As the election rolls closer and the campaigns of the two major party nominees grow more intense, I grow less and less convinced that either Barack Obama or John McCain can do the job of President of the United States. While the standard evangelical position seems to indicate the those right with God must support the McCain/Palin ticket because it is pro-life and pro-gun, those radicals over on the left are supporting the Obama/Biden ticket for issues of education and peace along with a healthy dose of government programming.
It strikes me as odd that so few remember McCain’s assertion during the Republican debates that we are not in a recession (contra Ron Paul) a mere days before it was announced as a real possibility by the Fed. That McCain is out of touch with the average person is obvious since virtually all mega rich people are. Not to let the millionaire on the Democratic side off the hook, Obama makes a fair living himself (Joe Biden seems closer to “real life” than one might guess).
As the sinkholes grew bigger and bigger on Wall Street and the Federal Reserve Scam Bank leaped into action, it became obvious that the current administration had and has no clue what to do. Following the President’s speech last night, we now know the solution to all our problems: socialism. Apparently the fall of communism did not teach us a thing.
During the Republican Primaries, John McCain was heard and seen on more than one occasion laughing at Texas Representative Ron Paul when he would warn that America could not live on borrowed money forever for any reason, whether to fund social programs or empire building. The strongly pro-life, Christian OB/GYN was written off by many republicans as “unelectable,” while others assured that “Ron Paul is the only one who can beat Barack Obama when it reaches a two man race.” McCain’s solution to the current crisis is to create yet another government agency (very, very Bushish thinking, John) which he has dubbed the MFI, while Obama’s preferred solution is to attack McCain. It’s hard to watch these two recent interviews on CNN without wondering if most Republicans don’t with they could have a “do over.”
On American Morning:
On CNN Sunday Talk:
As for me, I cannot vote for either Obama or McCain. Don’t know what I’m going to do for sure yet, but it looks like either third party or write-in in 2008.
Guess I’ll say it again. God told Habakkuk that He .. God .. was raising up the Babylonians to clean up the mess that Israel had made of itself, since they wouldn’t do it themselves. I think He still does stuff like that, seeing how He chose to handle the SBC after the para-military response to what various entity BoT’s had refused to deal with, themselves.
So why not this country? Why not this election?
Comment by Bob Cleveland — September 25, 2008 @ 10:59 am
Bob Barr my former congressman! :)
Comment by Kevin Bussey — September 25, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
What’s wrong with education and peace?
Comment by Noelle Chamness — September 25, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
I am praying and struggling with this election as well. Before I go on, please understand that I am not endorsing any particular political party. I really just need to vent a little. I really have a problem with the so-called “evangelical vote” and the politicizing of the church. You know, the pressure to support a political party based on just a couple of issues (which, if we’re being honest, have become non-issues or back burner issues in the political arena). I mean, am I to vote based on the fact that I get an inbox inundated with propaganda from the religious right, who tell me it is my duty as a Christian to vote Republican? The other day, a family member informed me that Obama was the Anti-Christ…nevermind the fact that this family member is not even a follower of Christ. I recall hearing the same rhetoric during the Clinton-Bush race.
As Christians, we continue to vote based on Issues such abortion, homosexuality, etc. – yet ignore other issues, such as the economy and foreign policy, when the reality is that neither of the parties are going to be an exact match of true biblical values.
So, what does that mean for me? Nothing…the church must continue on in its purpose “to love God,” to “love my neighbor,” and “make disciples,” (which is a global affair), regardless of what is happening politically in one country. Will the election affect us? Perhaps. Will it change our purpose? It shouldn’t. Will it defeat us? Not a chance.
Comment by Tommy — September 25, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Bob-
Could be…
Kevin-
Possibly, but I’m not sold. Also not sure if he’s on the ballot in GA. He was lacking a few states.
Noelle-
Thanks for stopping by and for the FB hit. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with education or peace. In fact I’m for both. In specific, the less Federal involvement there is in education, the better off both taxpayers and students will be. I really don’t support throwing more money at the DoE in DC. Beyond the “war in Iraq” issue is the America as Empire issue, which I oppose. We need to close a about 90% of the 700 military bases around the world. However, if you were hinting in such a direction, I don’t think Obama is even close to being able to do that. I’m sure he would promote lots and lots of funding for education, but that doesn’t make smarter kids. Apart from the county where you and I graduated, I’m for more control at the local level.
Tommy-
Good thinking. Unless and until Christians begin to value the kingdom of God over the kingdoms of this earth, our emphasis will often be misplaced.
Comment by Marty Duren — September 25, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
You have jumped the shark with this one. Ron Paul???? He is a loon. And I say that with some trepidation since I like loons. The bird kind.
Comment by David Wilson — September 25, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
David,
If by “loon” you mean “only person who has a clue how to fix the economy” then I’ll have to agree. Otherwise, I will gently suggest you look carefully into the person of Ron Paul. Lots of geniuses appear loony on the surface.
Comment by Beth — September 25, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
This guy?
“Well, I never automatically trust anything the government does when they do an investigation because too often I think thereâ??s an area that the government covered up, whether itâ??s the Kennedy assassination or whatever.”
“Too often investigations on almost any issue is usually a cover-up.”
Loon
For elimination of all foreign aid. Darfur. Sudan. Uganda. All.
Loon.
He’s Pat Buchanan with a medical degree.
Comment by David Wilson — September 25, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
David-
How does that differ from “loon” Obama’s socializing of medicine or “loon” McCain’s commitment to extending empire building? Does that make them loons? How about Obama’s radical support of abortion on demand or McCain’s inability to recognize economic problems until we are in a recession moving toward depression? There seems to be quite enough lunacy to go around.
And when did we become nationally responsible to bail out every country that can’t manage their own finances? Do I agree with Ron Paul on how to respond to genocide? No. Have we done anything under the current administration? No. Under McCain? Under Obama? No.
Comment by Marty Duren — September 25, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
Obama’s plan for health care is not a government take-over of medicine (socialized). The plan would simply close some of the cracks through which many working Americans and children fall, and shift the focus from treating acute illnesses to preventing both acute and chronic ones.
Comment by Noelle Chamness — September 25, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
From the Barack Obama website:
The Obama-Biden Plan to Cover Uninsured Americans: Obama and Biden will make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. The Obama-Biden plan will have the following features:
1. Guaranteed eligibility. No American will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditions.
While Obama may not be suggesting a “take-over” of all medicine, a government guarantee of health insurance, paid for by taxes is indeed socialistic.
Comment by Marty Duren — September 25, 2008 @ 8:06 pm
We as a society have a responsibility to care for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. We can either do this in a reasonable, preventative format which is more cost effective, or we can continue to attempt to put out fires as we do now-@ great expense to us all. Those of us that have insurance are footing the bills now for those who don’t by way of increase premiums and treatment costs.
Comment by Noelle Chamness — September 25, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
Noelle,
We as Christians have that responsibility, not we as taxpayers. The last thing national health care is right now is cost effective, especially given the current state of our economy.
Comment by Beth — September 25, 2008 @ 10:17 pm
Marty, you really have veered off course here. Equating a policy (good or bad) with a lunatic’s ravings about conspiracies is nuts in itself. You can not be serious.
I’m going to chalk it up to incredible frustration with government in general. lot of that going around. But it wouldn’t cause me to vote for Ron Paul, or Bob Barr for that matter.
Comment by David Wilson — September 26, 2008 @ 12:47 am
David,
Not all conspiracies are cut from the same cloth. Ron Paul is not the conspiracy theorist you are making him out to be, and he has been very vocal about NOT believing conspiracies that 9/11 was an inside job. I agree completely with the quotes from Paul that you posted above, does that make me a loon? Our government has not given me reason to trust them, but have regularly proved itself to be full of, well, loons!
Besides, even if you are strongly bothered by any hint of conspiracy in Paul’s words, ignoring all of his strengths and his incredible wisdom about the economy is not only unfair it’s unwise. Paul’s negative aspects are a water droplet compared to McBama’s ocean of lunacies. McCain and Obama have almost nothing to offer me, whereas Paul has consistently predicted the outcome of our foolish economic and foreign policy decisions sometimes years prior. He has a better grasp of the repercussions of our decisions than anyone in Washington.
He’s the only choice for me.
Comment by Beth — September 26, 2008 @ 6:20 am
David-
Thanks for offering to help me and patronizing me in the same sentence. I’ll chalk it up to you not getting enough fiber in your diet.
Please go ahead now and tell us how John McCain is the best person for president; or do you intend for vote for Chuck Baldwin? If this debacle has shown us anything it is that the dominance of the two party system needs to end. Neither party has America’s best interest at heart. America comes behind party loyalty. I’ll vote third party (yet to be decided) in this election to start breaking the back of the two headed monster. Heck, I’ll write in your dog if you’ll give me his name. He could not possibly do worse even if all he did was wag his tail and lick his butt for four years.
Oh, and that isn’t cynicism. It’s reality.
Comment by Marty Duren — September 26, 2008 @ 8:18 am
Marty,
I am shocked !! I have been counting on your vote for awhile now. I might actually become a blip on the radar if family and friends “get out the vote” in November.
That said, the recent political and economic situations have exposed the two main things wrong with America. Wall Street screwing each other over trading worthless “assets” among themselves and politicians that think they can solve everything !! We are as exposed as Harry Potter on Broadway.
Your friend (and future President),
Steve H
Comment by Steve H — September 26, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Steve-
Sorry. Since the Wyche Fowler days you are always my first choice for writing in!
Comment by Marty Duren — September 26, 2008 @ 8:49 am
That’s great news Marty. If you vote third party then I don’t have to cancel your vote. I’m afraid you’ve slipped back into your old bomb thrower suit. Back away from the table and you can read of how McCain tried to get some reforms into the system years ago. Of course the MSM might be difficult to find that in. There is no great candidate and there is no great system of government. It is what it is.
Comment by David Wilson — September 26, 2008 @ 10:10 am
Bomb thrower suit? What are you talking about? I’ve addressed your points and gone no farther. Disagree if you want, you know I don’t care about disagreeing, but I don’t understand what the problem seems to be.
“There is no great candidate and there is no great system of government. It is what it is.” I fully agree with this, but I don’t agree that it is what it has to be. I just saw a Democratic senator interviewed on TV. He said that phone calls for the entire congress are running 99-1 against the administration’s bailout plan. Seems like Americans want the markets to take care of themselves…just like Ron Paul suggested.
Right before he said man never walked on the moon. ;^{)
Comment by Marty Duren — September 26, 2008 @ 11:51 am
I have no doubt that McCain was once a strong leader and someone who truly wanted to take all measures to avoid war (and reformed some things along the way). I’m not so sure he was ever strong on the economy, but we’ll leave that out for now. The thing is, the McCain of yesteryear is not running for president, the McCain of 2008 is, and I feel strongly that this McCain is someone who has become obsessed with the idea of “victory” in Iraq and abroad, and seems to be more than willing to take up arms to achieve whatever that vague victory may be.
As for your advice about backing away from the table, I can assure you that I have a more well-informed view of McCain than you do of Ron Paul (judging solely on your continual references to him as a supposed conspiracy theorist, of course). I do agree with you that there is no great candidate. But there WAS one. And I’m voting for him still even if he isn’t a candidate any longer.
Comment by Beth — September 26, 2008 @ 11:54 am
Long live the NRA
Comment by cb scott — September 27, 2008 @ 10:54 pm