Am I the only one who finds the American elections for President, well.....weird? A few weeks ago or sometime then, I first tuned into the DNC convention in Denver. "DNC?" even that sounded odd to me. It reminded of me of some type of medical procedure. Okay, it's Democratic National Convention. The first bias I noted was in the political reporting and coverage from the different networks and cable affiliates. I had to check to see if the different "commentators" were actually at the same event.
If I wanted to get a spin more favorable from the republican side, I stayed on Fox. I tried to be fair and though I didn't connect with the democrat candidates, mostly because there's something sinister that hangs over Hillary and Bill, I would tune into CNN. My God, I wish I wasn't so shallow, but at least Osama is relatively appealing to look at and listen to. Old man McCann, it's hard to think how long he can hold up.
But anyhow, very little of the "reporting" felt like actual hard news, and the candidates? Such posturing. I couldn't get over how much they have to play to each other. Poor Obama, he was so left out on the porch to appease Hillary's supporters. It's obvious these people don't really like each other. By the time Hillary came on to "strongly" express her unwavering support for Obama's presidency, it felt more like a dry run for her own candidacy. Give her credit, she finally showed up, in a strong and confident address, but for her it was too late. This was all about creating "party unity" but even one of those covering the convention exhumed, Hillary, probably hope's Obama loses, so she can run in 2012. Now, that's somebody I'd want watching my back.
If I wanted to get a spin more favorable from the republican side, I stayed on Fox. I tried to be fair and though I didn't connect with the democrat candidates, mostly because there's something sinister that hangs over Hillary and Bill, I would tune into CNN. My God, I wish I wasn't so shallow, but at least Osama is relatively appealing to look at and listen to. Old man McCann, it's hard to think how long he can hold up.
But anyhow, very little of the "reporting" felt like actual hard news, and the candidates? Such posturing. I couldn't get over how much they have to play to each other. Poor Obama, he was so left out on the porch to appease Hillary's supporters. It's obvious these people don't really like each other. By the time Hillary came on to "strongly" express her unwavering support for Obama's presidency, it felt more like a dry run for her own candidacy. Give her credit, she finally showed up, in a strong and confident address, but for her it was too late. This was all about creating "party unity" but even one of those covering the convention exhumed, Hillary, probably hope's Obama loses, so she can run in 2012. Now, that's somebody I'd want watching my back.
I never did see Obama's acceptance speech, but I conceded he can hold up for himself. He's a lawyer after all? It's funny because a lot of political commentators use what we would call sales language to describe the process. "Oh, Obama will finish the deal on Thursday" I'm kind of Glad Obama can be counted on to "close" for himself. Maybe we should be looking for that in a President. Then there is the whole description of what were in the various messages by both parties supporters. Phrases like "red meat" I guess that means substance and also the role of different speakers, well, so far McCain has not been required to be an attack dog,I guess somebody else will "relish" that role.
The whole playing up on the conventions are quite a spectacle. It's even more of an irony watch the political "experts" dissect both the impact and intentions how what the candidates have said, both through specifics and when they trip up. Larry King had a panel of four women who were racing to interrupt each other and nullify or build up what the candidates meant by what they were saying. Everybody seems to know or seem to know what the American people want. You get the feeling that the whole thing needs to be explained to most Americans. I wonder how many people know what a caucus is, or how the parties elect their nominees. What are delegates anyway? How about a "super delegate?" Now that impressive. Some of the women on Larry King seemed intent on slamming Sarah Palin and insisted "women" would be insulted that just any woman would do.
Maybe women like Sarah Palin for reasons "they" like her and it's not the same as women who like Hillary for. Everybody seems to think they know the "intelligence" of the American voter. The same voters that stay up and record "reality shows" and watch dancing with the stars. Face it part of who gets elected will be because of popularity. Isn't that why they call it the popular vote? I must admit John McCain looks a lot better with Sarah Palin standing next to him. He's just too colorless to get elected by himself. It's also a little mystifying how effective the Republican Party wants to portray John McCain as a war here, because he was a prisoner of war. How do we know what happened during his time as a captive? Did you know his Father and Grandfather were Admirals? I remember this scene from a popular movie called "The Recruit" that depicted Colin Farrell as breaking under torture. Afterwards when Farrell found out his capture was staged he lamented, yeah but I broke. Al Pacino as his CIA Svengali quipped they (we) all do. How many of us wouldn't rat out in those circumstances.
All of this played out even weirder when my hotel cable went out and I happened to be watching a Library DVD of the Manchurian candidate. That was eerily similar to some of today's issues. A certain writer friend insists that the whole of the American Elections is already forgone. "It doesn't matter when you own all the ponies in the race" It is interesting noticing the engagement of both "regular people" and the easily obvious controlled and bias media.
I started taking my own poll, just talking to people about their thoughts. A lady in Sacramento working in a deli offered she didn't trust Obama, referring to some obscure mention about his patriotism. Though she was vague in details and she was in a mostly white suburb. Two women at a real estate convention who were friends gave differing opinions of Governor Palin, one woman who offered she was a Mother liked Palin. The other woman just kind of gave non approving body language. At least on woman "expert" of the Larry King Panel of four women called out that the "other women" might be jealous of Sarah Palin's opportunities or her looks.
Now that would be unprecedented. It almost seems like the political machinery is not altogether ready for the unusual ness and complexity of a woman like Sarah Palin not only on the political stage but her influence on both men and Woman. I noticed the other day how Cindy McCain who would be the First Lady is not even receiving hardly any notice. Finally I notice her in a pretty revealing outfit with a cleavage portal, getting a little cranked up. Yes, this is getting a little fun.
It seems like most people vote for who they are going to vote for as President because of their personal preferences. Maybe is somewhat of a sad indication but a lot of people might choose a candidate just for the reasons we all buy different kinds of cars. I'm not that certain that is all bad. Maybe things like intuition and someone a person can relate too are just as important. The whole thing of experience and qualifications are very much central themes of these campaigns. I wonder how some of these candidates would hold up in the real world (yikes!) like trying to get a top corporate job.
I have heard Google, for examples has like twelve layers of interviews and processes including going before groups who actually present real time scenarios, where you have to demonstrate your competence. Not in the American Presidency though. Then again who is to really blame Obama if he decided NOT to pick Hillary as a running mate? Is this any different than a head of a company choosing someone they have a better chemistry with or somebody that will be willing to be loyal to them or plays a better wingman?
No, I cannot really see Hillary being comfortable deferring to the big O. She doesn't seem like a good loser. It seemed like years ago, elections seemed, well....more Presidential. It started with seeing Bill C playing sax on Saturday Night Live. Since then, it's been nothing like I remember when John Kennedy was President.
If we are to believe what the "experts" are telling us, we will see what the candidates are really about in the next remaining days. It seems like more, a war of attrition. Who will hold up? Who will not get tangled up in a mess bigger than their phalanx of image handlers can dig them out from? It's a wonder if the "right" candidate will really make it or will it be really, the one that can survive. I have expected Obama to be a little more skilled with some of the things he's let spill from his mouth. Unguarded moment or subconscious meanings?
Palin already seems to have already trumped her own candidates star. Meanwhile, we are facing the latest failure and government bail-outs of Wall Street Investment banks. First the housing and Mortgage industry, now this. If these people can't run their own businesses, who can? What about the business of running America? Oh, we're back to that again. I kept hoping, really praying that I would see some evidence of both congress and the senate that we actually have some degree of impartiality in standing up to the insane ruse being put forth about these economic bail-outs.I also wanted to see if McCain or Obama would do something.
The fact that neither did had me sense their is no real difference in the fundamental buys in the parties are attached to the real power elite that controls the apparent governing of our nation. Somewhere in all of this is the possibility that more and more people will actually ferment in a swelling of intelligence and do something for themselves, we hope the candidates will...Think and act in accordance with a reasonable plan for America. Hopefully the truth about these elections is out there somewhere, amongst all the spins, the disenchanted, the non-believers and the fervent hopefuls.
Hopeful that the true Spirit of democracy and freedom is instilled in people, not bound up in a big fat wedggie, regardless of the pollsters, media and even the candidates themselves.
Only in America. Strange, but true...and a little weird.