70\u00a0 bar steady 30.02\u00a0 0mph E\u00a0 dew-point 54\u00a0 sunrise 6:33 sunset 7:53\u00a0 Lughnasa<\/p>\n
New (Harvest) Moon<\/p>\n
“The cocks may crow, but it’s the hen that lays the egg.” – Margaret Thatcher<\/p>\n
I agree with Margaret.\u00a0 She laid several big eggs while Prime Minister. One of them was the poll tax.<\/p>\n
Let me be clear about the post below. \u00a0 Voting for a candidate based on any secondary characteristic, i.e. skin color, gender, national origin, religion or sexual orientation without careful consideration of the policies and general political stance concedes your political principles.\u00a0 I know in some cases this is very tempting, say for example Hillary as a woman or Obama as a black man.\u00a0 Even some folks will consider Palin just because she is a woman.\u00a0 I believe there are good arguments for electing somewhat less than ideal women candidates, black candidates, Muslim candidates (less than ideal=politics somewhat different from your own) in order to increase diversity in the policy making branches of government.<\/p>\n
This less than ideal concept does not apply to President.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Simple.\u00a0 The President has too much power.\u00a0 A Presidential candidate must be as close to your politics as possible to be worthy of your vote.\u00a0 Unlike a Senator or a House member, they have no caucus to leaven their views, no entire body to smooth out the rough edges.\u00a0 A President decides and disposes within the Executive Branch. The President determines his\/her parties agenda in Congress, at least on certain important matters, matters that will have priority to those who voted for them–like you.<\/p>\n
Is it important that a woman become President?\u00a0 Yes, I believe it is.\u00a0 Is it important that any woman become President?\u00a0 Absolutely not.\u00a0 Is it important that a black person, male or female, become President?\u00a0 Yes, I believe it is.\u00a0 Any black person?\u00a0 Absolutely not.\u00a0 In the primary races I did not support Hillary or Barack because they are both too centrist for me.\u00a0 I preferred Kuchinich and Edwards.\u00a0 Now that the winnowing process has ended though, Barack is the Presidential candidate closest to my political views.\u00a0 He is to the right of my own positions, but the choice is down to two.\u00a0 In this case proximity to my own views and his skin color both matter to me.<\/p>\n
As I wrote the other day, Obama’s policies and political rhetoric don’t excite me, but the visual of an African-American as President, so long as they are not, say, Alan Keyes or Clarence Thomas, does.\u00a0 Last evening I rode up in the elevator with an African-American couple.\u00a0 They were young.\u00a0 He had the Star-Tribune in his hand and read a quote to his girl friend.\u00a0 “See,”\u00a0 he said, “He spoke to the women who were supporting Hillary.\u00a0 He’ll get their support.”\u00a0 I don’t know about his analysis, but the fact that he was excited gladdened my heart.\u00a0 Blessed be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
70\u00a0 bar steady 30.02\u00a0 0mph E\u00a0 dew-point 54\u00a0 sunrise 6:33 sunset 7:53\u00a0 Lughnasa New (Harvest) Moon “The cocks may crow, but it’s the hen that lays the egg.” – Margaret Thatcher I agree with Margaret.\u00a0 She laid several big eggs while Prime Minister. One of them was the poll tax. Let me be clear about … Continue reading Any Woman or Any African-American? NO<\/span>