84,000 attendees, in a Republicrook state, was pretty good. I can't stand to listen to these speeches. Maybe I could hack them without all the applause.
You raised some important points. Does the next Prez have any chance of reversing the Bush mess and getting America moving again? Or, are we toast, with China and India about to eclipse us and Russia forcing us to contiues to spend insanely on Defense? I believe the former, but, the next Prez is going to have to be a real President and not just a party hack. Both Obama and McCain could tilt either way. And it's not going to be easy. Americans hate difficulty and long term committments. We want wars without sacrifice, which means they don't have to be justified. We want wealth from a printing press, rather than from our innovation, which has dried up nearly completely under Bush. And, mostly, we want to continue to live in Lotus Land and not have to be a part of the solution. We want to fart and tickle and watch Dancing with the Stars.
What is missing from both McCain and Obama so far are a concept and a challenge. Where is the New Frontier? Where are the 50 mile hikes? Where is beating Russia to the Moon by the end of the decade? Thus far, the candidates are afraid to scare an electorate that needs a moral and spiritual kick in the butt. I am willing to supply the foot, as long as I get to kick Toby Keith's butt first. (I don't dislike Toby, but he is not exactly the poster boy for progress.) |
