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America!, we need to talk. Up until very recently I had a lot of faith that America! would do the right thing and end our relationship with the type of politician who promises you a romantic steak dinner but then texts you while you’re waiting for him at the restaurant table saying that LOL he forgot because he got really into this game of beer pong with the guys and OMG that promise of a steak really got blown out of proportion so please try to forgive him and maybe he’ll ping you through Facebook next week. The America! I knew would have egged that bastard’s SUV and distributed a viral video depicting his expert nose picking skills. But now? I feel like we’re all “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me three times, shame on the media.” I’m afraid that the wrong people are going to win this November, and what’s worse I think we’re all apathetic enough to simply shrug our shoulders and say “Eh, it’ll all be the same load of crap no matter who we elect.”
NO! America! Don’t roll over in submission like this!!!
Sure, Obama and McCain are kings of spin. All politicians are. And yes, we’re sick of spin. Sick! How many more times can we stand to hear another generic yet politically correct statement that is all pomp and no substance?! How on Earth do we get past this cycle of hysteria over inconsequential things like how much a person’s suit is worth?! Well, I’m sad to say that we’re a little far along in this campaign season to abruptly end the spin, but I am hopeful that after this election some progress can be made. Hey, look on the bright side: There’s no national hysteria over a fictional monster like the Monkey Man that harassed India back in 2001. Oh, wait. We did just have a Bigfoot hoax that garnered intense media coverage. Nevermind.
Where was I? Oh, yes…
Obama spins change! and hope! and how he possesses a very modern view of society! McCain spins security! and values! and prosperity through tapping our own resources! Worthy buzzwords. We see Obama as the liberal, McCain as the conservative. Many people will consider those generalities and deem them enough information on which to base a vote. But I implore you, America! to look deeper than that. Consider the men themselves; the things they’ve said and done, beyond the rhetoric and campaign slogans.
Here is an unbiased portrait of John McCain. Lengthy, but worthy: “McCain’s Party”, by Connie Bruck
Now, an article about Obama, by the same publication: “The Conciliator”, by Larissa MacFarquhar
Both politicians have their merits. McCain the warrior and guardian of good old-fashioned American! pride. Obama the unlikely poster child of the American! dream.
Wow, tough pick, right? Not really, as far as I’m concerned.
I present for you an article that is deeply unsettling for me, and sums up my reasons for fundamentally distrusting John McCain: “Maverick Vs. Iceman”, by Jonathan Chait
I also hope that America! will take into consideration McCain’s choice in confidants. We all shook our heads in dismay over the likes of Donald Rumsfeld (now branded a Warmonger!) and Karl Rove (who proved himself a Deceptive Coward!). Can we not see ourselves likewise shaking our heads over Sarah Palin and whomever else McCain would choose to sit in his Cabinet?
Sarah Palin was fished out of the woodwork in a blatant error of judgment. Teen pregnancy, allegations of abuse of power, and suspicions of an affair with her husband’s business partner have already surfaced. She’s a headline grabber, that’s for sure. She’s already drawn the ire of the AP, which published this article, picked up by AlaskaReport.com after her speech at the RNC: “Associated Press says Sarah Palin lied in Republican speech” Great job, McCain. This woman’s more scandal-ridden than Paris Hilton. And frankly? I don’t think she represents me or any other woman I love and respect.
Look, Something Shiny! is not a political blog, nor would I ever describe myself as a person whose opinion on political topics is one of any expert caliber. So, I challenge somebody to please explain Sarah Palin to me. No, don’t explain her to me. Explain John McCain to me. No, don’t explain him to me. Explain the GOP to me. No, no… No. Explain to me why more people aren’t tapping each other on the shoulder and going, “Seriously?”
I don’t care about who is going to raise my taxes or who is going to keep Mexicans from crossing the border. What I care about is putting the best PERSON in office; someone I can trust to make a good freaking decision for once. Pick Obama and he’ll learn, grow, listen, and heal this precious America! that we were once so proud of. Better yet? He’ll lead us FORWARD and not allow us to remain stagnant in an America! that has been embarrassed by our idiot President, increasingly hated by foreign countries, and financially ruined by corrupt and greedy government officials and corporate leadership. America!, we got ourselves into this mess. Let’s get ourselves out.
Tags: '08 election, America, McCain, Obama, politics
September 8th, 2008 at 9:01 am
have not seen Palin’s vagina (unlike Paris Hilton…lol nyco) nor do I care that she has a daughter with a bastard–in that sense she may represent MORE American women and men than we think. the media is the problem and who fuels the media? we do. it’s unfortunate, but true. instead of saying that so-and-so lied or so-and-so had an affair with another woman while his wife had cancer (wtg!), why don’t we just stick to the issues? i know…no one else does, but why can’t we start with the basics? abortion? homeland security? immigration? environment? stem cell research? LGBT? education? housing? iraq? energy? etc…
this was a good site: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/
folks may think that i’m just an ignorant southern lady oversimplifying things by using cnn.com, but there are plenty of people just like me…and we don’t want to watch tv, listen to the radio or read endless blogs about lying, cheating, stealing politicians and comparing and contrasting until we are blue in the face. we just want it plain and simple. Obama vs. McCain. with whom do i share the same political values? i don’t care how much the ugly yellow dress costs. i don’t care that palin has a disadvantaged kid. i don’t care how old john mccain is or that obama has less political experience than…maybe palin? lol i don’t care about all the spin. that’s what politicians DO, duh! i have enough work to do throughout my day than to keep up with all the bullshit, and i’m sure so do all those unwed voting mothers…
September 9th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Super Scientist said it first…
I hear you on the “stick to the issues” argument, and need to work on that myself.
We’re a good, well-rounded team, Sister Super Scientist!
September 10th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I have written this paragraph after I wrote my comment because it may seem like its my own tyrant. It is not. Look, Something Shiny! wanted to have a talk with America and I am glad she did. I agree with all that you said. We ARE and WILL continue to be the best country in the world. However, like Nyco said we MUST change our current course. Look, Something Shiny! I want to be at the table with you when you have this talk! Because…
We can be a better world leader. We can fight wars against poverty and cancer instead of for oil and money. We can understand it is these imperialistic policies that cause others to hate us, not our freedom. They love our freedom.
We can understand that your personal choices and beliefs concerning marriage, women’s health, and other social issues can be different from what the law mandates of its free citizens. We are a diverse nation and great because of it. That did not rise by legislating one group’s beliefs upon others. Practicing restraint in legislation will make us a better and freer country.
Understand that sound economic policy is a responsibility we have for our children and will make us better. No one likes paying taxes. But we cannot run trillion dollar deficits and fight wars that are 100% debit financed. Sound economic policy will make us a better nation, stronger internationally, and more secure for our children. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html
Respectful international dignitaries instead of gunslingers and bullies can restore our foreign image. This will make us a better country: safer and ensure our place a world leader for future generations.
Most importantly! What has always made America the BEST country is our Freedom. We must… Must stop the decay of our civil liberties. That is the heart of America. Kill it and we die. Freedom is the ideal that we always talk about. How? How can we speak of freedom all the time and yet turn a blind eye when there are obvious infringements taking place? “Those who would trade in their freedom for their protection deserve neither.” -Benjamin Franklin
We can be better. To achieve many of these ideals will not be the easy way. We may pay more for gas because we refuse to fight wars to steal resources. We may not receive tax cuts because we pursue sound economic policies. When a politician is using fear to take away one of our rights, it will be hard to say, “I would rather take that chance and be free”. But it will make us better and we will be proud to be better.
Then we can go further. We are the richest nation in the world by far. I say lets reignite the passion of invention, science and education that built this nation. We DO have the resources to emit zero emissions, to feed our hungry, to explore space, to do a million things scientist around the world are dreaming up. But we must make a choice to reallocate those resources. With the most recent hurricane in New Orleans it killed me to hear people say that we should stop wasting money on a city below sea level. This is America! We should create the greatest engineering feat ever and make that city safe!! Lets be excited! Lets do the amazing. We can!
Not all I have spoken about refer to Obama’s policies. Many are just dreams. BUT Obama’s policies are that of change and will lead us down this road. Nothing of McCains policies are nobel, new or exciting. McCain will not make this country better. He will keep us in the stagnant pool that Bush waded us into. PLEASE vote for change. Lets to the RIGHT thing. Not just for us as Americans, but for the people of the world and our future generations.
Thank you Nyco, America is the best and we will be better!
YES, we can!