Obama-Biden

Obama tapped a 25 yr. senator for vice-president,Joseph Biden. Obama addressed his critics' complaints of inexperience by adding Biden, 20 yrs. his senior, and who is considered part of the Washington establishment. Obama defeated Hillary Clinton largely with his mantra of fundamental and deep change. Choosing Biden seems to be a timid choice. Biden himself sought the Dem. nomination early in the race, but withdrew. At that time, when Clinton was the front runner, Biden had this to say about Obama; "Here you have for the first time in all American history a woman or African-American poised to be the next President, and there's no way to break through that." With Biden as vp candidate,there are 3 sitting US senators on the tickets, with McCain's choice unannounced. Since the election of 1900, only 2 sitting US senators have been elected President.Warren Harding in 1920 and John Kennedy in 1960. That total is sure to grow in November. Current polls say McCain and Obama are even.

The Democrats' upcoming convention will make history, as the nominee for the first time since 1788 will not be a white male. Obama,if indeed the nominee, will have considerable doubts by the voters to overcome. His inexperience and fast rise raise questions as to the true substance of the man.Voters have little knowledge of his record and past much preceding his contest with Hillary Clinton. As I see it, his challenge is to convince voters he can deliver on his promises. Congress after the election can either help, hinder, or do nothing for the next President. The economy needs attention, and the next President will be expected to take action. Lofty rhetoric by partisan politicians at the conventions means little to nothing to middle-class and poor Americans caught in a deepening recession. Americans look to the President for domestic management.

Clinton at Democratic Convention

News reports state Hillary Clinton will have her name placed with Obama for a vote by the delegates for the nomination. Although Obama has enough delegates pledged to him to win, how solid is the commitment to him? Ex-President Bill Clinton undoubtedly wields influence as the only Democrat to serve 2 full terms as President since FDR. Obama is only 47,has been elected only once,as Senator. My feeling is if he loses this election, he can reasonably expect to be around for 5 or more elections. McCain, in contrast, is 72. This roll of the dice is his last chance.If he loses, he will almost certainly not get another nomination. McCain is old enough to be Obama's father.McCain has been in Congress since 1983, giving him 25 yrs. experience.McCain was flying combat missions in Vietnam in the mid-sixties as a Navy pilot, while in the same time frame Obama was probably riding his bicycle,playing tag, and doing all the things a boy of 6 or 7 does. Obama must realize middle-class Americans are struggling in an economic uncertainty, yet I don't see him addressing it. Most Americans are worse off than 4 yrs. ago,myself included.Historically, that gives the advantage to the out of power party,in this case Democrats. I believe the candidate that can convince the electorate he will address the uncertain economy with competant action will emerge the winner.

Obama on vacation

Apparently,the Democrats desire a quiet period before their convention August 25.Obama vacations in Hawaii,while Hillary Clinton makes statements suggesting an open convention,Bill Clinton refuses to acknowledge Obama as the nominee,and Hillary Clinton's campaign manager makes statements that if the media had revealed John Edwards' extra-marital dalliances prior to the Iowa caucuses,Hillary Clinton would have defeated Obama in Iowa instead of finishing third behind Obama and Edwards.The Clintons apparently will not simply bow to Obama without making some noise.It should be interesting how the convention goes.Obama has enough delegates to be nominated on the first ballot,but the actual vote at the convention must yet be taken.Could the Clintons perhaps engineer a surprise?We shall see in 2 weeks. McCain,meanwhile,campaigns in Pennsylvania.

Character of the candidates

As I can see it,both candidates have good characters.McCain went through torture,physical and mental,as a prisoner of war.Years of abuse by Viet Cong captors must make anything in politics seem tame.Obama surely must have endured taunts and mockery in his youth because of his mixed race.Politics at their high level is bare-knuckled.At this point in this presidential race,there is no distinct advantage one has over his opponent.Polls indicate a statistical stalemate.I certainly am undecided.

Sluggish Economy

Neither candidate seems to really address the most important issue to most Americans,the fact that layoffs in most sectors of the economy continue.Good paying jobs are daily being cut.Gas prices are making working-class Americans cut back on spending.Consumer confidence is low for most Americans.Federal deficits balloon daily.Retired citizens and those on fixed incomes are squeezed in a vice of inflation and low interest rates.Yet the government will bail out the financial lenders and banks that foolishly loaned billions in the sub-prime mortgage fiasco that directly contributed,if not cause,the present foreclosure crisis in which of homeowners cannot afford their monthly mortgage payments.

Obama in Iraq

The news people say Obama is trying to strengthen his foreign policy credentials by going to the war zones.Here in America,the economy is more of an issue.Layoffs,rising food prices,higher unemployment mean more to the average man than foreign policy.Billions of dollars spent on foreign wars,and people in this country are struggling.The candidates seem to be ignoring the bread and butter issues.

$52 Million for Obama in June

News item from July 17:Obama raises $52 million in June,which is his second highest monthly total to date.Wow.I would guess by the election money totals have to be close to a billion.Money is the grease on which the ball bearings of politics ride.Inflation has rarely been mentioned in this race but that seems likely to change.Polls show that voters are more concerned about the comatose economy and crippling gas prices than about wars in Iraq and elsewhere.Why is so little said about Osama bin-Laden?Is he still being hunted,or did we stop searching?He must be approaching the all-time record for being public enemy No. 1 and still eluding capture.I remember a $25 million dollar in gold bounty offered for him.The situation of seeming stalemate in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq remind me of 1980 when President Carter could not get the hostages in Iran freed.

Voter in Swing State

I am a registered voter in what the pundits call a swing state,Pennsylvania.I will be making regular postings to this site to voice my opinions on the presidential campaign.I am an Independent.I have not decided which candidate I will cast my ballot for in November.I have an open mind toward both candidates.The magnitude of the issues each man faces is certainly gargantuan.Each one has my sympathy,as I cannot see how any one man can possibly tackle what is in store for the next President.In any case,one of them will tackle it.As the next President goes,all Americans will go.I do not think second guessing anyone who leads is a fair thing,but Americans can and will choose the man who will lead the nation to whatever is to come.Right now I think America is on a downward trajectory.Gas prices are killing everyone.Wages and jobs are stagnant,if not backpedaling.I am certainly worse off than I was 4 yrs. ago.I am cynical about any promise that there are quick fixes.If any easy,painless,or quick fixes exist,they would have been done.