Friday, October 3, 2008

What Were You Watching Last Night?

If you've been a reader of my clever little blog for a while...you will know that every once in a while...I wax political. I don't know why, but I just can't restrain myself!

The Vice Presidential Debate was last night...

What did you think? Did you watch it? Of course, I liked Sarah Palin and thought she did a great job. But...I like her. So that makes sense, right? I don't think the debate is going change anybody's mind about who they are going to vote for...and I don't even know if it could have helped undecided voters to make up their minds.

The thing that makes me sad about the debates and politics in general right now is that we really don't get to hear good reasons to vote for someone. We get to hear about personalities...but not policies. We hear so much about why we shouldn't vote for the other candidate. For some reason...I think it would be nice to vote for someone...not just against somebody else. I get very tired of the rhetoric and long for real discussion.

Seriously...please tell me, Senator Biden...why should I vote for you and Barack? Don't just tell me that John McCain voted against funding the troops because of the timeline stipulation. Tell me why it makes sense to put a timetable on the Iraq situation. Tell me why socialized healthcare really makes sense and won't totally ruin healthcare in the country (I could totally blog about this for days...but I will spare you...at least for today). Don't just tell me that McCain's tax credits won't work. Tell me why your guys ideas are sound. Tell me why you don't want to tap into domestic energy sources at least in the short term while we make alternative energy sources a reality. Tell me something real...something I can understand...something I "can believe in." There are so many other things about the Obama/Biden ticket that scare me and the VP debate last night and the Presidential debate last week did nothing to make me feel at ease in any way.

Again...I liked Sarah Palin. I would really like to hear more from her and McCain too...I want to understand their positions on the issues and not just hear what Barack has done wrong (and yes...I know there's plenty of that...but I think that is true for all politicians). I think Palin did a good job of talking about what she did as governor of Alaska and thought that she did address some issues but wasn't really able to explore them because of the time restraints and the way Biden always dashed out an arguement at the close of a topic. But she was her fiesty self and wasn't intimidated by Joe Biden...which I think is a major accomplishment because he would scare me...big time!

I know talking politics on a blog is always a little scary. But I don't mind if you disagree with me. I think respectful discussion is healthy. If you don't like what I say...don't just asume I'm a moron and don't understand what is happening in our country...just realize that my perspective is different and talk to me about why you feel differently. I'll totally respect you and trust that you will still respect me...even if we don't agree on some issue.

So...the VP debate...Discuss...(Respectfully, of course)...

14 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I'm a registered Independent. I have voted for Nader in the last two elections. This is actually the first election I could get behind either candidate.

With that being said, I still have no idea who I voted for. I didn't watch the debates. They make me crazy. I still have some research to do about the candidates.

Amanda said...

AMEN!!! I'm so tired of the "you believe this" way of doing things. I heard enough of that on my mission, thanks. I just want someone to be straight forward and not dance around the issues.

I did feel that last night's debate showed a few things. First of all, Sarah Palin is not a career Washingtonian, (is that a word?). She doesn't use all the lingo, she doesn't come across as stuffy and out of touch like every other politician I've ever seen in my life. I honestly like that about her. I also liked how she didn't seem to ever get ruffled last night. Biden seemed a bit defensive and you knew she'd hit nerves by some of the things she said.

My favorite quote of the night? When Biden said, "I won't ever change." I know that he was referring to his personal political style, but coming from the campaign offering "change", it just really made me laugh.

Amanda D said...

I watched the debates and feel pretty much the same way you do. I loved when Palin pointed out that the Obama/Biden campaign continues to look back and not forward. I'm tired of hearing how terrible Bush is.

I am also tired of the mud slinging. But, it wouldn't matter to me if Obama came out and answered all your questions, I know I'm not voting for him!

RoeH said...

I'm very frustrated with this. I don't like either of them. I can't stand McCain. I've just seen too much of his ego here in AZ for forever. Obama scares me. I don't know. Write in somebody? I cannot consciously vote for somebody who is not good just because he's better than the worst. Is there a 'unabomber' cabin available somewhere? I won't bomb anything. I just want to live peacefully.

Chelan said...

I also watched most of the debate. I wished Sarah was able to get out more of the truths that so many don't seem to be able to grasp about the Obama/Biden ticket. This was her chance to use her ability to speak plainly to the American people about the facts and I wished more facts could have been brought to the surface...even though I'm sure Biden would have denied them anyway :-P I want to make a plea to EVERYONE out there. PLEASE do your research before you vote. That must go beyond turning on the tv. Use the wonderful internet to do some digging and then make an informed decision.

sharon said...

I'm ready to see YOU dancing in the streets, leslie! :) Maybe I should open my blinds so I don't miss it...or, maybe that's what Pickle was just barking at! :)

And, firecracker, spunk, honest, REAL...I enjoyed the debates last night. I agree, the mudslinging gets old, the lack of concrete ideas for carrying out policy makes me hesitant, the ideas of obama are downright frightening - and can I say socialized med---no thanks...I experienced that in canada and quality is subpar - anyway- while we might not particularly like either candidate, I do feel that as an American, I have a responsibility to vote regardless of who is running. Doesn't mean I have to like them or agree with all their "stuff" but I still need to vote...and vote for the one who might make more of a positive difference/impact.

Whitney R said...

I agree. Socialized Medicine would prove disastrous. I could blog about that for days as well. I also really really really really really (I could go on, but I wont) disagree STRONGLY with Obamas taxing plans. He wants to take away money when the economy is declining?? Sounds like a great idea, let's just take away all the money from people who HAVE money so they wont spend it so they can't boost the economy! Sounds great! (I'm being sacrastic...)

Touchy subject. I am trying to look at who's beliefs and views are similar to mine. And who I think would do the better job at being the president. But..... Ehhh, don't get me going again. Gotta stop.

Oh and I like Palin, too.

An Ordinary Mom said...

I watched the debate last night as an undecided independent ... and guess what? Yep, I am still undecided. Can't we just talk about the issues people, and not each other? And can we please get the facts right so we can put the fact checker people out of work? Thanks :) !!

flip flop mama said...

I like Palin. I think she is not a politician and I like that about her. She relates to us. I was proud of how she handled them and how she finished off. You could tell she memorized her closing statement and I loved the quote she used. Obama/Biden scares me so I'm voting McCain/Palin because it's the lesser of the two evils. I'm not set on McCain but he is closer to the way I lean than Obama.

Debbie said...

Truthfully - I fell asleep. After awhile I thought both of their responses were the same to every question. I should have just gotten on here and read some blogs.

Mikki said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mikki said...

I only got to listen to a bit on the radio. I liked them both. I did feel that Palin kept coming back to the same issues when she was answering some of the questions-and so didn't really respond to those questions.
I am definitely still undecided. I think I'm kind of leaning towards McCain/Palin, but that's this week. Next week, I might be leaning towards Obama. I think Chelan's advice is right on--investigate,investigate, investigate.
I absolutely agree with you on the mudslinging and whatnot. Just tell me exactly what YOU plan on doing McCain and Obama, don't tell me what your opponent has done or what you think he's going to do!
All that being said, just how much power does this position wield anyway? Sometimes I think they're just puppets on a string.

Anonymous said...

I don't follow politics closely (very much by choice) but I did watch this debate. I won't try to pretend that I know who was better than the other because politics is like math to me, my mind just shuts off when they're talking policy and all that. I do however think Joe Biden is egotistical and ridiculous, simply because he refers to himself as , 'Joe Biden'

Traci said...

I'm a little frustrated with the way the campaign is going. I agree with you. I wish both candidates would stop dissing the other one and start talking about why we should pick them. Though I enjoyed the debate, I was struck by the tradition of it all. We didn't really learn too much about either one of them. They just get up there and blow a lot of hot air and it's over. I guess they have to do it, but I wish they'd talk more about why they are the right candidate.