in my honest opinion...
I wanted to write this last night, but the emotions I felt for this election caught up with me and sleep was fast.
Now that the election is over, there are a few things I wanted to say but again I repeat that this is not a political blog and this is the very rare occasion that you will read about such a topic here. I will also say, that the opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone. I do not claim to speak for anyone but myself even though I'm sure there will be some who agree and disagree with my point of view, these were just some observations I made during the course of the campaign which, of course, does not mean I'm right in any way.
Before I say anything, this is not a brief post so I suggest you get your beverage of choice before sitting down. Of course, if you don't like reading lengthy posts then I suggest you pass my blog by entirely and go onto something, well, shorter!
First of all, I would like to say how proud I am to be an American. We as a people are about to see some significant changes and while the candidate who won the position of President was not the one I voted for, I do believe him when he said last night that he will do everything in his power to make things better for our society as a whole. It won't happen his first day in office and it may not even happen his first year, but I do believe he wants change and he wants the American people as a whole to be happy.
Before continuing, I am not interested in hearing from anyone about my choice in candidates. There have been a lot of mean people out there making their feelings for McCain known in a very public and rude manner, and I won't tolerate it. Just like those of you who voted for Obama, voting for McCain was a personal choice and I won't be badmouthed for making such a choice. Furthermore, if all you can do is poke fun at either candidate instead of offering an intelligent response, don't bother contributing to this blog because your comment won't be published.
Now, getting down to business... I don't know if any of you can recall the first time you voted. I know I can't. I can tell you that I was very excited to finally being of age to cast my vote. Unfortunately, the vote was not mine but my parents'. I voted for the party and not the person. Since then, I have never voted a straight Republican ticket as was the case yesterday. I have always listened to the issues, weighed them and made my decisions that way, as it should be.
This brings me to say how disappointed I am in many of our young voters this election. Y'all don't have to agree with me and I'm sure I will receive some backlash for saying what I'm about to say but at the time that Obama was announced the winner, camera shots were shown of students from an all-black college and it is my opinion from reading their expressions that they voted someone into office based on the color of his skin and not the issues at hand.
Now hold on! I am the furthest thing from racist and I do offer my apology to anyone who may be offended by my saying that. Again, try to think back to the first time you voted. Can you honestly tell me that you voted for someone based on the issues they presented? Can you honestly tell me you even comprehended what their issues were? I can honestly not remember anything about the first time I voted other than I know for a fact that I based my decision on who my parents liked and not for any real issues.
Voting someone into office based on the color of his skin is not what bothers me. I am all for change and I think that Obama can bring that. I am disappointed that many of these young people sold out. We will never know now if the President-elect was really meant to win.
Before the bailout happened, I was undecided who to vote for. I was amazed that an African-American man was so close to possibly winning the race. Even ten years ago, that was unheard of. I was in awe of how young he is, just six years older than I. It was what he said when McCain chose to briefly step back from campaigning to offer his assistance in DC with the bailout, that put the nail in Obama's coffin for me. I was proud of McCain for putting his campaigning on hold to help out his fellow-politicians and was disgusted with Obama for saying that McCain needed to learn how to multi-task. Yes, just that alone was the clincher for me and it sealed it tight when even Democratic strategists said that Obama didn't know the full extent of the bailout issue for him to say something like that.
Watching Obama on stage last night, he looked overwhelmed and exhausted. Perhaps I read him wrong and he was just trying to contain his excitement but I am left to believe that he truly doesn't know what's in store for him. McCain has years of experience over Obama which is not saying he would have made a better President but I do expect that we will see the physical changes in Obama soon enough. I don't believe there's ever been a President who hasn't left the office fully gray!
I was also completely unsatisfied with the choices of running mates on both sides. On one side, Joe Biden, who in the last few weeks leading up to the election was speaking before thinking. I had a huge problem with Pailin accepting the nomination as running mate because of her family - a young, pregnant daughter and an infant with Down Syndrome, both who need her in their lives and not a full-time nanny. Frankly, I don't think she should have ever accepted the nomination and for the reason of her family alone, I'm glad that the McCain/Pailin team did not win. All I know, as a mother, I truly feel she needs to continue to be an active part of her childrens' lives and I hope, in a way, that she is relieved that her ticket didn't win because I don't think she put a lot of thought in what it would take her to be Vice President.
While I'm on the topic of being a mother, I have to say how disappointed I am in all those parents who thought it necessary to drag their young children out last night and keep them up so late. Parents, if you had to explain to your children why you were there, then your kids didn't understand and therefore, don't give a flying fuck who won! You know why they liked being out? Because it was late, past their bedtimes and because you were probably letting them skip school today! Call me silly or other, I don't really care, as a parent, you need to put your kids needs before your own and frankly, your kids did not need to be by your side, even if it was to witness history. Seriously, do you think my kids who are ages 11 and 8 are truly going to understand the magnitude of what's about to happen to our country? I know my kids and even I can say 'doubtful'.
I'm done. I have nothing left to offer and/or say things to piss you off! *wink*
Now that the election is over, there are a few things I wanted to say but again I repeat that this is not a political blog and this is the very rare occasion that you will read about such a topic here. I will also say, that the opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone. I do not claim to speak for anyone but myself even though I'm sure there will be some who agree and disagree with my point of view, these were just some observations I made during the course of the campaign which, of course, does not mean I'm right in any way.
Before I say anything, this is not a brief post so I suggest you get your beverage of choice before sitting down. Of course, if you don't like reading lengthy posts then I suggest you pass my blog by entirely and go onto something, well, shorter!
First of all, I would like to say how proud I am to be an American. We as a people are about to see some significant changes and while the candidate who won the position of President was not the one I voted for, I do believe him when he said last night that he will do everything in his power to make things better for our society as a whole. It won't happen his first day in office and it may not even happen his first year, but I do believe he wants change and he wants the American people as a whole to be happy.
Before continuing, I am not interested in hearing from anyone about my choice in candidates. There have been a lot of mean people out there making their feelings for McCain known in a very public and rude manner, and I won't tolerate it. Just like those of you who voted for Obama, voting for McCain was a personal choice and I won't be badmouthed for making such a choice. Furthermore, if all you can do is poke fun at either candidate instead of offering an intelligent response, don't bother contributing to this blog because your comment won't be published.
Now, getting down to business... I don't know if any of you can recall the first time you voted. I know I can't. I can tell you that I was very excited to finally being of age to cast my vote. Unfortunately, the vote was not mine but my parents'. I voted for the party and not the person. Since then, I have never voted a straight Republican ticket as was the case yesterday. I have always listened to the issues, weighed them and made my decisions that way, as it should be.
This brings me to say how disappointed I am in many of our young voters this election. Y'all don't have to agree with me and I'm sure I will receive some backlash for saying what I'm about to say but at the time that Obama was announced the winner, camera shots were shown of students from an all-black college and it is my opinion from reading their expressions that they voted someone into office based on the color of his skin and not the issues at hand.
Now hold on! I am the furthest thing from racist and I do offer my apology to anyone who may be offended by my saying that. Again, try to think back to the first time you voted. Can you honestly tell me that you voted for someone based on the issues they presented? Can you honestly tell me you even comprehended what their issues were? I can honestly not remember anything about the first time I voted other than I know for a fact that I based my decision on who my parents liked and not for any real issues.
Voting someone into office based on the color of his skin is not what bothers me. I am all for change and I think that Obama can bring that. I am disappointed that many of these young people sold out. We will never know now if the President-elect was really meant to win.
Before the bailout happened, I was undecided who to vote for. I was amazed that an African-American man was so close to possibly winning the race. Even ten years ago, that was unheard of. I was in awe of how young he is, just six years older than I. It was what he said when McCain chose to briefly step back from campaigning to offer his assistance in DC with the bailout, that put the nail in Obama's coffin for me. I was proud of McCain for putting his campaigning on hold to help out his fellow-politicians and was disgusted with Obama for saying that McCain needed to learn how to multi-task. Yes, just that alone was the clincher for me and it sealed it tight when even Democratic strategists said that Obama didn't know the full extent of the bailout issue for him to say something like that.
Watching Obama on stage last night, he looked overwhelmed and exhausted. Perhaps I read him wrong and he was just trying to contain his excitement but I am left to believe that he truly doesn't know what's in store for him. McCain has years of experience over Obama which is not saying he would have made a better President but I do expect that we will see the physical changes in Obama soon enough. I don't believe there's ever been a President who hasn't left the office fully gray!
I was also completely unsatisfied with the choices of running mates on both sides. On one side, Joe Biden, who in the last few weeks leading up to the election was speaking before thinking. I had a huge problem with Pailin accepting the nomination as running mate because of her family - a young, pregnant daughter and an infant with Down Syndrome, both who need her in their lives and not a full-time nanny. Frankly, I don't think she should have ever accepted the nomination and for the reason of her family alone, I'm glad that the McCain/Pailin team did not win. All I know, as a mother, I truly feel she needs to continue to be an active part of her childrens' lives and I hope, in a way, that she is relieved that her ticket didn't win because I don't think she put a lot of thought in what it would take her to be Vice President.
While I'm on the topic of being a mother, I have to say how disappointed I am in all those parents who thought it necessary to drag their young children out last night and keep them up so late. Parents, if you had to explain to your children why you were there, then your kids didn't understand and therefore, don't give a flying fuck who won! You know why they liked being out? Because it was late, past their bedtimes and because you were probably letting them skip school today! Call me silly or other, I don't really care, as a parent, you need to put your kids needs before your own and frankly, your kids did not need to be by your side, even if it was to witness history. Seriously, do you think my kids who are ages 11 and 8 are truly going to understand the magnitude of what's about to happen to our country? I know my kids and even I can say 'doubtful'.
A few more things to add...
I was sad to see the disappointment of losing in Pailin's eyes. I thought John McCain gave the most gracious speech ever given. And I hope that Michelle Obama seeks some expert fashion advice because WTF was she wearing last night?!
I was sad to see the disappointment of losing in Pailin's eyes. I thought John McCain gave the most gracious speech ever given. And I hope that Michelle Obama seeks some expert fashion advice because WTF was she wearing last night?!
I'm done. I have nothing left to offer and/or say things to piss you off! *wink*
Labels: moving ahead, politically incorrect
posted by Michelle Flaherty at
6:13 AM
7 Comments:
Yup, Obama won the election, and he's in a tremendous position to affect change, what with a Democractic Senate AND House of Representatives. There is an opportunity to truly do some great things, but God help them if they don't. If things don't change for the better, the country will turn on them just as fast. Oh, and I'm a Republican who voted for Obama.
Oh, and all those straight ticket voters out there, you should think long and hard about how you voted. I wish my world could be so simple as to make me able vote for a straight ideology rather than voting for individuals who will best represent my beliefs. I couldn't care less about whether they're Republican, Democrat or Beer of the Month party. I want someone who will honestly try to do the right thing.
Anyway, I'm done now. Feel free to edit me as you see fit!
OMG - YOU'RE Koolio!!! I swing by for a brief moment but didn't realize IT WAS YOU!
I've missed you. I'm at work but will be back to get all caught up!
Dave, aside from the fact that Blogger doesn't allow editing of comments, I wouldn't edit yours! I guess I should have made clear that if there was anyone who simply found me who found my words offensive, not the regular readers of my blog who know that I would never say anything racist.
As for your comment, people who voted for him will turn on him in a split second. It always happen. Some people out there are never satisfied and are always looking for someone to blame. The role of President is really a no-win situation. No matter what he decides, he's damned if he does and damned of he doesn't! At least he made clear during his speech that he won't always make everyone happy...he gave himself a way out, so to speak!
Hey Goob! Yes, it is I! The blogger of many names, lol.
GP, I hope there is much change for the better. I'm not looking as far ahead as you about making this world a better place, we just have to take one day at a time and simply hope for the best.
By the way Goob, I sent an Email out to everyone announcing the new blog. You were included on that list so if you didn't know who I was, I'm thinking that you didn't get the message. I sent you a message several months ago during high hurricane season and I didn't hear back from you then either, so maybe I have the wrong Email address?
I didn't find anything in your post to give you crap about: It was honest through out, and written from your heart. It was what you believe, and nobody can take your beliefs away.
The sorry thing is that, nowadays, people are afraid to talk about politics for fear of nasty comments and personal attacks. I blame, in part, the professional hate-mongers like Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, and Coulter for the divisiveness in America today.
Yes, Obama will have it tough, considering the problems he's taking on. But does anyone learn a job overnight? It will be imperative that he chooses a Cabinet that can help rather than hinder.
I'll finish with your quote from the other day: If people don't like what's going on, they can move to Canada or Mexico (paraphrase). Mexico has a LOT of room because the Mexicans are all up here in Arizona . . .
That is a well done post. Nothing racist or one sided at all. I think America as a whole will be under scrutiny for how we respond to to Barack's actions and inactions during the next four years. I just hope that we can all give him fair treatment and that we never have to hear "He did that because he was black". I know the pundits are chomping at the bit to use that line.
Charlie, the nastiness is exactly why I usually choose not to discuss my political views. There are so many people out there who choose to judge people based on politics alone, it's just not safe! I don't even discuss them with my own family and it was difficult for me to even tell my kids who I was voting for when I knew they would disclose that personal info. to their dad (their dad still likes to be in my business whenever possible unfortunately). It's ashame that there aren't more open-minded people out there willing to listen and accept.
Thanks MM! I'm glad to hear from several of you that I chose my words as wisely as possible. Of course it's never my intention to offend anyone (unless they deserve it, of course!)! Like you, I hope we never hear any racist comments that have to do with the choices Obama makes in office. It's hard to remain positive in that regard because you know that someone will eventually say something horrid.
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