Pre-Election Summary

I haven't written much on here since the middle of summer. There are many reasons, most prominently work and life have kept me hopping.

Many have been the times that I have read an article, and saved it with the intention of linking to it and commenting on it as I have done in the past. Alas, as you have seen, few of those intentions have been followed through upon for the past 5 months.

Now, I find myself just days away from the presidential election. I have so much pent up inside that I want to expound on. But, tomorrow morning I leave for an "exercise" that will have me away from home for nearly 2 weeks, and I still have much to do before I can get a few short hours of sleep before departing.

But, I can't let these last few hours before the election slip away without one last comment on what the stakes are for our republic on Election Day.

Simply put, neither of the two main-stream candidates thrill me. They are both flawed. Neither, in my opinion, possesses the experience that would conclusively show he was a worthy chief executive. The Presidency should not be an entry-level job for those seeking to lead. This is slightly mitigated by Senator McCain's career in the military, as a naval aviator. He learned how to lead, and for over 20 years in uniform, he lead in a number of jobs, at a number of levels. In my mind, this isn't nearly as good as having been a large-city Mayor or Governor. But, it remains far more than his opponent has done.

First-term Senator Obama has scant little experience in life, much less leadership. He touts his "community organizing" as experience, but if you dig into it, he wasn't even particularly successful at this. He served in the State Senate of Illinois, with the backing of several influential people, and the fund raising support of one who is now convicted of fraud. He's also been supported by a demonstratively racist and volatile preacher (who Obama only denounced when it got too hot for him otherwise) and an un-repentant domestic terrorist-turned-educator. As my mother always said, "you are known by the company you keep".

Obama is eloquent and motivating. But, anyone can say anything, and used-car salesmen and other con-men can make you believe any lie with their gift of gab. There is little real meat on Obama's record (due to lack of experience), but what is there points to his extreme liberal beliefs. Indeed, he is the most liberal Senator in the Senate, even more so than the avowed Socialist, Senator Sanders. My mother also used to say "you are known by your deeds".

Senator Obama's record on 2nd Amendment issues is abysmal. He is the single largest threat to honest American Citizens on this issue. His voting record clearly shows that he doesn't trust the average law-abiding citizen to own firearms. I can't get past the simple question: "why should we trust someone with the power of the Presidency if he doesn't trust us to have weapons?" As my mother would also say, "trust is a two-way street".

I've had real problems over the years with Senator McCain's position on a number of issues. The "campaign finance reform" bill he co-sponsored a number of years ago is horrible, and clearly violates the First Amendment. I think it is fair to argue that it has helped lead to increased corruption and less transparency. Not good things. He's also been on the wrong side of some 2nd Amendment issues, in my opinion, and not always the friend to the military that one might expect.

Change. It seems that so many people have believed the endless stream of anti-George Bush diatribes, half-truths and lies for the past 8 years that they believe wholesale change is required in our nation. Really? Regardless of the outcome of the election, George Bush is gone. What is so fundamentally wrong with our nation and society that we need wholesale, un-defined "change"? Is it the still-low unemployment? Is it the best medical care available in the world? Is it the opportunity for nearly anyone to go to college? Is it the tax code, that while horribly complex, has proven to bring in more taxes to our government when it is lowered than when it is raised? Perhaps it is the standard of living that is the envy of most of the world?

George Bush gets slammed with many of the temporary ills of our nations, yet most if not all were the result of congressional action, inaction or political-maneuvering.

• Patriot Act? Congress voted to approve and re-authorize.
• War in Iraq? Congress approved, and has repeatedly funded (and during Clinton's administration, approved a resolution for "regime change" in Iraq, and many of Bush's detractors were on record stating definitively that Sadam had Weapons of Mass Destruction.)
• "Domestic Spying" and Guantamo Bay? Both approved and funded by the congress.
• Mortgage Meltdown? President Bush warned us a year ago, and the Democratic-controlled congress accused him of "fear mongering". Not only that, some Republicans (including Senator McCain) tried to tighten regulations on the industry, but were blocked by Democrats, most notably Rep. Barney Frank, who was romantically entwined with the Freddie Mac chairman at the time.
• Government spending? Sure, the president has been a disappointment in this area, but it is still the congress that approves budgets, the President only proposes them.

Since 2006, both houses of Congress have been controlled by the Democratic party. Most of the ills (real and perceived) in our nation should be laid squarely at their feet. Yet, it is the combination of an under-educated populace when it comes to our civic structures, and their being ill-informed by the mainstream media, that combines to lay the blame on George W. Bush and by extension his political party. I guess it is the perfect storm!

On the other hand, I believe that McCain's selection of Governor Palin for running mate was inspired. She brings actual "chief executive" experience to the ticket (something Senator Joe-I've-been-in-the-Senate-since-I-was-29-Biden, like his running-mate Obama, doesn't have). She is an "outsider" to Washington, and while perhaps short on foreign policy experience, is long on common sense, conservative values and credibility. As an aside, I've watched with amusement all the liberal NOW types falling all over themselves that a woman would be on the conservative ticket, not the liberal one! For those who hold electing a woman to be President to be the #1 priority, then the Republican ticket is the one... there is a statistically much greater chance that she would have to serve out McCain's term, and thus be the first woman president.

And that reminds me. Racism (or its cousin Sexism). Hillary tried to make the point that voting against her was sexist. Obama and his surrogates have made the point that not supporting him is racist (or if he loses, it is because America is still racist)....

But my dictionary tells me that "Racism" is "the notion that one's own ethnic stock is superior." In normal usage, it connotes the idea that one chooses to hire or not hire, befriend or not befriend, support or not support someone or something because of their race. Yet, for those who are choosing to vote for Obama solely because of his race... is this not also "racism"? I don't see how we have gotten away from "racism" in America. We've merely shifted the players.

Evidence of this "racism" comes in many fashions. One of the most stark is this, however: The black population of America overwhelmingly is against Abortion, and is overwhelmingly against homosexual "marriage". Yet both of these two things are enthusiastically supported by Senator Obama, and the black population overwhelmingly supports him as their champion. What, other than "Racism", in this case prejudice for a particular race, can account for that?

I read a comment today from one fellow who said "I'm worried that Obama will raise my taxes. But, I'm worried that McCain will start wars. Both have positives and negatives for me, and people like me." From my perspective, I think it is an absolute certainty that Obama will raise taxes. On the other hand, I believe that McCain will only send Americans to war if it is necessarily. Few that have worn this nation's uniform would whimsically send our servicemen into harms way, so I don't worry about that facet of his personality. I believe he is simply signaling to our friends and foes alike, that war must not be taken off the table as an option (not the first option). To preclude any option in negotiation is naive at best.

In a discussion the other day, a fellow much smarter than I, commented that when it comes to dictators, there are two flavors: those that are "benevolent dictators". They are all about the power, but unless you threaten them, they are likely to pretty much leave you alone. The other flavor is the "true believer". He isn't only concerned with power, but with anyone who disagrees with him. He will ruthlessly seek to convert or silence all those who don't agree with him, and make it very hard for any dissenting voices to be raised. There are some examples in history: Hitler, Stalin, Mao. My smart colleague stated that he believed Obama to be a "true believer" as well.

I started this posting by saying that I have problems with both candidates, and I've just laid out some of my concerns. I am not nearly as excited about this election as I was with Reagan, or the Bushes. That is probably why only today I mailed my Absentee Ballot.

For me, my choice came down to the lesser of two evils. Or, more precisely, it came down to voting against the candidate that I feared would do the most harm if elected to office. Senator John McCain is a flawed candidate. He has a host of negatives to his potential presidency. His running mate at least has some executive experience, but is otherwise fairly untested. Still, these negatives fail to come close to the negatives that an Obama/Biden presidency would have.

So many Americans seem to be not just supportive of an Obama Presidency, but nearly hypnotized by the Obama campaign. So many people seem to be ready to vote diametrically opposed to their own self-interest... I can only assume it is because they have been completely manipulated by the Obama campaign and a supportive media.

Any American who has honestly and dispassionately, looked at the issues, the voting records and the behind-the-spin statements of the candidates has my respect, regardless of whom they vote for. They are exercising both the right, and the responsibility inherent in the privilege of voting. Those who vote for one or the other candidate based on knee-jerk reactions, blind adherence to the endorsement of others, racism, sexism, or hatred of the outgoing administration will earn my scorn, and I would hope the scorn of all who truly care about our nation, and our future.

Be careful and thoughtful, America. Our future very much depends on getting this one right.

CP