Off The Fence

I'm voting for Obama. There are a lot of reasons, both large and small, here are a few of them:

• I think McCain/Palin are too Hawkish.
• When Charles Gibson asked Palin if she had any doubts about joining the ticket, she said no. Whether she has enough experience is another issue, but the fact that she didn't feel the need to step back, to examine or analyze, is a red flag for me.
• I think Obama will be able to repair some of the damage that our reputation has suffered in the world at large.
• I think he will move the country away from dependence on oil, foreign and domestic.
• I think he will offer those who are underemployed the opportunity for higher education, and adequate health care (although I do not like either McCain's or Obama's health care reforms).
• I hope to God he will put the ball in motion to repeal the Military Commissions Act
• I think John McCain has about a 30% chance of dying in office. President Palin? No thank you.

And finally, I'd like to share this video, which did not influence my decision. Because contrary to the belief of Mr. Davis, McCain's campaign manager, I am able to make my decision based on something other than personality. Though it did not influence my decision, it made me damn mad, and a wrote a blog invective with many four letter words, which I thought better of publishing. I'm not saying he's wrong, but I am saying that as a representative of John McCain he should not be exacerbating the problem by spouting drivel like this. The first 30 seconds of this video makes me absolutely irate.

 This kind of thing sends my diastolic through the roof much faster than any stance on any issue. How dare he suggest that I pick a candidate because of, essentially, their personality. Isn't that what they're accusing the Obama campaign of: trying to dazzle with celebrity? The opinion of this unscrupulous worm is the reason that the media never, ever, ever cover the issues, and one of the reasons that news (aka entertainment) is watery gruel being offered to the starving masses. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say this sentiment is like leprosy to democracy: it has a long incubation period, dulls the senses and weakens the muscles until we are numb, severely incapacitated, and we end up electing Paris Hilton. Well, you know, the analogy breaks down there somewhere.

Comments

[Jay Andrew Allen]

Solid reasons, all. I'm not super-charged about Obama's health care reform package, either - but it comes closer to what we need than McCain's does.

[Sam]

OH THANK YOU GOD! YIPPEEEEEEE!

I'm super excited, Sheryl. I love that you really wrestled with this and came to your own conclusion of what you could and couldn't live with.

That said, that video? Is just infuriating. How can they honestly believe that the American people are so stupid? And how he said, "I'm happy to fill in the blanks..." obviously you are. Because there are a lot of damn blanks to fill, honey. Thanks for sharing that video, Sheryl - it says exactly what the McCain/Palin campaign thinks of all of us. Also, isn't it a wee bit scary that he is thinking of her as Commander in Chief? It's like THEY don't even expect him to live four more years.

[All Adither]

I can't even watch the video. I'll be up all night simmering if I do. I'll take your word for it.

I'm voting for Obama too. But I never gave it as much thought as you. I just can not take McCain/Palin seriously.

[kyran]

oh, thank GOD.

xo

[lizardek]

I don't dare watch the video. I've already voted, actually, sent in my absentee ballot on Monday...and they had damn well better count it. It's for the Bam, too. :) XO

[Lucia]

Did not woatch the video because I would get mad. I know eventually I'll get back to it, but not at 10:20pm.
What can I say... you know where I am standing so I am superglad you made up your mind in Obama's favor. Every day I hear the news I can't believe the amount of BS the McCain/Palin campaign is able to dish out and I completely agree that the media is totally falling for it and helping making this election into a circus... which is the last thing we need.

On a much happier note... Big hugs to the kids!

[DM]

ARGH! Stupid man. Must stab with fork!!!!

Okay, probably shouldn't have watched the video but yes, it pissed me off as well.

I knew I was going to vote for Obama (well, vote Dem anyway) but would have been okay with McCain. And then he picked Palin and I wanted to scream.

[Erin]

At this point, I'm just praying that our next President will do more good than harm for our great nation. Is that too much to ask?