John McCain has told us every day of his convention that he was a POW in Vietnam.  His biography was shown every day.  He re-stated part of it in his acceptance speech.  His rightful claim is that he is a hero because he has given his life to service to his country.  His two themes are “country first” and “service”.  The banners were everywhere.  No one would deny him salutes, honors, and congratulations over his fortitude.  Is that reason enough to elect him president?

 

We should not elect a president because he survived a POW camp.  We should elect a president because he has the wisdom to lead the nation.  There was little in his address that would lead anyone to believe he would do anything different than George W. Bush.  He says he would be different but his positions and his support by corporate lobbyists do not support that promise.  John McCain did not address a single issue with a specific solution.

 

There was nothing in his speech to tell us how he would deal with the challenges of the 21^st century with the exception of his relatively strong position on reducing our dependence on foreign oil.  That position was echoed by Barack Obama who went even further than John McCain by stating a goal of energy independence within the next decade.

 

Senator McCain’s family has a history of military service.  That goes back to at least his grandfather and has been inculcated into his sons.  This is a family that is focused on military matters.  How many times did he use the word “fight” in his acceptance speech? That could be an issue for a president.  Would he fight first and ask questions later?  Would he take us into a war with Russia over the republic of Georgia?  His support of the Iraq War without a definition of victory is an example of his support of George W. Bush.

 

Did McCain address any new technologies, global warming, and America’s decline in the eyes of the rest of the world?  No! That’s because the Republican Party is the party of the past.  John McCain wants to re-fight the Vietnam War.  He wants to sacrifice more American lives in the Iraqi civil war.  He stands at the head of a party that had only 36 Black delegates at its convention.  His focus is on helping corporate America grow even wealthier at the expense of American jobs.

 

Finally we must address John McCain’s age.  He is 72 years old.  If elected he would be the oldest person to enter this office.  His health has been an issue in the past.  The presidency has aged all of its office holders very quickly.  If he should become incapacitated Sarah Palin would become president.  E,J. Dionne aptly describes Palin as the “quintessentially political choice.” How many of us would elect her to this office?

 

Compare the acceptance speeches of Barack Obama and John McCain.  Obama’s speech was filled with detailed plans for the things he would do as president.  McCain’s speech offered no specific plans.  McCain spoke about reforming Washington without the detail.

 

The Democratic Party reflects the racial, ethnic, and religious diversity that now more reflects America.  Barack Obama is really a half breed.  His mother was White and his father a Black man from Kenya.  Barack Obama is from a one parent home. He understands the meaning of working for a living.  Obama is the bright, wise, and articulate leader we need in the White House.  Barck Obama definitely meets America’s criteria for new leadership.

 

The choice is clear. Old and stodgy or forward looking.  We need to elect Barack Obama!

Let’s be honest we are judging everything about the people running for president. What they have done in their lives, their religion, their marital relations, the color of their skin, and their age. It may not be fair but it is reality. 

Age is very important. I personally do not believe that race or religion are important at all. Apparently I am in the minority in this view. Anna Quindlen wrote about the age issue in her Newsweek column on February 4,  2008. John McCain has tried to show that he understands that this is a real issue by nominating someone of just 44 years old as his vice president. Sarah Palin does not meet John McCain’s own definition of who should be selected for vice president (someone who could step into the job on day one). Along with his statement, “Today We Are All Georgians” does call his judgment into question.  Would he take America to war over Georgia?

Anna is probably correct when she wrote that “… it ages a person in dog years. Each year in office is roughly equivalent to seven years in the life of an ordinary citizen.” Look at how haggard all the men have been after serving as president for eight years.  John McCain just turned 72 years old last week. If he should die in office Sarah Palin would become president. How many Americans would vote for Sarah Palin for president?

Being a political Independent is difficult when most of the country is taking sides in a presidential campaign.  I am still a Democrat at heart.  The one really important personal issue for me is health care.

 

John McCain is a very good man.  He has served this nation with honor.  He has considerable experience in the Federal government.  He also has taken a strong stand against universal health care.  That one issue alone is reason enough for me to oppose him.  However he has also taken positions on many other issues that are diametrically opposed to my views.  That includes abortion rights, stem cell research, ending the war in Iraq, improved international relations through negotiations, etc.

 

The issue of Barack Obama’s lack of experience is totally gone now that Sarah Palin has been selected as John McCain’s running mate.  Given McCain’s age the possibility of Palin becoming President is very real.  That lack of experience was an issue for George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and John Kennedy.  Americans made the right decision two out of three times.  35 million people watched Barack Obama last night.  Was that because he is a celebrity or did he have something to say?

 

Look at how well Barack Obama has managed his campaign.  I believe that is an indicator of how well he will do as president.  Even if I am wrong, John McCain promises nothing new.  He would continue most of the programs and ideas of the Bush presidency.  The United States cannot afford four more years of the failed Bush policies.  Perhaps Obama will not deliver on all of his promises.  There is the possibility that he will deliver on some of them.

Obviously as a poltical blogger, I watch most of the television shows discussing politics.  That means watching CNN, Fox, and MSNBC.  I also listen to many talk shows on the radio.  I always thought these ladies and gentlemen may obtain interviews with the various elected officials but they really do not know a great deal more than me about the likely outcome of any event.

 

 

The most recent evidence is John McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for Vice President.  This morning’s Los Angeles Times mimicked those talking heads in suggesting that the likely choices were Mitt Romney, Tom Ridge, Joe Lieberman, or Tim Pawlenty.  Sarah Palin wasn’t even mentioned as a long shot.  When I initially heard her name without the identification that she is the governor of Alaska I had no knowledge of her.

 

 

So why do all of us poltical nuts watch those shows?  We are all hoping to learn something about what will happen in this unbelievably complex world.  Since none of those talking heads know the real plans of John McCain or Barack Obama my ideas and opinons are just as valid as any of theirs.  Actually my opinions are better than theirs because I try to watch a listen to all of them and then reach my own conclusion.

Congratulations on your 72^nd birthday.  For a man your age and the torture you went through in Vietnam you are in remarkably good condition.  You have served our nation well and everyone honors that fact.  However, just because you were a POW and have been in the Senate for 14 years does not qualify you to be president of the United States.

 

I will not review your voting record here.  I do question your wisdom and judgment when you select a totally unknown person to be your running mate in this election.  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been in office for just two years and prior to that was the mayor of a small town that is unknown to most of America.  In addition she already has questionable record.  I am adding this interesting Alaskan perspective about Sarah Palin.

 

The job of president is extraordinarily difficult.  Given your age I would have expected you to nominate a vice president who is qualified to handle that position with ease if you become incapacitated.  Selecting a vice president is your first decision and your choice was not in the best interest of this country.  It was a political choice and not one for the good of America.  Gov. Sarah Palin is a very poor choice!

 

There are many other reasons that I could identify for not supporting you but your nomination for Vice President answers the question of my choice.

 

I am wholeheartedly supporting Barack Obama for President.

 

Of course I will be watching both political conventions.  The Democrats started theirs with a warmth that any mother would love.  The problem is that there needs to be more than motherly love to win an election.  I went to bed last night wondering if the Dems will ever get to attacking John McCain.  This morning I found this column by Paul Begala that says it all.

The most important part of Paul’s column was this, “If the Democrats do not spend the remaining days of their convention — hell, the remaining days of the campaign — in an all-out assault on the ruinous Bush-McCain policies, they will lose.”