Election 2008: A Vote For Hope
April 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment
On October 9th, 2007, I saw Senator Barack Obama speak to a crowd of over 800 in Plymouth State University’s HUB Courtroom. Coming into election season this was the candidate I had the most hope for. After his now famous DNC speech from 2004, I was sure this would be a strong candidate for exciting new and positive directions for America.
Unfortunately, Obama had done little to impress me in his campaign so far. He speaks platitudes without information or actions to back them up. He has done very little as a Senator, except run for president. This does not endear him or his potential as commander in chief to me.
In person, Obama was even less inspiring. His foreign policy experience and knowledge is weak. He even admits this, claiming the Rumsfeld and Cheney have long resumes and a bad track record, so his “lack of resume” can’t be worse. This doesn’t inspire me.
However, when election time finally came, I was left with only hree options: Obama, Clinton, or Edwards. I had come to like Biden, but he’d dropped. Richardson always seemed like a bit too much of a long shot.
Seeing Edwards stuck out for me as terrifying… During his speech he stated that the best approach with Iraq would be an immediate withdrawal which would lead to a complete anarchy, which would lead to genocide, which would force an international humanitarian effort, which would allow the US to get together with the international community to raise a new Iraq from those ashes. Frankly, this stance is entirely unacceptable. There may be problems in Iraq, but genocide should not be your plan. Ever.
I liked Hillary Clinton in person. She spoke well, her policies were well thought out. However, I find her political maneuvering and style distasteful. I find it easier to hate her, than to like her; even when I agree with what she is saying. This causes her to be seen as divisive. We don’t need division in this country. I’d rather see McCain get the nomination than more division in the country.
This leaves Obama. He’s not perfect. I think he needs more experience, but hopefully this can come with a well chosen cabinet. His inspirational nature could be healthy for the nation. So in the end, not sure which way to go even as I walked into the voting booth, I chose hope. Hope that he surprises me and goes the distance. Hope that he can improve America’s image. Hope that what he says is what he’ll do. Hope for change.
Tags: Barack Obama, clinton, election, election 2008, hillary clinton, obama, politics
Election 2008: Bill Richardson
October 26, 2007 | 2 Comments
I got the chance to see Bill Richardson at a local Plymouth, NH resident’s home on September 2nd, 2007. He spoke for about a half hour, then took questions from the group for about an hour. The crowd was small, maybe 30 people in attendance.
I had previously seen Governor Richardson’s Daily Show appearance and thought he seemed quite strong on foreign policy. In person this impression held true. He spoke of various nations, leaders, and factions within Iraq with familiarity and comfort that could only come from a long time involved with foreign affairs and thinking about these topics. The classic example being his successful direct negotiation with Saddam Husein on behalf of President Clinton for the release of a group of american hostages.
Overall, on each topic he seemed to have a plan of how to make America better. When asked questions he had answers, though not all were entirely polished. This lack of polish did leave me with some concern. It was clear to me why major news outlets would glom on to the slick polish of Clinton or Obama and leave Richardson struggling for third. He occasionally stumbled and would not play as nicely in quick TV segments.
My only real concern with the Richardson campaign is whether this is a truly electable person. Could he withstand a national election up against the Republican campaign machine? Against someone slick like Romney? Maybe… but I’m doubtful.
Overall, I would happily endorse this candidate and without a doubt America would be better with Richardson as a leader. However, I’m not convinced that in the long haul he is an electable candidate.
Tags: america, bill richardson, campaign 2008, foreign policy, new mexico, politics, richardson
Election 2008: My Background
October 18, 2007 | 1 Comment
As I live in NH, I get the opportunity to meet a number of presidential candidates and form an opinion using first hand experience. I find that my opinions of candidates can sometimes change in retrospect, so I intend on chronicling my experiences and meetings going forward. However, there is some history I’d like to get out so I have a starting point.
The first national election I paid attention to was the 1992 primary. I was merely 12, but I can remember supporting Tom Harkin in a formal grade school debate. Bill Clinton went on to win that primary and later the national election. During the national election, I was quite curious about Ross Perot. His concise, non-politician sounding, talk was intriguing. His platform was clear and I was a bit torn before finally siding back toward my liberal roots with Clinton.
Eight years later in 2000 I was finally of age to participate. As a college student in NH, I was able go out and meet candidates. Out of the blue I took the opportunity to meet George W. Bush in Lebanon, NH. What stuck out for me most was his odd spin on how to reform education. More mandatory standardized testing and tax credits for enrolling students in private schools seemed insane to me. Later, I saw John McCain speak and realized that not all Republicans were crazy. With this in mind and Al Gore a sure thing on the Democrat ticket, I’d oppose Bush in any way possible way. This led to me voting for McCain in the primary, which he ended up winning in NH, even though he would go on to lose nationally.
By the time the election came around, I was uninspired by Al Gore and had lost faith with the two party system. I then dipped my toe back into the third party concept and threw my support behind Ralph Nader. When the election was eventually awarded to Bush, I felt somewhat bad about not having supported Gore, when he was electable and superior to Bush. With this in mind, I was more passionate in my opposition of Bush and certain that in the future I would only support candidates I feel are electable.
In the 2004 campaign I met Howard Dean. For the first time, I had found a candidate who truly resonated with me. I vowed to do anything possible to help him get elected. This was the first time I got involved in helping a candidate’s campaign. Beyond participating in the campaign, I took the opportunity to see him speak two additional times before the election, each time reassuring me that this was the strongest person to lead America. When his campaign imploded, I remained faithfully hopeful, but was heartbroken to see his hopes of the White House dwindle. The primary was eventually won by John Kerry.
This left me forced to put my support behind John Kerry, in continued resistance to Bush. Without a doubt this was a better choice than George W Bush and I would not make the mistake of refusing to choose the lesser of two evils in a close election again. Of course everyone knows how this election eventually turned out, Bush getting four more years in Washington.
This leads us to Election 2008… With George W Bush out of the equation, I feel like any candidate will be an improvement, leaving me very hopeful for the future. This also has the side effect of me needing to look at each candidate equally, on both side of the aisle. Over time, I’ll post my impressions of each that I get to see. Of course keep in mind… I’ve never supported any candidate who has gone on to win the presidency…
Tags: 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008, america, bill clinton, Bush, clinton, college, dean, election, george bush, george w bush, harkin, howard dean, john kerry, kerry, new hampshire, nh, politics, primary, ralph nader, tom harkin
The Collected Ramblings of George W Bush
May 26, 2006 | 5 Comments
Sara sent along this site that collects all the ramblings of our president, the page is titled: The Complete Bushisms, Updated frequently. Many of these you may have heard, but I was surprised to find so many that were new to me.
Here’s a quick sample of some of my favorites:
“The point now is how do we work together to achieve important goals. And one such goal is a democracy in Germany.”—Washington, D.C., May 5, 2006
“I think we are welcomed. But it was not a peaceful welcome.”—Philadelphia, Dec. 12, 2005, on the reception of American forces in Iraq
“Listen, I want to thank leaders of the—in the faith—faith-based and community-based community for being here.”—Washington, D.C., Sept. 6, 2005.
“I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep on the soil of a friend.”—On the prospect of visiting Denmark, Washington D.C., June 29, 2005
And if you still haven’t, take 20 minutes and go watch Stephen Colbert roast the president at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner. No matter how many times I watch this I still think it is hilarious. I may even need to buy the DVD from C-SPAN.
Tags: 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner, Bush, bushism, bushisms, george w bush, incompetent, politics, quote, quotes, rambling, roast, stephen colbert, white house
Edward R Murrow
November 6, 2005 | 3 Comments
I finally got out to see Good Night, and Good Luck in Concord. It was just as great as I had hoped. George Clooney co-wrote and directed this film which truly transported me to the 1950’s. The mix of new black and white film with the old news footage was spectacular. This was especially effective since anyone playing McCarthy would have come off over the top, insane, and poorly done. The senator was not believable in real life, how could any actor accomplish such a feat?
Anyway, the movie left me with great respect for Murrows, Friendly, and the early days of true television journalism.
Here are a few Murrow quotes from Wikiquote I think are particularly appropriate today:
“The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue.”
- On receiving the “Family of Man” Award (1964)
“We hardly need to be reminded that we are living in an age of confusion—a lot of us have traded in our beliefs for bitterness and cynicism or for a heavy package of despair, or even a quivering portion of hysteria. Opinions can be picked up cheap in the market place while such commodities as courage and fortitude and faith are in alarmingly short supply.”
- This I Believe (1951)
“No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices.”
- Speech to his staff (1954)
“We are currently wealthy, fat, comfortable and complacent. We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late.”
- RTNDA Convention Speech (1958)
“Anyone who isn’t confused really doesn’t understand the situation.”
- Attributed
Tags: cbs, clooney, communism, edward r murrow, fred friendly, george clooney, joseph mccarthy, journalism, mccarthy, murrow, politics, quote, quotes, red scare
Karl Rove Beat Up By Little Girl
October 17, 2005 | Leave a Comment
This is apparently old news, but I just heard it on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me this weekend.
Karl Rove was quoted as saying this:
As long as I can remember, I’ve always loved politics, at the age of 9 I put a Nixon bumper sticker on the wire basket in the front of my bicycle. Unfortunately the little Catholic girl down the street was a couple years and about 20 pounds on me. She was for Kennedy.
When she saw me on my bike with my bumper sticker for Nixon, she put me on the ground, flattened me out and gave me a bloody nose,
Despite that beating I never lost interest in politics.
I think this explains the origin of his dirty politics and strong commitment to the Republican Party. It’s too bad a Democrat is responsible for establishing these convictions, but I do wish that school girl would pay him another visit.
Tags: catholic school girl, democrat, karl rove, Nixon, political, politics, republican, rove, school girl