McCain=Obama: My one political post
Here's what I don't get about America. We have people who seem to think that these two are polar opposites when a careful examination shows they are fraternal twins. The 'issues' that are claimed to separate the two are manufactured by people within each party. Electing either one of these career politicians is not a vote for change but a vote for the perception of change. Yet, we are stuck with an idiotic two-party system. In part this is because the american electorate has succumbed to the notion of either/or and they manufacture issues in order to make differences seem real. If Obama wins, we get no real change. If McCain wins, we get no real change. In spite of this we get rabid arguments about the patriotism, religious beliefs and experience of each of the candidates as if it really matters. This election, like the last, the one before that and then one before that is all about a politician seeking to cement their legacy. Our apathy has led us down a path were real vision is lacking and real leadership is an illusion.
Cheers
Joe Meert
posted by Unknown @ 7:00 AM
9 comments
9 Comments:
I would agree that the 'change' meme is overexaggerated and, sure, difference is all relative but, at the same time, I don't think anyone could argue that Obama's governing style would be the *same* as McCain's. While the differences may be small when taking a big step back they are still significant to the future course of events.
Well said.
I admit I jumped onto the Obama wagon myself. When he voted wrong on FISA though, the luster disappeared. Now I only see him as the lesser of two evils. It's like 2004 all over again.
I disagree with one half of your pessimistic view.
While Obama and McCain do have some overlap, I think the events of the last week - leading up to and beyond Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC - show that Obama really is a different type of candidate. Not necessarily because of his message of "change" but because he truly embodies and practices that change, instead of just paying it lip service.
If McCain is elected, nothing changes. True. And to boot, I wager, they will get worse.
If Obama is elected you won't see major legal change, because the wheels of justice turn slowly, even an eager Executive and Legislative take time to get things done.
The change you WILL see is a change in the political environment.
The Karl Rovian tactics of the last eight years have poisoned Washington, making politicians afraid to stand on issues out of principle for fear that their choices will be used against them - not in the spirit in which they stood on those issues - but in slanderous tone that re-frames that decision to benefit their political opponents.
FISA is an excellent example of this. Even with a Democratic Majority many Senators, Democrat and Republicans alike, grudgingly voted for it. Why? Because in this topsy-turvy Rovian Wonderland, they will be labeled "weak" on terror and "appeasers" of terrorists, despite how unpopular FISA is.
It's not just the politicians fault. It's our fault as well. Our apathy for politics combined with how easily so many of us are swayed by "Gotcha" politics allowed this poisonous political weed to take root.
It is my firm hope and belief that if Obama can change anything, it is this specifically. He is the politician that exposes other politicians for what they are.
Isn't he a politician as well? Well yes, of course. Don't have the player, hate the game. Just because he's good at it, doesn't mean he has been tainted by it.
And he has proven this point various times throughout this campaign, first with Hillary in the primaries and now with McCain. He is playing a different game which, of course, infuriates the Right.
Thus I urge you to strongly reconsider your apathy stance on this very important election.
While you may have a point that Obama isn't significantly different from McCain, I would have to argue that the Obama/Biden ticket is vastly superior to McCain/Palin on a number of key stances. The most critical to anyone interested in education is Palin's stance on science education and the incorporation of religious "morals" in the public classroom. Palin isn't just an ID advocate, she is an out and out creationist. She also wants teachers to lead mandatory prayer.
Considering McCain's age and health history, do you really want her selecting Supreme Court justices?
"In part this is because the american electorate has succumbed to the notion of either/or and they manufacture issues in order to make differences seem real"
I blame this on Aristotle and his axiomatic logic. A or not A. Pfhhhht.
Good to see you're back posting.
DS
Hi Joe,
I'm moved to comment because I completely disagree. While they may not be the polar opposites that campaign rhetoric would suggest, I do think that they have real differences in policy, particularly on issues like reproductive choice, support of science, economics and foreign policy. I also think there is a strong difference in temperament. I think that Obama representing a much needed shift towards valuing rational judgement over impulse.
I think the last eight years have shown the fallacy of assuming that both parties are exactly the same. I don't think that we would be in the mess that we are in now had we had President Gore or even President Kerry. Maybe a different mess, but not the same one.
Anyway, I generally agree with you, even if I don't comment much (I'm a habitual lurker), but I really couldn't let this slide.
Thank you,
Minnow
So, yeah, perhaps except Obama wants to end all of the Bush programs for drilling for oil domestically.
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