Some Thoughts On Why McCain/Palin Lost

As gracious as McCain was in his concession speech, I was stunned to hear him say he didn't know what else the campaign could have done to win. He could have remained the John McCain of 2000 for starters.

I couldn't help wonder if it was an ill prepared statement, certainly not the speech he had hoped to give, or if he really is clueless. What really made this catch my attention was earlier in the evening, before any results were in and polls were still open, the McCain campaign released a series of robo calls, in Spanish, in southern Florida stating that Castro had endorsed Obama and all the insinuations that go with such a statement. A last minute burst of negativity.

Health issues and age aside, I was turned off when McCain, who had promised a clean and honorable campaign, delivered anything but. Obama too promised the same and kept his word for the most part. Negative campaigning works. That's why the more a campaign finds itself struggling, the more negative it gets. Perhaps it has now run its course. But I wonder if McCain and his campaign couldn't see that it wasn't working.

This morning I heard Sarah Palin stating that she didn't think she was of enough significance to have taken votes away from McCain. What the heck is that supposed to mean? She was his running mate! So of course she did unless you were one of the extreme right who found her enchanting. Her personal political emphasis paired with her own rock 'em, sock 'em style of negative campaigning most certainly did take votes away from McCain, just as her inexperience in matters beyond Alaska did.

It is all moot at this point and my thoughts are nothing more than conjecture. However, Obama won convincingly. It wasn't all for his stance on policy as much as it was his demeanor, his intellect and sincerity and his inordinate ability to inspire.

For those who may still be thinking he is too young and inexperienced to be able to govern effectively, just think about the staff he put together and the campaign they ran. Had Hillary done the same she might have prevailed. The same holds true for McCain. Neither maintained control of the campaigns that bore their names.

The emphasis shifts now. Obama told us last night the future will be a rough road for awhile and that we may not all agree with decisions he makes. That would be true of any newly elected President. The most important thing he said, to me, is that he will be honest with us.

That one thing can make the difference between change and business as usual.

A Breath Of Fresh Air

"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country." ~ Michelle Obama

I can think of no better way to say it.

Election Day From My Little Corner Of The World

Well, here we are. The day of reckoning. While no one has dared come right out and say it, all the commentary is leaning toward an Obama win. We are witnessing history of monumental proportions whether it be our first African American President or our first female Vice President. American politics is forever changed.

I've been doing a lot of reflecting this rainy election day. I've been thinking about the wonderful cadre of of ladies, who happen to blog, that I've been spending much of my time with over the past several months. They are a diverse group. Teachers, writers, artists, homemakers.

Most are near seniors or seniors like myself. Long time buddies like the Word Tosser , a local blogger who has been a long time friend, to A Piece of My Mind's Betty who keeps me up to date on Arkansas happenings. We think so much alike sometimes it's frightening!

I've met Sylvia from Over the Hill and Texas to Oregon . There is Margie's Musings and the most extra ordinary Just an Ordinary Gal. How could I not love one who blogs as My Sister was a Saint Bernard or Golden Years My a$$!

There is even the wonderful Rinkly Rimes who checks in from Australia, keeping me up to speed on how things work in Oz and what they're thinking about us.

This doesn't begin to give due to all the blogs I follow on a regular basis but it is the core group I've drawn from for peer opinion.

We've gone through this process together, giving one another encouragement when down, checking facts, sharing laughs. Many have gotten to the point of burn out and have taken to posting more family news or photos of the areas in which they live. All of that made it even more special for, to me, it's what this is all about. A slice of our country, our world, as seen through the eyes of those who live there. The family joys and woes and worries, the beauty of a neighborhood, a tree, a garden or a blossom. America. The beautiful.

It is said the young are the country's greatest asset. Maybe so. But these ladies and so many others like them are national treasures.

Collective Wisdom

One more day. Then it's all over except for the counts, recounts and challenges. Meanwhile, back on the campaign trail both sides are busy trying to keep the momentum among their followers at a fevered pitch. So are the partisan guests on the news shows. It has been interesting viewing.

I find it interesting how divided the nation is in a campaign that has promoted change and a united front. Not that it's unexpected. Each candidate has radically different approaches to the same problems. Hopefully the collective wisdom of the voters will be crystal clear. No more elections decided by the Supreme Court.

After the results are in and the complexion of the incoming Congress is revealed I will have something to say to them, especially the old war horses who have seemed distant from the Presidential side of things. The pronouncements made by Barney Frank and a number of others is bothersome. Are they deaf? But as I said, that's for an upcoming post.

I browsed some blogs this morning and found a couple of things of interest. One is how many are agonizing over the outcome. That's partially because there is no clear cut winner yet in sight paired with a desperate desire to see real change.

The other is how partisan and derogatory some of the posts remain. I've been watching the behavior of the members of Congress who are "safe" . I haven't paid nearly enough attention to the attitudes of the citizenry. Here I find many of us as guilty of the sins of partisanship to which we claim we want an end.

To have a preference and a strong one is good. I certainly do. But to have such vehement, scathing criticism of the opposition, at this point in time, is not constructive.

Obama has been claiming, on the economic level, that the trickle down theory doesn't work. That prosperity and change has to come from the bottom up. There is a broader point to be taken from this.

He, by the very nature of who he is and what he has accomplished, would seem to be the starting point for trickle down. He doesn't have the burden of his age nor his length of service to create questions about the sincerity of coming late to that mantra. However, I by no means believe, no matter his age and coming late to the "change" sound bite, that John McCain is any less sincere nor cognizant of the need for it.

To bring it full circle, however, it does have to start from the bottom. With us. We have to be willing to accept the outcome of this election and be willing to work with those we elect to achieve change or it will never happen. We are the ones who will have to shout, "Stop. Enough of the bickering. Get to the business of the people!"

Whoever wins will have the burden of leadership. No easy task. We will have the burden of keeping them on track. Again, no easy task; perhaps even the more difficult of the two. After all is said and done, if we lapse back into apathy, those who will take advantage will resurface and we will have gained nothing.

Two years of campaigning and millions upon millions of dollars spent. For what? Maybe there is some merit to the saying, "Lead, follow or get out of the way."

Never Too Old To Learn

As time ticks down to the election, I've been taking a good look at myself. What did I see? Someone I once would not have recognized as "me".

I've found that I can still feel passionately. I've also found a healthy dose of reality. Politics. I've never been so immersed nor vocal in my entire adult life. That I like Obama the man is no secret. That I still have doubts as to the outcome of the election is also no secret. That I do not agree with all the Obama/Democratic positions is no secret. I'm pretty much an open book.

I've found within myself the attribute of faith. Faith that my judgement is sound. Courage. The courage to bestow that faith on another individual. One that I have never met nor ever will.

Openness. By being open I've found openness in return. With that openness is the possibility of differing opinions. While I might not be persuaded by them, I've learned from them.

The comfort of common ground. Throughout this process I've met many new people on-line. Whether we will visit each others sites as often after the dust settles remains to be seen, but it has been gratifying to have found such a diverse group because of one area of common ground. As it binds us together as cyber pals, it will bind us together as a nation.

Age is no longer irrelevant. Be we young, first time voters or well seasoned seniors, all who have wanted a voice have found one. I have not received one dismissive comment.

It has been an exhilarating ride these past several months. It has proven to me something I've believed all along. Being old and out of touch is not an option.