Updated thoughts on US Election (part 2)

So it's been a few days into the RNC, and I had a few new thoughts I thought I'd share.

1) Bush's role in this convention has been interesting. He gave one 8 minute speech, not in prime time. This speech did little to address issues, and spoke almost nothing of the last 8 years. Instead, Bush went on about McCain's courage, and how, if he could survive the "Hanoi Hilton" (vietnamese POW camp), then he could surely survive "the Angry Left". A part from this speech, I have not noticed any allusion to Bush, or to the last 8 years. I guess it's because Republicans know it's their Achilles heal. I'm just amazed that this hasn't damaged them more than it actually has.

2) I'm sick and tired of all this about soldiers "fighting for our freedom". That is simply not true. Would my freedom be at risk if my country had no soldiers in Iraq? Umm.... no. Iraq never attacked the US. Iraq never threatened the US. Iraq is not currently a threat to the US. This is, and always has been an offensive war. Despite what republicans think, Iraq has nothing to do with Al-Qayda... or at least it didn't- until the US invaded the country. If the war ended today, my freedom would not be effected. Sure, the freedom of the Iraqis might be, but I won't believe for a second that soldiers in Iraq are fighting for my freedom. The same goes for vets from Vietnam. Vietnam was an offensive war. The north vietnamese never threatened directly the US.... but that is a different story. Maybe one could argue that the war was preventing a Soviet attack? But, alas, I digress. The point is, despite what the Repubs say, the current soldiers in Iraq are NOT fighting for our freedom, and anyone who believes this is simply a fool.

3) Why can't the Republicans talk about anything else BESIDES McCain's experience as a POW? I have a few problems with this. Firstly, there's a lot we don't know about his days in the prison camp. I'm not prepared to make judgements in any direction, although there have been people skepitical of McCain's claims. Of course, we just assume what they tell us is true. Secondly, what does it have to do with ANYTHING? Let's assume that he's telling the truth about his experiences. Ok. Does that qualify him for presidency? Umm... No. That's like saying being a holocaust victim qualifies you for the presidency. Sure, enduring such hardship may have built character. And I write with all due respect to Mr. McCain. But, is this all he has going for him? If it is, it isn't much.
And another thing about his experiences in Vietnam. You notice that the Reps go on and on forever about McCains Vietnam days. And even the dems are respectful of it. They will not deny the service that McCain has given to his country. But what about when John Kerry ran in 2004? He was a vietnam vet just like McCain, and he certainly tried to use that to his advantage, just like McCain. But the Republicans spent so much effort trying to trash his experiences there. Seems a bit hypocritical, eh?

4) I have a few problems with all the Repubs saying that Sarah Palin has more "executive experience" than Obama and Biden combined, and that she has more foreign policy experience than Obama.
This is their argument. Palin's "executive experience" comes from her years as mayor of the town of Wasila, and her less than 2 years as governor of the state of Alasaka. Whereas Biden and Obama, being senators, never really led anything. Well.... this may be partially true- with a few problems. First of all, being mayor of a small, peripheral town of less than 10k people is not exactly "executive experience" which qualifies you for the oval office, and neither is less than 2 years as governor in one of the country's most peripheral states. Secondly, if you're going to get n Biden and Obama for their lack of executive experience, than you need to talk about McCain too... what exec experience does he have? He's been a senator every bit as Obama and Biden- not a governor.
Then, they say she has foreign policy experience. Why? Because she's "deployed the Alaskan Reserves" and.... get ready.... because Alaska is close to Russia! Give me a flippin' break. Anyone who buys this line of thinking seriously needs to get their heads checked.

5) Palin's speech. I'll hand it to the woman- she gave a very well-delivered speech. I believe she is certainly a smart cookie, and a force to be reckoned with. And, policies aside, I don't altogether dislike the woman. But I did have a problem with some things she said. I've already addressed the soldiers fighting for your freedom bulls**t. Then she's trying to glorify the fact that her son is going to Iraq. The fact that she is glorifying this disgraceful war- or war in general- is disgusting. Then she says that Obama has no answer to the energy crisis. Umm... what about his plans to invest lots of money in alternative energy? Then she says that Obama will raise taxes. What she fails to mention, is that these tax hikes are only for the richest 10% (specifically, people making over $200k per year). Such a detail is conveniently left out of her attack. In fact, he claims to lower taxes. and she says that McCain will simultaneously lower taxes for everyone AND balance the budget. Umm.... would someone like to tell me how this is possible? Unless if he slashes funding for education and healthcare. Anyone with half a brain should buy through this bulls**t.
After all these things, there was one thing that Palin said that boiled my blood... that made me want to throw items at my TV set, and that made me lose almost all respect I had for her. She was answering attacks that she lacks experience, and she was addressing the criticism that being mayor of a small town isn't really impressive. She said that "being mayor of a small town is like being a community organiser- except with actual responsibilities". How rude!!!! For those of you that don't know, Barack Obama passed up a job offer on Wall Street to become a community organiser in inner city Chicago, helping the impoverished underclass deal with everyday issues. This comment by Palin was blatantly disrespectful to Barack Obama, and to impoverished inner city dwellers. Much like OBama may not understand rural small town voters, which he rather accurately describes as "bitterly clinging to religion and guns", Palin clearly does not understand urban populations. Beyond this... how dare she blatantly disrespect Barack Obama. The Democrats do not do that. When have the democrats blatantly disrespected John McCain or Sarah Palin?

I'm well aware that all of my readers probably can't vote, or will vote for Obama. In this sense, I'm preaching to the choir. I just hope and pray that people don't buy this Republican crap. Now, I don't believe Obama is a dream candidate.... nor do I actually expect him to keep all of his promises. But at least he promises the right things. At least he plays cleanly.