Mar. 6, 2008
Is It 2009 Yet?
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Okay, so....did you think that I didn't have more 'stuff' running through my mind after all of those days off being sick??? (See previous entry). I can't decide if I like this political 'season' or if I hate it. I guess it depends on which day you ask me. I have quite a bevy of thoughts accumulating on the subject though! (Not unlike most of America, I'm sure.) And those thoughts seem to change from day to day. So, I'm just gonna dive right into "Miss know-it-all" mode...... Here's a thought.....So, John McCain is 71 years old??? And??? I don't know about y'all but the last time I looked at the man -- He didn't look like Orville Redenbocker. Come on, folks, he's not about to keel over, I don't think. In this 'new-agey' world that we live in, we're so quick to point out that "Forty is the new thirty" and "Fifty is the new forty". So, why can't "Seventy be the new sixty"? Okay, so seriously, I do get where folks are coming from. I do. But, I'm not thinking that we'll revert back to Europe, by default, should our president pass away at any point in his term(s). Surely, because of this "handicap", he'll choose someone a touch younger as a running mate. And speaking of this so-called, handicap.....since when is age not something to respect? Given the choice between older aged and experienced, versus younger aged and inexperienced.....when it comes to my president.....I'll take age and experience thankyouverymuch. As far as Mrs. Clinton is concerned, I'm less concerned about the age/experience connection than I am when it comes to Mr. Obama. Forty-seven? I mean, he's been qualified age-wise for the presidency for some 12 years now, but -- I'm not buying that his experiences leading up to the age of forty-seven have qualified him enough in my book. Political experience....hmmmm ??? I'm not feeling secure enough in his abilities, from what I've seen so far. And this is probably neither here nor there, but -- I'm just not all that impressed with his wife....so far anyway. Really, that is just me being petty. I don't care for Bill Clinton either. Not waiting in line for Nancy Reagan's signature, but.... Okay, I'll jump off of that soap box and move on to another..... If it were me (and for the sake of us all, lets thank the good Lord that it's not), I would take this whole "I never voted for the war" stuff and put Mr. Obama's feet to the fire a bit with it. Okay....so hear me out.... So, yes, we could write a whole boatload about the whole "WMDs" thing by now. Indeed there are those who have. Believe me....I'm not denying that things could have, maybe should have been different, but... Way back when.... When we had reliable sources telling us that we needed to protect ourselves from this threat. This threat that could make 9/11/2001 look like child's play...... And history supported this reasoning (come on now, Hussein and his history in this department is well known by most).... Can someone explain to me, why, exactly, Mr. Obama, held to his continued "nay" votes regarding the war? Now, I'm not talking about what we know now (or think that we know anyway). For the sake of this argument lets leave hindsight out of the picture here. At that particular point in time, we had every reason to believe that it was in the best interests of America to err on the side of safety and to err on the side of protecting our own --- and yet, this particular senator, continually rejected the notion that we should, in fact, protect our own against this known threat. And, say what you want, but Hussein and the like - were, are and will more than likely always be a very real threat to all that America stands for. Oh Mr. Obama likes to tout that his "vote never changed" He "never wavered". To that, I say -- Shame on you. Yes, that's an easy argument for him to say now...but, at that particular time....all I can see is a man who is unwilling to put the safety of our country in a place of highest import. At any point in time, but right now, especially, the last thing that we need, as a country, for a Commander-in-Chief, is someone who is allergic to national protection. National protection cannot be solely of a reactive nature, we have to be able to show some amount of proactive defense. I just don't get where he's coming from. And that's really okay....I don't have to get his reasoning...hard as I try. But, luckily for me, I happen to have a vote in the upcoming election. Can you tell that I have some pretty passionate views on the subject? Now, I realize that I am taking a small risk here.....but.....I like John McCain for president. I always have. He's been my favorite since day one. I really don't understand the reasoning behind disliking McCain for president because he knows how to compromise. Seriously folks....is this about ME or YOU or is it about our country as a whole? I don't decide who I vote for based on who makes me happy 100% of the time. The world doesn't revolve around me,me,me. Since when is having the ability to compromise and to build bridges a detriment? Please can someone explain this to me? So, every last detail of his senatorial record isn't in perfect alignment with what I might have preferred. Well, okay. And?? This is a bad thing? I'm supposed to be looking for a president who made enemies and prohibited progress, but by golly he stuck to his guns and he didn't compromise one iota....didn't accomplish diddly, but hey, he never wavered. Ummm???? Folks, their jobs aren't to go to Washington and to stick to their guns. Their jobs are to go to Washington and, to the best of their capabilities, be productive and work toward common ground in order to come together for the good of the country. Please tell me how encouraging divisiveness is for the good of our country? I want a president who knows how to compromise. Now, of course, I have my limits. I want my senators, presidents, etc. to stand firm on the non-negotiabes. Those particular non-negotiables are different for different folks, and I do realize that. I am very passionate about those particular non-negotiable issues that I hold near and dear. But, speaking generally....we NEED a president who is able to have enough diplomacy to find common ground and to find resolutions that can work toward good for all, not for one specific minority. Now, y'all know me....I'm as conservative as them come (as far as I'm concerned anyway), but I don't want a president who, come hell or high water, is only going to represent the desires of the conservative at heart. We are more than that. We want more than that. At least I do. I want a president who can work together with all in order to make this country all that it should be for the majority of folks in all walks of life and who hold strong to a variety of beliefs. And I believe that there is plenty that can be done toward that end that hasn't been done in years. And, for the most part, none of it has to offend anyone's sense of morality. There is plenty out there that needs to be done that has nothing to do with those moral issues on which most of us are proudly unwavering. Can't we at least begin there? Can't that be a healthy start? And, in my opinion, John McCain stands for a lot that I am unwavering on as well, so ---- again, I just don't get why everyone is so disconcerted with his candidacy. Now, I realize that my passions are quite vulnerable here, but -- show me one person who doesn't have some degree of passion when it comes to this election. Any election really. I do hope that I don't have any bones turning over in graves when I say this.....but, If I had only to choose between Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama.....if those were the only two who I had to chose from - period. Of any party line. Just those two. I'd have to vote for Hillary. Never dreamed I'd ever have reason to say that. Never say never huh? And it has nothing...nothing....to do with race or gender. It has everything to do with having a known enigma versus an unknown enigma. So far, as of today, I just have a very uneasy feeling about Mr. Obama as president. And, don't get me wrong. I'm sure he's a nice, charming gentleman. I just don't have a good reason to feel secure enough to purposefully chose him for my president at this particular time in history. I must say that I'm thankful that I have another choice, and it is a choice that I wholeheartedly believe in. I may be in a conservative minority but I'm a McCain fan....I've had no reason, to date, to feel otherwise, personally. Now, I can't let the whole Hillary comment above end on that note....that would be so....unlike me. :) Here's one of my biggest qualms with Mrs. Clinton. The other day I saw a television clip where she made the comment to someone: "It's never too late to convert a Republican". Huh? Ugh! Being very transparent here....I really don't care if our president is Republican, Democrat, Independent, or a melting pot of them all. Seriously, what is this...high school? Why should I care? Yeah, yeah, I know that, typically, republicans are a good bit more conservative. And, I am a registered republican. I'm not trying to be a hypocrite here. But, I don't need a republican to be the president of the United States. I need someone who is committed to doing what is in the best interest of my country. Period. Yes, I typically, vote republican, and yes, I typically believe that what is in the best interest of my country, often falls into a more conservative class. But, honest to goodness, folks....I don't dislike Hillary Clinton for president because she is a democrat. I just found this comment of hers to be a bit shallow. And it confirms my belief that she would continue to divide us as a country rather than bring us together. We, as a country, are more than our political party preferences. And we need someone who wants more for us than that. |