One Citizen's Political Journey

A look at the 2008 election from the personal perspective on an average citizen who decided to get hands-on involved because she believes that this is a crucial time in our country's history and it's important we all take an active and informed role in the decision to be made on Election Day. This article explores the journey from nonaffiliated voter through the Democratic primary to an active role in the John McCain campaign.Well, my "reentry" into the world of party politics this year has been interesting. I would have happily observed from the sidelines, as usual, and voted Libertarian had things not developed as they did. With Pres. Bush's approval ratings the lowest of any sitting President this spring, it seemed obvious that a Democrat would, in all probability, win. So I started looking at and reading up on the Democratic Party candidates. By the time I got interested, it was really down to Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama. It didn't take much research to decide that Obama was not qualified to be president -- inexperienced, extremely left wing liberal and had dangerously poor judgment as evidenced by his long-term associations with people who were outspokenly anti-American. Sen. Clinton was a known quantity, experienced and had demonstrated competence as a second term US senator. While her platform was too liberal in some areas, she was sound on foreign relations and strong on national security issues. Since I truly believed, and still believe, that Obama represents a genuine threat to our national security, I decided it was almost a duty to do my part in trying to defeat him in the race for the Democratic nomination. So, my entry into an active role in supporting her. And the more I saw and heard her, the more I liked her as a person as well as a candidate. She had confidence, but not arrogance. Her knowledge of issues, domestic and foreign, was extensive and sound. She genuinely related to and listened to ordinary Americans. I did not agree with her position on health care, but very much liked her stance on NAFTA and other trade agreements in that she advocated renegotiating these agreements to provide safer standards for imported products and to protect American jobs. In effect, to promote a more fair balance of trade. Well, we know what happened when the Democratic National Committee decided to give the nomination to Obama, by fair means or foul. And mostly foul.

So that left me the choice of either sitting back and watching or joining the McCain campaign. No one could be more loyal to America than John McCain and he certainly has experience in national security and foreign affairs and is knowledgeable on economic matters having served on the Commerce Committee. His comprehensive energy independence plan is both practical and forward-looking. He has shown he can work across party lines at times when he believes it is in the country's best interest. Again, I did not find myself in agreement with all his campaign platform, particularly trade. His position advocates a too unrestricted free trade policy which does not provide adequate restrictions to assure the quality and safety of imports and better protect our jobs. But I'm not a one issue voter. I believed that McCain had the judgment that could be trusted were he elected president.

Then came his selection of Gov. Palin as his running mate. I tried to rationalize that selection as something other than a political tactic. I seldom have an instinctive reaction negative or positive to someone I "meet" either in person or remotely via radio and television. Usually I have a wait and see attitude and form an opinion only after knowing more about a person. But I admit that I had an instinctive unfavorable opinion when Sen. McCain first introduced Gov. Palin. So I carefully listened to what's been said about her, plus and minus, what she has said in interviews and did my own research. This led to more questions than answers and to some answers that appear contradict what she says about herself and what the McCain campaign says about her. I still have serious doubts about her ability to take over as president should McCain be elected and that become necessary. My conclusion is that either she would be head strong and could make decisions based on poor judgment due to lack of experience and knowledge or she would, being inexperienced, allow herself to be led by whatever group had influence at the moment. I also have serious concerns about any executive appointments she would make (or as VP recommend to McCain). Both as a mayor and as governor, her idea of cleaning the government house appears to be to replace whoever is in with her special friends and close associates.

Hence, my "what to do" quandary of a couple weeks ago. With the alternative to John McCain being Barrack Obama, it seemed a no choice situation and thus I've continued to support Sen. McCain, not as enthusiastically as before, but support him nonetheless.

I was still thinking that I would vote for McCain until he took a position in support of this $300 billion bail out plan for the financial institutions and the irresponsible lenders and borrowers. This is pure national socialism at its worst and I'd be voting against my conscience if I were to cast a vote for anyone who supports it. There is a time when one has to vote his or her conscience and not compromise. For me, this is the time. No, this does not mean I will be voting for Obama. Never. As I see it now, I will just not be voting for either major party candidate. 

I'm very, very disappointed in Sen. McCain. There are a group of Republican congressmen and women and a few Republican senators who are standing up against a bail out. Sen. McCain would show real courage and character if he stood with them. That would truly be putting his country first. But that would also probably be political suicide because the public is being so misled about this whole situation and panicked by Pres. Bush, the Democrats and the Republicans either in league with the Wall Street bankers or afraid of not being reelected. McCain said that in supporting "the surge" in Iraq, in opposition to popular opinion, he "would rather lose an election than a war" because he puts "country first." He convinced Bush to back the generals and back him on the surge and he has been proved right.

Now would be the time for him to take another courageous stand and head off the genuine economic nightmare of national socialism that has the potential to undermine American free enterprise as we know it. Politically, this would be a far bigger risk for McCain. It's disappointing to see that he is unwilling to take that risk. Were he to stand up and aggressively take this issue to the people, support a plan such as Newt Gingrich is advocating, I think he just might be the one able to stop this national "panic attack," be a voice of reason and turn the direction of government around. Really give government back to the people. Lead by example, like the military officer he was and inspire the American people to have some back bone again and assume their responsibilities.

I guess this pretty well states my position. I gave all this a great deal of thought before posting this personal commentary here at Kit's Korner. Then I realized that since I'm criticizing Sen. McCain for not having the courage of his convictions (well, I assume his convictions as I don't believe he can really think this bail out is a good thing), it would be quite cowardly of me not to at least show just a little bit of courage and share my honest convictions with all of you who have been friends and contributors to my blog.

I am not discontinuing my blog and will continue to post articles and comments on the campaign, with the intent to present facts in an objective way, as I have always made every attempt to do.