I get angry.
Are these people paying attention to what's going on in this country at all? To the economy? Our abysmal foreign policy? The horrendous health care we'll be saddled with in just a couple years? The war in Afghanistan? The fact that gitmo still is open? The extravagant vacations and golf and weird hushed-up White House parties while most of the country is struggling to find work? Who is it, exactly, who still likes Obama? I would think that there are things in the above list that would make both conservatives and liberals angry.
Now, once the Republican Party has chosen its nominee, if you would prefer Obama to that person, then that is your right and privilege. I may disagree with you, but it is still a free country.
But to be rooting for him when you don't even know the alternative?
Really???
7 comments:
I pretty much dislike everyone from every party. None of the politicians care about actually fixing our country's problems or about the average person out there. They care about getting re-elected. Oh, and protecting their wealth and the wealth of the corporations ("people") that pay for their campaigns. It's discouraging to see everyone on both sides court the far right/left and then try to quickly swing back to the middle for the general election. Those that actually are in the middle and sound somewhat reasonable have no chance of getting a nomination. And that's just depressing.
I can see why, based on what the Republicans have put forward, people could have decided already that they'd rather have Obama than anyone the other side has produced. Obama inherited a mess and hasn't done anything to make it better, but some of the Republican nominees are downright scary (though, thankfully, at least some of those have disappeared already, right?). And, honestly, I think people, while disappointed in Obama and not thrilled with him, are even more upset at Congress. So maybe they're hoping to shake things up there? I have no idea. As you can tell, I'm rather cynical about the whole process. I'm currently trying to pay as little attention as possible to it all and just hoping the far right doesn't end up choosing someone completely crazy.
I actually kind of like Mitt Romney, even if he isn't as conservative as I am. (Yes, I really am that conservative!) I think with his business background he might be really good at kickstarting our economy. Plus, I just like that he's a decent guy. Newt Gingrich scares me (both his politics and his personal life). I'm not sure that Romney has much of a chance at beating Obama, though. But neither does Gingrich, which is pretty pathetic-- Obama should be SO beatable right now!
Anyway. I just have to add, for anyone else reading the comments-- I DON'T JUST LIKE ROMNEY BECAUSE HE'S MORMON. Really, I don't. I was actually relieved when he dropped out four years ago because then I could stop hearing about how much everyone hates Mormons. Okay. I just had to say that.
I'd wager Romney has a better chance at beating Obama than anyone else the GOP has put forward. And I think it's safe to say he's the least crazy of those left. Four years ago I remember that I didn't agree with some of his stances on things, but if he gets the nomination I will look into him more and make a decision then. I am a little wary of how he'd try to fix the economy. If all he can do is get it back to working how it was before, that doesn't do us any good. (I honestly haven't paid attention to anything he's said about what he'd do about that thus far, so if he gets the nomination I'll have to.) But Obama isn't exactly doing anything to fix it either so I'm certainly not getting my hopes up that the outcome would be good either way.
I know I just wish Romney was Hindu. Or Buddhist. Or Catholic. I don't care, I just wish he wasn't Mormon FOR the purposes of this coming election. That's bad, I know it. I felt that way in the last election and I can't help but wish his religion was 'mainstream' or something and not far-right mainstream, if you get what I mean. I was actually hoping Huntsman would get some momentum going but that didn't work out. I think part of the political problem is that no SANE person WANTS to be President. I mean really, who wants *that* job??
Haha, Anna, I think you're right about that. I know I wouldn't want that stress and pressure, not to mention everyone prying into my family life all the time, having my family have to look and be "perfect" every time we go out, or have security around us all the time, everywhere we go. Ugh.
Well, I for one still kinda like Obama. :) Did you watch the State of the Union tonight? He's got some good ideas! Hopefully a few will get into practice.
But let's think bigger than a few political personalities. The primary problem facing the country is that a lot of middle-class jobs have gone away in the past 30 years, and a lot of those same jobs aren't gonna come back, and this is really scary to most of us who want to have happy families in a stable country.
Many of the jobs that do have vacancies now (mainly science/tech-related) aren't being filled by US workers because there aren't enough American engineers/scientists/techs with the skills to fill them. (And we stupidly educate tech/science folks here and then don't let them stay to invent nifty things on US soil!!) And the population of the globe is still increasing - we'll need *more* good jobs for all these new people.
So, how do we create *good* jobs for all Americans that want them? That's the subject of a fascinating, quick read that I just stumbled on titled "The Coming Jobs War" by Jim Clifton. Check it out if you have time:
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Jobs-War-Jim-Clifton/dp/1595620559/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327470716&sr=8-1
Also, a similar theme is, incidentally, the subject of a couple of recent short articles in (horrors! ;) the NYTimes. Also recommended.
1) Tom Friedman: "Average is Over" http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/opinion/friedman-average-is-over.html
2) David Brooks: "Free Market Socialism" http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/opinion/brooks-free-market-socialism-.html
So - the big question. Bigger than personalities that we elect - what do we need to teach our kids today so that their own lives (and America's!) are the best possible in the future...? What can we do at a local level to facilitate these skills...?
;)
Elizabeth-- As always, I have to point out that I sure am grateful to have a friend who can disagree with me and still be my friend! Thanks!
I haven't read those links yet, but I will!
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