Let's get serious....
I don't really consider myself a political person. I didn't even vote in my first opportunity to do so and I kind of feel like most of the time we're dealing with a "Giant Douche vs. Turd Sandwich" situation. Usually, I don't even really tune in to the speeches or lead-up to the elections until October, which is unfortunate because, as it's explained to me, the primarys are really where my voice is heard most.
For Christmas, I asked for a book about the presidents - a breakdown of accomplishments and failings from a neutral party because finding information that isn't spun one way or another is difficult these days. Why did I want the book? Mostly to argue with other people with legitimate facts instead of a whole bunch of spun propaganda which is what everyone else uses. It sorted of started with a discussion with my dad regarding Hillary that ultimately led to him proclaiming that Bill Clinton was the worst president we'd ever had. I've only been alive for a few presidents and I was only 14 when Bill took office so I don't claim to be an expert, but that seemed a little much. A major focus of my dad's argument was Clinton's infidelity which he equated to a bad president. In what turned out to be the easiest logical attack ever, I quickly got him to say that Kennedy was a good president and then pointed out Kennedy's alleged indiscretions. Infidelity, while not suggested, does not make you a good or bad president. Politics, to me, is a necessary evil which provides us reason to bicker. I accept that.
It's not that I lack opinions. If I have any knowledge on the subject, I have an opinion. I just believe that the system only allows so much success. Bi-partisan politics seems to take any room for serious progress out of the equation. While, I appreciate that some days, it's kind of defeating on others.
I don't consider myself Democratic or Republican, but socially left and fiscally right. More or less, I'm looking for a competent person to be the representative of the United States. They don't have to represent me and couldn't possibly represent everyone. Who's going to represent me and at the same time represent the catfish noodler? It just has to be someone who is intelligent and charismatic. Honestly, his or her politics matters, but more so in getting them in office than once they are there. For example, a candidate who supports the "One Child Policy" probably would never make it into office. Is there anyone out there who believes that if he made it to office, he'd ever get that policy enacted? Obviously, this is an extreme example, but there are plenty of issues that aren't worth making a huff about.
When McCain(who I think would make a good president by my standards) picked Palin, my first instinct was to think how obvious it was to pick a woman. It was an unintentionally sexist thought fueled by speculation that perhaps Meg Whitman would be the choice. My issues with Palin(and I state these not knowing too much about Biden) are not all of the little issues about her daughter or her pro-life stance or whether she is or isn't a "hockey mom". What happens if she becomes president? You have to at least consider the possibility. I'm fine with a woman as our president, however there are few choices with less qualifications than Palin. McCain touted her as the governor of the largest state in the U.S. Well, yeah, but the 47th largest by population. Zero foreign policy history, in fact, she's only left the country once in her life(excluding neigboring Canada). I watched her speech last night and it was brutal. Trying to snare the female vote(which he'll do) by adding Palin to the bill, McCain is literally mocking women with this selection. I know that the so-called "7 out of 10" probably will fall victim to this ploy, but this is ridiculous. I see what people saw in Hillary. She had loads of experience as both a first lady and a senator. I can see her representing our country. I don't think there are many people McCain could have picked that are worse-suited for being our president.
There are literally a ton of articles trashing Palin and who knows what is actually real and what is political bullshit, but this one seemed as legit as any that I read today.
As someone on the fence, I think McCain made a mistake. If, however, the Republicans win in November spouting the same politics as Bush has the last 8 years he's been in office, with an economy in the tank, a war that is dragging on so long that no one even knows what's happening, and a plummeting image in world politics, then the terrorists have won. Because, wow.
For Christmas, I asked for a book about the presidents - a breakdown of accomplishments and failings from a neutral party because finding information that isn't spun one way or another is difficult these days. Why did I want the book? Mostly to argue with other people with legitimate facts instead of a whole bunch of spun propaganda which is what everyone else uses. It sorted of started with a discussion with my dad regarding Hillary that ultimately led to him proclaiming that Bill Clinton was the worst president we'd ever had. I've only been alive for a few presidents and I was only 14 when Bill took office so I don't claim to be an expert, but that seemed a little much. A major focus of my dad's argument was Clinton's infidelity which he equated to a bad president. In what turned out to be the easiest logical attack ever, I quickly got him to say that Kennedy was a good president and then pointed out Kennedy's alleged indiscretions. Infidelity, while not suggested, does not make you a good or bad president. Politics, to me, is a necessary evil which provides us reason to bicker. I accept that.
It's not that I lack opinions. If I have any knowledge on the subject, I have an opinion. I just believe that the system only allows so much success. Bi-partisan politics seems to take any room for serious progress out of the equation. While, I appreciate that some days, it's kind of defeating on others.
I don't consider myself Democratic or Republican, but socially left and fiscally right. More or less, I'm looking for a competent person to be the representative of the United States. They don't have to represent me and couldn't possibly represent everyone. Who's going to represent me and at the same time represent the catfish noodler? It just has to be someone who is intelligent and charismatic. Honestly, his or her politics matters, but more so in getting them in office than once they are there. For example, a candidate who supports the "One Child Policy" probably would never make it into office. Is there anyone out there who believes that if he made it to office, he'd ever get that policy enacted? Obviously, this is an extreme example, but there are plenty of issues that aren't worth making a huff about.
When McCain(who I think would make a good president by my standards) picked Palin, my first instinct was to think how obvious it was to pick a woman. It was an unintentionally sexist thought fueled by speculation that perhaps Meg Whitman would be the choice. My issues with Palin(and I state these not knowing too much about Biden) are not all of the little issues about her daughter or her pro-life stance or whether she is or isn't a "hockey mom". What happens if she becomes president? You have to at least consider the possibility. I'm fine with a woman as our president, however there are few choices with less qualifications than Palin. McCain touted her as the governor of the largest state in the U.S. Well, yeah, but the 47th largest by population. Zero foreign policy history, in fact, she's only left the country once in her life(excluding neigboring Canada). I watched her speech last night and it was brutal. Trying to snare the female vote(which he'll do) by adding Palin to the bill, McCain is literally mocking women with this selection. I know that the so-called "7 out of 10" probably will fall victim to this ploy, but this is ridiculous. I see what people saw in Hillary. She had loads of experience as both a first lady and a senator. I can see her representing our country. I don't think there are many people McCain could have picked that are worse-suited for being our president.
There are literally a ton of articles trashing Palin and who knows what is actually real and what is political bullshit, but this one seemed as legit as any that I read today.
As someone on the fence, I think McCain made a mistake. If, however, the Republicans win in November spouting the same politics as Bush has the last 8 years he's been in office, with an economy in the tank, a war that is dragging on so long that no one even knows what's happening, and a plummeting image in world politics, then the terrorists have won. Because, wow.