Wag the Pig

Last blog on the subject for at least 1 week, then I'll put an *old fish* in it. I am a busy person. I'm a mom. I do a lot of neat stuff. ;-) I don't have time to blog about politics. Well obviously I do but it's at the expense of clean laundry, home, sleep, productive writing, painting, you get the idea.

This election is exciting but I'm uneasy. I'm decided, as I am very open about. I don't think I'm a kool-aid drinker. I'm not completely sold but I'm not quite at the lesser of two evils point that I was at at the last election. I still like Obama. I think he's in a very touchy situation. On one hand he can't be too tough, or he's sexist. He can't appear defensive about race, everyone is just waiting on that to happen. On the other he has to be tough because the Reps are constantly trying to make him look weak. His target is way more open than Palin's at this point. They have been throwing zingers at him for days. I actually think the pig in lipstick comment wasn't an accident, but intended... not so much as an insult to Palin directly but an attempt to elicit a response. It's a gamble but it may work for him. After all, I think we all knew Hilary wore lipstick when McCain said the same phrase about her health care policy, which is already common knowledge. It is working, I just don't know if it will be appreciated.


Enough of my left leaning. I respect that not everyone will agree with me. But this is what I want to get at...

It's a nasty game. I am a woman. And a mom. I am very pro-women in the White House. I am in total disagreement with this kid- glove treatment of Palin. I'm still waiting to see this media out-lash at her. I know it happened a little with the pregnant daughter, which she shouldn't be judged on, but come on. ALL the president's and vice president's families are subject to this. She knows that. It's not because she's a woman. Do we not know all about the other candidate's families? I really don't see anything unfair happening. In 8 weeks, this woman could be VICE PRESIDENT of the most powerful country in the world. She could very well end up being THE PRESIDENT. Do people not get this? She's not a movie star. We should know her. We know everyone the other candidates have ever talked to by this point. I think that's the main reason I'm leery. The others have been scrutinized for at least the last few years. They worked up to this for years, with the intention of running for president all along. I know Obama, McCain, Biden, Hilary, Leiberman, Edwards, etc. Faults and all. I'm a follower of politics. I know the least about Biden but the information is accessible, and I'm not being sexist if I want to know it.

I want to know what her beliefs are. I want to hear her say it. I want to know the whole story of all these "tough decisions" she's had to make. The governor thing buys me no comfort. Bush was Governor of my own great state for years AND his father was President. I want to know about the church she goes to. I did about Obama too. I didn't agree with Jeramiah Wright, but I know about it and I can make a decision. I want to know about war and security. And not just that I'll be protected by war. I want to know about our relationships with other countries. I want to know if I'm going to have to have a rapist's child if that were to happen. I want to know if my life were compromised by a pregnancy if my two young children would have risk losing their mother. (Not saying here what I'd do in such situations- that's not the point.) I do want to know though. And those are extreme examples. But no abortion debate here. I just want to hear her explain it.

I grew up with Hilary. I've known about McCain for years. I've read two books by Obama, and while they might only be "memoirs", I've had 4 years to learn about him. I don't trust any of them 100%. But I can't trust McCain enough to pick the next President. I'm not betting on him dying, but it really could happen. It could happen to any President. That's why VP IS IMPORTANT. Really important. I would want to know from any candidate for VP.

I'm not saying she's incapable either. I just think the scrutiny is very, very understandable. I may get my answers soon, but I can't see how someone who's only been in the game for 10 days has so many followers. Wake up people! Get over the sound-bytes and really be informed. Nobody will be perfect, and you won't ever know all the facts. But don't just vote for someone because they're a mom like you, or black like you, or conservative or Liberal or Christian like you. Think about things and how they might work in relation to the whole world. Then base your vote on that.

I'm really not trying to sway your vote but I am concerned with the Palin fever. It has a much faster incubation point than Obama fever, and appears to be more deadly. (At least to me :)