thoughts about the VP debate

I didn't watch the debate last night. Instead I recorded it to watch later and spent the night playing video games (APB Reloaded specifically. Complete time suckage but strangely addictive...but we'll leave that topic for another day).

So I got up this morning and rather than watch the debate, I read all the tweets from last night as my twitter buds shared their debate watching experience. As a seriously dedicated independent voter, I got tweets from both sides of the aisle, and having not actually seen what they were tweeting about made for a unique experience. 

THEN I watched the debate...for the second time, after seeing it first through the eyes of Twitter...I watched it on the DVR...well OK, not quite all of it but most. More than enough. 

Yes I will probably watch the rest. But for now, let me tell you what I learned. VP Biden and Rep. Ryan not withstanding, the most striking thing I found out is that almost none of the folks I THOUGHT were objective actually are...at least not anymore. You guys may not see it (or hopefully you do), but you're all clearly on one side of the fence or the other. 

And there's nothing wrong with that...so don't panic...I'm not going to name any names or anything. In fact..at this point most of us have already made up our minds...right? I mean, the election's only a couple weeks away. By now we SHOULD know who we plan to vote for. I know I do. I truly doubt that anything will change my mind at this point. But it made me ask myself...am I still being objective? Do my tweets belie my supposed independent status, or merely reflect the fact that I have already made my choice? Or do they make it seem as if I'm just another sheeple tweeting up what the status quo is saying?

I guess what I am getting at is that no matter how hard we try to stay objective and remain outside the fray, sooner or later, once we have formed an opinion, our comments and tweets become less than objective. Seriously one sided in some cases...ahem. 

We may even begin to ridicule the other side in our heads for their stupidity. Well...what we now see as their stupidity because our perspective is now better than theirs somehow. And despite our  best efforts...bingo. We are about as objective as evangelical preacher. Well...at least we moved strongly in that direction. Its human nature. That's how we operate.

So what I was I impressed by? In watching these two fierce competitors (aka "friends") wrangle for glimmers of truth and inspiration...while most of all trying hard not to say anything that might piss anyone off...anyone who matters anyway...what was it?

Well what I took away from it was a deep feeling of Respect.

Not so much for the candidates themselves...truthfully I have very little for most politicians...but for a special few. That unique minority group of people who are able to somehow, through all the blitz of persuasions both liminal and subliminal, maintain true objectivity.

I'd like to count myself among you but compared with you I am surely no equal. I mean...you can only take so much stupidity before you just want to smack yourself as a reality check, you know? And when I see it...I say something. That's just me.

To paraphrase loosely on the theme of Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for stupidity to prevail is for the intelligent among us to see it and do nothing." 

So to those who are able to identify and point out stupidity wherever they see it, regardless of political party lines and lies: I salute you. To the comedians, reporters, bloggers, tweeters, and musicians who poke at both sides of the aisle with equal fervor; to all of you who can truly listen to both sides with an open mind...no matter how much utter ridiculousness is spewing from their festering gobs...and comment on it with complete and transparent objectivity: I offer you my deepest respect. I could name names but I don't think I need to...you know who you are.

As for me, my mind is made up. I can only take so much. When one side is just in so deep...so deep that there is no way to believe a single thing they say, be it in their attacks or their promises. I'm done. Not even gonna try and keep objectivity. Wouldn't be prudent.

I have a duty as a citizen in the human race. If I see something that makes no sense I gotta speak up. If nothing you say makes sense, it's simply impossible for me to even seem objective to myself.

That doesn't mean I'll stop listening to both sides. It just means I'll be assuming what's coming out of your mouth is just more of the same old thing...at least until I hear differently. Yup I'm still listening...I just don't care as much about what you say. Oops...I guess I'm now part of the 47%? Or the 99%? Or 47% of 99%?

I wonder what percent are just plain too fed up to even listen any more. Once that becomes 51%, I bet we got a whole new ballgame.

Dear Mr. President (An open letter to Barack Obama)

Apparently I wrote this sometime last summer, but never did anything with it. Seems appropriate to publish it now. Please share it and pass it on!

Dear Mr. President,

I hope that this finds you well.  

I am sorry to tell you that I didn’t vote for you last time...but please don’t dwell on that. Because as a positive, I am considering voting for you this time. I wish I could say it was because I was thrilled with your performance over the past 3½ years, but in truth I’ve come to realize it’s primarily because the alternative is...well, just simply so, so bad.

That said however, I have some concerns that I simply cannot put to bed, mainly because there is no objective media which is neither controlled nor manipulated by the corporate political machines which are running DC...and our economy...into the ground. As such, it is extremely difficult to draw any conclusions which are not tainted by the invariable twist of the pen and wink of the eye, and I find myself less and less able to understand you as you truly are. Everything is spin, and the Barack Obama who ran for President in 2008, on a ticket of hope and dreams (which is why I almost voted for you last time), seems nowhere to be found. 

It is for that reason that I am requesting a personal meeting with you Mr. President, so that I might express my concerns and draw my own conclusions from your responses. So that I am able to decide for myself, without the benefit of Fox News‘ spiteful comments and editing to make you look bad, or MSNBC’s glowing interpretations to champion your cause. A simple sit down with my President...seems like that should be a right that every American should have if he wants to take the time, right? 

I assuredly wouldn’t waste your time. More than likely you will walk away with a slightly new perspective after you’ve heard what I have to say. Hell, it just might even help you understand some of the American people...you know, the ones you just can’t quite figure out.

We’re ones who never take polls but always vote.

We’re the ones who love America and hate the corruption in DC.

We’re the ones who vote our conscience, not any party ticket.

We don’t care if you make a mistake, but will not forgive a lie, whether by omission, distortion or otherwise.

We want to believe in change, but see only the same old thing.

We see our own Government, and not terrorists, as the biggest threat to the American way of life.

We’re tired of seeing our democracy bought and sold by corporate interests, and sick of the “good of the many” being equivalent to what is best for big business and the wealthiest among us.

We don’t want any handouts for ourselves, and would gladly give whatever we could to make sure those with no other options are not forgotten.

We’re disappointed by the lack of truth from most politicians.

We’re frustrated by the lack of commitment to the future.

We’re tired of the greed, and we’re exhausted by the wars.

We’re disgusted by the use of fear to abscond with the personal liberties and privacy of US citizens

We’re ready for real change.

I hope you’ll consider my request for a few minutes of your time. I’d say I’d buy you a beer, but in truth I would much rather try one of yours. Either way, it would be honor to meet you, Mr. President.


Warmest regards,Jamie