don't want to be distrusted because I am smarter than a vice president.
One issue that I heard about tonight for the first time is the notion that the government will be intervening in home mortgages. This scares the hell out of me. I'm even more worried that it's McCain bringing it up, and then telling people that he's against big government. WHY DIDN'T ANYONE CALL HIM OUT ON THIS?!?!?!?!? I do NOT want the man who has a history as one of the Keating Five to be telling banks how to disperse mortgages.
I'm not happy at all with this race. I had truly hoped that Obama would have more of a JFK-esque mood to his campaign, but that hasn't happened. In the end, I feel that I should remember that the president isn't always as important as his circle of advisers. Well, as Bush has taught us, as long as he listens to his circle of advisers. And so far, McCain hasn't given any indication that a maverick is willing to listen to advisers.