Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A politically incorrect post

In the bag for Obama

With less than three weeks before the election, I'm taking the risk to voice my political views. I’m very skeptical about Barack Obama, and here I must set myself apart from friends on my social networks who love Barack Obama.

My worldview changed completely after 9/11: in this way, I’m like Dennis Miller, actor Ron Silver, and this blogger who calls herself neo-neocon. I do believe that America has enemies who wish us harm. Only conservatives seem to recognize this truth, which is why this disillusioned liberal has gravitated to conservative web sites and blogs. National security remains the number one issue with me.

I appreciate that many people think that the economy is a more important issue than national security (when, in fact, the two are inextricably linked). President Bush is hugely unpopular, and it’s easy to pin all the blame on him and want to vote for “change.”

However, Democrats have had a significant role in the mortgage meltdown. Consider Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), chair, U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, who benefited from sweetheart deals from Countrywide to finance his properties. Consider Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Chair, House Financial Services Committee, who said that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were viable as recently as this summer. It should be pointed out that Barack Obama received the single biggest chunk of political contributions from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Outside the government, there are Herb and Marion Sandler, who sold their Golden West Financial to Wachovia for $24 billion. Golden West specialized in selling adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) to home buyers who, as rates increased, could not pay for their mortgages. Wachovia’s purchase has crippled the company greatly, making it a takeover target for Citigroup and Wells Fargo. Living in the Mid-Atlantic States as I do, it’s almost impossible not to do business with Wachovia. Wachovia is the dominant bank, as it has gobbled up smaller regional banks (like the big fish swallowing the small fish, which in turn is swallowing an even smaller fish ...). The Sandlers have poured millions into leftist organizations that have promoted Barack Obama.

For these reasons, I don’t have faith in Barack Obama's ability to monitor the banking system (without alienating his base). I won’t be voting for him as President. But McCain doesn’t have much fight in him – his lackluster campaign reminds me of Bob Dole’s 1996 Presidential campaign, in which Dole become the Republican candidate simply because it was his time.

4 comments:

Retainer Girl said...

Thanks for being "brave" enough to share your thoughts! :D

Center Parted said...

Hi Julie, good post! Understand where you're coming from.

How about this perspective:

Imagine a school bully who throws his (or her, to be fair) weight around and smacks people whom he thinks deserves it.

Is it then a surprise that some people might dislike him to the point of even wishing him harm?

Today, this kid is unwell, and the question arises -- should we cure him first or arm him even better to protect him from people who are out to get him?

Personally I'm not sure giving him more karate lessons is going to solve his long term problem. Chances are too that he would eventually bounce back to health with some care.

So the question is more likely "why do other kids dislike him so, and does he want to fix that instead?"

Would he still need to keep upgrading to bigger sticks if he became less of a disagreeable child?

Would his allowance then be put to better use -- a good book, some vitamins or who knows, investments in renewable energy resources? :)

The Style Page said...

Hi centered parted,

Are you drawing an analogy between the schoolyard bully and the U.S.?

Then what about other schoolyard bullies coming into the fray?

Center Parted said...

Sorry if I've offended, Julie. But yes. At least my view.

And yes, there are lots of other bullies out there too -- some who are nasty little sneaks who don't play fair either!

But still doesn't make it right to be one....