Election Coverage
Alright, facts time:
Obama has 1,500,196 'fans' on Facebook.
McCain has 252,191 'fans' on Facebook.
What's the difference you ask? Well, it shows that Obama is more in touch with the youth vote(Now, not all of his 'fans' are eligible to vote. And those that are may not be able to, or are not registered to vote. But it's still a big difference). If half of these 'fans' come out and vote for their respective candidates(and that's a conservative number, I think), then Obama has a clear advantage.
Obama is a concise, comfortable, inspirational speaker. I think we can all agree on that.
McCain looks tense, and his rhetoric is not as strong as Obama's.
What does this mean? Obama will crush McCain at the Debates. It means that Obama will have more momentum because 'pundits' will like his points more. Obama has an advantage there.
Let's look at the VP spot:
Joe Biden has 36 years in the Senate.
Sarah Palin has 20 months as Governor of Alaska.
Think about this stat: Alaska has, as of 2007, 683,478 people. Monroe County, in New York, has 735,343 people. So theoretically, Maggie Books, county executive since January 1, 2004, has more experience running a government than Palin, and, has more people to govern. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has 1,448,634 people. There are more people on Facebook supporting Obama than Palin has to govern! The point I'm trying to make, is that, God Forbid, something happens to the President, McCain or Obama, Biden is clearly more experienced, just based on the sheer numbers of it. Forget actual experience. Palin hasn't had the chance to lead more people than Maggie Brooks has, let alone lead a nation.
Biden, although he is a Senator, and not a Governor, has been in the Senate since Palin was 8! He is chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, something Palin has no experience with. He serves on the Committee on the Judiciary, including the Subcommitte on Crime and Drugs, of which he is the Chairman, and the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Refugess, and the Subcommittee on Technology Terrorism and Homeland Security.
Palin, as I mentioned before, has Zero foreign affairs experience. Read this Quote:
Alaska Business Monthly: We've lost a lot of Alaska's military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?
Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe...
She heard about it on the News? Essh. I want my VP knowing first hand what's happening. I want my Governor to know that.
This is my blog, so I am entitled to my opinions. And regular readers will know I am a staunch supporter of Obama. And, while I try to be objective, it's hard, especially seeing where we've gone as a country since Bush took office. Palin might be a nice person, and, who knows, might make a great VP, if elected. But I can't sit back and allow someone as inexperienced as her have the chance to lead the Free World. So, this post might be an endorsement of Obama. But it's also based on facts. And in this changing world, we need some facts. I'm sick and tired of pundit speak, as I call it. We're a nation that's influenced so easily. Show us an ad on TV for a product, and we're likely to buy it. And Pundit speak, is opinion. I've said this before, that I want facts in my reporting. Same thing with election. Except the election is MUCH, MUCH, more important than a report on a sport team, or something of that nature. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Hell, most of this blog is opinion. But, with things that matter, and general reporting, I use facts. Opinion pieces come with opinion stories, such as the Jericho Scott incident. You may be a McCain fan. Or an Obama fan. But I'm an Obama fan based on FACTS. Forget that fact that Obama is a better speaker, or McCain is more experienced. Based on voting records, values, and facts, I've chosen Obama as my candidate. You may disagree.
So this is what I propose: We're Americans, right? So, we're all in this together, right? This is OUR country. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians be damned. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That's what makes America so great. But I want to try something. I want, for one week, for all readers to turn off political coverage. I want all readers to go on the internet and look up, for yourself, the values, and voting records of McCain and Palin, Obama and Biden. And I want for you to decide who your candidate is. Forget Republican or Democrat. Forget what pundits are saying after a speech. Forget that. Focus on your core beliefs and see which candidate fits you 'best'. I may be a Democrat. And I have certain beliefs that are traditionally in line with Democratic ideals. But, let's say, for example, Obama was Pro-Life, against bringing the troops home, and did not want health care for all Americans. Even if he was Democrat, I would support McCain (assuming that he would be the opposite of Obama in this scenario). The problem with Representative Democracies is that we vote for someone to speak up for us. So if your candidate does not win, you're, well, screwed. I'm not suggesting we change our Government. But I am suggesting we all take a more active role in our government. And we do that by finding out for ourselves which candidates are best. We do this with everything else. If you don't like steak, you don't eat it. Even if members of your 'party' (family, friends, etc) are eating it. Same principle with government. We all have the amazing power to communicate with the Internet. Technology has enabled the power of instant info. Use it. Use it to your advantage. If you don't, you're not only failing yourself. You're failing your fellow Americans.
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