Elitist jumps Maverick - checkmate, please!

OK…I’m biased. I admit it. I’ve been a lifelong Democrat and my beliefs and politics are, for the most part, liberal leaning. And I offer not a single apology for it. It’s my right as an American to think however I want, so long as I act within the laws of the land and rules of society. But, I consider myself a rational voter. Sometimes you have to judge a situation by assessing what the best possible outcome may be and in several cases over the years in my current city of Scottsdale, AZ I have voted for a local Republican because I felt that they were truly the best candidates for the job. You see, I’m not so partisan that I vote blindly across the board, although it can be selfishly tempting.

For me it all boils down to capability. And capability is not the same thing as experience. When I “discuss” politics with others, however infrequent, the one thing that can set me off are regurgitated talking points. For Democrats it’s about bringing “change” to Washington, for Republicans it’s “reform”. Can we drop the semantics, please?

There are so many real issues in this election…the economy is number one. Where are we headed? To what degree the next president can guide our economics will also dictate the other issues. Health care, education, the war or wars as well as some sort of peace in the middle east. Handling the instability in the region is something we cannot do alone, yet we must show the leadership that America has been known for and claw our way back from the precipice that the last 7 years has placed us on. And I say that not from a talking point but pure fact. The jury is not back, but, the very real plausibility that the Bush administration has been one of the most damaging we’ve ever seen in our nation’s history is virtually a shoe-in vote.

It was painful enough to watch W. slip into the most powerful seat in the world the first time as the nation voted for a “good ole boy”…a guy “ you could have a beer with”. A guy who, despite graduating from Yale University, scored the lowest acceptable passing grade on the pilot's written aptitude test for the Texas Air National Guard. He did graduate from Harvard with his MBA which didn't seem to aid him as several businesses financed by his father failed miserably. Again, I go back to the word - capability. We had the facts. We had the information. Dubya finally entered politics in 1994, just three years before Barack Obama. The rest as they say is history. The second time he was elected president I was resigned to say, “Alright, Americans…go ahead…try to have your cake and eat it too” After all, it’s the land of the National Enquirer and Dancing with the Stars who are apparently driving the boat, now. And despite the good doctor being a Bush supporter I wanted to invoke Phil McGraw and scream “Well America…how’s that workin’ out for ya’!!!!”

You see, according to the Republican talking heads, 9/11 was a result of Clinton’s failures, not Bush’s. Seven and a half years later our economic collapse is also Clinton’s fault. Oh, I see. Let me guess. Darfur must be Clinton’s fault, too. How about the Chicago Cubs. I knew it!!! Clinton, you bastard!

Yeah, well the blame game really is that ridiculous. You know what…it’s not just incredulous…it’s downright embarrassing. Yeah, I know…the Dems do it too. Everyone is accountable. The problem with America is not spoiled rotten, ungrateful kids who have no manners and serious entitlement issues. The problem with America is the complete lack of accountability from our leaders and all their talking heads. I can’t imagine that every whiny politician out here would tolerate this blaming game and double talk from their own children so why do they condone it for themselves? It’s true this nation has lost it’s compass but when everything that is wrong is the other guys fault, what the hell message do you think you are sending to America’s youth? You are saying it only matters that you win the game...not how you play. That end results trump integrity and character. How many kids do you really know who are actually saying “When I grow up, I want to be President.” Not my kids or their friends. And it’s not like I’m depriving them of political knowledge. We talk freely in our house and they know and have voiced their support (in words only, of course) of candidates that I vehemently oppose. I may be flabbergasted at it but truth be told, I’m jazzed that they even have an opinion about politics. Like any responsible parent, I trust that I’ll set them straight and get them to see my side…I mean after all…isn’t that what most of us do? Right? Anyone? Bueller?

But seriously, as I’ve told them all along…this election is going to be monumental for a myriad of reasons. Race, gender (let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that these aren't key factors in this race), and of course…the issues. But more than anything I’ve tried to explain to the kids and others about that word - capability. Do I want John McCain in the White House…of course not. Do I think he can govern or does he have the capability to serve…yes, he can. Did you hear that, everybody? No, it wasn’t a pin drop…it was me saying that John McCain is capable of being president. I wouldn’t like the decisions he’d make, but he is a capable guy. At least he is, now. As a young man, one wouldn’t exactly call him “driven”. Graduating 894th out of 899 isn’t exactly “summa cum laud”…or even “cum laud”. Heck, it’s barely a “good job, kiddo”. But as an under-achiever myself, I am no one to judge. But, then again…I’m not running for the highest office in the world. Which brings me back to that word, yet again.

We’ve heard the talking points about Obama’s lack of experience. Well, let’s look at his experience.

Graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School - Magna Cum Laud.
First black President of the Harvard Law Review. Yes, he was a community organizer (apparently, a now “shamed” title) for 3 years before he became a practicing civil rights attorney. Taught constitutional law from 1992 to 2004 at University of Chicago Law School while serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 - 2004. Elected to the US Senate in 2004.

Let’s look at John McCain’s experience:

Graduated US Naval Academy in 1958 - bottom tier of his class. Became a navy flier in the Vietnam War and was shot down and became a prisoner of war for 5 years. He heroically survived and retired as a Captain in 1981. Elected to US House of Representatives in 1982. Served two terms and was elected to the Senate in 1986 where he has served until today. Calls himself a maverick yet voted the Bush Doctrine nearly 9 out of 10 times when given the chance.

Is there a difference in experience between these two men? Uh…yeah. In fact John McCain has more experience than not only Barack Obama, but also, Mitt Romney, Rudy Guiliani, Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson. Do you think the GOP would stand behind those other candidates had they won the primary? You betcha’!

Now let’s look at the experience of the VP candidates:

Joe Biden - Became a lawyer in 1968 in Delaware where he still resides to this day. Elected to the US Senate in 1972 and has been re-elected every term since. That should be plenty.

Sarah Palin - Attended 4 separate colleges before earning her BS in Communications-Journalism and becoming a sports reporter - which sounds light years more impressive than a community organizer (a smarky remark...that wasn't necessary). Elected Council member in Wasilla, Alaska (She won 530 votes to John Hartrick’s 310) from 1992-1996. Mayor of Wasilla from 1996-2002. Elected Governor in 2006. She had chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004. Precisely one year of “energy” expertise.

After her performance in the VP debate, Sarah has been lauded for holding her own and exceeding everyone’s expectations. My question was and still is…OK great…she exceeded your expectations. So why is it that you have placed the bar so low to begin with?

I know I’m being snide but here’s my main point folks. Barack Obama and Joe Biden have been accused of being “elitist” during this whole election season. Well, for almost 8 years we have had to deal with the inadequacies, the over-whelming number of scandals and constitutional assaults and quite simply, the degradation of The United States of America in both the mirror and around the world led by a man who was elected because “he’d be great to have a beer with”. A man whose upbringing was as far from Joe 6-pack as you could get. And now they want to replace him with a team of a once-great American Hero and a woman so far out of her league that her hubris refuses to submit as she screams about character assassinations, a tactic that the neo-cons have perfected.

Perhaps it’s now time for a couple of elitists to help walk us out of skid row.