Well, it’s happened. What started as a fantastic 17 person Presidential race, with people sharing new ideas for how to run the country, has turned into a giant mud-slinging session that has left me dis-spirited and ready to move to Croatia to open a coffee stand.
What happnened to this race? We had Bill Richardson’s immigration ideas, Obama’s unifying rallies and Hillary’s messages energizing women. Giulani and Thompson added star power, Romney was the clean cut businessman with the ability to run the Olympics and a state, while McCain the Maverick was driving the Straight Talk Express. Even Ron Paul, who people labeled as crazy, at least had an interesting Flat Tax Plan. Real candidates with real ideas.
But now, I can’t watch TV or listen to the radio without hearing barking, shrieking, sarcasm and disdain. No one has any ideas, and everyone has a criticism. Olberman and Chris Matthews take turns firing shots at Republicans in hopes Obama will dance with them first at the inauguration. Conservative journalists rail on Obama’s 143 days in US Senate as being unfit to lead. Media members sitting on the left side of the bench use big words and smarmy sarcasm to imply that anyone who doesn’t agree with them 100% is stupid. Those on the right scoff at people and make it clear that anyone who doesn’t know how to climb into the middle class is just useless.
Our whole country is attacking each other and every campaign message is about hate – McCain is too old., Obama too green. McCain lies, Obama exagerates. Biden is mean, Palin is crazy. Then everything that happens must be assigned to someone. The Financial situation is Bush’s fault, no McCain signed a bill in 1999 that caused this, no Obama’s liberal policies would make it worse, etc…Gas is expensive because we’re in Iraq, no because Democrats won’t let us drill, no because Republicans are beholden to lobbyists in the oil industry….
I’ve been beaten. The candidates’, pundits’, advisors’ and supporters’ combined message has finally sunk in. According to what I am hearing from everyone, “Collectively we’re screwed, it’s someone else’s fault, and we’re really going to be screwed worse if you vote for the other guy.” That’s the message I am getting – please tell me I’m hearing it wrong. Plus, none of them are explaining to me that they can fix it, they are just explaining to me that the other group can’t. So I guess that’s the message. Take my money out of the stock market and run.
Oops – too late for that too….Now what?
