I Hate Election Year

It never fails.  Every four years, when it’s time for the presidential election, I get a sick feeling in my stomach.  I do have to have gall bladder surgery in the next couple of weeks, but it isn’t that. I think I’ve posted about this before, so excuse me for repeating.  But, the closer we get to November 4th, the more uptight I get.  I never like any of the candidates… at least not since Clinton was re-elected in 1996. But, the last three elections and maybe a couple before that, I was always thinking I had to pick between two (or three) people I didn’t like and I get really nervous.

When I really think about it, I don’t know why I care so much.  I will end up voting and possibly won’t have made my final decision until I’m in the voting booth, but it really doesn’t matter who I choose.  I live in a state that, when the race is close, will always go Democrat.  So, I feel like in the national election, my vote really doesn’t count anyway.  I could just close my eyes and randomly pick during elections like this one. New York will choose Obama and if I don’t want Obama, there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. 

McCain has screwed himself.  I think he had an excellent chance before he chose his running mate.  I will not base my vote on the vice-presidential candidate, but some will and she is not his only problem.  I watched a portion of the debate and was much more impressed by Obama than McCain in how they handled themselves.  Bill Clinton won two elections because he has charisma.  He knows how to speak. I thought John McCain had enough brains and class to win a debate, but he seemed like he’s giving up or something.  Maybe that’s it. Maybe he’s giving up.  He’s got cold feet. This country is in deep shit and he doesn’t want to deal with it.  That’s hard to believe because he’s not the cowardly type, but I can’t figure out why he couldn’t look Obama in the eye, speak directly to him, and act like he had the self-confidence he’s had up to this point.

So, to say I’m undecided would be an understatement.  There’s still time and I hope McCain get’s back on track.  I don’t think I would be happy voting for Obama, but it’s still a possibility, at this point.  I know he’d try to make a few changes that I would be happy with, but how successful he is might not be too likely.  I don’t have a lot of confidence in nationwide changes.  Things never get better.  They either get worse or stay the same. 

I know I’m pessimistic, but I can’t help it with the way things are going.  Gas prices, 700 BILLION dollar bailout, healthcare in the toilet, my bank account dwindling. I’m not only pessimistic, I’m a bit depressed.  AND I’ve got to have my freaking gall bladder out! It will be all over by November 5 and I won’t have to worry about it anymore… until 2012, that is.

Palin

OK… I’ve had a few days to think about this and I’ve been a little… no, a lot… torn.  The first thing I heard was that John McCain chose a woman as his running mate.  This made me very happy and excited.  Shortly, within minutes, actually, I read that she was the mother of a new baby with Down’s Syndrome, plus four other children.  I was quite concerned at that point.  In my extended family, there are two special needs children, technically adults now, one with Down’s Syndrome.  As adults, they need to be supervised by their mothers or another adult.  I know that their mothers would never have had the time to run a government of any size and still given the attention needed to their special needs child and other children.  My step-brother with Down’s Syndrome is one of five children and my sister-in-law is the oldest of six.  Both of their mothers held full-time jobs when they got to a certain age because the kids were in school, but I know that they spent every minute taking care of the children when they weren’t at work.

I don’t know how much time the job of Vice President takes.  Maybe they don’t have a whole lot to do and can take a lot of time to care for an infant, let alone one with Down’s Syndrome.  Maybe Palin hasn’t gotten to the hard part yet and still doesn’t realize how different her new son will be in comparison to her other children.  Maybe she and her husband have enough money to hire a couple of nannies to care for him and she can see him from time to time and chooses not to be a hands-on parent. 

Then about a day later I found out about Palin’s sixteen year old daughter’s pregnancy.  They say that McCain’s people knew about this ahead of time.  I wonder if that’s true.  I find it a little hard to believe that he would take such a risk.  But, on the other hand, I find it hard to believe that they wouldn’t have found out something so important before choosing her.  Regardless, this showed me that Palin and her husband might not be the most diligent parents.  I also don’t think that the fact that they’re planning to get married lessens the seriousness of the problem.  Every sixteen year old girl who’s having sex with her eighteen year old boyfriend is “in love” and wants to marry him.  That doesn’t mean it’s ok to be careless with birth control.  But, you know, this happens to thousands of teenaged girls in all types of families, so this young lady is not to be considered an outcast, I hope.  People say that the candidates’ children are off limits.  I agree with that, but I’m not trying to attack the children.  I’m attacking the parents’ values.

I wasn’t happy with McCain’s decision anymore.  How can I vote for McCain when he could die and we’d end up with this woman as our president? Then, I thought, well, maybe I should vote for Obama after all.  I would have voted for Hillary Clinton if she was the nominee. But, I still don’t know about Obama.  I guess I don’t feel he’s quite right.  So, I still don’t know what to do, but I’ve still got a little time left, some debates to watch, I’m sure, and try to let it all sink in.

Now, after the RNC tonight (I only watched a little of it) I was thinking about this family values issue that I’ve been having a problem with.  I thought about the arguments I had with people who were so upset about Bill Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky scandal.  My argument was that it was none of anyone’s business and it had nothing to do with the way he ran this country.  So, now I’m thinking the same about Sarah Palin.  So what if she’s a bad parent?  So what if she’s more concerned about her job than her family?  I feel bad for her kids… all of them… like I felt bad for Hillary (I only felt a little sorry for Hillary because I guessed she stayed with Bill for her own agenda. Was I right?)  But if she can help the country as Vice President (and God forbid President), then why should I care? 

I could totally change my mind on this at any time and it doesn’t mean that I’ll be voting for McCain for sure, but I feel a little less torn about the issue.  I just wish I could be sure about someone.  This happens every time.  Why does it have to be so difficult?  If Hillary was the nominee, I wouldn’t have this problem.  And if Obama had picked her, I’d vote for him.  And if Giuliani was the Repulican candidate, even if he picked Palin, I’m pretty sure I’d vote for him.  But the way it stands, it’s a difficult decision for me.

Peace.