Ever since I read that John McCain wants to cancel friday’s debate, I have been really, really ANGRY. If ever there was a time when the American people deserve to know where our next leaders stand, it is NOW. Even if my candidate doesn’t get elected, I want to know what the other candidate intends to do and how it will effect me.
People, we should be better than this.
We should not be jerked around by the theatrical showmanship of a politician who seems intent on doing everything but talking about where he stands for the next forty days. Of someone who thinks so little of the intelligence of the American people that he waves a pretty bauble in front of our faces while he lies and tries to distract us with idiotic things (like that pig/lipstick debacle) or changes the subject and thinks we won’t notice.
Why is the Obama campaign letting the McCain campaign control these conversations and distract us from the real issues that are affecting real lives?
For example, if congress thinks it can solve a $700 Billion dollar economic problem in two weeks, what could we do if we put our noses to the grindstone and really tried to solve the health insurance crisis?
Why are we letting the political parties and politicians divide us into neat for/against columns instead of helping us find our middle ground? For example, do you know what I as a pro-choice feminist have in common with a conservative pro-lifer? Most likely, both of us wish there was no need for abortions. We just happen to disagree about how we should be reaching that goal. Why can’t we talk more about THAT rather than resorting to namecalling and hatred?
Why do so many of our political discussions boil down to money and taxes rather than our gross national happiness? I know I believe that old quote that a nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members, I certainly don’t think I am the only one.
When I watch Barack Obama trying to keep his hands clean above the mudpit that our presidential election system has become, I am proud to support him. At the same time, I am afraid that maybe they are right and the American people really aren’t smart enough to see beyond the lipstick and the mud. It is starting to feel like the political process is as much about the issues as “reality TV” is about showing real life.
When the primaries ended, I really looked forward to this election because I thought we were finally going to see a real contest between two candidates with integrity. Never would I have thought that the campaign John McCain of the Straight Talk Express would end up like this. Sure, I don’t agree with his politics, but I thought pretty highly of him. Now, he ranks among the worst mudslingers out there for me.
I am so very disappointed. And angry. And disheartened.
We should be a model of civilized democracy, of honest respectful debating of the real issues, of working together to make our world a better place for each and every person on the planet.
We should be better than this.
Amen.
I am right there with you babe. I have been sick about this. Sick.
This is kick-ass. And so well-written!!! I absolutely, 100% agree.
Amen.
This piece needs to published. And widely read. Just when I think I can’t get more disheartened with the state of politics in this country, wham, I am. And here we are. Honestly I think the McCain/Palin ticket is working to polarize the country because they firmly believe this will win them the election. Palin scares the crap out of me but I’d much rather educate people about the misinformation than demonize her. Issues, people, let’s talk about the issues.
My husband told me this morning something I hadn’t heard yet. McCain wants to “reschedule” this Friday’s debate for the same day that is currently scheduled for the vice-presidential debates. Of course, that one would then have to be cancelled. That’s the real motive for this call to stop the campaign and focus on the bailout plan.
The entire world is salivating at the idea of Palin in a debate.
I agree. I can’t really even talk about it because I get so mad.
I agree, I am so angry too. So he wants to put off the debates so he can deal with the economy: he can address those issues and his solutions *to us, the American people* on the debates! And while most of the time I see the goodness in people and feel we can find common ground on issues, I have to admit I find myself losing hope in the electorate and believing in that old saying “The masses are asses.” We’ll see whether or not that saying is true in November.
Time and time again, I notice your giftedness of writing. I am not a gifted writer… but I am a lover of the written word and this is why I enjoy your blog so much (not to mention that you write about many topics that are part of my daily life.)
Why some magazine editior hasn’t hired you to write a montly column is beyond me.
Thank you for pointing voice to my sentiments! I’m with you 100% On another note…. and this may not be a relevant point to some, but it’s relevant to me. MS is one of the poorest states in the nation. Its flagship university, Ole Miss, just spent $4.5 MILLION on this debate. Do you know how many MS children could go to college with that kind of money? Seriously, if the debate is cancelled, McCain can reimburse my kids their share of the funds.
Ohhhh, Magi, thanks for letting us know that. That makes SO much sense given how horribly Palin has done in her “unteleprompted” interviews so far. Did you see her response to Katie Couric about McCain’s campaign advisor having stake in Freddie Mac? She just reeled off the same talking point TWICE, almost verbatim! And completely gone was the smug, condescending voice we’ve heard her use in speeches. She sounded strained, hesitant, and completely unsure of herself. No wonder McCain would want to keep her from debating Biden given how she’s been doing so far.
Amen, amen, amen. Fantastically written. Although I am wholeheartedly supporting Obama, I still thought that in the event of a McCain win, it would be better than what we have currently. Now, I’m not so sure. The whole thing makes me sick.
Yes, yes, yes, to everything you said.
I totally agree. Though I think Senator Obama is coming back pretty darn well with the debates. Also Check out Letterman on Youtube.
I totally agree. I’m really worried that the American people aren’t smart enough (or don’t care enough) to see beyond this crap. There was a poll on PBS the other day, asking people whether or not they thought Palin was ready to run the Gov’t. It was split 50/50. ON PBS. I am very, very worried.
I just have no words. To watch Sarah Palin for two minutes is just…my god. Even she looks like she thinks it’s a bad idea for her to be talking about this stuffI. If John McCain somehow wiggles out of her putting up against Biden in a debate, I will be so incredibly over this whole process, I can’t even tell you.
This political stuff going on right now, I can’t even believe my eyes.
Yes. (Note: my shortest comment evah!) ~lmc
oy.vey. yes.
Great post! So disappointing & enraging if the debate is canceled.
YES YES YES.
beautifully written, amfam.
Yes. And yes to the comment about the $ already spent by the University hosting. I taught at one of the U’s that hosted Gore v. Bush back in 2000. It was a major deal. A major expense.
Another loud Amen! from me.
I hear you times ten. And as frustrated as I can get by how I would visualize Obama responding to this stuff, I also keep repeating 2 things to myself: I’m clueless about the inner workings about politics (I feel pretty lucky that way) and that so, so much of this is unprecedented. Obama and his campaign have done a fab job since they started down this road, but who the hell would have anticipated half the things that have happened along the way? So many new precedents being set…it’s a miracle that they don’t have whiplash yet.