Pale in Comparison

Oh, what to say about Sarah Palin that hasn't already been said? Why is it hard for me to get past the fact that she could have been sitting next to me in Geometry taking notes about the teacher's Garanimals wardrobe? or cheating on a history test because the teacher was too clueless to see the books on our laps? or writing poems with sexual innuendos in English class because the teacher was a bit obsessed with turning an innocent Washington Monument reference into a phallic symbol? Yes, SP is my age, born in 1964, wore cuordoroys and clogs, probably drank Boone's Farm and Giacobazzi wine. She claims to be a six-pack Joe, but do we really want somebody in the White House who is just like us? George Bush somehow got people to believe he was one of the guys, someone you'd like to have a beer with. He was more like the guy that passed out and we put shaving cream on his hands, drizzled water on his face, and watched him bat it away leaving his face white and foamy. Sarah's more like the girl we hated, the cheerleader, the fake girl that acted like she liked everyone but would talk behind your back and laugh at you.

Ok, so this is not high school. This is real life. She likes to kill animals for fun. She is a crazy, nut-job Christian who was blessed to scare away the evil spirits of witchcraft. She doesn't believe in evolution. She is anti-choice, which is so dangerous at this stage of the game. Bush already loaded up the Supreme Court with a bunch of conservatives. Roe v. Wade is one yahoo away from being overturned. How ironic that her daughter got knocked up before marriage and as a teen. Do you think she had a choice? Do you think that boyfriend had a choice?

The funny thing about SP is she actually thinks she can be Vice President. She doesn't even get it that the Republicans are using her. They picked her because she's a woman, a pretty woman. Who doesn't like looking at a pretty woman who looks like Tina Fey? They didn't realize people actually cared about her views and her intelligence (or lack thereof). It all backfired. Now what we have is an old guy who refuses to release his medical records and a young chick who is power hungry.

So i'm a little biased. Ok, i'm a lot biased. I just can't stand the modern-day Republican Party. I was never fond of them, but it was because of their anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-civil rights stances. But now, thanks to Dubya, the Party has been hijacked by the Christian Right. Actually, the credit has to go to Karl Rove. I don't really think GWB had much to do with any of it. He was as much a puppet as Sarah Palin. Now where are we? The country is a mess. We're involved in two wars. Thousands have died. Osama Bin Laden is laughing his ass off in some cave somewhere. The world hates us. Wall Street is collapsing. Why is anyone surprised? George Bush bankrupted every company he's ever run. I'm just convinced the American people are stupid. I really am. Here we are...an election year. We have this great guy, Barack Obama. He's smart. He's articulate. He's motivating. He's inspiring. He's obviously running the show. I believe he's the guy. This isn't four years ago when, for me, it was John Kerry or anyone but Bush.

I know, I know, Hillary would have been great. I like Hillary, I do. I would have voted for her, of course, but i was secretly rooting for Obama. I'm not so sure Hillary had the ability to bring the country together, like Obama can. But there are those who do not like Obama or do not trust Obama or are just unsure about Obama. Huh? Really? What am i missing? He's perfect for the job. He's Kennedy-like. He's presidential. He's the first (and only) person that has given me any hope since Bill Clinton.

But people have to make up their own minds. So here's my hope for them. I hope they don't vote for McCain because they like Sarah Palin. Or I hope they'll really dig deep and ask themselves why they like Sarah Palin. There have been studies where children are asked if they'd rather eat a banana or a rock with Disney character stickers on them, and they go for the rock every time. Other children choose skinny people over fat people. Although I admit i don't want to look at John McCain's face for four years because it's less than pleasant, it's not the reason I'm not voting for him.

So there's the race thing too. There was an internet test floating around some time ago. You look at pictures of black and white people and choose a "good" and "bad" word associated with each very rapidly. You were scored on your subconscious choices and learned if you had biased tendencies. It proves it's entirely possible someone could look at Obama and not like him because he's black, but they are not consciously aware of it; they can't put their finger on why they don't like him. They repeat things they've heard on FOX News. Whatever. Just dig deeper and be open-minded and honest about your feelings.

The whole Muslim thing makes me nuts too. What if he were a Muslim? Why is that bad exactly? Muslims believe in one God. Hmm, sound familiar? It is also the second largest religion in the world (1.5 billion) next to Christianity (2.1 billion). FWIW, third in line is Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist (1.1 billion). Is it because the 9/11 terrorists were Islamic? Well, Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City Bombing terrorist, was Catholic and a U.S. Marine vet. Dylan Klebold, the Columbine terrorist, was Lutheran and Jewish.

I for one will be glued to my TV Thursday night for the VP debates. I haven't even mentioned Joe Biden. I actually like him a lot. I was very impressed with him when he was running for president during the primaries. So hopefully he'll win the debate hands down (shouldn't be too hard to do) and we can get on with voting for President instead of homecoming queen. FWIW, i am a feminist; unfortunately, Sarah is not. She doesn't represent me and never will. I would love it if someone asked her about the gays. I'm pretty sure she's not gonna be marching in any Pride parades anytime soon.

J.Bo.