Before I begin, I’d like to thank Tim McKernan and InsideSTL for giving me this wonderful opportunity to discuss politics with some of the people who make going to Cardinal games one of the most exciting experiences in life. In case you want to know a little about me politically:


I disagree with a little bit of everyone on a little bit of everything, so labeling me a Republican, Democrat, conservative, or liberal, all depends on who is doing the talking. For someone to title me as one thing or another is a bit ignorant, yet for me to, is a bit naive. I look at each issue with a different stance. I’ll leave the conclusion of where I fall under to you.

America is one of the greatest nations on earth, with some of the most amazing people in the world. And in any major crises in our history, no nation has been able to overcome the unity or loyalty of Americans. It may have taken us some time, but we have ridded our country of almost every injustice that has taken root here: slavery, women’s rights, civil rights, you name it. We have some of the hardest workers anywhere, just look at the WWII generation. But what have we led ourselves in becoming? A country of voters more concerned about what the candidate’s race, gender, or age, or whether an R or a D sits next to their name, than their political beliefs and priorities. We are becoming a country that cares more about voting for American Idol than voting for the next President of the United States.


If a candidate has the ability to secure the nomination of one of our political parties, then they are obviously is not too old to be commander-in-chief, the same goes with if a relatively new and in-experienced candidate can smooth-talk their way up, then they cannot be counted-out. If one candidate’s VP was a hockey-mom before they were in politics, so what? If one candidate is promising “change” and he nominates a thirty-five year senator as his running mate that totally undermines the entire campaign’s mission, so be it. This is America. What matters is each candidate’s leadership abilities and how they either supports your views and beliefs or not. Not the superficial things our society tends to focus on today.


One thing I have noticed when I talk with Obama supporters is that almost all of their points have to deal with bashing Bush and the past eight years. The same thing goes for Obama and Biden, in each of their debates, their first statements have been pointing out how “terrible” our lives have been under Bush. I know that we have had our share of challenges, but am I the only one who thinks that America has been and will still be the best place on Earth? People have these ideas that if one particular candidate wins, it will be the end to America as we know it. Now I know that our lives may veer one way in the long run, and our wallets may get thinner or thicker (most defiantly thinner, thanks to the bail-out), but regardless of who wins, our day to day lives won’t change that drastically, unless we wake up to a mushroom cloud rising up from what used to be an American city. We will still be able to enjoy the very freedoms that distinguish us from the rest of the world. At the end of a long day at work, you will still be able to sit back at Busch Stadium, take off your tie, and crack open a Bud. You will still be able to race home from your business meeting and catch your child’s little league game. You will still be able to sip your lemonade while watching a beautiful Mid-western sunset. You will still be able to live your life.


True McCain supporters are few and far between. Most of the McCain supporters you see are either Sarah Palin supporters or just anti-Obama. This race is more between Obama and Palin than McCain. She lit the Republican campaign. Both can throw around the inexperience card, but each of them has a running-mate still wet behind the ears and one with several decades in Washington. So it’s a draw with the name game. What they have to do and what the American people deserve is a fair campaign, focusing on the character of each candidate, their plan for America, and their qualifications to lead one of the greatest nations on earth.


Neither party has really motivated me to support their candidate. (Being a Floridian, I think we should do a recount or something.) The American people need candidates who will stop calling us their “friends” and who won’t promote paying higher taxes as being “more patriotic”. You want to know why smart people like Colin Powel, Condi Rice, Jeb Bush (if you lived in FL under him, you‘d know he‘s nothing like W.), never got into presidential politics? It’s because they understand the problem with our Federal government has nothing to do with the President, it’s our Congress. When our country was founded and our government was constructed, being a Congressman for four or maybe eight years was like serving on jury duty. It was meant to be a service, not a career. After their terms in office, the founding fathers went back to their private lives. If you want to “change” things John or Barack, propose a bill enforcing term limits on congressman. It will never pass though, who would willingly agree to being forced out of the only job in the world where the employees can vote themselves a raise?


Don’t get me wrong, I urge everyone to go out and vote, even if you’re not voting on the candidate’s character. If you don’t exercise your right to vote and be heard, you can’t begin to expect to complain and be heard.