Hey mister can you give me some change?
So now we've had the two major party conventions and we're gearing up for the final show-down. I honestly didn't want to talk about politics other than direct discussion of issues. However this wouldn't be a blog without the author's whiny opinion so I'll give mine. ("But Chris" you say, "this is the anti-blog" ... okay fine, I'll try to limit the whining).
Now I know that the president doesn't really have as much power as people believe he does. However for better or worse president Bush has definitely given the office much more power than it used to have and so I think we should be careful who we put there. And by "careful" I mean sincerely voting on the issues you find important. Not because someone has an R or a D after their name. This "my team" before my country business has got to stop. Seriously people ... think for yourselves. If you want to pray to God and ask him who to vote for ... do it .. .but don't vote a certain way because that's what your pastor wants. Don't vote a certain way because that's what your grandma, or your spouse ... or your dog wants. Don't vote how your employer wants you to vote. Heck don't vote how I want you to vote. Your vote is yours, don't throw it away because some politician says that if you don't vote for their team that the terrorists will win or the economy will crash and everyone will be out of work. Don't throw it away for a union, a church, a company, a blog (or an anti-blog) or apathy. Seriously, suck it up, vote and do it because its who you truly believe is the best person for the job.
Now to do that. You have to be informed. So here is your Anti-Blog report on the candidates:
Barack Obama
Democratic nominee. Has a funny name. No he's not a Muslim and anyone who says otherwise is trying to get you to throw your vote away. Obama is somewhat removed from Washington politics but he's smack in the middle of Chicago politics so its questionable if that's much better. Obama is charasmatic and he's a good speaker. He's certainly got the younger crowd.
The Good: he's a good speaker. He can energize people. He wants to get the US off foreign oil and he seems to have some pretty good ideas on how to do that (in my opinion of course). He is going to cut taxes for most people and small businesses.
The bad: he was against domestic drilling and now he's for it. He hasn't said much about corn subsidies which are driving up food prices. He doesn't have much national experience. He's for a windfall profits tax on oil companies. (bad because it will drive prices up).
Joe Biden
Dem VP pick. He's been in Washington for more than 30 years. His first wife and daughter were killed in an accident just before he took his Senate seat. He commutes home everyday. His son is the attorney general in New Hampshire and is also a Captain in the US Army who will deploy to Iraq in October.
The Good: He's got a lot of foreign policy experience. He can also relate to McCain's generation and help the ticket in swing states. He's a family guy. He's been known to stand up to special interests.
The Bad: He might still be too much of an insider. He's been known to say some racially divisive things about Obama himself. He's from the North East which might now play well in the South.
John McCain
McCain is the GOP nominee. He was in the Airforce in Vietnam and was shot-down and held as a POW for 5-years. He's from Arizona and has been in the senate for a number of years.
The Good: Known as a maverick who has gone against his party on several issues. He's for stem-cell research and has been against drilling in ANWR. He wants to reduce earmarks in laws. He also was a co-sponser of campaign finance reform. He's also known as someone who works across party lines.
The Bad: Supports the Iraq war (okay you can claim that's good, whatever). Often confuses Sunni and Shiite arabs. Was involved in the savings and loan scandel in the late 80s. Has voted for Bush's policies about 95% of the time. Apparently is now for drilling. Doesn't have a comprehensive plan for getting away from oil.
Sarah Palin
And finally we have Palin. Look I know that politicians "stretch the truth" about their records, about what they've accomplished, etc. However most of them do not outright lie. Seriously, go google "Sarah Palin fact check". Palin is the governor of Alaska. Before that was the mayor of a small town. Apparently McCain is giving up the experience angle.
The Good: ... she's kind of hot ... um and that's about it.
The Bad: Lots. Believes creationism should be taught in school. Against all abortion even when the woman's life is in danger. Several scandels (google). But beyond that something that the media has completely overlooked. The names of her children: Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig ... so let me get this straight: we have a sport, a city (well I should assume a bay as Bristol Bay is in Alaska), a tree, an airplane, and a type of math. Seriously the only thing that could be worse is if she used "y".
And she's a self proclaimed hokey mom. Okay people. In the circles of hell hokey mom is a step below soccor mom. Do you really want the crazy woman who cuts you off in traffic with her SUV (cell in one hand and lipstick in the other) to be a step away from being the most powerful person on earth???
Now I know that the president doesn't really have as much power as people believe he does. However for better or worse president Bush has definitely given the office much more power than it used to have and so I think we should be careful who we put there. And by "careful" I mean sincerely voting on the issues you find important. Not because someone has an R or a D after their name. This "my team" before my country business has got to stop. Seriously people ... think for yourselves. If you want to pray to God and ask him who to vote for ... do it .. .but don't vote a certain way because that's what your pastor wants. Don't vote a certain way because that's what your grandma, or your spouse ... or your dog wants. Don't vote how your employer wants you to vote. Heck don't vote how I want you to vote. Your vote is yours, don't throw it away because some politician says that if you don't vote for their team that the terrorists will win or the economy will crash and everyone will be out of work. Don't throw it away for a union, a church, a company, a blog (or an anti-blog) or apathy. Seriously, suck it up, vote and do it because its who you truly believe is the best person for the job.
Now to do that. You have to be informed. So here is your Anti-Blog report on the candidates:
Barack Obama
Democratic nominee. Has a funny name. No he's not a Muslim and anyone who says otherwise is trying to get you to throw your vote away. Obama is somewhat removed from Washington politics but he's smack in the middle of Chicago politics so its questionable if that's much better. Obama is charasmatic and he's a good speaker. He's certainly got the younger crowd.
The Good: he's a good speaker. He can energize people. He wants to get the US off foreign oil and he seems to have some pretty good ideas on how to do that (in my opinion of course). He is going to cut taxes for most people and small businesses.
The bad: he was against domestic drilling and now he's for it. He hasn't said much about corn subsidies which are driving up food prices. He doesn't have much national experience. He's for a windfall profits tax on oil companies. (bad because it will drive prices up).
Joe Biden
Dem VP pick. He's been in Washington for more than 30 years. His first wife and daughter were killed in an accident just before he took his Senate seat. He commutes home everyday. His son is the attorney general in New Hampshire and is also a Captain in the US Army who will deploy to Iraq in October.
The Good: He's got a lot of foreign policy experience. He can also relate to McCain's generation and help the ticket in swing states. He's a family guy. He's been known to stand up to special interests.
The Bad: He might still be too much of an insider. He's been known to say some racially divisive things about Obama himself. He's from the North East which might now play well in the South.
John McCain
McCain is the GOP nominee. He was in the Airforce in Vietnam and was shot-down and held as a POW for 5-years. He's from Arizona and has been in the senate for a number of years.
The Good: Known as a maverick who has gone against his party on several issues. He's for stem-cell research and has been against drilling in ANWR. He wants to reduce earmarks in laws. He also was a co-sponser of campaign finance reform. He's also known as someone who works across party lines.
The Bad: Supports the Iraq war (okay you can claim that's good, whatever). Often confuses Sunni and Shiite arabs. Was involved in the savings and loan scandel in the late 80s. Has voted for Bush's policies about 95% of the time. Apparently is now for drilling. Doesn't have a comprehensive plan for getting away from oil.
Sarah Palin
And finally we have Palin. Look I know that politicians "stretch the truth" about their records, about what they've accomplished, etc. However most of them do not outright lie. Seriously, go google "Sarah Palin fact check". Palin is the governor of Alaska. Before that was the mayor of a small town. Apparently McCain is giving up the experience angle.
The Good: ... she's kind of hot ... um and that's about it.
The Bad: Lots. Believes creationism should be taught in school. Against all abortion even when the woman's life is in danger. Several scandels (google). But beyond that something that the media has completely overlooked. The names of her children: Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig ... so let me get this straight: we have a sport, a city (well I should assume a bay as Bristol Bay is in Alaska), a tree, an airplane, and a type of math. Seriously the only thing that could be worse is if she used "y".
And she's a self proclaimed hokey mom. Okay people. In the circles of hell hokey mom is a step below soccor mom. Do you really want the crazy woman who cuts you off in traffic with her SUV (cell in one hand and lipstick in the other) to be a step away from being the most powerful person on earth???
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