Government Dirt

By Jo Davidson

8 Years ago, I watched the election process and felt these burning sensations in my gut that Americans were choosing the wrong president. I cried when Bush was voted in. Everything in my whole being shouted, THIS IS THE WRONG DIRECTION.

I wasn't the only one who felt that way. But we were right.

Now I am feeling those same feelings all over again as I watch McCain/ Palin.

Barack Obama inspires me. He hits the issues hard. I am not naive enough to think that any one president can make every change happen that they would like to, nor am I foolish enough to think any President will make all the right decisions. But I believe he is on the right track. When he talks about change, when he addresses issues, I feel inspired.

I was as shocked as everyone else when McCain chose Sarah Palin to be his vice president. After watching the Republican convention which was very light on the issues and heavy on personality, I felt even stronger about my decision to vote for Barack Obama.

From what I have seen and heard, McCain's policies are more of Bush/Cheney land.

Sarah Palin's views are far too extreme, and her experience is far too limited for her to be "a heartbeat away from being the President." She is charming, interesting, she seems tough and manipulative. I love her sass. That appeals to me. She has a rebellious streak. She is trying to carve out this image of herself as frontier woman meets hockey mom.

While she may be many of those things, and while I like some things about her, she is most definately not qualified to be in the White House.

Her religious connection are pretty extreme. This is some information on the church she attended until 2002.

She asked people at Wasilla Assembly of God to pray about building a gas pipeline through Alaska."I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

"Currently, two large natural gas pipelines are under consideration for development in the Arctic region: a Mackenzie Delta pipeline in Canada and an Alaska pipeline, both of which are large, expensive construction projects. It is expected that 6 years will be required to permit, license, design, construct, and open the Mackenzie pipeline and 9 years will be required to do the same for the Alaska pipeline. A number of factors could delay completion of the projects beyond 2030, however, including: higher than- expected construction costs that would make the pipelines unprofitable throughout the projection period; higher-than-expected State and Provincial taxes and royalties on natural gas production; environmental concerns requiring expensive remediation; delays in regulatory approval and permitting; and difficulties in addressing the concerns of native peoples whose lands are crossed by the pipelines. Accordingly, the limited natural gas supply case assumes that neither pipeline will be opened before 2030."

Barack Obama proposed taxing the record multi billion dollar profits of oil companies and using some of that money to pay for a $1000 middle class tax cut that would go to 95% of families.

Is drilling a REAL solution? No.

Barack Obama wants to invest money into energy efficient cars.

This is one small simple thing, but as we all know, the small simple things make big differences. He says that if everybody would inflate their tires to the proper levels, we would save more oil than John McCain would get from drilling. Then the Republicans make fun of a step that every expert says would absolutely reduce our oil consumption by 3-4%. It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant! They think it's funny that they are making fun of something that is actually true.

Sarah Palin does not believe that in cases of rape or incest, a woman has the right to choose. That is horrific. And while she has that belief based on the belief that murder is wrong, she has no problem with killing innocent animals in cruel ways or going to war in which thousands of innocent people are murdered. In fact, ask her about Iraq and she sounds like she has no idea of what to do about the situation.

It is shocking that some people will vote for her on the abortion issue alone, when that issue has already been decided. Women do have the choice.

When McCain ran for office in 2000 and his character was brutally attacked by the Republican party, he said:

"Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and a few leaders of the pro-life movement call me an unacceptable presidential candidate. Why? Because I don’t pander to them...

We embrace the fine members of the religious conservative community. But that does not mean that we will pander to their self-appointed leaders.

[These leaders] are corrupting influences on religion and politics. They shame our faith, our party and our country.

Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Robertson or Falwell on the right." Source: Speech in Virginia Beach, VA Feb 28, 2000

So isn't it interesting that now he is doing the very thing he spoke against.

Where is the real John McCain?

The Republican party is once again trying to fool people into believing they are more spiritual, more in touch with true Americans. You can be sure that if a democratic candidate's daughter got pregnant at age 17, we would be hearing all about the corruption of morals. If she was at all encouraged to get married to he father (boy) who was cussing and swearing all over his myspace page, claiming "I don't want kids," we would be wondering why anyone wasn't stopping the craziness. You can be sure that if a female democratic candidate went back to work only 3 days after her baby was born, we would be hearing about the destruction of family values.

But spin is everything, baby!

Cindy McCain is worth well over $100 million. The McCain's have a private jet and several huge homes.

George and Laura Bush could still be worth as much as $20 million according to financial documents filed with the Office of Government Ethics.

Vice President Cheney and his wife Lynne, have reported assets of at least $21 million and as much as $99 million.

Yeah just your average Americans, in touch with what "The People" go through.

How lucky for the Republican party that Bush was not at the convention. For if Bush would have been there in person, we would have all been reminded that in voting for McCain, we would be voting for more of Bush's failed policies.

Sarah Palin is a distraction from that truth.

As for taxes, According to the non partisan Tax Policy Center’s computations, “under Mr. Obama’s plan, the middle of the middle class, or those earning $37,595 to $66,354, would see taxes cut by $1,042 a year. Under Mr. McCain’s plan, taxes for people in that category would also fall, but by $319; the largest chunk of the benefits would go to those making $2.8 million a year or more.”
[New York Times, 6/13/08]

At first I thought McCain was out of his mind for bringing Sarah Palin onto his ticket. Now I think it was a wise decision. Wise if he wants to win votes, dangerous if she were to become President. Many people will like her personality and get swept up in that. She gave the Republican party some excitement and energy. The only problem is that it has not changed the fact that McCain/ Palin is NOT offering up anything new.

I am voting for the candidate that most inspires me, the one who I believe wants to make changes happen. That candidate is Barack Obama. .

McCain/ Palin = new personalities, same old policies.