Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Let Us Remember - Hope & Change

Let me confess. For the first time in my adult life, I did not vote for a Democrat running for president. This was the 6th time I've cast a ballot for the office of president and the first time I didn't vote for a Democrat.

I heard the message of hope. There just wasn't enough plan there for me. Lots of sizzle and Mr. Obama is one of the greatest public speakers I've ever heard, but I just didn't see how he could institute all of his plans without an economically devastating tax plan.

That doesn't mean I was overly impressed with any other candidate.

I watched the tellie last night. OhCountess had it tuned to an NBC affiliate so we could also watch the local returns. I was shocked at how emotional the broadcasters got. I watched the crowds celebrate as if we'd been liberated from a dictator.

Today, I was called a racist since I didn't vote for Obama. Apparently, a vote for any other candidate meant you must be a racist. I hope this isn't where are nation is heading.

I've watched as the Obama supporters have gloated and disrespected John McCain. This has saddened me to no end. How petty of winners are the Obama supporters going to be? I thought this was the campaign for hope and unity?

During the Clinton administration, a great change occurred and the Republicans regained control of the House and the Senate. They celebrated and gloated and squandered every opportunity they had for fundamental change. Instead of doing good with their power, they chose to waste countless years attacking Clinton and eventually impeaching him. I fear the same thing will happen again (hopefully with far less stuff on dresses)

I'm a moderate. Somewhere between a Democrat, Republican and a Libertarian. I tend to be extremely fiscally conservative. History has taught us that when attempting to right an economy that is turmoil, raising taxes is devastating. That was my main issue this time. Cut spending. Cut waste, get job creation going again. It's as simple as that.

I'm very proud of our nation. We elected a man of color into the highest office in the land. I look forward to a day when that doesn't even matter and isn't even mentioned. Although I could never vote for a Green Bay Packer Fan...those guys are nuts. I hope that he can live up to his own hype. Frankly, I'm not sure I can understand the hysteria. I haven't really seen him do anything yet. Like I said, he's a great, and I mean one of the truly great, public speakers, but he's really not DONE anything yet. I hope he does. I fear the let down could be devastating if he doesn't live up to the hype.

My guess, I've offended someone in the last 24 hours by not understanding. I'm really a wait and see guy. I'll be waiting and seeing but fear what might happen if there is disappointment. I think there were a lot of people that voted for anybody that wasn't even remotely close to George W. Bush. He will probably go down as the worst president in history. I never voted for him, I've never thought he was fit to lead, but I also tried to keep in mind that his presidency will end in January, no matter who is elected president.

I hope that we as a nation move on and move on quickly. I also hope we don't repeat the mistakes of the past and get spiteful and vindictive. This isn't the time to be dwelling on what has gone wrong in the past and who screwed who. We have very serious problems that will require very serious answers. Pragmatism.

Lord I hope this is my last political post for a while. I miss being a smart ass.

9 comments:

Mark said...

Well-written, rational explanation of why you didn't vote for Obama. If more people in all camps would discuss like this instead of getting hysterical or accusatory, we'd all be better off.

Thanks for dropping by my blog and bothering to comment.

OhCaptain said...

Thanks Mark. You've been in my Reader for a while. I enjoy your blog just don't get to comment much :-)

Damama T said...

My son emailed a link to another post about a guy voting for Obama. I am now going mail this one to him. Thanks for a well-written piece.

OH.. I popped over here from Heather's. I see your comments there often and wanted to check out the blog behind the blab. ;o)

OhCaptain said...

Thanks Damam t! I appreciate the kind words.

Check back again, I'm really not always this serious :-)

WeaselMomma said...

Just keep in mind that you are MLK Jr's dream. You did not judge Obama on the color of his skin, but on the substance of his words. Do not let anyone accuse you of being racist.

Fuel55 said...

"This isn't the time to be dwelling on what has gone wrong in the past and who screwed who."

You got that right.

Mondogarage said...

Outstanding post, truly. Out of brevity, I won't repeat my comment to your comment to my blog yesterday. ;-)

But you voted *your* conscience and *your* ideals, and that is what is most important.

I voted the way I did, not because of promises of free ponies and of unicorns, but because I believe Obama will make thoughtful, considered, well-reasoned decisions that I did not believe the other candidate would make. But only future history will tell if the electorate chose well.

KenP said...

Fuel drug me here and I appreciate that. Well put!

Mitchell Cogert said...

It is a little scary that someone can be elected President based on no real accomplishments except for being smart, determined, and getting out the vote among millions of disenfranchised people.

Most of all, Obama-speak is truly the best rhetoric I've ever heard.
The Frontline story mentioned that during a heated exchange in the Harvard Law Review that went on for hours, Obama finally stood up and spoke. It resulted in settling everyone down. Yet both sides later admitted that they thought what Obama said was in agreement to their side's point of view.

Frankly, I don't think there is a worse job in America than being the next President. And with the loss in jobs in the coming weeks and months, things may get real ugly.