There's an old anecdote:
It is said that Abraham Lincoln, when he was President of the U.S., was advised to include a certain man in his cabinet.
When he refused, Lincoln was asked why he would not accept the man. "I don't like his face," the President replied.
"But the poor man isn't responsible for his face," responded his advocate.
"Every man over forty is responsible for his face," said Lincoln.
As I look at this election, I care that Obama looks like a bit more of a socialist than McCain. But, I still remember the days when Republicans everywhere rejected McCain as a liberal socialist, too. And I care that McCain has some gravel in his gut that Obama won't have for a few more years. But, I know the job just might forge Obama into something great, too.
I know everyone's up in arms about having two such terrible candidates, but I really think these are two of the best candidates we've had in a while. I think there's a real chance either of these candidates could really make a positive difference in their areas of concern. I do like McCain's areas of concern better than Obama's. And I have a definite leaning to the right, anyway.
Still, I had my doubts.
Watching these videos was an, "Every man over forty is responsible for his face," moment for me, though. These videos moved me past my doubts. Obama ain't funny. Oh, his jokes are cute, and he has a presence, but given the opportunity to have some fun he takes no risks. Given the opportunity to join in play with his audience, he plays along instead. McCain jumps in the mud and starts slinging it. As I watched these videos, I really, really liked McCain's face. I'd love to see that man leading this country.
Watch these videos and tell me whether you see him differently. Or whether you just think it's silly to make big decisions over little things.
Obama Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EF_QNJAYxg
Obama Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SkFjTCscM4
McCain Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdWeqiyn3zQ
McCain Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Ishs8QSUM
Oh, and I'm really sorry I'm not really blogging any more. Some months life just gets a bit busier than others.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
29 October, 2008
08 August, 2008
A Chip off the Old Block
It's not every day my son sends me an email, but when he does it's usually some pretty rich stuff. Yesterday's email was the kind of stuff that makes a father stop and say not just, "That's my boy!" but, "Dang. That's right."
I figured I'd share it here.
You might enjoy watching the video first, before you've heard his take on the things Obama says.
Obama proposes a gasoline price solution to struggling families
---
And a young man analyzes Obama's thoughts
---
The first thirty seconds are all I care about. The situation: consumers give money for product; companies increase prices because demand is increasing faster than supply; they make a lot of money, the majority of which is spent building the infrastructure necessary to provide five billion gallons of oil a day to the world; Obama, desiring sovereignty, promises to take money, willingly given in exchange for product, from the receiver, and return it to the consumer if the consumer votes him sovereignty. We have gone past the age of Rome, where the leaders provided bread and circuses with their own, albeit ill gotten, money. We have returned to some sort of barbaric feudalism where we choose our leaders based on whether they promise to earn us spoils. With his eyebrows hunched, his spine strait, in a calm, oratorical voice, he promises to break the trust of capitalism, which is that if you produce something people will give you what they produce for it, you can keep what they give you in exchange for your goods.
Who would not vote for a candidate who promises that you can spend your money and spend it again? A candidate who will have the police, the national guard, and the army behind any policy he manages to get through.
Perhaps I am making an excessive fuss about a throwaway comment, but the symbolic nature of it is so frightening.
I figured I'd share it here.
You might enjoy watching the video first, before you've heard his take on the things Obama says.
Obama proposes a gasoline price solution to struggling families
---
And a young man analyzes Obama's thoughts
---
The first thirty seconds are all I care about. The situation: consumers give money for product; companies increase prices because demand is increasing faster than supply; they make a lot of money, the majority of which is spent building the infrastructure necessary to provide five billion gallons of oil a day to the world; Obama, desiring sovereignty, promises to take money, willingly given in exchange for product, from the receiver, and return it to the consumer if the consumer votes him sovereignty. We have gone past the age of Rome, where the leaders provided bread and circuses with their own, albeit ill gotten, money. We have returned to some sort of barbaric feudalism where we choose our leaders based on whether they promise to earn us spoils. With his eyebrows hunched, his spine strait, in a calm, oratorical voice, he promises to break the trust of capitalism, which is that if you produce something people will give you what they produce for it, you can keep what they give you in exchange for your goods.
Who would not vote for a candidate who promises that you can spend your money and spend it again? A candidate who will have the police, the national guard, and the army behind any policy he manages to get through.
Perhaps I am making an excessive fuss about a throwaway comment, but the symbolic nature of it is so frightening.
26 March, 2008
This one made me cry
Kathy at Beyond Words posted a rant against soundbites. Her rant was born when she saw the 10 minutes of video surrounding the 10 seconds of video we've all seen of Dr. Jeremiah Wright.
JR Woodard, and his post, Finding Truth in a Soundbite Society.
You owe it to yourself and Dr. Wright to give 10 minutes to this video.
JR Woodard, and his post, Finding Truth in a Soundbite Society.
You owe it to yourself and Dr. Wright to give 10 minutes to this video.
17 March, 2008
Identity
Michael Kruse has again posted economic brilliance. He posts substance about the candidates' positions on health care. It tells why McCain's position might actually mean the end of company subsidized health insurance, and why that might be a good thing.
But it made me think. If you read a snippet of each of the candidates' positions, would you know who was who? How many Americans would?
And of course, that made me think theologically. If you read the positions on anything but raw predestination of Calvin as stated by real Calvinists, and of Arminius by real Arminians, would you know which was which?
But it made me think. If you read a snippet of each of the candidates' positions, would you know who was who? How many Americans would?
And of course, that made me think theologically. If you read the positions on anything but raw predestination of Calvin as stated by real Calvinists, and of Arminius by real Arminians, would you know which was which?
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