I've been asked more than once why I have given money to Obama's campaign and why I am voting FOR him. Not just against McCain but FOR Obama. Christopher Buckley ( WFB's only child ) has set out most of it on Tina Brown's Thedailybeast.com and I defer to his superior wit and intellect.
Like Chris Buckley, I am a small "c" conservative who believes in small government. As Buckley points out, the Republicans of recent vintage have been anything but, starting with one of the worst Presidents in our history. The descendants of Buchanon, Fillmore, Tyler and Hoover can be gratified that their ancestors now have competition for the title of "THE Worst".
Bush often says that "history will judge" but when the national debt doubled in just eight years; when he gave us a huge new entitlement program ( two if you count NCLB ) and worst of all an "ill conceived and ill waged war" that was one of choice and not of necessity; it's hard for me to conceive how history could EVER let Bush off the hook as "THE WORST". In medicine and a lot of other areas the FIRST RULE is : "Do No Harm".
Leaving aside the ravings of some of the WOW alarmists ( that means "Watch Out 'Whitey' " btw) which aren't worthy of notice, let alone response, I just don't see anything terrible about Obama. I haven't read either of his books cover to cover but from what I have read, he demonstrates an intellect and temperament superior to both McCain and the current occupant. Sorry if I appear to be damning
Obama with faint praise. It's not my fault that Bush has lowered the bar so low.
One of the things I like most about Obama is his humility and appreciation for humility as an element of good governance. McCain likes to make much of the contrast between his response and Obama's when they made a joint appearance
at Rick Warren's confab and they were asked whether they believed there " was evil in the world and what they would do about it ". McCain said " you defeat it". Obama said that evil exists and has to be confronted BUT that it should be assessed and approached with HUMILITY. Considering how incredibly arrogant Bush has been and the consequences of his arrogance; a humbler President would be both refreshing not to mention necessary.
While Obama hasn't been a paragon of consistency; neither has any other candidate since Reagan. McCain on the other hand has been all over the map.Not only has he betrayed his own principles for political expedience but he has totally abandoned them. He has literally hired the same political goon squad that threw so much barnyard waste at him in South Carolina in 2000. I wouldn't be in the same room with people like that and I'd never hire them to work for me. He claims to be a conservative yet prides himself on his "bi-partisanship". Don't worry if you're confused; so is McCain. There are serious self esteem issues here and serious flaws in both character and temperament. If this campaign can change McCain as it has; what will governing do to the guy ? I'd rather not find out.
There is no doubt that Obama is a left-wing Liberal but unlike Gore and Kerry he has a first class brain and unlike Hillary he has a track record of decency and good grace. I can listen to four years of Obama speeches in contrast to Hillary's shrill voice. Another corollary benefit is that Hillary and Bill will be kept away from the levers of power. Hillary has admitted that she won't run again ( Yeah, yeah we all know she had her fingers crossed about 2012 ) and that she won't be put on the Supreme Court. Duh. She was NEVER QUALIFIED ! Obama is probably smart enough to know that if he governs like a left-wing loon he'll set the stage for a Republican resurgence that will dwarf the " Reagan Revolution" in size; scope and most importantly LENGTH. History proves that there's a big difference between campaign rhetoric and actual policy.
Obama is much more likely to get us out of Iraq than McCain regardless of whether or not the "surge" is " working".
Rather than prattle on, I'm doing this year what I usually do when voting. I'm voting for the smartest candidate.








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