I didn't intend for my rant to ignore the donations from individuals--I apologize if it sounded that way. Obviously, the personal donations are a *huge* chunk of both campaigns. But the Obama campaign also use bundlers, and let's be honest, they have a huge volunteer base but couldn't manage to list their contributions with any degree of accuracy. (it doesn't mean, of course, that there is anything wrong or shady about the campaign, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth) I have my doubts that the celebrities are keeping to the maximum donation amounts they are supposed to and for that matter, that they've been verifying that the donors are American citizens. I apologize, I wanted to hunt down some sources and things so I could explain my point better, but my computer time for the next few weeks is practically non-existent.
Maybe I wouldn't be so annoyed about the half hour infomercial if I hadn't already seen hours and hours and *hours* of combined advertisement for both campaigns. Really, I'd be so happy if both campaigns decided that the 'Rust Belt' was no longer the most important place to troll for votes.
I don't deeply dislike Obama, which I'm not sure comes across well when I'm ranting. I don't deeply dislike McCain either. (Biden and Palin both, on the other hand, leave quite a lot to be desired as far as I'm concerned) I've found from years of being stuck in a battleground state, a 'road to the White House' state, a 'for the love of God, I'm missing pharmaceudical company commercials because all I see are political ads' states, that you have to be realistic. Candidates make stops here all the time and make promises that I think anyone with a keen sense of reality have to see are not possible, or not possible without a lot of help, or not possible in the near future. I've also seen too many fights break out when the results are read-- I try to have a zen feeling that no matter who wins, you've got to accept it and call it a day.
I feel like this is the Democrats year for people expecting too much. The president can't get us out of Iraq at the drop of a hat--the strategy will have to be determined by ground conditions, whether there is a timeline/exit strategy or not. Tax reform will not come quick enough for taxes due on April 15, 2009 and will get mangled going through Congress anyway. Education is mostly decided by state and local government, not federal. The government can't create jobs -- businesses create jobs. They are all valid issues, I just don't think remarkable progress is likely, no matter who wins, but people seem convinced.
I'm not trying to be a bitch. I know you feel strongly about Obama being the right guy for the job. I'm not saying you are wrong about that- I'm just saying I'm not enthusiastic about either of them. I'm just jaded, I guess, and tired, and ready for a two year election campaign to end, one way or another.
Well, unfortunately for me, I didn't even get to see Obama's infomercial because I was driving home from breaking up with turd-face. :( Obviously I was interested from the standpoint of being interested in him, but I also hope it's done what it intended and helped sway or encourage people to get out there and vote for him. I'm not one who's really disillusioned, though. I mean, I know there is a huge difference between Obama and McCain and most certainly believe Obama will be VASTLY better for this country (and, honestly, before Palin came around, I wasn't all the worried about McCain winning, but as time's gone on, and I've learned and seen more from/about McCain that's made me dislike him, too...even if he was hot George-Eads-look-alike stuff when he was young; he was also a slut, but now I'm really against and frightened of them winning).
Anyway, I'm not certain at all that Obama will win (and I'm quite realistic in understanding it will take years or even a second term to make real change, but when you look at all the crap that has happened, all the negative effects the Bush administration has had on all these areas Obama is professing a desire to fix, I believe even negating those will have a great effect), and I'm scared he won't. I wasn't totally certain with Kerry, either, but I still expected that people wouldn't be so stupid to vote Bush again. And then I was devastated. So I'm still holding on to my heart here...
As for the ads, since I rarely watch "national television" except for a few select shows these days, it doesn't always drive me crazy. But, indeed, when I'm watching those select shows, it certainly does. And I'm tired of the negativity and the lies and back and forth, and it makes me feel quite uneasy, too. But, while it sucks, it's part of the game, and doesn't make me believe any less in the people--through research and the opponents' "record" more than ads--I'm supporting. I too would just like it too be over, but I'm really scared of what the results could be.
Maybe I wouldn't be so annoyed about the half hour infomercial if I hadn't already seen hours and hours and *hours* of combined advertisement for both campaigns. Really, I'd be so happy if both campaigns decided that the 'Rust Belt' was no longer the most important place to troll for votes.
I don't deeply dislike Obama, which I'm not sure comes across well when I'm ranting. I don't deeply dislike McCain either. (Biden and Palin both, on the other hand, leave quite a lot to be desired as far as I'm concerned) I've found from years of being stuck in a battleground state, a 'road to the White House' state, a 'for the love of God, I'm missing pharmaceudical company commercials because all I see are political ads' states, that you have to be realistic. Candidates make stops here all the time and make promises that I think anyone with a keen sense of reality have to see are not possible, or not possible without a lot of help, or not possible in the near future. I've also seen too many fights break out when the results are read-- I try to have a zen feeling that no matter who wins, you've got to accept it and call it a day.
I feel like this is the Democrats year for people expecting too much. The president can't get us out of Iraq at the drop of a hat--the strategy will have to be determined by ground conditions, whether there is a timeline/exit strategy or not. Tax reform will not come quick enough for taxes due on April 15, 2009 and will get mangled going through Congress anyway. Education is mostly decided by state and local government, not federal. The government can't create jobs -- businesses create jobs. They are all valid issues, I just don't think remarkable progress is likely, no matter who wins, but people seem convinced.
I'm not trying to be a bitch. I know you feel strongly about Obama being the right guy for the job. I'm not saying you are wrong about that- I'm just saying I'm not enthusiastic about either of them. I'm just jaded, I guess, and tired, and ready for a two year election campaign to end, one way or another.
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Anyway, I'm not certain at all that Obama will win (and I'm quite realistic in understanding it will take years or even a second term to make real change, but when you look at all the crap that has happened, all the negative effects the Bush administration has had on all these areas Obama is professing a desire to fix, I believe even negating those will have a great effect), and I'm scared he won't. I wasn't totally certain with Kerry, either, but I still expected that people wouldn't be so stupid to vote Bush again. And then I was devastated. So I'm still holding on to my heart here...
As for the ads, since I rarely watch "national television" except for a few select shows these days, it doesn't always drive me crazy. But, indeed, when I'm watching those select shows, it certainly does. And I'm tired of the negativity and the lies and back and forth, and it makes me feel quite uneasy, too. But, while it sucks, it's part of the game, and doesn't make me believe any less in the people--through research and the opponents' "record" more than ads--I'm supporting. I too would just like it too be over, but I'm really scared of what the results could be.
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