A Referendum on Modern American Conservatism

Well it had to happen. My vacation had to end. It was great. I took some time after finishing my final papers to went to Vegas to celebrate with my hunny. Would love to do it again sometime.

But that was then and this is now.

It's been a while since I've posted and some interesting things have happened - mostly in international politics. Barack Obama is the (presumptive) Democratic nominee for President. I must admit, that if I were a Democratic voter, that I would have supported John Edwards or Hillary first. I think Edwards is a solid, likeable guy with a lot of charisma (though not as much as Obama) and can be trusted to do what is right for the vast majority of Americans. Hillary though would be my first pick. Without question she is tough and well connected and could bring back a lot her hubby's people to fix the economy, which is really what this election should be about.

Although he was my third pick, I have nothing against Obama. However, and as someone who prefers deeds over words, I saw his campaign as nothing more than hyped up rhetoric and a long series of platitudes (ie: referring to American schools as the "corridors of shame"). He is as close a thing as there is to a left-wing American populist. I was amazed though at the nation swoon for this fella. He is without question an impressive speaker ith tons of charisma, but I can't help but wonder - will he be able to balance the budget? Will he resolve the Iraq quagmire, and prevent the Iran quagmire? What will he do about the economy?

The truth is, and Obama's people know it, that the American people are fed up with the conservative-Republican ideology and that the promise of ANY change is better than the status-quo in the minds of most. The American voters, all of them, understand that this is a rare 'framing' election that will shape the next 25-50 years of American economic, foreign, social policy. This is a referendum on the current governing ideology that has brought the American people 'tax relief,' limited government, laissez-faire economics, religious doctrine, and a chauvanistic foreign policy. Obama of course, is running the counter campaign - against 'tax relief' and limited government as an ideology, the separation but maintenance of church and state in the society, and a consultative and nuanced foreign policy that seeks advantage through peace rather than war.

Given the results of only eight years under the leadership of a Modern American Consertive - economic chaos, domestic social tension, war - I would vote for Obama in a heartbeat, and think a majority of Americans will.