Tom Burre’s Weblog

These are some of my misc thoughts on the nominees:

First off, if this would’ve gone the other way: that is Obama receiving more popular votes but Clinton getting the nominee, I’d be pretty bothered. So therefore I need to be now… either the system needs an overhaul and/or I need some more poli-sci training (needed either way) to understand the subtleties of the delegate system– currently it just doesn’t seem right and leaves room for speculation.

That said:

After hearing him speak at the Democratic National Convention back in 2004 and then at Google in summer of 2007, it was obvious that Barack Obama had the potential to do great things for this country and future generations. He’s smart, charismatic, and appears to have excellent judgment. This last characteristic could be the most valuable and hardest to come by in a presidential candidate.

I also heard John McCain speak at Google last year. While McCain did oppose those tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans in Bush’s first term and has been a champion of campaign finance reform and accountability in governance, his policies ARE a continuation of the stagnant and failed policies of the Bush administration (foreign, domestic, social and economic). I’m also skeptical of his psychological health, temper, and reasoning given his difficult yet honorable past. I do admire his public service and hope it continues, just not as the person with their finger on the button,,, (should such a catastrophe arise). This is the presidency, and this is the 21st century, and carpet bombings should be listed as crimes against humanity… But sadly, all I’m saying is that I think McCain would pull the trigger sooner.

I think it’s great that both these candidates are talking about really changing the process of how things get done in Washington. However, I believe that Obama is the only one offering new substance as well, to go through such improved processes. We need to stop bumbling around and start implementing innovative, progressive, and sustainable ideas that lift up quality of life for all Americans and humans at large… or things are just going to grow further and further apart, with more poor, uneducated people and fewer inspired, open minds.

The Obama campaign itself is a prime example of the successful implementation of a better process with new, and better, substance. They’ve organized and orchestrated a brilliant campaign that got the job done and set records doing so. If anyone told you a bi-racial guy named “Barack Obama” was going to be the Democratic nominee a few years ago I think you would say “Nope. Can’t happen. It’d be nice to hope that it could, here in AMERICA…. but it won’t.” And now you might be thinking “yeah, but how does this all translate to Washington and being an effective President of the US? And why should I trust such a polished campaign machine to make real change in my life and my children’s lives and my parent’s lives???” Well, I’m not sure. But it certainly seems like the best real option in my life so far (1972 to present).

We can’t pass this opportunity up. There’s nothing and everything to lose

That’s it for now.

PS – I just happen to notice this today (6/6/08)… and it really reflects something. Please compare the party’s official web pages:

http://www.gop.com/
http://www.democrats.org/

Knowing politics, either party could end up slinging stuff… But, wow, how the GOP has really jumped ahead in this unfortunate trend.