Musings of Me

Politics

I am not one of the Americans looking forward to November.

This has nothing to do with the onset of the Holiday season and its subsequent weight gain. Believe me, I enjoy the Holidays. Any reason to celebrate with friends and to eat what other people cook is a good reason to party.

These reasons include and are not limited to: a tradition started by some obscenely bored Pilgrims, the birth of the Messiah, spirits returning from the netherworld one evening per year, and realizing your housemate cracked before you did and bought the groceries. Knowing you don’t have to buy them: Priceless.

Regardless of my undying love for the Holidays, I still am dreading November. Why? I watched the first Presidential debate last night. America is in for some really tough choices: bad and worse. At least everyone is disgruntled enough to vote in this election. I hope we at least get 75% of American Idol’s voting public.

It is my duty as an American to vote. As a woman, I refuse to not vote knowing what we had to go through to get that right. As a person under age 25, nobody cares about my age demographic anyway and I will vote simply to prove we are not apathetic about our government. As an American, I will vote because I can (providing my township actually mails my absentee ballot this time).

Making my decision to watch the debates was not hard. I wanted to learn more about the issues, and I wanted to see if Bush would call Kerry a pansy-assed yellowbelly on the air.

(I had not bothered with Fox News’ interview with Bush earlier, knowing O’Riley would ask such fair and balanced questions as “Why do you think the left-wing liberals have so many objections over your extremely well thought out and effective strategy in the war on terror?”)

Although I knew the odds of actually hearing WHAT anyone planned to do would be slim, I had hoped to see a brawl. I know Bush insisted the podiums be placed further apart because Kerry is taller than he is. I can read up on the issues myself.

September 29th, 9:00 P.M. Nestled on the sofa, pen and scrap paper in hand, I tune into NBC. On the couch next to me are my brother-in-law, his sister, and an armada of Busch Beer cans. The strategy is announced: “Okay ladies, every time Bush makes a face, we drink. When he uses ‘uh,’ ‘um,’ or ‘mmm,’ we drink. When he says ‘Nucular,’ we drink. Everybody ready?”

-We all have leanings in favor of Kerry.

As the evening progressed, both candidates behaved. Kerry diligently took notes while the President may have doodled from time to time. We think Bush may have tried to draw an unflattering caricature of Kerry, or tried playing the dot game with himself. In either case, his rebuttals were not nearly as effective. Kerry is by far a better debater.
(Whether each has better policies is for you to decide)

I also like the night’s Bushism, ‘ferciferously.’ I think he meant vociferously (meaning loud and vocal). The level of public speaking was further demonstrated by my relatives’ slurred speech and query of “who the hell is this Al guy they keep talking about?”

Poor Osama.

Overall, the main points I pulled from this (as stated by the candidates) are as follows:

1. Bush is better than Kerry

2. Kerry is better than Bush

3. Bush says we will have an all-volunteer army

4. Bush made a mistake attacking Iraq, which was not a key factor in the war on terror… it was for oil and because of non-existent weapons of mass destruction

5. Kerry is wishy-washy

6. America’s credibility has been ruined by the war in Iraq, and the faulty intelligence

7. While Bush is busy running around, North Korea now has nuclear weapons, and our alliances are in shatters (except with England and Australia) This is bad for the war on terror

8. Kerry won’t cut taxes, but how his programs will be paid for we do not know

9. Bush cut taxes for the wealthy, and all our money is being squandered. Our troops don’t have armored tanks or protective vests. The borders supposedly suck

10. If Kerry is elected, and admits Iraq is a mistake, foreign leaders will doubt America’s ability to commit and succeed in Iraq and other endeavors

After watching this debate, I am still doubtful about the future of our nation. I have to say I am voting Kerry right now, but depending on pending world events and political aims, it could change. But probably not.

I hate it when I agree with some of what each candidate has to say.

Regardless of what your political affiliations may be, please vote. Voting alone is not enough, though. Please research the issues. We have to live with our decision for another four years (we live with the ramifications of our decision for even longer).

Hopefully the Holidays redeem November. I have been trying to figure out the perfect Halloween costume, and after considering my budget and sense of humor, I finally am ready. I will wear a garbage bag and go as white trash.

posted by Jill @ 10:43 PM