Obama Hatred

The hatred that many people have for President Obama never ceases to amaze me. This morning on Facebook, I noticed that more than one person likes this:

DEAR-LORD-THIS-YEAR-YOU-TOOK-MY-FAVORITE-ACTOR-PATRICK-SWAYZIE-YOU-TOOK-MY-FAVORITE-ACTRESS-FARAH-FAWCETT-YOU-TOOK-MY-FAVORITE-SINGER-MICHAEL-JACKSON-I-JUST-WANTED-TO-LET-YOU-KNOW-MY-FAVORITE-PRESIDENT-IS-BARACK-OBAMA-AMEN

Since when has it become acceptable to wish death upon someone just because you don't like them? People who consider themselves Christians are hoping that the President dies. Unbelievable. I didn't particularly like George Bush but I would never have wished death upon him or expressed that I wished that he would have died. I don't believe that Obama has done a good job as President, but I don't wish that he would die. I'm sure that the person who created this believes that it is an attempt at humor. It really isn't funny.

We live in truly sad times when we cannot argue our differences civilly and peacefully, instead resorting to things like this. It is bad enough that someone would have these feelings in the first first place, but instead of making comments like these, perhaps people should put their energy into campaigning against Obama and electing representatives that they believe can counter his policies.

Mac McCormick III

Obama Snubs Fox News

I read a few online articles that indicate that President Obama has snubbed Fox News on interviews. He did the rounds of just about everyone (inlcuding Univision) yet skipped over Fox News. The articles theorize that it is because Fox News' Glenn Beck called him a racist. I don't know if Glenn Beck did or not, I don't watch him and do my best to ignore him; he's yet another good example of TV News putting on a commentator and calling him a journalist. CNN does it with Lou Dobbs and MSNBC does it with Keith Olberman so no one is innocent. What bothers me is that Obama's administration is looking not so much different from the Bush administration.

Obama came into office promising to run things differently. So far, in my opinion, he has not delivered. This is a perfect example. Bush played favorites with Fox News because he preferred their politics. In this case, Obama is just doing the opposite, snubbing Fox News because he doesn't like their politics. In the end, there is no difference.

While I'm thinking about Obama, what is this business with him telling the Governor of New York not to run in the next election. What business of it is the President's? That decision should be up to the Governor and New York's Democratic Party and the President should stay out of it. Obama has clearly overstepped his bounds in this instance.

Mac McCormick III

Discourse

Obama is no more a socialist than Bush was a Facist.

Our country is going down the tubes not because Obama is President and not because Bush was President. Our country is going down the tubes because we don't know how to sit down and settle our differences. Instead we are selfish, inflexible and resort to name calling.

This is what happens when our elected officials are politicians instead of representatives. They are concerned not with doing what is best for the country, but only what will get them re-elected during the next campaign. We become tools of the PACs and follow their media messages like lemmings.

We're all part of the problem.

Mac McCormick III

Oppression and Secession

Over the past few weeks, I have been troubled by two words that I have heard protesters using:  Oppression and Secession.  These are two powerful words and I'm not sure that it is wise to use them.  

Protesters have made statements that they are oppressed by our government.  Perhaps our government's current policies are not best for us, perhaps they cause us trouble but I don't think that they can be classified as oppressive.  History offers many examples of oppression; I have a hard time believing that we are an oppressed people.

Some protesters have brought up secession, suggesting that states should secede from the Union because of economic policy.  Did we not learn anything from the 1860's and our Civil War?  Secession led to a war of destruction and to hard feelings and mistrust that lasted for decades and to an extent even to this day.  

Let us choose our words carefully and think carefully about what we say.

Mac McCormick III

kf4lmt@comcast.net

Saxby Chambliss and Imperial Sugar

I rarely post anything political, but after reading the article in this morning's Savannah Morning News, I felt motivated to post.

In the aftermath of the Imperial Sugar refinery explosion last February, Senator Saxby Chambliss faced a decision; would he support his constituents in the form of voters that elected him to office or would he support his constituents in the form of businesses like Imperial Sugar that fill his campaign coffers with money. Before I go any further, I'll admit to having no opinion one way or another of Senator Chambliss until this event. I don't share many of his views, but he always seemed to represent the state of Georgia well.

When faced with his decision, it seems that Senator Chambliss decided to support Imperial Sugar. If the accusations are true, Senator Chambliss attempted to encourage the families of the explosion victims not to sue Imperial Sugar. He also vigorously opposed witnesses against Imperial Sugar in a Senate Committee Hearing (a committee of which he was not a member). Senator Chambliss unfortunately decided it was in his best interest to work for a business that provides him campaign money rather than to work for the people he represents: the people of the State of Georgia.

Mac McCormick III
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Uproar Over Rick Warren

Splashed across the news yesterday was the story that the gay and lesbian community is upset that Obama has given a prime speaking slot in the Inauguration ceremony to Rick Warren. They believe that he should be removed from the slot because he is opposed to gay and lesbian marriage. Surely they could find someone else to be upset at than Warren. He is one of the more moderate evangelists I can think of; it is not like Obama chose someone like Dobson.

One of the problems we have now are things just like this: an unwillingness to compromise on anything. If we disagree with someone's stance on an issue we try to exclude them from anything we are involved in. I congratulate Obama for so far being inclusive in who he has chosen to speak in his inauguration ceremony and who he has selected for his cabinet.

Mac McCormick
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Voting

I woke up early to go vote this morning, with the plan to be there just before the doors opened. When I got there around 6:45 AM, the line was already forming. In the almost 20 years now that I've been voting at the Southside Baptist Church, I've never seen a line and never had to wait! It was wonderful to see such a turnout for an election. I hope this indicates an extremely high turnout overall for the 2008 election.

It only took about an hour to vote, from the time I stepped into line until I walked out the door afterward. Once inside, the process went very smooth. There were plenty of poll workers to handle things and the only wait once you got inside was for an open machine.

Mac McCormick III
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Biden Hits out at Palin's "Pro-America" Comment

I read on CNN that Democrat VP candidate Joe Biden is now hitting out at Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin for the following comment:

"We believe that the best of America is in the small towns that we get to visit, and in the wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation,"

The Democrats apparently believe that what she was saying is that the small town (and generally Republican) areas are more patriotic and more "Pro-America" than the larger urban areas. Oh, Please. Her statement was typical political rhetoric; she was simply playing to the audience by complimenting them. This time the Democrats are really over-blowing her statement.

I haven't been a fan of Sarah Palin and I do believe that McCain could have found a more qualified VP candidate, but this time I have to defend her.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

FactCheck.org

I have found a good website for filtering the political ads from and the speeches of the Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin campaigns:

FactCheck.org

I have started checking FactCheck.org daily to see what they have to say about the claims from each campaign. Invariably they show that the Obama and the McCain campaigns have twisted and stretched facts to suit their purposes.

Unfortunately, what I read is making it harder for me to select a candidate to vote for.

Mac

kf4lmt@comcast.net

Sarah Palin and the Bush Doctrine

I was watching CNN this morning and saw a clip from the ABC News interview with Governor Sarah Palin. She seems to have already had a a Bill Clinton "definition of is" moment.

Charlie Gibson asked her if she agreed with the Bush Doctrine, to which she replied "In what respect, Charlie?" In what respect? The Bush Doctrine is rather simple; in two words it is preemptive war. Agreement with the doctrine can be expressed in one of two words, yes or no. Palin's answer was evasive. What is more troubling, however, the rest of her answer showed that she may not fully understand what the Bush Doctrine is.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Governor Palin's Speech

I'm not well versed in Alaskan politics, so I was very interested in watching Governor Palin's Republican National Convention speech last night. I was hoping to learn something more about who she is and what she believes in; information that I need to know to help me form a decision about who I'm going to vote for in November.

Last night's speech did not make a favorable impression on this Independent. Instead of hearing a speech that told me what she believes in, what makes her tick, and what positions she holds, Governor Palin gave an attack speech. Granted, that is what the parties expect out of their candidates at conventions. With someone like me, however, it had the effect of making Governor Palin come across as a sarcastic attack dog.

I'm tired of hearing from the Democrats and Republicans why I shouldn't vote for the other party. I want to hear what they are going to do and how they are going to do it.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net