So we're coming down to the wire in the next Presidential election. Americans are going to have to choose between Barack Obama and Willard "Mitt" Romney. Many people see this is as being something of a horned dilemma. Many people are disappointed in Obama, but see Mitt Romney as no kind of improvement. Some have actually put forth the notion that they should "vote their conscience" and go third party or not vote at all.
I can, at least to some extent, understand being disappointed with Obama. There were a few promises he made that turned out to be politically impossible to fulfill since his election. Particularly once certain groups sat out the 2010 elections and helped usher in the Tea Party era. Between the Tea Party candidates, neo-con Republicans, and the Blue Dog Democrats, Obama has had a tough hill to climb.
Even given that he's accomplished several notable things, including the creation of an agency designed to police the finance industry. Though it's been rendered mostly toothless by Republican obstructionism, it can also be seen as an introduction to Elizabeth Warren. We need that woman in Congress. 'Nuff said.
And while Obamacare is not what I'd have chosen, given that I don't think it went nearly far enough in regulating the insurance industry, it's a damn sight better than what we had. Which was nothing. Believe me, the Republicans wouldn't be so dead set on dismantling it if it weren't helpful to people they disdain.
I'm not going to convince the haters. Raising the dead wouldn't convince the haters. That's fine. But don't lie to yourselves, or to us, in your quest to find something with which to skewer the failed hero.
He was handed two wars and given no effective way to end them. He's nearly accomplished drawing us out of Iraq. I'm sure he's looking for an exit strategy for Afghanistan (despite very loud Republican protests).
The recent Republican convention has revealed precisely to which lengths they will go to win. The sheer mendacity of Paul Ryan's speech, not to mention the piece of performance art that was Clint Eastwood's rhetorical spanking of a wayward President. A President that, in truth, in no way resembles the construct they've made of him. They have erected a effigy of straw to represents a completely fictional man, a radical Muslim Socialist who wants to institute Sharia Law, make their children marry gay people, outlaw Christmas, and take away their guns.
Whatever. I would rather jab my eyes out with a spork than watch the Mr. and Mrs. Howell show. Fuck them.
For all their caterwauling about what they think he's done wrong (mostly I think he's done the right thing, or tried to), they are awfully quiet about what they think the right thing might be. Other than cutting taxes and eliminating regulation. Hate to say it, but that's always been their prescription. And it's never worked. Well, it's worked pretty well for them, but not so well for the rest of us. For examples please research Victorian (Dickensian) England. You might try watching the new show Copper for some reflections of how nice it was to be poor in those days. Or not, depending on your ability to empathize.
Their long-term political strategy seems to be instituting vote-limiting laws in Democratic areas, convincing very gullible Christians that greed and hatred are family values, and lying their lily-white asses off.
Yeah, I'm voting for Obama. Happily, at this point. The alternative is unthinkable. Give me a man who is willing to make mistakes over a man who can't make decisions because he's afraid of making mistakes. And one thing I do know about Obama as compared to the last yahoo? If he makes a mistake, he's capable of admitting it.
Of course I'm voting for Obama. Do I look like an idiot?
