What Is Up With Politics Today?

I’ve calmed down now (see other hyperactive post).  As I have mentioned before, McCain needed a woman on the ticket to win.  Now that he has picked a woman, a woman younger than Obama and ‘new’ to politics, he has won the election.  Putting politics aside (because really, who cares about politics in an election) Obama was the ‘change’ ticket…he was young, not part of the establishment, and had the potential to be a White House ‘first’.  Obama and his fans portrayed McCain as antiquated and one of the good ol’ boys who would bring nothing new.  WELL.  Now McCain has his own ‘first’ on the ticket - Palin is younger than Obama and she has only been in politics for two years so she brings change.

I know, all good and well but that doesn’t mean McCain will win.  BUT here’s what will do it.  A lot of people don’t like change.  Why do you think only white men have made it onto a national ticket up till now?  Because people like things to stay the same…or at least to change slowly.  That is why McCain will win…he’s going to let people feel safe and progressive all at the same time.   They’ll get to keep their white guy and feel like they’ve moved the country forward by getting a chick in the White House. 

Brilliant strategy.

PS

This is not an endorsement of Mccain just a prediction ;) 

Oh MY!  I’m so excited I can hardly believe it.  I said in a previous post that he should if he wanted to win but I never thought in a bazillion years he’d do it! OMG!  AND one of the people who commented on that post even called it!  According to this report he will announce that his Vice President will be the Alaskan governor Sarah Palin.

 WOW!  I can’t wait till it is official :)  Oh happy day!  I swear this is going to be THE most interesting election ever….:::happy dance:::

All those folks that said a Libertarian couldn’t win were WRONG!  Of course he is winning by default, because none of the other candidates submitted their paperwork by the deadline.  How funny is that??  Texas has 32 electoral votes and they all belong to Barr.  Wow…sounds like he might be worth voting for in some of the other states, now…huh?  I know, I know…it’s a technicality and the Red and Blue parties will flip their collective lids and get their candidates’ name on the list I’m sure.

Why am I sure?  Well as for the Democrats I have two words….Michigan Florida.  If they can’t abide by their own self imposed rules there is no way on this green and blue ball that they are going to stand by because of someone elses rules.  Puhlease.  As for the Republicans….after the Dems make a fuss they will soon follow suit b/c they won’t want to be left out of all the fun.

Actually kind of ticks me off….as I said about the Michigan and Florida fiasco, rules are rules….and people who want to RULE our country should at least be able to abide by them.

Idealistic of me, I know.

Here is the blog for Barr that has the story and here is the Texas website that shows Barr winning.

Anyone want to take bets on how long it will take the two big boys to get their respective names on the ballot?

I was just listening to the key note speaker for tonight at the DNC and that phrase kept running through my head.  I try to keep this blog kind of clean so as not to unduly offend anyone but geesh there is only so much bs I can listen to before my profanity filter shuts down.  By STFU I mean stop talking in sound bites.  If I hear one more person say one more inane thing instead of giving me direct answers I’m changing my party affiliation to FU.  Seriously, Michelle Obama was bad but the guy (some governor I’m not sure which) tonight sent me over the edge. 

A few examples:

We want a president who believes in science.  Uhm….is there a candidate out there that doesn’t?

We will end our dependency on foreign oil and have cars that get 100mpg and end global warming.

Really?  And how does the great Obama plan on doing all of these marvelous things??  Anyone?  Tell me EXACTLY how he plans on ending our dependency on foreign oil?  Drilling in the gulf? Raising the tax on oil and gas? Rationing?  WHAT?!  What is this fabulous freaking plan that is going to immediately solve all of our problems?

With Obama we will be first in the world again and rally the nations against terrorism….uh, you don’t say.  And how,  exactly, does he plan to do this?  What are his EXACT foreign policy plans?

I stopped listening because my blood pressure was going up and I didn’t want to feel the need to become violent…  I really wish the politicians would stop pandering to the people who just want to hear ‘don’t worry we’ll fix everything’ and start saying something to people like me who want facts/proof/a vague notion of a plan.

Anyone else want the politicians to STFU and start saying something that matters?

I watched the Michelle Obama speech (which you’ll find below if you haven’t had the uhm..pleasure) and the conclusion I’ve come to is that she has a GREAT speech writer.  Unfortunately her delivery didn’t do it for me.  There were many powerful statements and moments within the speech, or there would have been if it had been given by a better orator… she sounded like someone delivering lines in a political movie, badly.   I’ve tried to find out who her writer is, but haven’t been able to (if you know, please tell me).  If she DID write it then I’m much more impressed and can forgive the less than stellar delivery.

As a teacher, and now as a parent, I have always tried to instill cause and effect…action and consequence into children.  This bit of political BS has pissed me off beyond belief.  It teaches our children (and verifies for some adults) that if you whine and pout enough rules will be changed for you.  The Democratic National Committee made the rules and now they are saying no, no…it’s ok…even though you broke the rules we aren’t going to punish you. 

I suppose this irks me so much because the consequences wouldn’t have even mattered (Hillary already caved and it’s not like Obama needs the delegates).  It is the principle of the thing.  How can we be a nation of standards and truth and justice etc…and then in our own political process toss the rules when they are no longer convenient?  When they upset someone?

Yet another reason to be profoundly disappointed in our current political process.  Sometimes I understand why the rest of the world hates us.  Really, we can’t follow our own rules and yet we want to tell the rest of the world how to live?  Pot, let me introduce you to kettle.

Now, now…keep your minds on politics people.  I’m talking about what he needs to win the White House.  You know that all of the Hillary fanatics (yes, I know she was a good candidate but still a lot of her appeal was the idea of a woman in the White House) will flock to McCain if he picks a female running mate.  Especially now that Obama has picked an old white guy ;)  It would show the McCain wants change just as much Obama and would take the ‘change’ wind out of the Obama campaign…doesn’t pack the same punch when both sides can claim historic significance if they win.Part of me thinks McCain waited for Obama to make his call so he could pick a chick if Obama didn’t and figure out another strategy if he did.  Previously I’d said both of them were going to go for old white guys…now that Obama has proven me partially right (for all the reasons I listed, I’d like to add….even if I am a bit disappointed in being right) I’m changing my prediction.I think if McCain wants to win (and we’ll assume that’s why he’s in this race) he’s going to pick a chick.Have any preferences as to who that chick is?

Well I was off about the age…I said 50s this guy is in his 60s but ultimately I got the old white guy part right on the nose.  I am actually somewhat upset with Obama…I was hoping all of his talk about change might mean he was going to get completely away from old white men in the White House.  Ah well.  Maybe this will prompt McCain to fight dirty and pick a chick for his running mate…swipe all the Hillary supporters and get him in the White House.  A friend of mine suggested Connie Rice for McCain, I hadn’t really thought much about her but she wouldn’t be a horrible choice.  Other than that would tie McCain in with the Bush administration in peoples minds…which he probably wants to avoid.  Any thoughts, dear readers?Joe Biden…hmph.  Change indeed…..maybe the press has it wrong and it’s all a big joke.  I’ll wake up tomorrow and a chick will be his running mate :) 

Obama has picked his running mate but he’s not telling us who it is.  What?! Why in the name of hopping  pink bunnies would you tell us that you know who but you’re not going to tell us who?   What is that?  Is that Obamas’ way of trying to piss everyone off or is he being cute, or is he an idiot and totally clueless that this will outrage ME. (and of course this is all about ME and my need to know everything now.) I mean really.  He is even quoted as having said “Wouldn’t you like to know?” when asked about his choice.  Honestly, he’s a man and he should know that no one likes a tease.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives has a new book titled Know Your Power.  It is described as being a memoir and a guide for success in the 21^st century.  You can listen to an interview about her with some nifty information here or read an interview with her here.

A lot was said about Hilary Clinton possibly being the first woman president but not much has been said about Pelosi being made the first speaker of the House since it happened.  I guess because President is the next step…hmm Pelosi might bake a good Veep for Obama now that I think about it. 

At any rate I like listening to Pelosi and I am looking forward to reading the book.  Have you read it and if so did you like it?  If you haven’t read it do you think you’ll buy it?  OH and do you think she’d make a good veep….any ideas as to why her name hasn’t been floated around?