Independence For Change Part I of II
September 9th 2008 15:59
As we sit on the door step of history I am compelled by an unimaginable force to reflect back on everything that has transpired in this election season and to also take a deeper look into how this force of "change" is shaping the 2008 election season
From the very first votes cast in the Republican and Democratic Primaries Americans of every age, gender and race carried the burdens of a failed government in their hearts and minds.
These 80% disapproval ratings in the Congressional Houses and 70% disapproval ratings in the Oval Office were a product of a failed war strategy, faltering economy, failures from both parties in dealing with the energy crisis before it put us in harms way both domestically and Internationally and an over all do nothing government where our representatives elected by the people would rather fight over the things that divide us as a nation rather than iron out compromises for the betterment of the whole.
The first call in this election season to fix these problems came from a man who was touted by nay sayers as being the most liberal member of Congress.
Through inspirational speeches…Barack Obama made a call for our political leaders to rise above party politics and to take an Independent approach of reaching across the aisle to solve these problems.
We're up against decades of bitter partisanship that cause politicians to demonize their opponents instead of coming together to make college affordable or energy cleaner. It's the kind of partisanship where you're not even allowed to say that a Republican had an idea, even if it's one you never agreed with.
This nuanced approach by a political leader was a first from a candidate from one of the two major parties and built energy around this man and his cause to clean up Washington.
Running a long campaign against an experienced opponent with last name of Clinton, who had deep ties into the 28 year two family dynasty in the Oval Office and was also deeply entrenched into the current "do-nothing" Congress was an easy sell for Obama to call for an end to more of the same.
In the beginning it was easy for Clinton to wave the banner of "change" against the shadow of negatively viewed George W. Bush Presidency, but as the rallies grew bigger and began to fill stadiums, this nuanced rock star like politician who said what needed to be said soon created a political race of "change vs. experience".
As Obama battled the forces of his own party he emerged as a Maverick who was ready to root out lobbyist ties on both sides of the aisle as well as working from the middle to bring the real change we need in Washington.
Real change from "more of the same" became the reason why Obama won his primary but somewhere along the line with victory the healing process had to begin within the Democratic Party.
The wounds that needed to be healed came from Healing bitter divisions in a political race that pitted the first serious candidates of African American Descent and a Woman who has broken so many glass ceilings in her career.
This healing process included Obama reaching his hand out to welcome Clinton into his cause which ultimately came with a price.
The price Obama had to pay was stepping back from his original platforms of fighting against more of the same….
This stepping back meant eliminating rhetoric concerning the 28 year Clinton/Bush dynasty that has mired our country in partisan gridlock
This stepping back meant ending discussion of a do nothing democratically controlled Congress that has allowed our nation to slip into even deeper financial despair over the past year.
This stepping back meant embracing a 30 year Veteran Senator by the name of Joe Biden as your running mate instead of an outsider that can carry on your cause beyond one election.
We're up against the conventional thinking that says your ability to lead as president comes from longevity in Washington or proximity to the White House. But we know that real leadership is about candor and judgment and the ability to rally Americans from all walks of life around a common purpose, a higher purpose.
At some point around convention time Obama's cause changed from getting a leader with Independent thinking in the White House and became a call for an end to the Presidency of George W. Bush and to simply elect a Democrat….
The call for an end to the Bush dynasty will be answered in January 20, 2009 as this is the date when the term of the last Bush is his up and our current President can no longer serve as President.
The blundered war will also be coming to an end shortly after this President exits office as well.
This end is not due to any politician's promises or a public outcry but is due to circumstances outside of our countries control. The Iraqi government is finally stepping up and owning their situation with our expended tax payer revenue in protection and infrastructure building allowng them to keep a surprlus of oil money they should have been using to help us rebuild their country.
I understand that partisan politics are the name of the game and that elections are a contact sport and not a sit down dinner…
In the words of a famous wrestler Booker T:
"Don't Hate the Player, Hate The Game"
I find it hard to be inspired by a man from the left who is willing to let go of some of his social views in an effort to compromise in a nation that is split 50-50 on these issues and to not feel the same way about the other side when I'm presented with a Maverick who has proven bi-partisanship in structuring need legislation with results.
It was easy for me to overlook John McCain's past success when I watched him force and claw his way into the party fray after grudgingly winning his nomination from the Republican Party.
For months this man who commanded respect from both sides of the aisle for decades was reduced to begging Evangelicals to give him a shot in leading them to victory.
Time after time he was forced to make hard line far right statements about litmus tests of Supreme Court judges and unwavering Social policy.
As I screamed at the TV and Radio and begged for the John McCain from the 2000 election who almost beat George W. Bush, the man who almost ran along side John Kerry in "04" and the man who has been shunned by his party for having a non partisan conscience and being Maverick thinking to return… my eyes were closed and back was turned on the Republican Party I have voted for in every Presidential election.
For too long I have held my nose and voted for this party as each and every candidate have given into the pressure of the straight up and down Evangelical vote and other far right forces of the Party.
These are the same feelings I am receiving from the Obama Camp where change and McCain/Bush has become a catch phrase equal to how I viewed McCain up until his pick of a Sarah Palin as a Vice Presidential Candidate and both of their speeches at the Republican National Convention.
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