I normally don’t do this. I have found that writing about politics is a waste of time. No matter how much I attempt to educate myself in the world of politics I always realize that either most people know more about it than I do and I come off looking like an idiot or I just don’t know what in the world I am doing. I know that political issues are ones that should be extremely important to me. For the most part they are but I don’t like to think about them much. I like to do the whole ostrich thing but I will complain when the moments are right.
Most everyone I know has already decided which candidate they will be voting for on November 4th; however, I do not. In the past it was a no-brainer, I would vote Republican. I would vote Republican every time without fail. This year I cannot make myself choose a candidate based on his political party affiliation. When I stop and think and watch both groups of candidates (McCain/Palin & Obama/Biden) there are many things that bother me.
When I look at John McCain I see an old, rich guy that is out of touch with real America. He has all of these houses and all of this money. I can’t see this most recent financial crisis to be more than a hiccough (hiccup?) to him in his overall portfolio. I see a guy that won’t live long enough to fulfill his term as President.
As for his running-mate Sarah Palin I see something completely different. I see a young woman that has bitten off a lot more than she can chew. Her lack of experience scares me. Her overly sweet demeanor makes me think that she would be a push over. At the same time, the sweetness factor and the whole “Tina-Fey-Backwoods-Ignorant-Portrayal” makes me think that it is all a ruse. Maybe she comes over as a goody-two-shoes but when she is pushed she is a wolverine. You know, the ‘I am all nice until you cross me then I’ll hurt you’ kind of thing. If not, it frightens me that she WILL become President when McCain kicks the bucket in another year or two.
Although they are the leaders of “my party”, the Republicans, it seems that I most certainly cannot choose them. So now I look across the way to the Democrats.
Barack Obama is a Democrat. I don’t tend to agree with the edicts and the ways of the Democratic party. There is something interesting; however, about ‘this one’ that intrigues me. He is a young man, closer to my own age. I can tend to relate to him more because of this. He has the ability to make me listen to what he says. He doesn’t drone on and on and put me to sleep but I become interested in subjects that I normally turn a deaf ear to even though they are very important to me and my fellow Americans. He wants change and it sounds believable but truly hasn’t every candidate since FDR wanted change? Has any of them actually been able to accomplish this change? I would say ‘no’. Also, the same problem with Palin rears its head with Obama. He has only a little experience. Honestly, though, he does have more than she does.
Also, I fear for his life. He seems like a nice guy and has a beautiful family. I have this recurring dream that if he were to be elected that some crazy nut bag would kill him. This alone would make me NOT want to vote for him. Images of John Kennedy, Jr. as a little boy saluting his fallen father come to mind.
As far as Biden goes, I see him as only one thing. He is a ‘yes man’. He adds nothing to the election for me except for the fact that it isn’t Hilary Clinton. If she was the VP nominee, the choice would be much simpler.
Although, there are many positive aspects of the Democratic campaign, I obviously cannot choose them. This is sort of like that scene in The Princess Bride:
You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous of which is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
Maybe I will stick with my usual suspects and go with McCain or maybe I will go in a new direction and vote for Obama or maybe I will just vote for one of the myriad crazies listed as third parties. In 2012 it will be much easier. I will vote for myself.
