"Hope and Change" Becomes "Gloom and Doom"
Wow. I’m wondering where “hope” and “change” went.
“Mark my words: It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We’re about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.”
Gee, Joe, thanks for the warning…
“I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate . . . And he’s gonna need help. And the kind of help he’s gonna need is, he’s gonna need you – not financially to help him – we’re gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it’s not gonna be apparent initially, it’s not gonna be apparent that we’re right.”
So we’re supposed to elect someone who is GUARANTEED to spark an international crisis, of which we are in the center?! And we just have to HOPE that his response, which will seem like the WRONG response, is actually the RIGHT one? How comforting!
“There are gonna be a lot of you who want to go, ‘Whoa, wait a minute, yo, whoa, whoa, I don’t know about that decision.’ Because if you think the decision is sound when they’re made, which I believe you will when they’re made, they’re not likely to be as popular as they are sound. Because if they’re popular, they’re probably not sound.”
OK, what does that last paragraph even mean?? I feel like we’re in the middle of an Abbott and Costello skit!
“I probably shouldn’t have said all this because it dawned on me that the press is here.”
Yeah, we wouldn’t want you to be HONEST with the people when it’s actually going to get REPORTED to the people!
ABC News has a good article about what Biden “let out of the bag.”
I’m not writing this to incite a huge political debate by any means. Confrontation of any kind makes me want to crawl under the table and hide! But I am just getting really, really scared about what’s going to happen in our country. And since this is my blog, I guess I can express my own opinion, no matter how unpopular it is with my peeps! (And I hope you’re all still my peeps after reading this!)
I just want people to think, think, think. Weigh all the pros and cons. Put fancy politi-speak aside, step back, and really consider what some of these decisions will mean for America. And make an informed decision based on all of the facts.
But my lingering fear is that for many Americans, it wouldn’t matter what was said, promised, or done before November 4. The man has become much bigger than the message.
I have already voted, and I based my decision on my feeling that health care should be a basic human right (and no, I do not fear the “evil socialism monster”, just as our education system, police force, and fire department don’t frighten me, those are things that at one time were determined to be services that all people, reguardless of income, deserved so could no longer be trusted to the private sector), civil rights for all law-abiding citizens despite their sexual orientation, worldly-minded and level-headed foreign policy, a desire to end a mistake of a war to try to prevent as many more innocent men, women and children from being killed as possible, the importance of education for all from pre-k through college, my strong feeling for the need to stop ourselves from destroying our own planet(whether one believes global warming is man-made or not, I don’t want to risk my kids or grandkids on a maybe when becoming more clean and efficient would harm nothing), my belief in finding a humane immigration solution, and the hope that the middle class of this country can come off of the endangered species list and we can balance out the appauling uneven distribution of wealth that has hollowed out our economy.
I didn’t vote for anyone because I was hypnotized by their eloquence, although after living for 8 years with a president that embarrassed me every time I had to watch him speak publically, I don’t really understand what is so wrong with eloquence, as long as it isn’t your decision maker. I don’t want a president that I feel is “like me.” I am not qualified to be president, and neither is anyone else I know. I want a level-headed and smart leader that shares my views on as many of the issues that are important to me as possible, and has, what I feel like, are good and original ideas on how to make life better for as as many Americans as possible.
So I don’t really feel that Joe Biden’s comment was necessary or made that much sense, but looking around at the state we are in right now, there probably will be some sort of crisis in the first six months no matter who is in charge, whether it be economical, in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, etc. This is where we are right now. Was it necessary to say, no, probably could have just not said that, but it wasn’t Barack that said it, it was Joe Biden. When Sarah Palin does actually speak to the media, I am usually not very impressed with what she says, either.
So, of course you are still my peep, it would take a lot more than that to get rid of me:) but I did think, and I have been thinking about it, reading about it, listening about it, watching shows about it, etc., for 2 years and I agree that the man has become bigger than the message, but not in a bad way. It makes me laught that his opposition accuses him of being a “celebrity” because more people actually want to hear what he has to say. That is a bad thing why?!? He DOES have the ability to inspire people, and that is bad because?!? But his message has never been that he is some savior that is going to swoop down and save everyone from peril, the message he has repeated over and over, the message that inspired me was his message that this isn’t about him, that this is about all of us working together to make this country a better place for everyone, young and old, sick and healthy, rich and poor, and that is something that my faith led me to believe before I had even heard of Barack Obama.
Umm…so that was a LOT longer than it looked in the little typing box, woah. I would edit it, but can’t figure out how to do that, so please feel free to edit with your mind as much as you like:) I am going to blame that one on the baby hormones.
Ummmm – Turkeypants – Health care IS a basic human right in this country. Name me ONE hospital that will refuse you care??
While you do not fear the “evil socialism monster”. I do. Take my word for it. When it’s run by the government, you will lose your freedom to choose. ANYTHING. Just wait.
Eloquence? Yeah, Obama can speak (kinda … with a tele-prompter), and you’re embarrassed of the man who, when your country was attacked, TOOK A STAND FOR YOU. Did what he could do to PROTECT you. Tell me you can honestly say that days after 9-11 you were not behind George W. Bush … and if you say that you weren’t … I don’t believe you. When we’re attacked again (and we will be) let’s just see how “eloquence” defends and protects us. We’ll see how far the “peaceful talking” gets us. Because I put my money on “NOT FAR”.
And … I find it rather amusing that when Joe Biden makes an “oops” it’s all “Well, Barak didn’t say it!” I mean, Biden is only running for VICE President, right? However, when Palin says ANYTHING it’s compared directly to Obama … who by the way … is about as qualified as Sarah Palin is, only he’s running to be the ‘top dog’ leader of our country. Ummm, okay?
Paula – you’re right on. And even if I didn’t agree with you through and through … I’d still be one of your peeps.
I doubt anyone would ever deny me medical care in an emergency. However, I am sure that if I didn’t have insurance my daughter would be denied her necessary medication that she takes every day, since there is no way I could afford the $160 a month it would cost me if I didn’t have insurance. (The $40 a month it costs with insurance feels bad enough!) But, that makes me wonder about what all the people who DON’T have insurance do? I don’t mean people sponging off the government, but honest hardworking people who can’t afford basic health care or whose health care is very limited. And why are there so many people who don’t have insurance? I WOULD like to see that everyone in this country is taken care of when it comes to healthcare. And I guess even if that has to include the “spongers”, so be it.
The bottom line is, we all have our hotbutton issues. And we will base our allegiances on which candidate speaks the language we want to hear when it comes to those issues. Chances are no one is going to change anyone else’s mind. Both sides are always going to claim a double standard. All of the candidates are going to make mistakes. They are all noble people who I feel deep down truly love this country and want what they feel is best for it. But they just believe different things, and as Americans we should celebrate the fact that we are allowed to align ourselves accordingly. I am not worried at all; no matter what happens I think our country will be okay. I have 100% faith that God loves both candidates very much, as He loves all of us, and He will help guide them to (most of the time) make good decisions. Our country is such a small part of the rest of the earth; I have full confidence that the world will not go to hell in a handbasket either way.
Oh my gosh! My comment turned out way longer too! That’s freaky! Did someone add to it…? Ha!
There are those who hate us and wish to destroy us…just because. And if they are able to carry out a plan…they will do that regardless of which candidate becomes president. But, even though I will not vote for the McCain/Palin ticket, that doesn’t mean that I am afraid of that ticket. Fear can be crippling. These are trying times, but there have been many trying times, just in my lifetime. And it’s not good for our children to feel that we fear one candidate or another. They need to believe that both men are honorable and capable.
Please don’t do all of us that prefer OBama a disservice by assuming that we “drank the Kool Ade”. There are ardent supporters on both sides.
I, also, have been listening and watching it all for nearly 2 years. I, also, believe that we all love this country, no matter whether Republican or Democrat. I, also, believe that both men are good men and love this country.
I find that OBama more closely shares my idea of the role of government.
I don’t find a lot of differences between the policies set forth by McCain and those practiced by Bush.
Also, everyone I know was behind Bush after 911..but he squandered his opportunity to unite this country. He led us into 2 wars, one of which I always felt was unjust.I didn’t find his “shoot from the hip” style of decision making very comforting.
Regardless of how we feel, one of these two men will be president in Jan, it’s really important that we try to pull behind the president. I know that that will be difficult for me if McCain does win…I will certainly be disappointed….but, then, I’ve been disappointed before…but I will work at it. wW do all need to work together to try to solve the challenges we are facing and will continue to face.
PS I have felt for a long time that if the USA fails, it will be economically, not militarily. Just need to hope that China doesn’t call in all of their markers.
PSS Biden made a stupid statement…as has Palin.
I AM afraid of the Obama/Biden ticket. I just am. The world IS watching and knows that Mr. Obama will JUST WANNA TALK and will not take action. There are many countries that hate us. Many that will act against us. They aren’t willing to ‘just talk’.
And yes, Biden AND Palin have made stupid statements … but Biden gets a “pass” in the mainstream media, as just running for vice president and Palin is compared to Obama and made to look unqualified. (Like Already Laughing said).
Someone please tell me … what makes Obama qualified?
I really want to know …
Is there an exact definition of "qualified," or is it all just in our personal beliefs anyway? There is no list of requirements (beyond age of 35+, American citizen, etc.). Anyone can tell me why they think one person is qualified over another, and I may agree with those reasons or I may not…because we may all have different characteristics of "qualified". I don't think any of the 4 candidates (pres & vice) are UNqualified because there isn't such a thing. I think still all comes down to which candidate you want.
I personally have been denied health care. When I was without health insurance and my dr. suspected my cancer had come back, I was denied the test that would determine this, and therefore the treatment because in his words “I didn’t have health insurance,” even though I said I would pay for it myself. This disgusted him, but he had no choice. And he told me that the hospitals charge more to the uninsured than they bill to the insurance companies, which makes going without even more difficult. Prior to that when I did have insurance, while in Radioactive Medicine and awaiting my own cancer treatment, I witnessed a man PLEADING with the nurse to give him the cancer treatment he needed, saying that he could pay for it himself. She just kept saying “sorry, you don’t have coverage, there is nothing I can do.”
My health insurance “choice” was to buy a high-risk plan for $950 a month, on top of the $750 a month plan my family had. And we were in a blessed enough of a position financially to have almost done that(even though it could have bankrupted us)because we were more scared of the outcome if I didn’t. But what are those who aren’t in a decent enough financial situation supposed to do? Do they not matter? We were lucky enough to own our own business, and were able to start a small group which would be forced to cover everyone’s pre-existing conditions. We pay through the nose for this, and our insurance agent told us that the plan would go up an average 10% every year, but we think it is important for us, and our employees. Plus, Obama’s plan isn’t Universal Healthcare. Under his plan we would keep our small group, but the premiums would be lowered. It is the uninsured that would be getting the government plan, one which both Obama and McCain already have themselves.
And I guess neither candidate should be slinging the “socialist” label at each other anymore, since both candidates just voted for the Rescue Package. Plus, I thought the country had learned its lesson from throwing around labels and fear with that other Joe…Joe McCarthy.
I didn’t start out that turned-off by G.W. Bush. I have never denied that for a few weeks after 911 I was behind him. Until we invaided Iraq, which even at the time really made no sense. It never sat right with me, and it felt like we may as well had been invaiding Cananda or Uruguay because it appeared in no way related to the attacks on our country. I never took issue with Afghanistan, which is where the Taliban was, but Iraq was not involved. So I really did give G.W. Bush a chance, but I don’t feel like invaiding the wrong country was taking a stand for anyone. I feel like it was irresponsibly putting our troops in harms way, and destorying many innocent lives in Iraq. I agree, like anybody, that Saddam was a horrible dictator whose attrocities are many, but invaiding Iraq was not the approriate response to 911. Because of Iraq, we are much weaker to deal with another attack, when or if that happens. And if it does, I would take “peaceful talk”, but a willingnes to take military action if necessary, over jumping into a needless war that left us weakened.
And I suppose if one thinks that the mayor of a town with a population of under 7000, that manages no social services, including a fire department or school becomes govenor of a state of less than 700,000 has the same experience than someone who was a state representative, and then a U.S. senator of a state with over 12 and a half million people, then it is their right to think that, and because of the varying duties of each office, that could be debated indefinitely with no clear answer. But, if one thinks that just being a U.S. senator doesn’t qualify you for the presidency, then how is John McCain qualified? I am not saying he isn’t, but he and Barack have the same title.
As for Joe Biden, I have said many times, aloud to others, that he has said stupid things. I wouldn’t believe any Obama-Biden supporter who argued otherwise. But I was commenting on this blog, and the comments he made that were discussed in this blog I didn’t completely disagree with, so it wasn’t a blanket statement.
And Paula, I really thought this was an interesting blog (I don’t mean interesting like bad, I really mean interesting) and I took it as kind of a challenge to lay it out on the table and say why I feel the way I do. Not to change your mind, because you have the right to think whatever you want, but simply to put my own reasons out there. You know that the last thing I would want to do was to be disrespectful toward you, or make you feel bad, so just know that I am just commenting on your blog today, not you!!
I just want to add that this weekend The L.A.Times endorsed OBama and they have never backed a Democrat. Also the Chicago Tribune endorsed OBama. They also have never backed a Democrat, including Adlai Stevenson, who had been governor of Illinois, when he ran against Dwight Eisenhower. These are through and through Conservative papers. They are evidently not afraid of an OBama presidency. Then there is also the endorsement by Colin Powell.
I, too, am just trying to express my reasons without wanting to put anyone down. That is what is so marvelous about this country …we can love each other,but not see eye to eye on the issues. That’s what our fore fathers fought for…that is what makes the tapestry of this country so rich. It’s healthy for us to discuss openly our differences as long as we remain respectful…which I believe we have 🙂 I have been having respectful conversations like these with my own mother for years…and this year she surprises me and agrees with me!! Will wonders never cease?
I still believe that no matter the outcome we need to unite together for the good of this country.
Hope you all have a peachy day out there.
Thank you to everyone for responding! I know I won’t get people to change their minds with my humble words, but I hope I at least made everyone think a little bit more.
I know everyone has their issues that they rank higher than others. I agree that health care is a mess, but I don’t think that socialism is going to make it better.
I also agree that what makes this country great is that we can disagree and have our own opinions. It’s called democracy, and if we become a more socialist government, these basic rights will start to fade away. Take Joe the Plumber, for instance. He spoke up, asked a question that was on his mind, and has now been persecuted by the press and mocked by both the democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates. How dare he ask a question! How dare he think that he lived in a free country! Hmmm…it just doesn’t sit well with me. I by no means think any of the presidential or vice-presidential candidates are perfect, and I don’t think any of them are evil plotters who want to destroy the country. But I do think that some of the core beliefs of Obama do directly contradict the foundation of our country–democracy and capitalism. And that does scare me. If he does become president, I will do my best to stand behind him because I think it is horrible how badly our current president is treated, regardless of your opinion of him. But I just hope that we are still a free country and not just part of a “one-world government” when his term is up.
Great comments on this one!
Paula, I still love you, even though I will NOT be voting the same way!
I find it interesting that people are worried that Obama won’t look good in the world eye. Bush has looked good? McCain will look good? I wonder what “good” means to some people. The thought scares me.
I know that this country has to unite. We are divided now in ways that have never happened before in my lifetime. It’s like Vietnam but without the cause. (yeah yeah I know we’re in Iraq, but if you think it’s the same–you don’t know your history).