What’s Going On?

(with apologies to Mr. Gaye…this seems like 40 years ago, when I was a grade school child wondering about all the fuss in Vietnam.)

Since I have been away from my writing here, I have had little access to the internet, so any opinions about new and exciting technology will have to wait. I have my trade magazines coming in, but they tend to be at least a week behind the announcement of anything on the internet. I could analyze the thought process of others about one of the developments, but instead, I will be directing my comments to things that are happening as I write, and are more universally important.

Those who don’t like anything with political commentary, turn away now. I will be, however, giving an opinion here about the differences between the party affiliations of people of the country, and how they tend to fly against conventional wisdom.

With the current boost that Sarah Palin has given the Republican ticket, I can’t help but wonder why.

Currently, we have John McCain, the Republican candidate for President, stating that amongst other things, he thinks that being in Iraq is a good thing, and that we just might need to be there for the next 100 years. This is, of course, because ‘the surge’ is going so well. Ms. Palin got up on stage at the Republican National Convention and stated how proud she was her son was going off to Iraq soon, to fight and possibly die in an effort that has little to do with anything other that the vain attempt at gaining historical notoriety by the sitting president.

Why does the ‘average’ woman think this is a good thing? I am a father, closely tied to my own son, and know that if the country was in peril, I would encourage him to serve, and probably try to serve myself. However, if he was to be drafted, or encouraged to serve by some other means, in the war today, I would use every means at my disposal to keep him out of any service. There is no honor in serving the wishes of an idiot who unilaterally attacked a country without provocation, and without the proper steps taken in presentation of the case to the United Nations and the country. There is no need for any of our sons and daughters to come home irreparably damaged or dead to satisfy some ridiculous power play by a man who should have never been president to begin with.

Further, does the ‘average’ woman identify with a woman who claims to follow the teachings of Christ, and then uses illegal means to persecute someone simply because he was married to her sister? Does this ‘average’ woman think that making small jabs at Barack Obama’s record of community service is above board and Christian?

The Republicans are managing to obfuscate the issues and the real differences in the candidates with the same lame, adolescent tactics that were used by George Bush in 2000 and 2004 – and why not, they are using the playbook of Karl Rove. (That too, is discouraging, as McCain had promised that it would not be the same politics of divisiveness – so much for that campaign promise).

Governor Palin did not look so good when quizzed by the ABC anchor, frequently looking either over-rehearsed or simply unaware. The Sunday morning shows were talking about the uneasy silence that came between the question about national security and the response that turned the conversation to energy, all the while not answering the question posed by Mr. Gibson.

Still, the focus of the Republican party that stays on Palin detracts from the fact that Senator McCain, if elected, will be running the show, and there will be none of the type of control, exerted by Dick Cheney, upon Washington and the country, by Governor Palin.

While we can probably be thankful for the good genes and longevity the senator was passed by his mother, there is still the problem of his complete agreement on a myriad of positions with the current administration.

So why is it then, that with 75% of the country disapproving of George Bush and his policies, and 70+% of the country stating that the economy is in shreds, why do we have a race at all? (Dare I say it?) Are the rednecks and bigots so afraid of an intelligent black man that they will shoot themselves in the foot, rather than prosper under new, different, and thoughtful changes in direction?

How has John McCain changed the country in any meaningful way? How can he claim to have experience to lead, as the Republicans claim that governors and mayors have? (Those of any intellectual prowess are aware of the fact that in most municipalities of this country, the mayor is a figurehead, and the real power and governing comes from the city manager – so there goes the Palin and Giuliani qualifications, right out the window).

Why is there such a disconnect between the polls concerning satisfaction with government and the lack of change in the Republican party, and the current ticket for the top 2 offices, represents? What are all these people thinking? Or are they thinking at all?

[I truly wonder what new things the late night hosts will have to chew on after the 3rd installment of Ms. Palin's interview - I'm sure that it will make news.]