It sometimes takes me a long time to get around to things. If you've been in touch with me by e-mail, you know how this works. Sometimes I write you right back. Sometimes, months after the fact, when you've forgotten you've ever written, I pop you a note back. And sometimes (although you don't see this) after months of sitting in my inbox waiting for me to send that perfect response, I reread your message and say, "Oops! It took me too long to think about that, best to let it go now."
Well, last month (weeks ago) I asked for questions, and I've been (very slowly) answering them. (See, I didn't forget!) So, while we're (semi) on the subject of politics, I thought I'd take this one from Sisyphesse:
"I recall an amazing Haiku a while back when the democratic primaries were going on. You talked about how Obama is handsome but you couldn't vote for him because he has a penis (if I recall incorrectly, sorry). So what now? Looks like we're going to get to choose between a young penis-possessing person and an old one. I oversimplify, but you get the drift... Assuming we get Obama at the convention, will you actively support him in the way you supported Hillary?"
Ah, Sisyphesse! That is what I'm struggling with. What now? I was a single issue voter in the primaries and that single issue was my unabashed same sex love for Hillary. Having her out of the race changes things for me, although in what way, I'm still working through.
I live in a state that is not purple, but falls firmly into its own Republican Red or Democratic Blue color. So, I don't feel my vote alone is important (or at issue), but rather what matters is the time and money that I usually throw at those swing states. (I've contributed in some way to every Democratic presidential candidate since college.) McCain won't be getting that, but at this point, no, neither will Obama.
The things I love about Obama are: his stand on the issues, his multiracial heritage (which mirrors that of my own children) and his eloquence in delivering a beautiful message. What I despise about Obama is that the actual emotions he evokes in me are not the hope, pride and excitement I thought would be there, but instead a really extreme fear, distrust and anger. And where that might be coming from is what I hope to work through in my next few posts.
The person I actually feel most inclined to give my time and energy to right now is Sarah Palin, not because I support her from a political perspective, but because I think that many of the attacks on her are purely gender based and that always sickens me, whether the person being attacked is someone I agree with or (as in this case) not.
The whole Sarah palin thing threw me - which I think is what it was meant to do, I am chewing on both options and like you, undecided as of yet.
I am terrified that people will actually vote for someone or not, based on gender!!! I am terrified that ANYONE is buying into McCain's plan to sway Democrats! This is not politics; politics are about issues, not what's between their legs or the colour of their skin. It scares me that anyone would be sure to keep the Republicans in power because a woman might get to run the country ~ the REPUBLICAN way!!!!! A woman who absolutely does not possess the skills and knowledge necessary for the job at that. Her personal life/circumstances are irrelevant to whether or not she's fit to run the country! It scares me that I can't have a vote, but that what happens in America surely affects us here in Canada. I'm terrified that McCain will actually get to keep war-mongering because he played the woman card...and people are eating it up.
I'm terrified that people are actually that fickle and easily swayed.
I'm really really afraid for the future of the planet.
e, that doesn't terrify me at all anymore. People are human. They do and will vote on things other than issues and qualifications, regardless of how the world should be.
What does terrify me (as a liberal) is that Democrats keep running on issues and qualifications alone and completely disregard (or are shocked and offended by) the fact that people vote based on other things. I wish they would take that into consideration and use it.
Please comment on Sarah Palin. I'd love to hear your view. She scares the hell out of me, and it's not because she's a powerful woman. But I think the fact that she's a woman makes me a bit angrier. I'm not conflicted, just confused by how much I can't stand her. I am hating and judging her because I think if she met me she'd hate and judge me, even though I'd try to like her. She'd question MY parenting skills. I'm fucked up about this.
MPJ- Either you’re really obtuse, or really, really brilliant. If there is one way to get people's blood boiling it’s talking politics, you SO know this.
So because I consider you one of the most level headed and well thought-out people out here in blog-nirvana, my money is on you being brilliant.
Oh, and Obama rocks!
i have issues with Palin. I hate that she is riding on the coattails of Hillary. She openly admits it and that is why the Republicans are using her. So that she will sway the Hillary votes. Now granted, I am not a Hillary fan, never was. I just didn't care that she was a woman, I just wanted someone different. I felt as though we have had the same people in office and I wanted someone new. I will be posting about my issues with the Republicans soon. HA!- sorry Joe Lieberman is on the RNC and it says former Democrat.
Anyways, she has not governed more than 10K people, she has hunted moose. She does not own a passport. the media is making it seem that Democrats would abort children if they knew the child was handicapped. Blanket statements make me not trust people like that. And then to make a blanket statement like that and say how they believe in family values... and then her daughter gets knocked up...
I could go on and on, which i will in my blog post tomorrow, but I just am saddened by all this. I look forward to the debates.
MPJ, you are right, the Democrats keeping running on the issues, and they need to compromise a small (!) number of principles to win this. But it doesn't make sense to side with the XX candidate just because the Republicans do know how to play your emotions. You (and all those other pissed off women) don't have to play their game.
As far as I can see, the XX is the only thing Palin has in common with Hilary. You can identify with the crucifixion she is currently undergoing without bringing it to your election politics.
And so I will stop lecturing you. I guess I am throwing strong language at you because you are trying to work through stuff, and I find that kind of things helps me, regardless of whether I agree with it. Apologies if it helps you not at all. Just throw this in the bit bucket if it crosses the line for you.
I refuse to vote on someone based on what is between their legs. To me it's no better than voting based on someone's skin color. Would I love to have a woman president...absolutely, I am the mother of a daughter and I want her to know that her hopes and dreams are not limited to a supporting role in this world. Sadly, Sarah Palin is not someone who shares any of my views, or values. I also find myself increasingly upset with her for the position that she has now put her 17 yr old child in. Palin had to know what a media circus this would be, and I feel the poor kid is being forced into a marriage to save face.
I think Sarah Palin stands for the polar opposite of everything Hillary stands for. I'm a devout feminist and desperate to see a woman in the white house, but not that woman. If it were up to Mrs Palin, you wouldn't be able to have that legal "D&C" and that's not okay with me.
Just my two cents, whatever that's worth.
Several of you (understandably, given the horrible state of political dialogue in this country which does not lend itself to anything that is not black and white) seem to have completely misread my feelings on Sarah Palin, so expect a followup post at some point.
I feel sorry for Palin only because of how she is being judged as a working mother.
But, it stops there. Everything else, including that, she welcomed when she decided to be the tool for the GOP machine that knew it was going to lose this election.
When she agreed to be a tool, all bets come off the table and she is now an open book. That's different from when HRC took on the world for being strong, wearing pant suits and for just having a vagina.
Some of the liberal attacks on Palin are nasty and sexist.
But worse still is her treatment by the right, where their defense of her is nasty and sexist!
All this treating her like a delicate flower business, and deflecting all legitimate questions about her positions, religion-as-it-relates-to-her-politics, and history are called sexist.
When conservative men and women start treating Palin like any other candidate and also stop telling me that, among her many other qualifications, she' so pretty, well, then, maybe we can have a real conversation about this.