A Tale of the Undecided Voter

I usually reside in the middle, with leanings to the right. I loved McCain, thought he was a great man, and in 2000, I was ready for him to be our president. When he announced his candidacy for 2008, I was excited. Here was a man who usually did what made sense, and not just because it was expected of him by the GOP.

Then, something changed and McCain became the very thing he despised about his party. I still clung to hope. Then, he (or rather, his party) selected Caribou Barbie as his running mate. I balked, but still hoped. Then, I heard her speak. She had the mental capacity of cole slaw. I was insulted, but yet I still held out hope that McCain would pull his head out his ass, ask Palin to step down, so he could select the running mate he wanted, and not the running mate the GOP thought would sway my vote just because she had a vagina.

This country is broke. Literally and figuratively. We are despised by other nations. We are in wars and no one can give a clear reason as to why. Families are losing their homes. People are losing their jobs. Socialism exists today only for the wealthy, while the debt of capitalism is passed along to the lower and middle class. Don't believe me? Take a closer look at the bailout plans.

Sure, some people voted for Obama because he was black, but on the same token, some people didn't vote for him because he was black. One is just as wrong as the other.

However, there are people who voted for him because they know that the current way of doing things is obviously not working. They voted because they finally got fed up with not being heard. They voted because they know that the country that we are today, is not the country that our forefathers had in mind when they penned the Constitution. They voted because they know that people should not fear their government, but the government should always fear it's people.

This election reminded the government as to why.

I voted for Obama, not because I'm some young idealist who expects unicorn and rainbows with the Obama administration. I voted because I look at the country today, and it makes me sick to see what has become of it. I voted because I'm tired out or nation being whored out in the name of greed and malice by men in secret combinations who are above the law of the people who elected them. I voted for Obama because it was my one chance to say, "Enough!"

It amazes me to see just how powerful a democracy of the people can be. It astounds me that government heard my voice. This election was historic on many levels, I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it. I think if George and Ben could see us today, they would nod their heads in satisfaction as if to say, "That's how it's supposed to work!"

I don't know what the future holds, but I do have a pretty good of what will happen if we stay on our present course. You only need to look to the histories of other great civilizations to know how they fared. This country is in such bad shape, it will take years to restore us to greatness. Obama may not be the be-all, end-all solution, but he felt like a good place to start.

I will do what is asked of me by this administration if it means our country will be better for it. If it means that I don't have to watch people die anymore only because they don't have sufficient health care. If it means that children will have access to a good education. If it means that all Americans truly do have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness regardless of race, creed, gender, or socioeconomic status.

Because that is what it means to be an American.

So, yeah, I voted for Obama.

What of it?

Tuesday Blather

I spent Sunday night awake, even though I was sent home sick. I felt a little better Monday morning, and thought about going to the McCain rally-thingie anyway. Like I had anything better to do. I wanted to see if they would say anything interesting.

So, I gathered my camera and set off for Lees Summit, I left early because I figured there would be a lot of people. I left at 7am.

Perhaps I should have planned on getting there at 5am. Really. Did some of these people camp overnight to ensure a spot???

No where to park, and there were thousands of sheeple standing out in the rain. Thousands. A big line that started at the John Knox Village Pavilion, snaked around the parking lot, and extended all the way down the block, five people deep...at least. I knew that all these people were not going to be getting into the event, and I was right.

Remembering that I hate large groups of sheeple, even more so at political rallies, I said "Phuck it"and stopped by Starbucks before returning home. I noted the crappy morning commuters parked on the highway, and I was grateful I worked nights and didn't had to deal with that every morning, five days a week.

I was under the impression that the rally-thingie started at 8:30. No. The doors opened at 8:30, the rally-thingie started after 10. That means I would have been awake longer in the day than I had anticipated. Screw that! I went home and crawled into bed, where I slept blissfully for the remainder of the day.

Turns out, nothing interesting was said at the rally-thingie. Same "vote for me" crap, but mostly why you shouldn't vote for the other guy. Not to mention there was an overflow because not everyone could get in. Chances are pretty good I would have been cast in overflow. Bed sounded better.

I checked my voice mail (because I only check it once a week or something like that), and in my box was my very own personal invite to the rally-thingie. Whatever. They didn't even save me a parking spot. Overflow, my ass!

Bastards...