The Lost Ones
Posted by mmkeekah on September 12, 2008
**We interrupt the regularly schedule Mon-Mon Fest 2008/birthday weekend for some political drivel that belongs somewhere else but had to be said cause Mon-Mon was pissed. Warning: this is long and probably has little bearing to the world in general since it is all her own opinions**
I never blog about politics. I hate politics. Occasionally, I will envy those who are so politically active for all the right reasons because I hate politics so much.
It’s just that I’m so disillusioned.
I am disillusioned by our country, disenchanted by our political system, and I have very little hope in my heart that people make decisions – really important, life-changing, for-the-people decisions – for the right reasons anymore.
On late night earlier this week, newly Americanized Craig Ferguson stood up to the American people in his monologue and chastised the media for reporting on this political campaign like it was a fashion show or an episode of 90210 (or for you young folk, like it was an episode of Gossip Girl). He demanded of the American people to stand up and vote by their conscience and not by their party’s manipulative approach to campaigning.
Silently inside, I was in awe of the man. He is quite literally one of the funniest people on TV, and his show is an irreverent tribute to the man himself. So for him to set aside his silly nature and spend even just a few minutes talking about this serious topic… well it’s amazing and shows his true character. Silently inside, I cheered him on.
But the skeptic in me said out loud to a room full of kitties and to Jeffery, “Too bad, Craig, no one will listen to you.” Because people won’t vote for the right candidate. They won’t vote for what is right for this country. They won’t even for what is right for the themselves.
People are too easily swayed by the media and bad campaign tactics to the point that we, as a people, rarely can think for ourselves. I mean, really who saw Sarah Palin coming? I didn’t. I almost admire the Republican Party for being so savvy, so knowing, of what button to push to sway not only their party back to them, but even some of the liberals as well. All it took was a pretty woman, a pair of glasses, and a touch of lipstick (pun intended, you damn conservatives). Wah-lah! And the Republican Party is back in the running.
Conveniently forgotten is the last eight years, especially the really bad last four years of an inept Republican run government. Need to wipe out the bad taste of really bad decisions? Ta-da, Sarah Palin to the rescue. Has anyone questioned, I mean really questioned, if she is capable of the handling the job? Of running our country? Has anyone even questioned what she stands for and if what she stands for meets the needs of this country? Anyone?
Let’s just for one minute consider this 2008 election BP (before Palin) – remember the Democratic party? Remember how excited we all were about the possibilities Obama represented before he chose Biden? The possibility of getting out of the mess the Republican party got us into? Remember? Remember Bush? Remember how we all came together in our dislike for the choices he made and what those choices have done to our country? REMEMBER?
But Obama did choose Biden. I remember being surprised when I heard he’d bypassed Hillary Clinton as a running mate. I even remember thinking, Obama, what are you doing? She was your sure thing! Until I gave it some more thought. Until I considered who Biden was and what he represented not only to Obama, but to the American people. Experience – that which Obama is lacking, and more importantly, Biden brings balance to the democratic ticket at a critical time when we really need it. When I considered these points I thought – no I felt – that Obama made the right choice. He was doing the right thing for the American people. Hillary was the better choice to win the election, but Biden, well he was the better choice for the good of the country. And for the first time in any election, I felt inspired. Maybe they aren’t all just politic hacks, I thought.
Now listen. I know this sounds like I’m a Democrat (I think I may have even signed up with the Democratic party back in the day, which is a Wednesday, by the way). But I do not claim affiliation to any party because both sides of the fence are self-serving, hypocritical blowhards that make me wish I didn’t even know about politics to begin with. I am not a HUGE Obama supporter who thinks he should win at all costs. Because to win at all cost means the people, that is us Americans, lose out. Nope, believe it or not, I want the right candidate to win.
I haven’t really decided who that right candidate is – but I have to say straight up, I don’t think the American people know either. I’m almost to the point where I believe we should let any other country but ourselves decided the fate of this election. Honestly, I have absolutely no faith in my fellow Americans. Not my fellow American women, who would vote for a candidate simply because he chose a female as his running mate. Not for my fellow African Americans, who would vote for a candidate simply because of the color of his skin (and yeah, I mean you Oprah! Shame on you!). And not for my fellow white male Americans, who had decades upon decades to set a better example for all of America.
I will vote this fall. No doubt about it. But I am taking Craig’s heed to vote by my conscience; his call to vote for who would best serve this country, these people and myself. Or at least, I will vote for the one who will fuck up the least for another four years. And I will feel like I do every election, that my vote won’t make a damn bit of difference. We’ve lost our way, people. We’ve lost our way.
**We now return you to the regularly scheduled Mon-Mon Fest 2008/birthday weekend**
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This entry was posted on September 12, 2008 at 4:20 am and is filed under All About Me, Truths, human condition. Tagged: barack obama, Biden, Democrats, disillusioned American, Obama, Palin, poltics, Republicans, voting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Christina said
You should also try to watch Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO. He has some great guests, who get into some pretty heated debates. He can put a funny spin on things, but he brings out the obnoxious, redundant points from each party.
Cornelius said
Yes, I agree, watch Bill Maher, he is very good – my only real criticism of him is he is so angry in his atheism that he is no different from people who push religion on others, in my book. But he did have the guy you mention (Ferguson, who I never heard of prior) on his show a couple of weeks ago.
I agree with you about Palin – I have been saying since the day she was chosen that it’s a stroke of luck and/or genius on McCain’s part, a risky move that will pay a high return, quite possibly. Obama needs to play to win rather than not to lose, but his choices lately seem in the latter category rather than the former.
I encourage everyone to try to become familiar with the platforms and the issues. And then vote according to what your brain and heart tell you. But every vote does count (provided something illegal doesn’t happen to it) – I have always felt to say otherwise is a convenient cop out (not to criticize you for your point of view).
Is Oprah really voting for Obama simply because he is black? I honestly don’t think so, but you may know something I don’t (I don’t pay much attention to Oprah). To be honest, I voted Hillary in the primary, and wanted her to be the Veep choice. I will now vote for Obama in November (barring some drastic change in opinion). I feel he is the better of the two viable choices we have, but understand how others may choose McCain. And I recognize that it sucks that some will assume I am voting for Obama simply because of skin color, but hey, ain’t that America… little pink houses and all? 7 pink houses for some people…
Cornelius said
Another observation: Christina has a blue tree and I have a pink one. I’m happy with the pink one, though.
Christina said
I always thought of mine as more of a spider…so many legs…and that maybe our friend picked them to go with our personalities. I like your pink tree too Cornelius!!
Cornelius said
Oh yeah, I didn’t notice the legs, maybe you are right!
I don’t know if my personality resembles a pink tree… does yours resemble a blue spider??
mmkeekah said
Rest assured, my favorite readers, the choice is random. I am not selecting the spiders or trees for you…
Christina said
I can be a spider…the legs and all….you would need to ask my husband that I guess…lol
And I LOVE my spider!
mmkeekah said
Hey Cornelius – you know, I worried about offending wonderful people like yourself but then I thought, hey these are my opinions and if you choose to disgree, we can do so in a civil manner.
Yes, I do believe celebrities like Oprah aren’t voting based on their conscience. I think the idea of an African-American in the office is more appealing than the belief that the right candidate is in office. But I also think that of women, and Democrats, and Republicans. In short, I don’t believe its anything new. Call me a cynic, but that’s what I believe.
I, too, will vote for the best viable candidate.
mmkeekah said
Oh also, Cornelius, to your point about copping out with the “my vote doesn’t count” line…
I can see your point, though I would point out that I do, in fact, vote. I can see how you feel it might be copping out. But I honestly feel that my vote barely counts. I blame it partially on those who won’t vote for the very same reason – the feel their vote doesn’t count. I still get out there and take advantage of my given right to make my voice heard. Unfortunately, it feels like the only people joining you and me are all the right-wing conservative folks out there. I mean, how else do you explain Bush – twice?
Even my state is major uber conservative. It just makes me sad…
kiko said
Reasons i’m voting for Obama:
1. He was raised by a single mother and so he’s not totally elitist.
2. He’s pro choice so it kills three birds with one stone: lowers the population, lowers poverty and delays the destruction of the environment caused by overpopulation. McCain is against abortion under all circumstances, including rape. You think switching light bulbs is going to save the planet?!
3. Obama has raised 2-3x the campaign money that McCain has. That is a good indicator of how they do on a level playing field.
4. Obama is very tech savvy and understands tech issues that will drive the economy in this information age. Did you know the IRS wasted $4billion on a new computer system that failed? They are still using technology from the 60′s.
5. Obama realizes that you can’t win an occupation.
6. Obama supports civil unions. If gay people want to be as miserable as hetero married couples why stop them?
7. Obama is liked by many of the nations that Bush alienated with the Iraq war but he takes a hard stance on terrorism…ie use diplomacy in Afghanistan to attack the real source.
8. McCain is less likely to be diplomatic in conflicts with other countries.
9. Palin is likely to become president if McCain wins because there is a 1 in 3 chance that a 72 year old person will die in 4 years.
10. McCain admits that he doesn’t have a good understanding of how the economy works.
11. I am tired of CEO’s getting millions of dollars in severance despite driving companies into the ground.
12. He’s bi-racial like me. Why are bi-racial people always a member of the minority race of their heritage? So that man can keep him down! Ok, not really but Obama becoming president will have all of America dealing with the real questions about race and discrimination…something that has been overdue for the last 400 years.
13. He will use Socialism inspired policy to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. Think Robin Hood. Does Bill Gates really need more discretionary income than most countries?! McCain says tax breaks on big companies have a trickle down effect on the people that work for them. If this is so why is the divide between the rich and poor growing? I don’t know any millionaires and it’s not from lack of hard work.
I do like some of McCain’s ideas and his service record but not enough to vote for him.
Kiko the terrible
mmkeekah said
And that’s why I love my kiko… very well thoughtout – why can’t there be more people like you?
Cornelius said
I loved Christina’s spider and (especially) my tree… but now they seem to be replaced by some kind of modern art snowflake???
Mmkeekah, speak your mind, I don’t offend easily…
And yeah, Colorado is very conservative, as is most of middle America and southern America. Sad (IMO), but true.
On the issues discussed above by kiko… McCain isn’t strongly against abortion, and he definitely isn’t in the case of rape – that’s Palin. McCain (I believe) is fairly undecided on the issue (you’d think at age 72 he’d take a stand, but it is a complex issue), but he’s willing to kowtow to the religious right on this point… hard to say what he’d do after the election.
Anonymous said
Cornelius, thanks for the clarification. There is so much information floating around it’s hard to sort through it all. Abortion isn’t a key issue for me but I now feel a little better about him winning.