Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Warning: full-on political post!

I am giving myself five minutes to write this blog.

Ready to time me? (yep, I know it doesn't work that way)

Here.

I.

Go:

We are hosting a drumline contest at the school on Saturday. We have some really fine drumlines participating, but there are not as many drumlines participating as I would like. I'm still trying to figure this one out. It's a good contest that is hopefully not a "scary" environment for an inexperienced drumline... I just don't know.

The election is really ramping up. The debate last night was a real snooze-fest. Geez, I thought I would fall asleep when either guy would talk. And let's be honest, I've got my guy picked out already, the sign is literally in the yard and I thought he was just as boring as the other guy.

Which really just opens another wound: Sarah Palin. Here: I'm going to say it.

I like her.

I think the Saturday Night Live spoofs are hilarious (and pretty much dead on), but that doesn't bother me.

Here's the problem we have as a nation with someone like Sarah Palin (and why it causes such a problem when you are trying to pick two people to run for president): she's really down to earth. The problem with that, is the appeal of her being so down to earth, is the reason half the country hates her.

I like her because I could imagine that what she lacks in experience she would make up in good ol' determination. I truly think her heart is in the right place.

But this is why the other half of the country can't stand her. They want someone slick and polished and someone not like them. But the fact of the matter is that normal people don't end up running for president, only career politicians do.

Barack Obama? Career politician. Seriously, this guy has been in a national office for something like 143 days before he started his presidential campaign... The only other person with that kind of experience to ambition ratio is... well, Hillary Clinton.

John McCain? He's been in the Senate since I was in diapers. And not disposable diapers, mind you: straight-up late 70's, early 80's cloth diapers. This guys has been waiting for his chance at the presidency for a long time. When it didn't happen in 2000, couldn't you just imagine the GOP backroom pulling him aside and saying, "hey John, it's your turn next time."

The more I follow politics, the more I'm convinced this sort of "inside machine" thing is taking place, turning all of the wheels, telling the public what to think and basically how to vote.

DING! There's the timer. No time to proofread. But who are we kidding, no one reads this blog anyways. It's just a catharsis. A catharsis about the guy who's sign is in my yard who still bores me and appears only slightly less ingenuous than the other guy.

1 comment:

pro said...

I think this boils down a big aspect of this campaign season pretty well. I don't think the shrillness or intensity of the attacks on Palin can really be explained by policy disagreement or even perceived lack of experience. In fact, a lot of the criticisms against her didn't even register with me at first because they aim at qualities that make her the most human in my eyes. When I saw her speak right after the veep announcement, I thought I know women like this. But then again, I didn't grow up in the urban coastal bubbles I seem to find myself in.

Politics aside, it was nice seeing someone on the national stage that hasn't had the personality wiped out of them. It seems likely we won't be seeing this anymore (for the next four years, at least).

By the way, this is Preston (if you were wondering who the dude who subscribed to your blog is)