Forgive Me

I know talking politics is the conversation of all conversations to end friendships and make people mad at you. BUT (I know, dangerous) I'm brimming with opinions and information that I must expunge from my insides and get out. I have been watching the candidates this season, as I think this is one of the most historically important presidential races I've ever seen or been able to vote in-- not really because of the candidates, but because of the time we are in and the issues and problems we face. It's a time when I think people are unusually aware what we do right now matters. We see need, we see job loss, we see warfare, we see danger, we see terrorism, we see disasters -- a lot of real threats that were considerably smaller and more removed from the population during previous elections. And, just to clarify, I do usually vote in local and other elections. It's not that I suddenly thought I should care about voting. I just have a remarkably heightened interest in the issues, policies and candidates for this election.

I can't help but listen. I also can't help that I am brimming over at the moment with outrage, excitement, fear and suspense to see how it all is playing out. My brimming has driven me to blog. Before I rant, I would like you all to know -- I am a lover of dissenting opinions and I hope you likewise won't love me any less should I not support yours.

I just got off the phone with Ben and he accused me of having "negative energy" towards McCain. I was taken aback by his accusation. But, as happens on occasion, he's right. The man (McCain, not Ben)really makes me uncomfortable. What can I say? I think he's an unpredictable maverick -- which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing, really - who has sold out his vote since 2005 to vie for the support of the Republicans (I AM sure that end part is a bad thing). I looked over his voting record and one of my favorite examples of his fair weather independence was the Bush tax breaks for the rich. McCain voted against them in 2003, voted for them in 2006 and now says he doesn't agree with them but says they must be kept. How does that make sense? I think it's also interesting that he voted not to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in 2005 and now has it as a main campaign policy issue that he WANTS to open it up for drilling. This does not make sense to me either . But it does help me understand why he picked Palin as his vice president, as she and her husband are from Alaska and her husband works for BP, won the TESORO snowmobile race 4 times and was sponsored by "SEVERAL" oil companies for racing each year -- a man with connections. If I liked oil like Bush, and now McCain, I'd pick her too. And I still fail to see why his POW experience, while nothing to mock or make light of (sincerely nothing but respect and remorse for that), helps qualify him to be president. I just get confused why they mention it in every news article and interview like he did something politically influential with that. It's a tragedy, and should draw into question his mental stability and possible residual trauma he may have. It's not a presidential resume piece.

Palin-- well, she's a whole 'nother ball game. I was surprised by the Republican stunt show to lash out at the media for daring to question whether or not McCain's people looked into her background. Why is that not a legitimate concern? Should motives for picking a vice presidential candidate really be of no concern to anybody? Of course they shouldn't be. That's silly. (Please, read as being heavily laced with sarcasm) And other issues: the woman just had a son with down syndrome, and has a pregnant teenage daughter. Maybe I'm the only one to think this way, but here's how I see it: the woman is a mother with a down-syndrome INFANT who is likely to demand a lot of care. She has a grandchild on the way with a daughter not capable of caring for the child on her own and an obvious track record for bad judgement (on at least one occasion). These seem to me to be good, sound reasons to question if a demanding public career as the Vice President of the United States is the most important thing to do right now. It's not that she should be banished for having family issues or that she's a bad mom. But might she need to afford her family some of her time to deal with and take care of these things? She has a freaking baby with DOWN SYNDROME! Oh, sorry, I already mentioned that. But of course, what am I thinking? It sounds like a great time to take on Washington and battle pork barrel spending (yes, I'm being sarcastic again). Family, shmamily. If she was a Democratic candidate, the Republicans would be having a field day with this mess. I'm not a Republican or a Democrat, but I'M having a field day with this mess. I think it's absolutely absurd. After that, it merely adds to the absurdity that she has virtually no political experience. But she IS from Alaska, where there's oil -- AND where her sky high approval ratings come from a population that already pays no state taxes and to whom she just gave extra $1000 rebates for everyone. Tell me again why she's a good vice presidential pick? Oh right, her husband's connections. And because you shouldn't judge her because of the scandals that keep popping up. I forget.

On the other side of things, I have significantly less negative energy:

I like Obama. I like that Obama wants to put deadlines for leaving Iraq, like being completely out by 2013. I think that's a reasonable exit strategy rather than an abandoning strategy, which is the reputation I think it gets. And I like it much better than the Republican stance that we can't put a time table on leaving -- despite the fact Iraq has asked us to "hurry up and get out", without mincing too many words. But we're there for them, of course. And that's why we're staying, even if they don't want us to. It's not the oil. (Yes, you got it. More sarcasm.). I like that Obama wants to provide debt forgiveness for families who are going into bankruptcy because of unavoidable medical bills. I like that he wants to raise minimum wage and has voted for minimum wage increases. I like that his foreign policy views are more towards promoting conversation with foreign nations rather than what our recent foreign policy has been which is to not talk and then threaten. And I like that Obama supports renewable energy funding bills and talks about electric cars, as opposed to McCain who voted to defund those bills and who supports hydrogen fuel cell technology which is 15 to 20 years out from being viable, and has been 15 to 20 years out from being viable for the last 15 to 20 years (and will perpetually be 15 to 20 years out from being viable). In regards to Biden, I don't know as much. He doesn't seem to be riddled with nearly as much scandal as Palin, but I'll do research to see what I think. And I promise not to blog about it as this tirade will be enough political jargon to appease my bursting at the seams. (And I'm willing to bet you were done after my 2nd paragraph. Is anyone reading this far into this blog entry? No? I didn't think so.).

I know a lot of Republicans. I live in Utah, so that's expected. I'm also Mormon, so it's even more expected. And I am still surprised sometimes to hear such adamant support and approval for the Republican candidates. I know, silly. I'm just a little nutty like that. But I still am surprised. Admittedly, I'm not sure that I love Obama. But do I have to? No politician can offer everything they promise, and they've all been bought out to some degree. It seems standard par for the presidential race course that I must always try to pick the lesser of two evils. And I know Obama carries the mark of a Democrat, which is generally accepted as evil. But really, aren't there worse crimes? Like lying about why you're leading a nation into war, or being the man who agrees and adamantly supports all policies and decisions of the man who lied about why he led a nation to war? Of course, that's not the only reason I dislike Bush. But I don't NEED to tell you why I dislike Bush. If you read, watch tv, or ever get out of the house, I'm sure you've heard a thing or two, if not from his enemies then straight from the dim bulb himself. And maybe Obama can't deliver all the change he promises. But he promises not to agree with Bush. I REALLY like that. And I can't say as much for McCain. He touts being a maverick, but I really think he just became a nonmaverick as soon as went for getting the Republican nomination, so he doesn't have that to stand on anymore.

After 8 years of Bush, and with the platforms I've seen these candidates running on, I'd rather risk the nation's next four years on the less experienced Democrat than the bought-out Republican maverick. I just can't help it. And I can't help but tell you why I can't help it. It seems so obvious to me. The sheer outrage of it all! Why does everyone not see things like I do?!?! (Again, I'm being sarcastic there. But really, in my heart of hearts, only half sarcastic this time. Or a quarter sarcastic. NO --- half.:))

Note -- the info I researched on the candidates about their past records was mostly found on a nonpartisan website called ontheissues.org, though I also visited both of the candidates sites and regularly peruse news articles from the NY Times, Washington Post and a few other papers, and have watched some interviews. Of course, none of it it is completely impartial, as I believe no American media information is-- but it's as impartial as I could find.

Note #2 -- even if the material I read may have succeeded in being impartial, I do realize, and you should to, that I do not succeed in being impartial in most things. But I'm sure that was obvious. Never mind. I don't need to tell you that.

Another note -- one of the most politically maddening, but fascinating documentary movies I have watched recently was called, "Who Killed The Electric Car". The movie is definitely not politically neutral, but it really does present you with some interesting information. And it was influential in turning me from politically semi-interested to brimming with curiosity enough to start really paying attention. I highly recommend the movie to all, whether you lean Republican or Democrat.

Anyhow, that's it. So you have permission to hate it all, if in fact you've even read this far. You may ignore it. You may prove me wrong and tell me what's what. But could you still love me anyway? Please? I'm a people pleaser/peace keeper kind of person like that. And I'd really like you not to hate me for above-mentioned scandalous political statements. I'm really sorry about all this tirade stuff. Really. Kinda. But not totally.

In any case, I'm done now.