JohnA lifeBlog

One of my oldest and closest friends just sent me this message. I appreciate his honesty, and so I am going to post my reply in full. He writes.

so has california changed you that much???????
You are going to have to fill me in on what I am missing…Help me understand how you can support obama?

Here is my reply:

I’ve actually written about this quite a bit in my blog, but since you are one of my oldest and best friends, I wanted to respond personally.

The short answer? How can I not?

Here’s the long answer:

Over the last 8 years, we have seen a crippling war in Iraq, 4,000+ soldiers who have paid the ultimate price. Numerous signing statements from an executive branch that has nothing but contempt for the Constitution. Illegal wiretapping. Soldiers being deployed in our borders. A deficit that has grown to $11 trillion.

My reasons for supporting Obama have more to do with the fact that McCain simply wants to continue the failed policies of the last 8 years.

Did you have any money in the stock market? How about your 401(k)? How confident are you that more tax cuts for the rich will help you retire on time?

Bush & Co. had 8 years to experiment. And that experiment has failed.

Is Obama the best choice ever? No, actually. My first choice was Ron Paul.

In the spirit of transparency, here is a list of my political contributions this election:

Ron Paul - $500
Darcy Burner For Congress - $150
Barack Obama For President - $50

I am a libertarian at heart, but I am also a realist. And given the choice between the two major party candidates, the facts alone dictate that I support Barack Obama.

It isn’t California that has changed me, it is life experience, and the last 8 years that have changed me.

John

If you didn’t have a chance to watch Obama’s presentation this evening, here it is in its entirety.

Matt Drudge is working overtime trying to make this presidential campaign into a horse race. He ignores the electoral college polls, and tries his best to spin the trends into his preferred candidate’s direction…

I mean, he is even leading with a BREAKING™ story from the “Washington Times” saying that Obama has been secretly meeting with Iraqi leaders to help torpedo McCain’s campaign.

I’ve not endorsed Obama, or even decided who I will vote for. But this reeks of the most desperate moves a “presidential” campaign has ever decided to embrace. I mean, he tries to portray the Washington Times as an impartial news source. Um, sorry Matt, even a doorstop is more informed than that.

I am embarassed for John McCain, and I am embarassed for America, the land that I love.

I don’t want to try to convince you to vote for this candidate or the other. All I ask is that you not get swept up in the media-induced propoganda.

Sen. Obama just delivered the greatest political speech in a generation.

Watch it in High-Definition

I am still pissed about his FISA capitulation, but his speech this evening made me realize that he does want to involve EVERYONE in the election process. He’s not afraid of everyone having a voice and a vote.

We should at least trust his acceptance speech promises with the diligence that we accepted Bush 41’s promise of No New Taxes.

As I debated this with a good friend, I called him naive to believe that things would be different. And I agreed. I am naive. But to be honest, after 8 years of GWB, I am more confident in the people that Obama will surround himself with than the people that McCain will surround himself with.

Don’t forget… He gave his speech with a flag-lapel-pin… how on EARTH will that play in the heartland? I can’t wait to see how FOXNEWSDRUDGESCARBOROUGH will respond.

Finally, according to the campaign website, if you give the tooth fairy at least $15, you get a free LIMITED EDITION “Tooth Fairy / Biden” magnet. I gave $30. Maybe I’ll get two magnets!

Via FiveThirtyEight

Personally, I think that is a terrific choice. Sen. Biden, while he’s made some poor decisions before, is consistent in his choices, familiar with foreign policy challenges, and the kind of straight shooter one can trust.

No, I still haven’t decided how I will vote this November, but I will give Obama props for making a great choice for his VP slot.