Now That The Conventions Are Over...

...I can honestly say I saw nor heard anything that changed my opinion. I know that both the Democratic and the Republican National Conventions really just serve as "commercials" for the undecideds, but I found both of them to have their boring points.

I did enjoy the parts of the DNC that I saw. I missed Bill Clinton and Joe Biden's speeches, and I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anything with the latter. As has been mentioned by my sole blog commenter (LOL), BIDEN IS BORNING! In fact, just typing that with an exclamation point is about as exciting as Joe's gonna get in this campaign! LMAO.

As far as the RNC, I honestly forgot it was on most of the time. The only thing I made sure to tune in for was Sarah Palin's speech, but everything else mostly bored me to tears (or actually to sleep, as with John McCain's speech). I must say, Sarah Palin's speech was funny to me, but I take issue with the way people ONCE AGAIN are so "snowed" by her "performance". First, as a person that has had a few speech communication classes, from a purely technical standpoint her speech delivery was atrocious! She didn't project her voice well, she didn't really seem all too convinced about what she was saying, and it was all too obvious that she was reading off of a teleprompter. Now, I know that MOST SPEECHES (even Obama's) are put on the teleprompter, but in my opinion, if you're giving a live speech, and people can TELL you're reading from a teleprompter, YOU'RE DOING A BAD JOB! Additionally, both Palin and McCain kept making the mistake of not giving their audience enough time to respond to their comments! It's as if they practice their speeches only in front of one staff member who never once told them to PAUSE for applause or audience feedback. The MULTIPLE times this happened annoyed the hell out of me and I can't believe NO ONE in the mainstream media (or even the "fringe media") pointed this out.

I must say I'm not surprised how snookered in the american public was by Palin's speech. All she did was cloak herself in the american flag and espouse the same ol' nonsense about patriotism and heroics, and she pretty much had the vote of the lower-class white "Republican base" that she was going over.

Honestly, I watched Palin's speech EXPECTING HER TO DO WELL! I do believe I have the ability to be objective for both sides, because I believe both Republicans and Democrats are fundamentally full of sh1t! It was only after seeing her make the same mistakes, coupled with the poor delivery that I really decided that she doesn't have enough ANYTHING to make me even consider voting from her. Yes, I was (and still am) a Hillary supporter, and given that I fundamentally disagree with Sarah Palin on a HOST of issues that are important to me, she really never had a chance to gain my vote anyway. I did however want to remain open-minded and perhaps see what she was about, just in case she had some other qualities that balanced out her archaic stance on abortion and gay-marriage. I admit, she did give out a couple of awesome zingers! Especially the community organizer thing! LOL. I can't be as sensitive as some people I know about this issue. Tons of my "socially responsible" are trying to rally or boycott the Republican party (like they really care) calling for some kind of grassroots movement based off of her comments which they felt were "dismissive" of community-oriented workers. What amazes me is how quickly people forget to consider these comments IN CONTEXT! She made these comments while addressing the issue of how her experience as Mayor and Governor of a small town and small state aren't considered to be "cosmopolitan enough", and she sent a barb at the Democrats on a similar issue that she knew would hit home! Seems simple enough, but some many "community organizers" have their panties in a bunch right now! It just seems silly and its a waste of energy. Republicans don't give a sh1t about poor folks (who by in large are the ones who have and benefit from "community organizations") and they surely don't care two sh1ts about a bunch of community organizers who are gathering together against them, because they never had (nor expected) your vote in the first place!

Ok, back on topic: As far as how I'll be voting: I will more than likely cast a half-hearted vote for Obama. I really would have preferred to see Hillary on the ticket, but once again, as in 2000 and 2004, I'm forced to vote for "the lessor of two evils". Even though I think Obama's campaign is full of empty promises and rhetoric, there's NOTHING I've seen from the Republican party (nor their feigned attempted at embracing change by putting a woman on the ticket) that makes me want to vote for a McCain/Palin ticket.

Sarah Palin for President?

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this. First, yes, the title of this post is misleading. She's actually been picked for the number 2 spot of VP, but should McCain kick the bucket, like all the jokesters jest, she'd be PRESIDENT. Is she ready? Wait...is Obama?

Ok, I'll stick to the topic at hand. As soon as Sarah Palin was noted as John McCain's Vice President pick, I got a call/text message from a friend asking if this effectively "stole" my Hillary vote. I thought the idea of this was ludicrous! Anyone that's voting on the issues would still have to think long and hard about the candidates, and the fact that Sarah Palin is a woman, doesn't change my opinion of who most aligns with the issues I hold near and dear. Add to that: I DON'T KNOW SARAH PALIN! I've "known" Hillary since before I was a teenager, and while she's not perfect, she surely has grown on me, thus there's a sentimental factor that made me push harder for her to get the Democratic nomination, and be all the more disappointed when that didn't happen! Sarah Palin now being introduced to the "national landscape" doesn't sway my vote simply because she lacks a Y chromosome! It's actually rather offensive that someone would assume that because I'm a woman, she'll get my vote! It's just as silly as people who assumed that Barack would have my vote in the bag automatically as well.

If anything, Palin's nomination worries me. I'm not so much concerned about "deflecting Hillary supporters "as I am about white, middle-class conservative soccer moms who'll identify with this "everyday woman" that drinks beer, hunts, is a lifelong member of the NRA, knows how to take charge while still baking cookies, and believed in anti-abortion so much that she had a child she knew would be sick!

The bottom line here is that I'm once again excited about the political process. Not so excited that I actually get more politically involved, but I do care more about what's happening politically. I now think the Presidential race JUST GOT INTERESTING!

All the people looking for "change" now have that from the republican party, and while many see it as a feigned attempt to "snow" the american public with smoke and mirrors and keep them away from "the real issues", others view Palin's nomination as a breath of fresh air! She's everything that McCain is NOT! She shores up the "conservative base" AND she's a pretty white woman! I don't know if you've noticed this, but pretty white women RARELY LOSE ANYTHING! LMAO.

On Barack Obama

I admit it: Barack Obama is charismatic! I like him! I've long since held that Hillary Clinton was my "candidate of choice", and while I'm not a die-hard Democrat, I supported her candidacy 100%. I could not give the same support to Barack Obama. Again, I like him, but I'm not 100% behind him. Even though I "loved" Hilary, I still wasn't considered a "die-hard fan". She was fallible (obviously), and though she wasn't perfect, I still liked her!

Though I think Barack is handsome, funny, and smart, I worry about the "svengali-like hold" that he has on much of the american public. I see people's eyes glazed over and they're frothing at the mouth at everything the man says! For me, it's the same way people were "snowed" by Bush in 2000 and 2004. I question anyone that has that kind of "devotion" to ANY PERSON, including clergy!

Thus far, I'm surely leaning towards voting for Barack Obama, because he's the "lessor of two evils". It's always the way I vote in this "two party system". I don't really have any choice. I refuse to "throw my vote away" on an independent candidate, despite the fact that I plan to change my voter registration from "Democratic" to "Independent".

Barack's speech at the Democratic National Convention was right! There is something brewing! Change is in the air! Whether he wins the nomination or not, things can't continue to stay the same.

CHANGE IS COMING!

My problem with Democrats is that they're REAL good on talk, but short on action! Say what you will about Republicans, THEY GET THINGS DONE! Sure, they get them done for their friends and family members ONLY, but they get them done nonetheless! LMAO.

Perhaps because I'm unhappy professionally, I'm unable to have the unrelenting eagerness that so many of my friends, colleagues, and relatives have about Obama's chances. I still think america is too racist to elect a Black man, even if he is mostly the antithesis of what most americans think of Black men in general. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm sure there are tons of people that hope that I am. If I am, I'll admit it when the time comes.

I'll end this by saying, HIS SPEECH WAS GREAT! Now let's see what america's really made of!

Genius Deferred


P.S. I HAVE A DREAM! I'm thinking about moving to Illinois and running for Barack's senate seat should he win the presidency! LOL.