Politics: September 2008 Archives

You know, I feel bad for Sarah Palin. Understand, I'm sure that she really has no use for gay people. Hell, she probably has little use for people who are "different" in any way. I am trying not to stereotype people in an isolated state such as Alaska. And I really should give people in states that I would call "backwards" the benefit of the doubt. But quite honestly, it has been my experience that people who spend their entire lives in isolated areas are very bigoted and narrow minded in their views. They don't like "different" and they are threatened by anyone not like them.

A lot has been written about Palin of course. One of the most absurd things to come out is how "gay friendly" she is. She vetoed a bill that would have stripped health benefits from the spouses of state employed gay couples. So I hear stories about how open minded and fair she is because, according to her, she has lots of "gay friends". But if you dig deeper into the story, you find out what really happened. The state supreme court ruled that the bill was unconstitutional under state law because it singled out a specific group. So it's true that Palin did in fact veto the bill, after the state attorney general informed her that the bill was unconstitutional. She then turned around when it was convenient (such as now) to show how fair she can be by vetoing an unfair bill, when in fact she had no choice in the matter.

But beyond all of that, I honestly have no interest in seeing this woman disgraced and humiliated because she happened to be asked by John McCain to be Vice President. After all, I'm absolutely certain that the woman had no clue about what she was in for, and how her life would be torn upside down by the media. And now, with politicians of the past saying anything and everything to get elected, today there are fact finders who check out everything you say to validate how truthful the statements are.

The Vice Presidential debate next Thursday could be painful to watch. My hope is that Joe Biden will say what needs to be said, but not chew her up and spit her out. I don't think it's necessary for that to happen to make the point that this candidate is way over her head. Even McCain's camp is worried about her.

Capitol Hill sources are telling me that senior McCain people are more than concerned about Palin.

The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as "disastrous." One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, "What are we going to do?" The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is "clueless." (source)

Rather sad really. I have a feeling that they are just going to abandon her. A good thing for the Obama/Biden ticket, and it shows a complete lack of judgement on John McCain's part. But I will go away with a rather empty feeling after it's all said and done. I suppose that's politics.

I watched the first presidential debate last night on TV. Kent was tired so he went to bed early. No worry, I recorded it and he is watching the debate now.

A few of my thoughts on the debate, in no particular order......

1) McCain needs to stop smiling so much because he's got this grimace that comes through his smile. It's as if he's smiling to keep from tearing someones head off.

2) Am I the only one who hears George W. Bush talk when McCain keeps on rehashing the same old crap that we've lived with for the last 8 years under President Moron Bush?

3) Obama is full of new ideas that excite me. He talks about ... us. McCain talks about OIL and OIL companies. News flash! If we don't turn our dependency on oil around, the future of this country (and the planet) are doomed.

4) Don't wear a striped tie on television. It's very distracting because the cameras don't render it well. I spent half the time looking at the stripes on McCain's tie and how the microphone kept moving across the stripes in his tie.

5) Obama had a lovely crimson colored waffle print tie.

6) "Tom... er... John mentioned me being wildly liberal. Mostly that's just me opposing the wrong headed views of George W. Bush Administration." - Barack Obama

7) Obama totally held his own on foreign policy against McCain (McCain's strong suit).

I thought the polling data presented after the debate was very interesting. From a sample of uncommitted voters, after the debate, 46% had a better opinion of Barack Obama than they did before the debate!

Can't wait for the Vice Presidential debate. Now that will be interesting.

Kent sent me this link this afternoon concerning Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. You have to see it!