re: Sarah Palin & eating the elephant, one bite at a time...
When my doctor gives me medical advice, I listen.
When my lawyer gives me legal advice, I listen.
When my CPA gives me tax advice, I listen.
And the reason I listen, is because I've carefully
selected them for their areas of expertise.
I'm not trying to influence how anyone here votes,
nor do have any illusions that I could, if I wanted
to. I'm just expressing my personal opinion.
And it's my opinion, that the "one thing" that the vast
majority of Americans from both political parties want,
is change.
I think most Americans are sick and tired of career politicians
who flip-flop on issues according to poll results.
I think most Americans are sick and tired of politicians who
will not give simple direct answers, to simple direct questions.
I think most Americans are sick and tired of politicians that
have no core values, and who stand for nothing... other than
doing, saying, or promising anything necessary, to get
elected.
I think most Americans are sick and tired of politicians
who would throw their grandmother, their preacher, and
anyone else under the bus, should they find it politically
expedient to do so.
I think most Americans are sick and tired of politicians
who are so out of touch with the average American, that they
don't know how many houses they own, or what a scanner
at the grocery store checkout counter is.
I think that the vast majority of Americans have become
so politically apathetic, that they don't even vote because
they see a system in which they have no voice, and one so
corrupt and so broken, that they've just given up.
And they will continue to be apathetic, until they finally
see a candidate that they feel they can trust, that they
can connect with, and one with whom they will have a voice.
...someone who has something in common with them, someone
they can identify with, and someone they feel will stand up, and fight for them.
And I think Sarah Palin just made that connection for
millions of voters, especially the working middle class,
that has largely been ignored, if not squeezed by both
parties.
And one other thing...
I don't think people realize that the puppeteers are
scared shitless by Sarah Palin. And that they are not
happy with McCain for making that pick.
Sure, they are putting on a happy public face.
And yes, she is strongly pro life and anti-abortion,
and yes, she resonates with the religious right.
All good and fine for the puppeteers, except that she
also possesses four things that they fear.
#1. Mass public appeal, with an 80%+ approval rating.
An appeal so strong and so broad within the party, that should
it remain so, she needs neither their money, their approval,
or their endorsement in the future. In other words, they can
not control her.
#2. A real, two-way connection with America's middle class.
Presently we have a two party system that panders to
extremes, with America's working middle class feeling
squeezed, and ignored by both parties. And Palin changes
all that. The immediacy in which Palin resonated with
working middle-class America, both shocked and scared the
handlers within the Republican Party (as well as the
Democrats (vbg).
#3. Unshakable personal values.
And a track record of following them regardless of the
personal, or political costs involved.
#4. A track record of fighting corruption, even in
her own party.
While others talk about change, she's done it. She's
fought corruption in her own party, she's taken on
big business, she's cut the size and the cost of big
government, and she's governed. She's run a city, and
a state government.
And as far as the surprise behind McCain's pick
of Palin?
I believe that John McCain is a man who wrestles with
many demons. I don't think he's ever been completely
comfortable with being a politician, of having to
pander for campaign contributions, and having to
kiss the ring of other politicians, and puppeteers.
And I think that by selecting Sarah Palin as his
running mate, he just exorcised many of those demons,
and relieved himself of much of that guilt.
I think John McCain is going to turn on, and bite
the hand that fed him, and finally live up to that
Maverick image. He has nothing to lose politically,
because this is his last hurrah. If successful,
he will be the oldest President ever elected
to office, and it is unlikely he would run for a
second term. McCain has nothing to lose by breaking
away from, and turning on the puppeteers.
And I think he is going to do just that.
Personally, I don't care who you vote for,
only that you do vote.
And I don't know about how you feel, but I'm so sick
of our current slate of politicians, that I want someone
fresh.
I want an outsider.
Someone who represents real change.
Not someone with the most partisan voting record
in the Senate, not another lawyer, and not another
career inside the beltway politician.
I want BIG change.
I want someone who will shake things up, who will
speak their mind, and who give straight and simple
answers, to straight and simple questions.
I want someone who will put America's working
middle class families first - not the extreme fringe,
or special interest groups.
And while Sarah Palin is not running for President
in 2008, she very well may be in 2012. And I guarantee
you that her voice will be heard, and her presence
felt over the next four years.
And I think John McCain is going to surprise quite
a few people... most of them Republicans.
And yes, you can "send a message" to the Republican
Party by writing in a vote for Ron Paul. And that's
your choice.
Personally, I think all that will do, is guarantee
the election of Obama and Biden.
I think the way you eat America's political elephant
is one bite at a time. My only criticism of Ron Paul,
is that politically, he wanted to eat the entire elephant
in a single bite. And he was trying to do it alone.
You can't start off by eliminating the IRS, the
Fed, and returning the dollar to the gold standard.
And you aren't going to get elected with that as your
message to the American people. It's too extreme,
and it's trying to swallow the elephant in a single
bite.
Job #1 is to get elected.
And then let's start by shrinking the size of government,
balancing our budget, strengthening our dollar,
exiting Iraq intelligently, put in place a plan for
energy independence, address the unfunded liabilities
of social security and medicare... and once those basic
hurdles are cleared, then we can talk about the elimination
of the IRS, the Fed, and returning to a gold backed dollar.
Let's pick up the political box and shake the hell out
of it, and then go after the elephant -one bite at a time.
SliderOnTheBlack
PS: And yes, you can respond if you wish. It would only
be fair to extend the political discussion through
this evening, since I got caught up yesterday, basking in
the glory of a "win is a win" for the Fighting Irish.
And yes, we'll take them any way we can get them <vbg>.
Let's put a 9 p.m. cap on the politics - then back to business. |
