Post-election Musings

For over forty-five years, I have shared Dr. Kings dream of seeing the time when men would be judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. Many people seem to think that was acheived in 2008 because the U.S. elected a man who is half Black to be our next President. I vehemently disagree, because a large number of the electorate voted for him simply because he does have black skin. As for his character, time will tell. I hope and pray for the best, however, I don't hold out for much, given his associations. But, unlike some of my conservative friends, I don't think this presages the end of the Republic [That is much more complex and too involved for this discussion, but look to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire for hints.]. We made it through the 90s with one of the most morally bankrupt couples ever in the White House, and we'll survive the Orgasma reign, which I predict, like the Carter administration, and for many of the same reasons, will last only four years.

I was extremely disappointed that the Republicans offered the liberal John McCain. When he brought Sarah Palin on board, a big deal was made of the fact that they are both mavericks. But there is a huge difference. Her maverickacy [I think I just made up that word] entailed taking bad Republicans to the woodshed while his involved sleeping with the enemy. From day one, I did not feel that I could vote for him. Any thoughts that I might went away when, a few days before the election, he reported with pride that he had voted to confirm Justices Souter and Ginsberg.

I was pleased when Bob Barr announced that he would run for President on the Libertarian ticket. I thought that this might be just what is needed to spur the Libertarian Party toward being a seriously viable option in the future. But, alas, as far as I know, all he did was announce, raise a little bit of money, and give me a box to check on my ballot. So that was another disappointment.

I am somewhat of a news junkie. The 2008 election, though, started so early and lasted so long that by the end, I was really tired of it. I sincerely hope that it did not set a new paradigm for future campaigns.

The Bush Presidency has been very disappointing to me in many ways: The non-military spending spree, failure to activate the veto pen, the naivete of thinking that being nice and accomodating to liberals such as Ted Kennedy would win their cooperation and friendship, his soft stance on illegal aliens. I appreciate, however, that he has stubbornly pursued the war on terror, enhanced the mechanism that has kept us free from attacks on our own soil, and daily sought God's counsel. I have been surprised and dismayed by the hatred and vitriol directed against President Bush by the media and some liberal politicians. It is my fervent prayer that conservatives do not follow a similar pattern against the next President.