From Where I Sit: The First Presidential Debate

I went into this debate worried that my new found excitement for my chosen candidate would be dimmed. I was not worried about Obama's skill as a debater; he was by far the most eloquent candidate this year. No, my worry was that he would rely on rhetoric and Republican bashing when what I wanted to hear was concrete, proactive plans for my country's future. And while there was some of that, it did not form the core of what he had to say. To my delight (and relief), Obama unfolded a concrete, decisive vision for the future that addressed areas of deep concern for me.

The two main areas of concern for me this election cycle are foreign policy and the economy, so I was particularly interested in what the candidates had to say in this debate.

I was looking for specifics, so I was disappointed that McCain kept things vague and relied primarily on rhetoric. Amidst all his talk about cutting taxes and federal spending, it seems that John McCain feels that the only people that the federal government should concern themselves with are those who are part of the military complex. Not that we shouldn't take care of military personal and their families and take care of veterans, but they shouldn't be the only segment of society we take care of. And his comments about health care drove me crazy. McCain is fooling himself if he thinks that medical decisions are currently being made between families and their doctors. Medical decisions are being made by insurance companies for those lucky enough to have insurance, and by poverty for those who don't.

Obama, by contrast, spelled out his intentions towards the American public. I wanted specifics; he delivered specifics. Now I'm aware he won't be able to deliver on everything, but I do believe he's moving in the right direction. He recognizes that the strength of our economy lies not with the multi-millionaires but with the middle class, and he's proposing an economic plan that puts them at the center. I nearly cheered when Obama started talking about the need to rebuild the infrastructure of our nation.

I was especially interested to hear their thoughts on foreign policy. As an American living abroad, I have to face the world's poor opinion of my country. And to me it seems blatantly obvious that this poor opinion puts all Americans at risk. After listening to both candidates, I came away with a clear idea of Obama's intent and game plan to restore our image abroad. I'm still trying to sift out McCain's positions from his nostalgic ramblings. Frankly, I was surprised by how vague McCain was on such critical matters of foreign policy and national security. Who would have believed that Obama would come across as more decisive than McCain!

I think that one of McCain's biggest mistakes in the debate was to rest on his foreign policy credentials. McCain seemed to think that a list of his credentials was good enough. Not for me it wasn't. I want specifics about what the candidates intend to do. Obama delivered, McCain did not. Instead, I got the image of a hot-shot fighter pilot. And I can't say that I want that hot-shot as our Commander-in-Chief. I prefer the candidate intent on restoring our good name.

Thank You, Senator McCain

Thank you, Senator McCain, you've helped me make up my mind. I've been vacillating about my vote for the presidency; I wasn't going to be able to vote for the person I had been hoping for and was left feeling somewhat adrift. But your recent frenetic flurry of activity has calmed my mind. I now know how I want to vote.

How I want to vote. You see, that's what has been missing for me since June. I was left with the prospect of voting purely on the issues. Dry. Blah. It wasn't that I had lost all passion for the political events that filled the news. It was that I couldn't get excited about voting. I usually face voting with anticipation, but this time around it was a duty to be faced. But now all that has changed. A fire has been kindled deep within. I eagerly await the arrival of my ballot. My choice is made, and excitement is stirring. I no longer am faced with merely voting for my party's candidate or voting for issues. I can now vote for a person. And I have you to thank for that, Senator McCain.

When my ballot arrives in a few days I will cast my vote, with all my heart and will, for Barack Obama.

Democrats, WAKE UP!!!

Democrats, please wake up and pull your heads out of your asses! You can mock Sarah Palin and small town America all you want, but at this point it's looking like the Republicans will once again win the White House. And once again, they'll win it through the mobilization of their base. That, and the Democrats once again shooting themselves in the foot.

I'm still trying to figure out if the Democrats really believed that John McCain picked Sarah Palin as a running mate to try and win Hillary Clinton supporters, or if it was just one more attempt to run Sarah Palin and John McCain down. Personally, I think McCain was a canny ol' fox who picked a running mate that would rally the base but at the same time allow him to take a jab at Obama and the Democrats. The Republicans responded to his pick with enthusiasm. The Democrats...? If it weren't for McCain's economic policy I'd be tempted to vote for a third party candidate.

Democrats, why are you giving McCain and Palin all this free publicity? Do you really think the sexist attacks against Sarah Palin will win women to your ranks? Do you think the hearts of rural and small town voters will be warmed by the sneering remarks about the size of Wasilla and the low population of Alaska? And what, pray tell, leads you to think that a voice filled with smug superiority and mocking disdain inspires confidence? These tactics will not win over the hearts and minds of the undecided. It might even turn the faithful away. They might not vote for McCain, but if they don't vote Democrat the damage will be done.

I can't speak for other voters, but I know that I would rather be a part of something that is for, rather than against. Talk about what you will do for people. Talk about what you will do for the economy. Talk about what you do for our country's failing, and falling infrastructure. You could be building a bridge to the future, but at this point your bridge is leading nowhere.

To the Democrats Shame

I had good intentions to post regularly, but I found the primaries a bit too intense. Or maybe the problem is that I cared too much. End result, a total avoidance of my blog. I'd probably still be avoiding it, but my disgust at the treatment of women during this election season has finally reached a breaking point.

The blatant sexism during the primaries was hard enough to take. I won't say that it cost Hillary the nomination, but that it played any part of a Democratic primary was shameful. The bigger shame? That the leaders of the party won't face, or deal with the reality that it isn't just conservatives that are sexist. Sexism is alive and thriving among liberals.

Any doubts I had about that were laid to rest during the aftermath of the primary. As bad as Hillary was treated, her supporters were treated worse. Her supporters were portrayed as female, and treated accordingly. Her supporters were expected to fall meekly into line, and when that didn't work they were dismissed, berated, and browbeaten. Over and over I heard people holding up the specter of Roe vs Wade overturned and contraceptives outlawed. Personally, I have a really hard time imagining a major candidate's supporters being treated this way if they were perceived to be primarily male.

I was pleased to see major concessions made for the convention. I was even pleased with Obama's VP pick, even though it wasn't the pick I hoped for and felt was needed to win in November. The convention went well, and Hillary was allowed to do what she thought would work best to bring the rest of her supporters on board. Things looked up.

Then McCain picked Sarah Palin. And now my heart is breaking.

I can handle it when it's people from the other side who are behaving badly. I might find it frustrating, but I can handle it. But when it is my family, friends...or members of my political party who are in the wrong...I find it desperately painful.

For the first few days after McCain's announcement, I saw nothing but misogyny from Democrats and other liberals and progressives. Oh, they dressed it up in issues garb, but somehow they always managed to bring her gender into it. Instead of simply addressing her positions on abortion and contraceptives, they framed it around her being a mother of five and her choice to give birth to a Down syndrome baby. You never hear people asking if male political candidates be good fathers and still fulfill their political duties. Think about it. Are Democrats wondering if Obama can do his job seeing as he's the father of two young girls? And how is her having been a beauty queen even remotely relevant? Obviously, it isn't. But it is a gender-specific way of trashing Sarah Palin. That these attacks emanated from people who champion gender equality make them all the more insupportable.

I applaud Barack Obama and his insistence that the pregnancy of Sarah Palin's daughter should be off-limits, but he needs to go further. He needs to caution Democrats against any attack directed at Sarah Palin that isn't based solely on her record and on her views.
It isn't like her views don't leave plenty of room for criticism.

If the gendered attacks on Sarah Palin continue, I know I won't be the only person at risk for becoming completely disgusted with the Democratic Party. Especially on top of the primary and post-primary season. I think what has been hardest for me is discovering that there actually isn't a whole lot of difference between conservatives and liberals in their attitudes towards women. They both expect women to stay in line. The difference is merely in where they draw the line.