Aug 29, 2008

A conservative, female GOP VP nominee?

If the operative (leading) reason for U.S. Sen. John McCain's vice presidential pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was due to gender and such egalitarian reasons, then his pick is problematic. Remember, Martin Luther King, Jr., said, we "should not be judged by the color of our skin, but the content of our character."

Whether its skin or gender, either characteristics are outside of our control. What we can control, that is, the "content of our character," should be the operative factor for selection. Content of our character reflects our integrity, discipline, hard work, faithfulness leading to achievements, successful relationships and contentment. Apparently, Gov. Palin has the necessary content of character.

The question remains, did Sen. McCain pick her finally because she was the most qualified under the circumstances or because she was a woman? If she was picked for being a woman (to obtain Hillary Clinton female voters and the historic suffrage moment), then political appeasement to left-liberal egalitarian in gender affairs won out.

McCain and his close confidants only knows. Certainly, many now know that the Palin pick does change the poltical dynamics. Obama and his particular ethnicity is not the only historic moment in this race; Palin does not pale in comparison.

Promises, Promises: Obama's big heart versus reality

In his historic speech last night, U.S. Sen. Obama, the Democrat nominee, stated that he felt everyone's pain, causing him to make many promises. If he made 100 promises, then how many do you think he will fulfill?

Of course, we should not expect him to fulfill 100% of his promises, but if he is the source of change and hope, then why shouldn't we expect a high fulfillment ratio? Shouldn't we expect that most of his promises will be fulfilled in his first term, then look for him to fulfill the rest during his second term?

Pessimistically, if he is a typical politician--long on promises, short on fulfillment, then half or even a quarter of the promises fulfilled would be satisfactory. If you look at his promises--health care for all, peace in the world under his open door leadership approach, ending Middle East oil dependency in 10 years and a tax cut for 95% of us and other such near universal promises, it may be that 10% of promises fulfilled would be realistic. Yet, it may be that only 1% of his promises would be fulfilled, starting with tax increases for the top 5% of earners.

After all, who would pay for all the new, universal federal programs? Truly, the top 5% of earners already pay about 80% to 90% of the taxes. So, where would the rest of the money to pay for the multi-billion dollar federal give aways come from?

Senator Obama's high minded rhetoric was very liberal with much populist appeal: the government and the rich are bad but the everyday man and woman are good. This attracts a broad constituency to win elections.

When the presidential campaign is complete, will Obama and his policies be able to resolve these national and international questions:
1) Will he be able to cut taxes for 95% of taxpayers while paying for an already bloated federal government with a budget approaching $2 trillion plus billions more for free healthcare for all?
2) Will he actually provide health care for legal and illegal immigrants and all the uninsured, which comprises the 47 million uninsured?
3) How will he end our Middle East oil dependency in 10 years when he will prevent, via bureaucratic regulations, the increase of nuclear energy and natural gas facilitation and offshore drilling?
4) Will face-to-face dialogue with the two remaining leaders of the "Axis of Evil" (Iran and North Korea) lead to their unilateral nuclear disarmament and peace co-existence with their neighbors?
5) Will he really and completely pull American solders out of Iraq within 60 days of an Obama oath of office, leaving a political and military vacuum thereby allowing nearly nuclear neighbor Iran to dominate the oil-rich region? Will he then take responsibility for the death of millions of Iraqis?


Wanted: rhetorical accountants, fact checkers and a federally mandated fulfillment department.