Which Presidential Candidates to Choose?

We seem to be in really deep do-do in just about every area that has ANY THING to do with politics. Many years ago, I decided that how I felt about candidates was not going to change any one’s vote, (including my family) so it seemed futile to argue with my friends about it. Furthermore, over the years, some candidates I did not care much for turned out to do a better job than I thought.

My first presidential vote was for Harry Truman, although it was based more on my dislike of the other candidate than my good judgment.

Turned out pretty good! Then it was Ike, who I thought was the best president ever. Eight years of peace and prosperity and no one ever doubted he was a straight shooter. Another choice that turned out.

I voted for Nixon twice, a poor choice. I didn’t vote for Jack Kennedy, and I thought he turned out to be better than I thought possible. Later, I worked raising money for Bobby Kennedy, but we will never know how that would have turned out Didn’t care for Lyndon Johnson, loved Bush the first, and never cast a vote for Bill Clinton, although he turned out as one of the best in my life time.

I left out some others, but by this time in my life, I stopped being emotional about it, as it seemed whoever was elected wasn’t going to affect my life much. As a banker, I generally favored the conservative point of view, but the hate generated by the religious right, and the take over by the silent majority made me uncomfortable with my live and let live ways.

I thought the election of George W. was stolen, and that offended me.

His first term confirmed my concern. Big deficits, tax breaks for the really rich, loss of a hard earned budget surplus, and the 9/11 disaster followed by a really outrageous war with no reason. Suddenly, there were the consequences of war. American young people being killed or horribly maimed. Expenditures out of control. A second front in Afghanistan with the same lack of planning and control. Meanwhile, we at home were not affected much by this insane behavior.

My thought there was no way we would re-elect the same people, but we did and it wasn’t even that close. The morning after the ‘84 election, I was in a golf cart with my best friend. who knew the Bush family, and had supported “W”. We never argued politics, but I told him that I hadn’t slept well the previous night because of wrestling with my concern.He smiled, and said, “Earl, don’t be so concerned about something you can’t control.”

But, I am concerned. I had made up my mind that I wouldn’t worry about this election, mostly because i wasn’t overwhelmed by either presidential candidate. My favorites in both parties had long lost.

Then McCain named Ms. Palin as his V.P. choice. This is an insult to all of us. What do you think she would do with the present trouble in the financial sector? Maybe extend the moose hunting season.

More to come.