The Times They Are A-Changin' (sort of)...

My brother, http://www.entertherainbow.blogspot.com ,has finally graced the world with an opinion on the current political race that no doubt will inspire a few others to blog there own reflections on the conventions, campaigns and coverage. I know it made me want to talk about it.
I'm no Fareed Zakaria or Jonathan Altar, but here goes. LRP warning: this will probably be a longer post that will ramble at times, so get some coffee and find a comfortable chair.

In Andy's first warning he mentions the misnomer (sp?) that pastors are not to have, or at the very least, express their political opinions. Of course, the pulpit is no place for politics but in an informed, civil conversation, why should pastors be expected to be apolitical? We're people, too! (was that whiney?)

Okay. Both camps say we're heading in the wrong direction. Both camps say we need a change in Washington. Both camps use the same evidence to support the need for change. both camps have seemingly interchangable mantras of Yes We Can or Change We Can Believe In or I Believe in a Better Way (kudos to Barack for using a Ben Harper song and not anything by ABBA)

Here's the thing. We thought change was coming two years ago when the democrats regained voting power in the Senate. The new government has, largely, failed to change anything.

The whole system is so entrenched that its hard to believe that any one person or administration will change it all that much. I believe this election year has started a process of changing the ways of Washinton, one that won't fully be developed until i'm an old man, say 37. Obama's not going to ride in on a white steed and throw out all the lobbyists, get the dems and rebs to sit down and smoke the peace the pipe. McCain, voting with Bush 90% of the time, is certainly not going come in guns blazin' and say "the Maverick's in town, this town ain't big enough for partisan politics." It's not going to happen. Things will change simply because different people will be in office. But the lobbies aren't going away, the never-ending campaign culture isn't going away and the 50/50 split isn't going away. As long as money's invovled, as long as special interests are invovled, as long as reelections are invovled, it'll be Washington as usual.

(here's the rambling part) About this Muslim thing. I want to make perfectly clear: BARACK OBAMA IS NOT, HAS NEVER BEEN, AND NEVER WILL BE A MUSLIM. But here's a question, why does it matter? In 2008, are we really still that obtuse and arrogant and ignorant to believe that a Muslim person couldn't be the cheif executive of the United States. Our nation, founded on the priciples of religious freedom (to name one), has officially seperated church and state. It shouldn't matter. neither candidates faith should be an issue. But it is. I praise both candidates for distancing themselves from the crazy Christian supporters that came out of the woodwork. Jeremiah Wright, James Haggee, Dobson, Robertson. James Dobson actually called on the members of Focus on the Family to pray for rain during Obama's speech. How very Christian of you! And then there's Rick Warren. Get them on the same stage, ask them the same questions, and let your worshippers make up their own damn minds. Thank you, Pastor Warren. They shouldn't have had to campaign in a church in the first place, but such is our country, and you handled it well.

I don't want my PODUS to have time to go to church. I don't want my president to bring religion into every decision. I do want them to have hearts of compassion, mercy and justice. Every religion on earth shares these tenants, and oh, atheists can be compassionate too. It shouldn't matter.

OK. No turning over the tables of the money-changers, no great hope for change, we covered the religion thing. What else?

Can we talk about Sarah Palin for a second? She's an intelligent, successful person who cares about her family and the people she's been elected to serve. But has there ever been a more rediculously transparent political move? It's like the GOP is saying, "Hey Hilary supporters, this person has boobs too, vote for her now." And it turns out, it's been kind of a political train wreck. Where's that 200 million dollar check from the federal government for the project that was cancelled? You know, the one you supported until the US government scrapped it and ONLY THEN did you agree it was a bad idea? Cindy McCain? Closest state to Russia? What?! How does being governor of a state with a population smaller than the city in which Obama honed his political chops prepare you to be a heartbeat away from the PODUS? It's insulting, is what it is. It's an insult to our intelligence. (and, I agree with Obama and McCain that family should be off limits, but just think for a minute what would happen if the tables were turned. If Obama had a 17 yr old daughter who was having a baby. What a field-day that would be for the GOP?)

Speaking of Hilary supporters, get over it! How many times does Hilary herself have to say she supports Obama for you to listen.

Now, the coverage. Journelistic integrity died when 24 hour news stations were born. Just like video killed the radio star, 24 hour news killed the unbiased, factfinding reporter. I go to www.bbcnews.com for my election coverage. "A lot of people are going to pre-supposed such and such, so let us be the first to presuppose such and such." The best politcal news team? Come on, people, this isn't 7th grade. In a political knowledge poll, people who got their news EXCLUSIVELY from the Daily Show and the Colbert Report scored 20% higher than people who watched the real news. Karl Rove as a political analyist? Oh yeah, that should be totally unbaised.

Alright, here it is. The ultimate faux-pah (sp?). Don't talk about religion or politics. But, here it is. I am supporting, voting for, hoping for Barack Obama and Joe Biden to lead the next administration of the United States. Primarially for their promise to find a reasonable end to the war in Iraq. I'm not naive enough to take a campaign promise without a large grain of salt, but we have to get out of Iraq and I think Obama has a better plan than McCain.

And finally, I leave you with the same pessimistic hope as my brother. That politics itself will change. That the constant, junior-high bickering will stop, the campaign culture will stop, the lobbyists and speical interest groups will stop, the "this is why you shouldn't vote for these people" strategies will stop. That we can help the poor and oppressed, acknowledging the systemic failures that birth poverty and create opportunities for personal development and responsibility. That we can promote, encourage and work for peace while facilitating the security of all people. There is too much need in this world, too much violence in this world, too much hunger in this world for politics as usual.

I pray (yes, pray, i'm inserting my own religious views into politics) that we can come together and fight for the things that really matter.

Hopefully yours, Brad

www.procon.org
www.dividedwefail.org
www.bbcnews.com