2008 has been a year that in many ways defies easy summation.  Granted the words “utter disaster” “meltdown” “beginning of the end” could all come to mind, but so could “amazing triumph” “realization of hope” “beginning of change” and the like.  It all depends on how you want to look at it, and which parts you’d like to focus on.

I think the best I can do is… “it could be worse” and right now that’s true.

But the world continues to spin, and in it’s spinning we draw to the end of the year and the beginning of the next.  Sadly the calendar and various night spots are the only places where the strike of midnight matters.  For all things that matter, it’s just another day.  There’s been a lot of things I’ve wanted to touch on these past few days, I just really haven’t known how to go about it.  The economy isn’t great, and we all know it, though that seems to be a big focus for our incoming Prez and his Cabinet, so maybe there’s hope for at least some improvement, though for every bailout and stimulus check the money still has to come from somewhere and it’s likely that our kids and grandkids and perhaps beyond will still in some form or fashion be dealing with the fallout from each dollar spent… I don’t know where it all will come from other than just continued printing of money and exchanging cash for debt which devalues each cent and increases inflation and all around just further plunges us into the depths of economic failure… but there are those much smarter than I working on this case and hopefully they have a plan that while beyond my comprehension will nonetheless help to improve the financial state of the country.

However, there are other fears on tap, not manufactured fears heightened by changing color scales and random warnings, but actual threats to the well being of all peoples of the world.  Iraq’s security has improved beyond the holdouts who will likely continue to try to fight what is in their mind the good fight long after we’ve left and Iraq has been governing itself for decades, but while one warfront lessens in severity another picks up as the war in Afghanistan, so oft neglected while Iraq gained in focus, continues to escalate and grow in new and different ways, changing in dynamic, and requiring untried tactics to gain ground in the conflict.  And while American continues to fight in Afghanistan and along the border of Pakistan, Pakistan develops greater tension along the border of another of it’s neighbors in India, spawning most recently from the horrible terrorist attack and hostage situation in a hotel in India that has reportedly been traced back to Pakistan.  On top of that, the UN is still working on a commission to look into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto who was aiming to lead Pakistan into a new progressive future.  Then there’s the new escalation of force by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza and specifically Hamas following the end of the cease-fire and Hamas’ continued rocket attacks even during the cease-fire, the show of force which is dividing the Arab community as many extremists turn on their various country’s leaders for not taking a hard enough stance against Israel and/or for Hamas in a conflict that many are worrying could prove to be a rallying point for extremists and a growing source of violent intent and action.  In addition there’s been a raise in gas prices as a result of predictions that oil routes could be shut down due to violence and protests in the Middle East (in the grand scale of things, hardly the worst thing to spawn out of all this madness, but it still effects us so it’s worth mentioning).  Our incoming leadership has been strangely quiet about all of these world events as opposed to his revealing of plans regarding the economy, instead deferring to the current President George W. Bush and taking cues from him on what the country will do in response to all of these events and conflicts.

Like the economy I have no answers about any of these conflicts, they spawn from years upon years of issue between various social and religious factions along and about many different borders, and each conflict has it’s own intricacies that will require great care and consideration, as the clock continues to tick down the minutes to midnight and the end of 2008, I can only hope for resolutions to the many conflicts that face our world and a stabilization that would benefit us all in the next year.  I’m not holding my breath, and crossing my fingers would make it really hard to type any more of these late night rants, but regardless of what comes next… perhaps as some mantra that will just make it easier to get through the day remember that “it could be worse.”

Ok, now I know that there’s been much anger, confusion, disappointment, and hurt caused by Obama’s choosing of controversial Pastor Rick Warren as the man to give the inaugural invocation as Obama takes office.  I know that myself being of a religion that is far from the majority here in the states just about always find myself put off by the borderline prerequisite of Christianity as the faith of choice to become President to begin with, so regardless of who was chosen to give the invocation I wouldn’t really have cared that much.  But by picking someone so openly divisive in his stances my attention has been drawn, as has that of others all over the country and beyond.

Now I don’t agree with Rick Warren’s historical stances on homosexuality, finding it bigotted and closed-minded.  But then as I was preparing to take issue with his being tagged to give the prayer of the day, I thought about how I was being closed-minded.  Obama promised something over and over as he moved from hopeful Candidate, to President-Elect… he promised to bring people together, to break down the barriers between right and left, red and blue, neo-con and liberal.  What better way to start than to open a dialogue between a newly liberal left run government and a conservative righty than this.  It would be easier to pick a religious figure who fits into the “liberal agenda” and offends no one in Obama’s circle of supporters, but he didn’t.  Is it meant as a slap in the face to those who voted for him, or is it meant to open a dialogue between factions and sides on issues with the hopes of swaying everyone to an acceptance if not agreeance for the future?  I’d like to think that perhaps it is the latter.

But I- a heterosexual white male have little at stake here, so don’t worry about what I say.  Here’s someone who has a little more on the line depending on how people feel about the issues of homosexuality and same-sex marriage:

Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, who talked with Warren Saturday night when both spoke at a convention of Muslims, wrote an open letter in the Huffington Post, explaining why she, as a lesbian, was giving Warren a chance — she even acknowledged that, “he invited me to his church, I invited him to my home to meet my wife and kids.” An excerpt from Etheridge:

“Brothers and sisters the choice is ours now. We have the world’s attention. We have the capability to create change, awesome change in this world, but before we change minds we must change hearts. Sure, there are plenty of hateful people who will always hold on to their bigotry like a child to a blanket. But there are also good people out there, Christian and otherwise that are beginning to listen. They don’t hate us, they fear change. Maybe in our anger, as we consider marches and boycotts, perhaps we can consider stretching out our hands. Maybe instead of marching on his church, we can show up en mass and volunteer for one of the many organizations affiliated with his church that work for HIV/AIDS causes all around the world. Maybe if they get to know us, they won’t fear us. I know, call me a dreamer, but I feel a new era is upon us.”

A new era… cross your fingers that she’s right.

I came across an amazing article by Politico about the support from military veterans the Republican party has enjoyed for the last thirty years.  After analyzing the voter turnout information, there’s something funny going on with military voters:  they’re moving Dem!

In the past two election cycles, Democrats have added ten new Democratic veterans to Congress. Last week, President-elect Barack Obama helped close the gap among military voters, winning 44 percent of veterans as opposed to John F. Kerry’s 41 percent in 2004.

To anyone who survived the bruising campaigns of the 1990’s, the thought that the Republican Party would surrender its stranglehold on military voters seems unbelievable. But the reality is that this image was never more than surface deep. All those political operatives who seemed to care so deeply about the heroic service of Republican nominees in 1992 and 1996 thought nothing of denigrating and attacking the service of Al Gore and John Kerry when it was the Republican candidate who had avoided serving in Vietnam.

But the really fascinating part is that military personnel haven’t always cared so much whether a candidate was a Republican or a Democrat.  It’s a relatively recent trend that we’re seeing more service members and veterans voting for Republicans.

Republicans did not always have a lock on military voters. Prior to Vietnam, military service was seen as an obligation of all Americans – regardless of political affiliation or wealth. George H.W. Bush and John F. Kennedy were both sons of privileged, politically-connected families who served heroically in the military during World War II. Back then, this was seen as your duty as an American – and no political party could lay an exclusive claim to the flag.

The Republican strangle-hold on military voters is actually rooted in nothing more than a campaign strategy:

The GOP’s ability to market itself as the “Party of the Military” grew in large part from schisms in the electorate arising during the Vietnam era. For a generation, Republicans exploited George McGovern’s 1972 campaign as a means to brand Democrats as unpatriotic and weak on national security – never mind the fact that McGovern flew 35 bombing missions over Europe during WWII and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

It was during these formative years as a budding Republican operative that Karl Rove learned the tools of the trade. Ironically, Rove avoided serving in Vietnam so he could sharpen the political skills he would later use to brand Al Gore a fraud, Max Cleland a coward, and John Kerry a traitor. Never mind that Al Gore enlisted in the Army; Max Cleland left three limbs on the battlefield; and John Kerry fought his way to three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star.

Senator McCain was the one true American hero of the Republican party.  Something many of his counterparts could never lay claim to:

For all the GOP’s patriotic imagery and testosterone-infused rhetoric, the sad truth is that most of the current crop of Republican leaders – Rudy Giuliani; Mitt Romney; Newt Gingrich; Mitch McConnell; John Boehner; etc. – were all of age at the time of Vietnam but avoided serving in the military.

Just one more irony of the Republican party.   But at this point, is it really any suprise?

A question was just asked on CNN if voters seem more enthusiastic or energized than in previous election years. The simple answer is yes.  But I was musing exactly why the voters are more energized and I realized that it’s more complicated than it appears.

Here are the top reasons I think people are more enthusiastic this Presidential cycle than in the past:

1. Finally seeing an end to the Bush reign.
2. Voters are excited to elect the first African-American President, Barack Obama.  There’s a few key words being thrown around:  momentus and historic.
3. Second to electing an African-American as president is electing the first female Vice President.  It’s definitely a factor especially considering that Sarah Palin’s running mate, John McCain, has one foot in the grave already.  Which leads me to….
4. Electing the oldest man to take the presidential office.
5. Lastly, although my gut tells me it should be higher on the list, some voters are excited to elect AGAINST the first African-American president.

This combination of race, sex, and enthusiasm to change the current Presidents policy is making it the most exciting election year in U.S. history. I’m proud to be a part of it. Vote!

Is the push for Florida paying off for Obama?

A new poll commissioned by researchers at New York University reveals that American Jews favor Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama over his Republic rival, John McCain, by a 67 – 33 percent margin.

The survey, which sampled the opinions of over 3,000 respondents – half of them being Jewish – also found that Jews as an ethnic group will support Obama by almost 30 percent more than other white, non-Hispanic voters.

[haaretz]

I’ve gotten used hearing rumors about Barack Obama like how he’s a Muslim, or that he swore on the Koran when elected to the Senate.  All of which have been proved INCORRECT without a shadow of doubt.

It was recently brought to my attention that ANOTHER rumor is developing.

Apparently some voters in Iowa argue against voting for Barack Obama for fear that he’ll change the United States flag if elected President.

You’ve. Gotta. Be. Shitting. Me.

I can only assume that this rumor has spawned from old news items like when Obama wasn’t wearing the tiny American flag pin during public appearances like all the other candidates last year.  Or when his campaign airplane was outfitted with his campaign logo instead of the American flag.

I have no link to the story that there are some Iowa voters who believe Obama will change the American flag if elected President because it was something directly told to me by those voters.

But does it shock anyone that something so absurd is swinging votes?  Then again, I think some people are looking for any reason to cast their vote for “anyone other than Obama”.

UPDATE:

I came across a site called “Conservapedia” designed to mimic Wikipedia except catered specifically for, you guessed it, “conservatives”.

Check out what it says in the Barack Obama entry.  No wonder people are all backwards on the truth:

Obama is likely to be Muslim because:

• Obama’s background and education are Muslim
• Obama’s middle name remains Muslim, which most Christians would not retain[8]
• Obama recently referred to his “Muslim faith”[9]
• Obama uses the Muslim Pakistani pronunciation for “Pakistan” rather than the common American one[10]
• Obama, in his autobiography “Dreams from My Father” (1995), descibes Muslim Malcolm X as his favorite black leader
• Obama’s claims of conversion to Christianity arose after he became politically ambitious, lacking a date of conversion or baptism.[11]

The odds of Obama being truthful in his claim that he converted to Christianity are less than 100 to 1 against it, as fewer than 1% of Muslims convert to Christianity.[12]

This is one of the larger issues between the two U.S. Presidential candidates, McCain and Obama.  Should the United States have direct talks with Iranian leader, Ahmadinejad?

McCain says,  “Absolutely not.  The guys a terrorist!”  Obama says, “Absolutely yes.  The guys a terrorist!”

The Bush administration was prepping to send a diplomat to Iran considering the accelerated rate at which Iran was developing nuclear capabilities.

But now Bush has changed his mind and it’s gonna have to wait until a new president is elected:

The proposal to send US diplomats to Teheran for the first time in three decades attracted great attention when it was floated seriously midyear, but has been placed on indefinite hold as November’s election nears and Iran continues to defy demands to halt suspect nuclear activities, officials told the AP.

The officials said it had been decided to leave the decision to the next US president because it could be seen as a reward for Iran’s nuclear intransigence especially when Iranian policy has become a major part of the heated campaign between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

My personal opinion? The Bush administration is a bunch of spineless pussies.

Feminists are gonna have a field day with the “Sarah Palin School Girl” action figure…

[pic] Above: Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, and Dick Cheney

Check out more here. Be sure not to miss the Britney Spears action figure. Wowzah!! Why she’s listed under the political figures, I have no idea.

In a recent poll done by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, roughly half of Americans polled said they’ve had about enough coverage of Prez hopeful Barack Obama, and most everyone said they’d like to know more about McCain.

Well hey, that’s cool America, you want McCain, you’ve got him.  Here’s what McCain’s latest campaign ad has to say-

hmm… It seems McCain likes talking about Obama as much as “the media” does.  Oh, and he also infuriated one of his campaign contributors by including their daughter in that last video.  You might’ve heard of her, her last name is Hilton?  Anyway, the daughter in question has her own campaign ad in response to the attention. 

Something else I wanted to add.  Since when would it be a bad thing for our President to be a bigger, more recognizable figure than our pop-stars?  I think that having such a high profile would actually be a very good thing, meaning people were at least paying a little more attention to politics than they are to the gossip rags about which superstar celeb got what body part altered when.  The president should be a celebrity, or at least get the same amount of news coverage. 

And if people want to hear more about McCain, tell McCain to talk more about McCain, and less about “he who we’ve heard enough about”.  That’d be a good start.