A Newbie's Unsure Promises or a Veteran's Mismanagement?
When America elects its next president come November, it will have to decide between two starkly different candidates—the seasoned John McCain, who believes in spending billions of dollars on the war in Iraq, but thinks twice about spending millions of dollars in education, or Barack Obama, who, in his charismatic speeches promises of a new direction for his country, for change we can believe in, but who many people believe does not have enough expertise to deliver his promises.
That is, in my opinion, perhaps the biggest dilemma voters face. Should they entrust the future of the world’s single largest superpower to a man who knows how to manage a country but in a wrong way, or to a young chap who promises radical change despite his short curriculum vitae?
What Obama says he can do
Barack, in his blueprint for change, promises reform in Washington. He promises to return the government to the American people, where it belongs. He promises that his administration will not be run by corporate lobbyists, and that the people’s voice won’t be drowned. Obama speaks of a more transparent government, so that taxpayers will know how their money is being spent.
The problem is, can Barack deliver these promises? Can he really lead an administration completely devoid of corporate participation? Can he really make the government transparent enough to earn the full trust of the people? At 47, Obama would be a very young—and relatively inexperienced—president. This is where most people get hesitant to put his name on their ballots. Can Barack really lead a world superpower with a resume that, as some people say, can be written on the back of his driver’s license, much less bring about the changes he promises?
What McCain says he will do
John McCain is an entirely different story. He’s 71 years old, at the other end of the chronological spectrum from where Obama is standing. First elected as a congressman for Arizona in 1982—more than a quarter of a century ago!—there is little doubt that he knows the inner workings of a government and, theoretically, would be a more-than-qualified president.
The problem people see with him is his policies. (Read this article from Blanca DeBree.) McCain infamously said a while back that he’d be perfectly fine for the troops to remain in Iraq for a hundred years. That means literally trillions of dollars more in taxpayers’ money better spent in healthcare and education, and thousands more lives better spent alive. He opposes tax cuts for farmers but is all for tax cuts for multi-billion dollar corporations.
McCain has participated in the Vietnam War, narrowly escaping death; he has served as congressman and senator, and would theoretically govern well. In terms of ability to govern, I have little doubt that John McCain is able. With regard to his policies, however, I have a lot to say. America’s been in Iraq for five years—five years too long, in my opinion. Many have voiced their fear that four years of John McCain would be like four years of George Bush, and that for the country to change, it needs a Democrat in the Oval Office.
That Democrat is the neophyte Barack Obama. The Republican: John McCain. It is a difficult choice to make. As for me, I would go with Obama. Why? Barack has been in the Senate, after all, and that has to count for something. He is an advocate of things the whole world wants to see, whereas McCain seems to want to satisfy only the wants of bigwig corporations. I’d rather a fairly good chance of radical and positive change than the certainty of failure and mismanagement.
Great post. I will read your posts frequently. Added you to the RSS reader.
There is a line in the novel and film, “Patriot Games,” when the President of the United States tells Jack Ryan who is about to rat on him that the presidency is about more than just the seatholder.
I’ll vote for Barack Obama over John McCain any day of the week, if for no other reason than because McCain favors capital punishment, opposes a woman’s right to have an adoption, and opposes gay marriage. There are other issues but those are the key elements for me.
That said, the person who the United States votes to the office of President is not the only person running the country; keep in mind the framers of the Constitution built in checks and balances among the three branches so no one branch has absolute power. Moreover, the presidential cabinet is a powerful union of experts who advise the president on crucial matters.
There is also the matter of who is picked to be vice president. A couple elections ago, I was close to voting for Ross Perot but I looked at the resume and age of his chosen vice president and switched to a major party candidate.
Lotsa thanks, Mike! Ari, I couldn’t agree more. I am disenchanted by McCain’s policies which I think are against the ideals of democracy. Barack Obama carries a message of hope and change, something America—and the free world, for that matter—so desperately needs. Let’s hope America takes a turn for the better come November.
Great post. I will read your posts frequently. Added you to the RSS reader.
There is a line in the novel and film, “Patriot Games,” when the President of the United States tells Jack Ryan who is about to rat on him that the presidency is about more than just the seatholder.
I’ll vote for Barack Obama over John McCain any day of the week, if for no other reason than because McCain favors capital punishment, opposes a woman’s right to have an adoption, and opposes gay marriage. There are other issues but those are the key elements for me.
That said, the person who the United States votes to the office of President is not the only person running the country; keep in mind the framers of the Constitution built in checks and balances among the three branches so no one branch has absolute power. Moreover, the presidential cabinet is a powerful union of experts who advise the president on crucial matters.
There is also the matter of who is picked to be vice president. A couple elections ago, I was close to voting for Ross Perot but I looked at the resume and age of his chosen vice president and switched to a major party candidate.
Lotsa thanks, Mike! Ari, I couldn’t agree more. I am disenchanted by McCain’s policies which I think are against the ideals of democracy. Barack Obama carries a message of hope and change, something America—and the free world, for that matter—so desperately needs. Let’s hope America takes a turn for the better come November.
Just checking to make sure the comments functionality is back on. Sorry I wasn’t able to find it out so quickly. If you experience any sort of problems with the site, please don’t hesitate to contact me. kthx!
Just checking to make sure the comments functionality is back on. Sorry I wasn’t able to find it out so quickly. If you experience any sort of problems with the site, please don’t hesitate to contact me. kthx!
Im a liberal thinker. I would be a democrat if I were a US Citizen. But… Argh. I might regret putting this into writing; I KINDA HOPE MCCAIN WILL WIN THIS ELECTION. It's just that, Obama promises this radical change but he frets on being branded a liberal, he courts too much on both sides. McCain is a guy who has been tried and tested. He isnt keen on making hasty decisions(such as the troop recall Americans are oh-so-clamoring. They waged war on Iraq. it was THEIR decision. they should stick it out. they should ensure first that the Iraqi government can stand on their own and that the divisions of the country are healed. They made the cracks more evident so for me, they should pray the price. If they have to spend trillions of their money, then so be it. Who told them to bomb the country in the first place? Before a recall, they should ensure that Iraqis wont start another civil war against their minority faction.)
Well, I dont believe in most of McCain's stands on issues. But i admire the guy for sticking to his side and not being afraid to pick a stand. I think a leader should have the guts to do that. Obama's too much of a sweet talker to me, he tiptoes on certain issues to broaden the margin of people he could appease. his health care and education plan is just an exact replica of that of Clinton with just a few tweak here and there.
Ok.Ok. I think now is the time to admit, IM STILL PISSED HE WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION OVER HILLARY CLINTON. I think she was/is the better leader among the lot. I lost interest in the elections the day Americans got her out of the running.
HILLARY CLINTON FOR 2008 STILL! haha
Im a liberal thinker. I would be a democrat if I were a US Citizen. But… Argh. I might regret putting this into writing; I KINDA HOPE MCCAIN WILL WIN THIS ELECTION. It's just that, Obama promises this radical change but he frets on being branded a liberal, he courts too much on both sides. McCain is a guy who has been tried and tested. He isnt keen on making hasty decisions(such as the troop recall Americans are oh-so-clamoring. They waged war on Iraq. it was THEIR decision. they should stick it out. they should ensure first that the Iraqi government can stand on their own and that the divisions of the country are healed. They made the cracks more evident so for me, they should pray the price. If they have to spend trillions of their money, then so be it. Who told them to bomb the country in the first place? Before a recall, they should ensure that Iraqis wont start another civil war against their minority faction.)
Well, I dont believe in most of McCain's stands on issues. But i admire the guy for sticking to his side and not being afraid to pick a stand. I think a leader should have the guts to do that. Obama's too much of a sweet talker to me, he tiptoes on certain issues to broaden the margin of people he could appease. his health care and education plan is just an exact replica of that of Clinton with just a few tweak here and there.
Ok.Ok. I think now is the time to admit, IM STILL PISSED HE WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION OVER HILLARY CLINTON. I think she was/is the better leader among the lot. I lost interest in the elections the day Americans got her out of the running.
HILLARY CLINTON FOR 2008 STILL! haha
Obama isnt for gay marriage either Ari. One of the reasons why im pissed at him. He's too gutless to go against the conservatives.McCain supports the federal death penalty OUTRIGHT while OBama supports death penalty for crimes for which the “community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage.” Another one of his shady stands.
Obama isnt for gay marriage either Ari. One of the reasons why im pissed at him. He's too gutless to go against the conservatives.McCain supports the federal death penalty OUTRIGHT while OBama supports death penalty for crimes for which the “community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage.” Another one of his shady stands.