The Debate Hangover:
Well, the debate was over and it was time to decide how I felt about it. I support Obama so it is useless to waste any time here on specific issues. And people react to politics of any sort differently, so my response is, for all practical purposes, useless. I certainly didn't feel like running out on the balcony and screaming how proud I was to be an American. I really didn't know who won since I guess that depends on the criteria you are measuring. I don't think anyone who has followed either candidate was likely to change their mind. So if there was a population out there that counted at the end it was those long time members of the 'know nothing' party, probably the biggest political party in the country. These are the weirdo's who get interviewed on the street by Leno and are so proud to be so ignorant. Their parent's must be so proud of them. Then again, maybe they are the really smart ones---they look much happier than most who know so much more.
I hope those in other countries don't hear or read much of the debate. They are so tired of this more recent androgenic arrogant empire building Uncle Sam, with 750 military bases in 130 different countries, running all over the globe with missiles under his arm, arming or invading sovereign countries with self proclaimed freedom fighters. I suppose Barack was told he had to appear as strong on military ventures as McCain or lose the election. I can only hope it was all bluster for that reason, and he will not really project such an attitude once President. If he does I think it will be out of character. But one never knows. What does victory in Iraq mean anyway? For differing reasons every single group in Iraq is going to hate us after we leave, and since the elected government is demanding a short and definite timetable for us to leave, why were they acting like America is the one who decides that? Or maybe they both do mean America will leave when America damn well feels like leaving. Can't we just stop killing any more of our own people, declare victory, and leave?
The scary thing is that both candidates seemed hell bent on starting up the Cold War again. Our sole goal should be to help Russia and her neighbors get along well with each other. Why have we been arming the Georgians and working so hard to get these countries that border Russia to join military alliances? The Cold War is supposed to be over. If either one was trying to show how tough they would be with Russia if Russia bothered Georgia, they were making fools of themselves to the rest of the world. Look, if Russia just simply attacked Georgia, what are we going to do, attack Russia? Of course we are not. C'mon Barack, you're supposed to be the community organizer, your goal should be to help the Russians and Georgians find common ground and exist as peaceful friends. That is your strength, stop trying to be some kind of younger military soldier who knows victory only one way---through the barrel of a gun---and thinks might makes right, period. McCain is an embittered old soldier who bears the mark of being held captive in an old fashioned war. It doesn't take rocket science to understand why McCain feels the way he does about conflict. Raise the flag and blow the bastards away.
The budget will come down only when America changes her priorities and joins the rest of the civilized societies to fight the global problems common to all humanity. These countries have pretty much stopped participating in our military ventures, are becoming ever more hostile to our obsession with such adventures, and if they have been turned off by Bush, they certainly will be more turned off by a smarter Bush. And if Barack spouts off about the rest of the world the way he did in the debate, other world leaders are not going to be impressed by him either.
So I guess I cross my fingers---this "I'm more macho than you" contest seemed to have amounted to some sort of draw in the debate. Perhaps it served some political purpose for Barack. The most 'macho' of all may turn out to be Sarah Palin. Good thing, she is our first line of defense against Russia---she can even see Russia from where she lives.
The American political process is certainly entertaining. But after a while it gives you a headache.
