Game On... Election 2008

I am leaving for a few days of vacation tomorrow but wanted to get a few thoughts about the GOP convention out before I left. First of all, for his party, John McCain made a wonderful political choice in Sarah Palin. She has energized the evangelical base of the GOP in a way many thought was impossible just a few short weeks ago. The Christian Right loves this woman and sees her as one of their own. That means they can be counted on to work hard, volunteer, give money, and generally do whatever is needed to put this team in the White House. At least, that is the plan. Whether Sarah Palin is qualified is another whole other issue. That is a judgment America will make. I just wish we could get a little honesty from the GOP on this. Maybe I am just cynical, but let's roll the tape and you be the judge. McCain and his party spent a lot of time the last few nights talking about change and country first. And the people in the arena in St. Paul were estatic. So let me ask a few questions. Given that President Bush is a Republican and has served for eight years, what kind of change are you calling for? Are you saying his policies did not work and he has had a failed administration? McCain touts his support for the surge which has succeeded beyond all imagination. Does this mean that decisions made during and before the war to do this with a "light footprint" were well meaning, but none the less failures? Is there anything about the current administration's economic policy that you would change? If so what are they and how specifically would those changes benefit America? I started this election cycle as a supporter of John McCain. He has been a man I have respected and I have always appreciated his calls for bi-partisanship, which frankly, many in his party, as with Dems, ridicule as surrender. But I think that John McCain's time has passed. What I saw in the convention hall was a group of people who, when confronted with a bi-partisan option to really change America through the candidacy of Joe Lieberman, balked. You see, McCain, who is running on a theme of Country First, had made his choice. America in his view must get past partisan politics. America in his view is better when Democrats and Republicans work together for the good of all of us. Inherent in that is an understanding that we will not always get what we want personally, but collectively, as a country, we will be better. His choice for Vice President was current Independant and former Democrat, Joe Lieberman. But the party let him know that they would not accept his choice. They said they would not work or help get him elected if he chose someone from outside the party. And so McCain capitulated. He chose someone the base supported, even though in his heart, he felt Joe Lieberman would be best for America. Country First. John McCain was about that in 2000 when he ran, and I supported him. It was said at the convention that McCain believed in Country First, party second. Really? Finally, I alluded to some much needed vacation this week. Here is where I'll be. Beautiful Lake Tahoe.