"I am a hero. Barack Obama isn't!"
A large part of John McCain's speech theme at the RNC in St. Paul rang loud and clear.
Tell that to the thousands and thousands of people on Chicago's south side and the large northern Indiana steel mill territories where Barack's unwavering and inspirational and organizational community leadership has been derided by both McCain and Palin.
What is a hero, anyway? Can a hero also be one who works for peace, for jobs, for those in need? What keeps America safe, our military might or the qualities of tolerance, diversity, wisdom, compassion, and thoughtful world leadership. What is all this cry coming from the RNC to "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT WITH ME"? Quite frankly, the militaristic tone of the RNC was scary and troubling to me. Is this what we Americans are looking for in a president of these United States? I've always liked the VFW, and this convention looked sort of like a VFW convention.
And how does a sassy hockey mom's 'pit bull with lipstick' image qualify someone to be second in line for the highest political office in the world? How does being captured by the enemy and living through torture and solitary confinement necessarily qualify someone to be the person holding the highest political office in the world? It can test resolve, that's for sure. It can show strength and endurance, that's for sure.
But we are talking about national and world leadership here! We are talking about the ability to lead, not just endure. We are talking about changing the course in America, not falling back on 25 years of being in the some old Washington political system of greed and cover-ups.
John McCain talks about changing the "good old boy system" in Washington. John McCain IS the good old boy! He has been nurtured, supported, and molded through this system. He's not going to change that! He does not even really WANT to change that! Why should he? Why bite the hand that feeds you?
John McCain has latched onto this theme of change because that is how Barack Obama started out in his campaign for president, and that is what has been exciting and energizing the American public. And now he's stuck with it because he has no other choice. But to make all his rhetoric ring true and not seem fake? Big challenge, indeed.
Bob McClellan
Polson
A few years ago Kalispell has the choice of spending some government grant money on the schools, or on a downtown redevelopment district. On the front page of the Daily Interlake, a city official was quoted as saying they didn't want to waste the money on the schools. Instead, they spent it on Street Scape and the same year raised property taxes to pay for some badly needed school improvements. Those improvements cost a lot less than Street Scape. Later they built a new high school that, "didn't have enough money".
We are debating about Street Scape her in Polson. Is it being financed by federal dollars that would otherwise be spent on our schools? Would those dollars help prevent another property tax increase? Do our city leaders agree with Kalispell's, that money spent on our children is "wasted"? The redevelopment will also help Wal-Mart, who has easy parking and no torn up streets. Do they need our help?
Ruth Baer
Polson
Soon after meeting me on my business trip to Norway a few years ago, my host commented, "One thing about you Americans, you select experienced, well-trained people to run for President."
My host would change his mind after he understood that Democrats chose Senator Obama, the least-experienced and poorest-trained of all their candidates, as their presidential candidate. Not since Wendell Wilkie in 1940 has either majority party nominated a candidate with such weak experience.
My Norwegian friend would also understand our Western expression which so clearly defines Senator Obama, "All hat. No cows!"
Charles W. Fudge
Polson