Tuesday, October 07, 2008

politics and the news

A nifty surprise... Charlie Gibson (ABC Nightly News Anchor) was in the town where I work today! He is on a bus tour across America meeting and greeting "everyday Joes" to sample opinions on the election. He hung out in the coffee shop where I eat lunch often and buy lots and lots of yummy coffee and sweets. It was pretty kool to see that place on the 6:30 national news. He then went up to do the news broadcast from my alma mater, Bowling Green State University. What a kool deal!

The debate is on right now, and I should be watching it. I am really having difficulty deciding who to cast my vote for this election. I tend to vote along a more conservative line most times but a fat lot of good that has done me over the past 8 yrs. I just don't really feel like these guys and gal really giev a shit about people liek us. Politics has become mostly about getting elected, rather than doing the right thing. And frankly, they all sort of turn into the same thing once they get in office, generally speaking. They take care of their own and leave the rest of us to fend for oursleves. it's not that I want the gov't to run ym life or even take a large part in my life. But they could sure do a damn better job of not wasting out money and resources, protecting our global interests and helping to set sound fiscal policies that protect and grow our economy.

My wife would probably die if she knew I was even considering a vote for Obama. Her family has voted Republican forever. I am not a party lines kinda guy. I want no mroe of the Bush era policies and I am afraid McCain is so frail and old that we'll be stuck with Ms Palin in a year or two. She seems alright, nice, but tough but certainly not Presidential. I don't know what the hell he was thinking by selecting her when he could've gotten Joe Lieberman, Mitt Romne, Condy Rice. And frankly, while I am typically not into Liberal Policies and huge government, Barack Obama seems genuine, real, damn smart and quite Presidential to me. I just don't feel like he'd do any worse than Bush (not that that is saying much). The Republicans have had their time to run things and by the Ronald Reagan test question, no my life is not better than it was 8 yrs ago. I am tired of the "less government, lower taxes" bullshit that the GOP has been feeding us while they increase the size and ineffectiveness of the Federal Gov't. At least the Dems are telling us its coming.

enough on that, peace to you all :-) I am grateful that we can have this dialogue and no one comes to break down my door and turn me off. I love this country!

6 comments:

Sober Steve said...

I may be sucker, but I do not feel that our goverment doesn't care about people like you and I. I hear everyday about how much it costs to keep someone in Jail. The comments "It's his 5th DWI, when are they going to get it!" He needs treatment, but don't expect me to take care of it"

At a local recovery picnic some guy running for office was invited to speak, At first it upset me, went against the tradtions, but hopefully seeing 200 plus recovery people gathered in a small Park in the Rhinelander Wisconsin, opened his eyes to our problems and struggles like we face every day.

You are right this is a great country we live my sober brother. In some countries I would be told not to drink (which we know how that would work) But I have the freedom of Choice today, And I choice to be clean safe and Sober and talk to my sober Brother during the same debate.

peace hugs and kisses my sober friend,,,go watch the debate and vote your heart.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Scott. I need to respond, buddy :)

As for "Barack Obama ... I just don't feel like he'd do any worse than Bush."

As Catholic voters we do need to keep in mind 5 "non-negotiables" when considering who to support with our vote.

1. Abortion

2. Euthanasia

3. Embryonic Stem Cell Research

4. Human Cloning

5. Homosexual "Marriage"

More detailed info on these 5 non-negotiables are here: http://www.priestsforlife.org/elections/voterguide.htm

What has President Bush done in these areas:

Unborn Victims of Violence Act - signed into law by President George W. Bush on April 1, 2004

The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act - signed into law August 5, 2002 by President Bush

The Partial Birth Abortion Ban - signed into law by President Bush in 2003

June 20, 2007, President Bush veto of legislation (S. 5) that would mandate federal funding of the type of stem cell research that requires the killing of human embryos

Pro-life judges appointed to supreme court by Bush

What is Obama promising? He promises to request from congress, and to sign into law, a law demanding unrestricted abortion. Basically that would make Roe v Wade actual law, it would make any state's pro-life laws null (including parental notification laws).

Obama is much worse than Bush. Of course I have my criticism of President Bush, but he got that we need to not kill pre-born children and that goes a long long way.

Please know, Scott, that voting for a pro-abort candidate is supporting and enforcing his policy.

More info on voting in good conscience here:

http://www.ewtn.com/vote/index.htm

http://www.ewtn.com/vote/brief_catechism.htm

God bless you, Scott!
Enjoy the rest of the week.

dAAve said...

No comments from me.

Scott M. Frey said...

well lounge daddy, I must respond after much thought... and I have to be honest about some things that go through my mind each election cycle.

Granted, Pres Bush has gotten some reforms in place, some legislation signed duringh is administration that respect the rights of the unborn. And yes, this is quite important.

Other than that, his admin has been pretty difficult to stomach on several other fronts. Even more difficult to stomach is the fact that I voted for him not once but twice. I stand by my decision to vote for him but I am very dissappointed in the way things have gone in this country during his administration. The Republican party has largely abandoned the conservative prcinciples it stood for for whatever reason. They've had their opportunity to make a difference in this country, and they have made a difference. By and large, it's not been a positive difference. I don't see McCain and Palin taking anywhere but into more of the same type of policies and I need things to change for this country and for my family.

We can debate ad infinitum how we got where we are, and push all the blame here and there... pointless it would seem.

Like it or not, Roe V Wade is practically the law of the land as it stands now. I don't believe in killing unborn children. Most people I speak with wouldn't dream of having an abortion. I have difficulty reconciling where we draw the line in the government's involvement with banning abortion and taking away a woman's right to decide what happens with her body. At some point, I believe that while we have a duty to protect the rights of the unborn, we also have a right to allow people to make the most important decisions about their lives.

What I would like to see is a stop to abortion as birth control. But in the cases of rape and incest, or dire health consequences of the mother, I cannot get comfortable with ahving the gov't make that call on behalf of the mother. It's between God, the mom, the dad and the infant.

As for this whole "Catholics can't vote for Obama and be Catholic" trash.... That's an absurd misrepresentation of what it means to be a faithful person. It's the use of religion to quell the individual's right to think for themselves and decide for themselves. And, I don't tjhink it's what Christ has in mind for the leaders of his church, to require them to vote or be considered not a part of the church. He forgives us all on His terms and it's just absolutely not for anyone here on earth to dictate to anyone else what absolute right and absolute wrong are. To use one's faith and place in the church against anyone else's right to worship and have a faith is unconstitutional, and as Catholics, we ought to be above such things.

Thank you for pointing out the success of Bush's Presidency. I am grateful for them, appreciate them for what they are. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog, I love this discourse, especially when it's peaceful and respectful. Thanks for being my bro in recovery and faith!

(and yes, it almost pains me to be thinking of voting for a non conservative presidential candidate... but, I owe it to myself to give him a good look)

Anonymous said...

:) Of course as far as I'm concerned we have a crappy Democrat and a Marxist running for the presidency. I'll leave it to you to decide which is which.

Screw 'em both. I'm voting for Bob Barr. lol.

The political post was a rare treat. Keep smiling. Laterz, Scott. Enjoy the beautiful weekend.

catholicandgop said...

I was even considering a vote for Obama

Its ok, I like you anyway. ;)