(Seven Posts in Seven Days – Day 3)
Cecilia left this comment on my blog:
hi
I just recently discovered your blog & visit daily. I am so undecided about this election…I read what your saying & I totally agree with you, but then I speak to someone on the right & then I agree with them. I am having such a hard time with this election…
I cant seem to find anything to help make up my mind. Can anyone help?
Thanks!
Oh Cecilia, bless your heart. We have only been at this for two years, sweetheart. There were over 40 debates during the primaries and most recently we have had three Presidential debates and one Vice Presidential debate. Honey, I trust you can read. Please do because this is important. And I am not trying to be mean or dismissive. It really is that important and you need to read about this stuff and believe me there are piles of stuff out there.
But… if you are not going to read anything else, I hope you’ll chew on this:
Let’s start with John McCain. Picking Sarah Palin was John McCain’s first big decision after winning the nomination. In an earlier interview McCain said he didn’t know much about the economy but he would probably pick a Vice President who could help him on that. Palin? Really? Palin. She went to five colleges and finally got an undergraduate degree in journalism. And if you have watched her interviews with journalists, you have to wonder how much of that degree sank in. Sarah Palin – definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed.
She was mayor of Wasilla – a city population of 7,000. Then off to the governor’s mansion in a state with a population of 700,000. Honestly, there are more beavers in Alaska than people. But this is the person who is going to explain the complexities of one of the largest economies on the globe to John McCain. I’m pretty sure they don’t have enough fingers and toes between them to count that high. (By the way, I say one of the largest economies because under George W. Bush’s Confederacy of Dunces the European Union flew past us.)
Now let’s talk about taxes. John McCain is working overtime to scare the hell out of all the Joe the Fill-in-the-Blank’s out there. He’s trying to fool them into thinking that they actually make enough money to be worried. That is the biggest joke the Republican party has managed to play on the good people of America. Most of us don’t even make enough money in a life-time to afford the membership into that club. The idea of a progressive tax where the wealthy pay more in taxes than the poor is nothing new. Not even close. In fact 81% of economist agree with the concept… and here is a real eye opener – until he crapped his pants about losing this election John McCain supported the concept as well. Trust me, that dog don’t hunt. He will say anything to win at this point. De-regulation of banks? He was for it, but now is against it. He was for privatization of social security and now he is against it. He was for the estate tax and now he is against it. He used to have a spine and now he doesn’t.
If I hear that McCain is a Maverick one more time I just might throw myself to the floor and break a hip. A maverick is an independent individual who doesn’t go along with a group or party. If John McCain’s a maverick I am one of those cheerleaders on the sidelines of Harold’s beloved Dallas Cowboys. Nobody seems to dispute that the Republican party led by George W. Bush got us into this mess but what everybody seems to forget is that Sarah Palin and John McCain are Republicans. Look, when the Religious Right came knocking at the door of the RNC Membership Round-Up, someone should have turned out the porch lights and told everyone inside to be quiet until they went away… the same thing I do when those nice looking boys on bicycles with bibles come to my door. But the Republicans opened that door, invited them in and now they have to live with that decision.
Cecilia, when was the last time a politician brought a tear to your eye… moved you deep in your soul? Honestly when was the last time you really felt that Americans could do anything if we put our hearts and minds to it? I am an old lady. Most of my life politicians have moved me. Most of my life I have felt that Americans can do anything if we put our hearts and minds to it. It’s been 8 long years. I had almost forgotten what that felt like. Thank you Barack Obama. Thank you.
If you are undecided – and I am at a complete loss for how you could be – please consider the following:
Which party has been screaming terrorist, socialist, Marxist, murder him and kill him… and which party has been talking about hope and unity.
Which party has been throwing everything but the kitchen sink at you everyday for the past two weeks hoping to scare you into thinking that there is an Un-American part of the country… and which party has been sayng that there is no red America and no blue America but only the United States of America.
Which party thinks war is the answer to everything… and which party has suggested that maybe we need to sit down and talk this out to see if peace is possible.
Which Presidential candidate just gave a speech accusing Barack Obama of delaying the World Series game. I mean of all things. In fact, that is a lie. But my god, that is the McCain talking point for the day? That’s a small thing I know, but when Harold hears something on TV about sports, that’s a big thing in our house. So he checked. It was a lie. But McCain is counting on you to not check to see if he was telling the truth. He is counting on Americans to be fat and lazy. And as silly and ridiculous as that little lie is… what more do you need? He will lie to you to get your vote.
So tell me again why you are undecided?
Oh yes I forgot. The terrorists are going to get us.
Folks, I’m tired of living in fear. Life is too short. How about we try hope and optimism again and see how that works. It created the greatest nation in history and the world is better for it.
Thanks for stopping by everyone. If I find out that you didn’t take the time to vote, I will ask Matthew to ban you from this web page blog. I mean it. Really.
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By: Grant Melius on June 3, 2010
at 1:54 PM
Helen-
it’s been a year since you said this-
———————————————–
“Folks, I’m tired of living in fear. Life is too short. How about we try hope and optimism again and see how that works. It created the greatest nation in history and the world is better for it.”
———————————————
It made a lot of difference to me then- while we were counting down to election day… many of us in semi-hysteria.
We’re not there yet and hanging onto hope and optimism is hard work. You make it easier though…
Who would have thought … last fall…that we would be having conversations about whether our President deserved a Nobel peace prize…?
That enough could happen in a year to give the rest of the world hope we’d get ourselves sorted out ?
I’m with you- we do want to be seen as an instrument of peace… we have a lot more work to do…
———————————-
“Even if he got it for remembering to leave the seat down for Michelle and the girls, Barack Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize is a good thing. Don’t we want the United States to be seen as an instrument of peace in the world?”
————————————————-
Best wishes for your Harold …
Thank you to you and Margaret for having us all in.
By: alaskapi on October 30, 2009
at 10:28 PM
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NOW!
By: encablefe on June 11, 2009
at 8:29 PM
http://www.gummybearinternational.com/ecard/
By: dummidumbwit on February 24, 2009
at 4:40 PM
[...] Today’s post is amazing. Obama brings tears to my eyes. There you have it. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Gays were to blame all the time!Peter Wehner hits the nail on the head [...]
By: Margaret and Helen hit the nail on the head…again! « Mistakes of Ambition on February 24, 2009
at 8:57 AM
http://dummidumbwit.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/examination-of-the-repulican-party-from-the-leftcenter/
they lost!! Now we have a new Great and various lesser Satan s to worry about?
By: dummidumbwit on November 23, 2008
at 8:37 PM
I slept thru it, did I miss anything? What happened??
By: dummidumbwit on November 18, 2008
at 12:08 AM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.thetreadmillguide.com
By: sarah on November 16, 2008
at 10:18 PM
ohmy god. I’m almost in tears, thats is so funy. I ran Palinboy.com until last month….we had over 100k hits in 3 weeks, I felt so bad Palin was so dumb and also got so much hate mail I shut’r down was that possibly the most absurd thing in modern american politics. Sarah Palin. LMAO….I still can’t sayit without laughing….whats even more fun is hearing the defense…nothing quite as revealing as the social conservatives defending the selection of a complete idiot to run friggin free world. Ron Lee http://www.ASocialThing.com NON PROFIT SHOPPING MALL.
By: ron lee on November 10, 2008
at 8:02 PM
This will quickly be buried into obscurity, but here goes.
They certainly do have an impressive hit count, and I am astounded by the comments section and the apparent “life of it” as we all know, this is not an easy accomplishment. I have recently become a fan, and I check them via an RSS Feed and try my best to keep up with what is going on.
But as it is a freeway of comments … I often just find myself standing on the on-ramp, wondering if there is going to be a break in the traffic.
As for them writing it … Who knows?
Best to just sit back and watch the flow and not worry about it.
DS
By: Don Smith on November 6, 2008
at 6:09 AM
[...] Margaret and Helen Do you think this blog is really written by two older women? [...]
By: Margaret and Helen « Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub on November 6, 2008
at 3:45 AM
I just found your blog and I love it! I especially liked this post a lot and linked it to a quote I used in my own blog. I hope that is ok. If not please feel free to let me know. You’re inspiring! Thank you for your words and your wisdom.
By: overlooking26 on November 6, 2008
at 1:06 AM
Cali,
Obama will be a good leader, not because he is charismatic and well spoken, but because he understands how to look at situations/issues from multiple viewpoints and create sound workable solutions. Palin and McCain do not grasp this concept which is needed today. The see from one point of view which will get us nowhere.
By: Sergio Canales on November 4, 2008
at 3:33 PM
http://dummidumbwit.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/god-be-with-barack-obama-in-his-moment-of-loss-our-thoughts-and-prayers-are-with-you/
By: dummidumbwit on November 4, 2008
at 12:11 PM
Cali,
Just out of curiosity, does running a 3/4 of a million dollar campaign, and building the largest ground game of any election in the history of our Country count as experience?
Does beating Hillary, John Edwards and several other hopefuls count as experience?
How about the current campaign against a 2nd time hopeful candidate and demonstrating, better judgment, more intelligence, more restraint, an ability to stay focused on issues and avoid stooping to the level of a miserable smear campaign like John and Sarah?
Does and of that qualify as experience? I think it does, and I think anyone looking at this election objectively would arrive at the same conclusion. Well maybe not Sarah Palin, but she’s not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.
By: Vaughn on November 4, 2008
at 10:45 AM
Obama doesnt have much more experience than Palin.
Just because he is a charismatic, well spoken man, that wont make him a good leader.
By: cali on November 3, 2008
at 7:44 PM
This truly is an amazing blog. None has sent you a negative response. Or they are being censored.
By: Just Looking For Real Answers, not a Smooth Talker on November 3, 2008
at 5:57 PM
I wonder how many people this is going to happen to. My friend registered many years ago, but neglected to vote. This year she has the spirit and planned to vote. Last week (long after the registration deadline) she went to the clerk’s office to find out where her precinct is. She was told if you don’t vote, they purge their registrations and you are no longer registered. I would assume it is every 10 years but it may be less. She cannot vote in this election. So beware folks you do have to vote or you may have to re-register.
By: Voter from Michigan on November 3, 2008
at 9:57 AM
You brought tears to my eyes with how you responded and brought all the points to this lady… wonderful, amazing..
By: shani1978 on November 3, 2008
at 9:25 AM
[...] of elderly ladies but who cares if their identities are authentic when they write great posts like “if you are undecided you’re not paying attention” [...]
By: margaret and helen: my new new favorite ladies « love in other places on November 3, 2008
at 8:55 AM
[...] don’t know how anyone could be, not for several months, but maybe this will [...]
By: Ramblings from the Queen of Dallas » Still undecided? on November 3, 2008
at 12:21 AM
[...] and Helen [read this one] Andrew [...]
By: sample ballot lessons « because this is always about that. on November 3, 2008
at 12:10 AM
So eloquently written and such an intelligent and well-thought out opinion. How can there be ANYONE in this country with a functioning brain that does not agree with you? You are truly an American hero, Helen!
By: Kim Cavender on November 2, 2008
at 9:43 PM
Congratulations. You are the “Blog of the Week” in the San Francisco Chronicle – Nov 2nd. That’s how I found you.
I’m a 65 year old grandmother of 2 preschoolers, a retired biology teacher. I want a world where people can agree to disagree and not be hateful. I want a world of hope.
We need leaders that aren’t afraid to face our nation’s and our world’s problems with reasoned good sense and good communication. It is not unpatriotic to talk with those who have different view points.
I decided months ago that I would vote for Senator Obama. If he was running against Senator McCain of 2000, it would have been a tougher choice.
McCain’s choice of Palin for VP was the final straw that clearly and finally put me in the Obama camp. Subsequent spewing of hatred at the rallies of the Republican faithful absolutely appall me. Obama’s steadiness is much more reassuring than McCain’s invective speeches and erratic behavior. I wouldn’t want to be either one on Nov 5th. The mess left by Bush is the stuff of nightmares.
Helen, you are amazing! Thank you for your straight talk. You have the wisdom of 82 years of life and good sense and a great humor that goes with it.
God Bless! May you live a long, healthy life. Thank you for sharing your blog with us. You are the proverbial “light in the wilderness.” Thank you for that.
Mickey
By: mickall1@yahoo.com on November 2, 2008
at 8:18 PM
“If John McCain’s a maverick I am one of those cheerleaders on the sidelines of Harold’s beloved Dallas Cowboys”
LOVE this! If the boys make a t-shirt of this statement, I’m buying one.
By: 01crazymomma on November 2, 2008
at 5:56 PM
I love you ladies! And the title of this post is RIGHT ON!
By: Felda on November 2, 2008
at 3:20 PM
Nobody is really undecided. They just enjoy the attention. The party is almost over, though. Here’s the thing, for all of you “undecideds”……..if you’re making less than $200,000 a year, vote for Obama. If you’re making more than that, stay home on election day.
Duke
http://thedailyduke.com
By: Duke on November 2, 2008
at 1:03 PM