I do keep up with the election somewhat, but the thing that is puzzling me is not the people running (more of them later) but the voters and the people of this country.  I watch my friends on facebook join groups for one party or the other.  Now don’t get me wrong here, I am all for activism and all for taking a stand in what you believe in, but does no one see the blatantly obvious staring them in the face?  

Generally, people will talk about politicians in a very bad light, they are all thieves, liars, just general all around bastards that you wouldn’t want living on your block.  There is an exception however, usually when we are talking about our local politicians (and by local I do not mean the mayor, i mean your congressman, senators etc) they tend to get a pass, its always the other guy that is slimy.  

So here is the obvious thing…and here is what is annoying the living crap outta me here.  Both sides are boldfaced liars.  They will both do and say whatever they think will get them elected.  Period.  The problem is that you can not trust a thing that comes out of any of their mouths.  And yet…people listen to them and support them like they don’t know that they are being lied to on a daily basis.  My vote would instantly go to an honest guy or gal regardless of what they stood for because I would actually know what they meant.

Do I vote for McCain or Obama?  This is the first election that I really do not know who to vote for.  For the first time I really do not know.  Dirt on both sides comes out all the time and they try to dig at each other and push what they think is important even when its monumentally stupid.  Palin for instance talked about her foreign policy experience being governor (governess?) of Alaska and it being the closest state to Russia.  She forgot Canada as well, geography must not be her strong point.  But seriously, so the fuck what!! As Gov. of Alaska she didn’t really do anything that had to do with Russia, probably never even read a copy of Pravda (even the english edition).  OK OK maybe she organized the buying of some fish from some russian fisherman but that does not qualify as foreign policy experience.  Do not get my point wrong here, my problem is not her lack of foreign policy experience, few presidents had that, it is her saying that she has it when she doesn’t, of her pushing that on us like we are stupid enough to but it, and sadly….we seem to be.  Just one example of tons you can pick from.  

It is a smart thing to tailer your words to an audience, you are taught that in public speaking, but there is a difference between that and just telling people what they want to hear.  

So where do I stand?  What do I think you wonder as I sit here bitching?  I used to be a republican, but now I am far more of an independent.  My views depend on the topic, generally I tend to go with the republicans on financial issues, but lately even republicans dont even follow conservative economics.  <tangent>You want to fix the economy, enact the FairTax, plain and simple, do it right the fuck now to take effect Jan 1.  For those of you reading this, go harass your congressman about it.  </tangent>  I tend to be more liberal on social issues, I really could not give a fuck if u are straight, gay, black, white, pink, red, man, woman, lolcat, rich, poor, or whatever.  I consider myself a human and citizen of the world foremost.  I detest politicians playing to the lowest common denominator and detest the people who let it happen even more.  It annoys me that people talk about building a wall or fence and spending billions on it with the illusion that it will stop (or even slow for more than a couple months) illegal immigration.  I am not for illegal immigration, so don’t get that idea, I just want solutions that work, not ones that sound good in the press and get dumb rednecks up in arms patrolling the border.  FYI I am married to an immigrant, a legal one, who went through the whole pain in the ass process.  My wife’s english is better than mine (shes on facebook too you can add her, and my daughter is bi-lingual.  I am not that concerned about immigrants learning english well as it is a single generational problem, the kids learn english. 

So the short version is even with all their talking (hmmm, the real cause of global warming?) no one really has any fucking clue as to what the people running really think and really want to do.  Based on that, how can anyone really made an informed decision?

Aaron