The End is Near...2008 US Elections

After two years, the 2008 US Presidential elections are over. Voting is today. The only sure thing is this election represents the end of the Bush-Clinton-Bush presidency. Whether it represents a new beginning (Obama) or more of the same (McCain) remains to be seen.

While my preference is an Obama win and he is leading in the polls by a significant margin, stranger things have happened. McCain has run a terrible campaign, but that has not stopped him and his (Rove-trained) team from running a personally negative campaign. I'm also not sure if America is really ready for an African-American (a term invented for Barack Obama whose father was African and his mother a white American) President and if the GOP is willing to let ALL voters determine the victor instead of relying on "dirty tricks" (all the while claiming to be concerned about voter fraud.)

As well as Obama has run his campaign; kept his cool throughout a tough Primary campaign against especially Hilliary Clinton and the actual presidential campaign, stayed on message including raising many of the important issues confronting America (and the world) -- health care, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan (and the wider war against terror), the collapsing economy, education ... -- and choosing his team including the VP (Joe Biden) carefully, McCain has appeared tired (and his high energy), impulsive and angry.

The decision to (a) choose Sarah Palin as his VP, (b) temporarily suspend his campaign when the financial crisis broke open, (c) go personally negative where just some of actions that made his campaign poorly run. Despite cultivating the image of being a "maverick" , McCain showed himself to be a Bush want-to-be. His recent voting record, 90% pro-Bush, the number of GW Bush alumni on his staff has shown him to be a closet Bushie.

After eight disastrous years of a GW Bush administration, America is ready for real change. Will they vote for Obama or fall for McCain?

Despite the lack of government experience, Obama has shown himself to be "presidential". His ability to appear (and I believe actually) thoughtful and intelligent will be a vast improvement on the politically manipulative and sloppy management style of the Bush White House. McCain, despite his rhetoric, will be a continuation of the Bush mismanagement -- appointing cronies to sensitive positions (e.g. FEMA), irresponsible government deregulation (which I believe greatly contributed to the economic/financial meltdown), staying in Iraq while ignoring Afghanistan, alienating old-time allies and further aggravating the international standing of America throughout the globe and poor stewardship of the global environment. The only change during the McCain administration would be cosmetic.

Then, there's Sarah Palin. Where the hell did he find her and why if he had four months to vet all his potential VP candidates, did he mess up with her; her pregnant 17 year old daughter (who epitomizes the adage "Abstinence makes the heart go fonder"), the allegations of overstepping her powers as govenor (tryig to fire her ex brother-in-law), her hiring practices as mayor and governor (friends > competence, a la GW Bush) ... Despite seeking to cultivate her image as a simple "hockey mom" the RNC went out and spent $150K on outfitting her (why did they wait until the Republican National Convention to buy clothes). Despite calling for "common values" and cleaning up Washington, she refused to release her financial statement (which shown her income to be far above the average) and health statement until the last minute, in the face of mounting public displeasure.

America doesn't need an average person to lead, -- it tried that with GWB-- it needs someone willing and able to lead with intelligence and forethought. Someone willing and able to excite and motivate others to stretch and make America great. Obama by getting previously apathic and alienated voters to come to the polls and vote, says a great deal about his ability to lead America to even greater things over the next four years.

Hopefully, the rest of America will agree and welcome him as the next President of the United States of America.