Politics

I wrote a post earlier in the week about my take on the election thus far. But when I re-read it I thought it was lame and didn't really get at whatever point I was trying to make.

So here's my second attempt, in bullet form, on
Ten Things I Think I Think About The Campaign Thus Far:

1. I think Sarah Palin's selection as Vice President for John McCain is the most interesting thing that's happened to the presidential campaign this fall. It's completely changed the dynamics and shaken things up.

2. Experience (in any of the candidates) is over rated and somewhat irrelevant. Once you get to the White House, you're surrounded by advisors and experts and staffers who get you the information you lack to make the best decisions for this country. We recently watched Thirteen Days about JFK and the Cuban missile crisis. It was an interesting juxtoposition on the issue of what role the president plays as commander in chief in world crisis situations.

3. The issue of "fixing the economy" is another one that bugs me. The American economy is such a ginarmous black box of trillion dollar debt and interest rates and all that. It will take a lot more than one person's ideas on how to fix things. Every little bit helps, but it's very conceited to think that the President has some super natural power to make it all better.

4. The media is really annoyed that they didn't "have a say" in McCain's running mate. They had plans for all the other names they'd vetted as possibilities. He chose an outsider and now the media is openly hostile about it. I think the feminists are ticked too that she's not playing by their rules.

5. Because Palin is an outsider she's getting the 3rd degree on many issues reporters wouldn't even broach with other candidates. Here's some insight by UPI's Martin Sieff (courtesy of Matt). Charlie Gibson's interviews these past few days make him come across as a scornful condescending bully. Sure he's vetting her out and that's fine, but the unrealistic standard he has on some of his questions were a little over the top. My favorite touche of the interview was her pushing back when he asked about her quote on not being involved with the Iraq war. I can't find the quote but the gist of it was "That answer I gave then was appropriate for the conversation on business in Alaska and what I was doing as governor of my state to support the war in Iraq."

6. Also the whole "Bush Doctrine gotcha moment" where Palin clearly didn't know what he meant by the Bush Doctrine and 95% of those listening couldn't have answered the question either. (Matt interjects: I don't know if Bush himself knows what the Bush Doctrine is.) This article in the Washington Post by Charles Krauthammer hit the nail on the head. I especially liked his concluding paragraph

Yes, Sarah Palin didn't know what it is. But neither does Charlie Gibson. And at least she didn't pretend to know -- while he looked down his nose and over his glasses with weary disdain, sighing and "sounding like an impatient teacher," as the Times noted. In doing so, he captured perfectly the establishment snobbery and intellectual condescension that has characterized the chattering classes' reaction to the mother of five who presumes to play on their stage.

7. Before Palin was nominated I was feeling very apathetic about the campaign and didn't care for either candidate. Some of Obama's notions seem all talk and little substance. Some of McCain's rhetoric seems far from reform and changing the ways of Washington. Both sides dug into eachother at their conventions. But Palin is interesting and different and she seems to value some of the same things I do. But she is not the Presidential nominee. She is a great asset to McCain's ticket because people or looking past him and straight at her. And she seems very forthright and open, but don't we all hope our politicians are that way, even if they turn out differently in the end.

8. I do wonder at her being able to attend to her family's needs and serve her country in such a big way, but I've known some amazing women who seem to balance it all. Who are the media or public to question how a woman and mother chooses to care for her family? There are many fathers who stay with the kids while the mother works outside the home. I don't see the numerous mothers who are CEO's and lawyers and doctors and what not being grilled on this. The higher standard women are held to bothers me, but at the same time wants me to say "We Can Do It". It's mixed feelings for me of believing strongly in motherhood but also the right for a women to choose their own path.

9. It's really late and my brain power is fading along with my laptop battery power. Politically I am a cynical moderate with conservative views and liberal leanings.

10. I said ten things so here's my last thought/caveat: I'll probably think differently about the whole thing in another week or two. I think either candidate will do good things in office to try and help the economy and to make changes. But how they each plan to go about it is the real question.

10.5
One of my favorite images I found on a comment somewhere was Governor Palin wearing her infant son in a pouch. Go babywearers! And according to this link nursing/pumping too.