When Obama won the 2008 presidential race, I was a little skeptical. I was skeptical and so was America for that matter. America wanted a president that would fix it. A president that would fix the lingering economy. A president that would get people back to work. America wanted change.
Now, this will not be a "the Republicans are good and Democrats are bad or vice versa". I am not in the business of promoting any political party but I will give my personal opinion too. I've always believed that most folks are smart enough to decide for whom they want to vote. Most anyway.
But being smart means paying attention. So I will attempt to convey what is going on with both parties. And we begin with the Democrats because the Republicans are largely reacting to what the President and his crew are doing
The speakers at the Republican convention have largely been selected to negate Democratic propaganda, while the speakers at the Democratic convention next week in Charlotte are largely on stage to inflame the liberal party.
The strategy for the Republicans is to persuade you that the president and his party have failed you, that it's simple wisdom to go with them.
The GOP in this campaign are largely fact-based; President Obama has messed up the economy, gasoline prices are through the roof, your economic future is not good. On the Democratic side, they want you to believe that the Romney- Ryan views are extreme, that they are out to get you by making the rich, richer and ignoring the middle class.
So let's get real specific. The most powerful Democratic speaker will be Bill Clinton, who will try to persuade voters that his successful economic strategy has been embraced by President Obama who just needs a little bit more time before the good ole' days are back. And that's really it as far as policy is concerned for the DNC 2012.
The rest of the Democratic prime time line up is composed of fanatics. Like Sandra Fluke. She's a Georgetown Law School student who believes the constitution mandates that the American people pay for her birth control. I can just picture James Madison and Thomas Jefferson hearing that. I mean, think about it Miss Fluke wants us to pick up her lifestyle expenses. And if you oppose doing that, Sandra will say you're anti-woman. Really?
You cannot get more liberal than this crew. It's impossible, you just can't do it.
Now on the Republican side, Governor Romney has pretty much neutralized the far right. Sarah Palin, not really involved although Rick Santorum will speak some at the RNC. Most of the GOP speakers are conservative but not far-right. John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Condoleezza Rice, Jeb Bush, John Kasich... all fairly flexible in their political thinking. So I think it's true to say that the Democratic Party is out there ideologically while the Republican Party is trying to be a bit more moderate.
This is good for Mitt Romney because many independents and swing voters will go for him. Of course the national media will never report any of this because they are actively helping President Obama shape his message that the Romney-Ryan party is extreme.
Gov. Chris Christie was on fire at the RNC Tuesday night. He stated that Americans want to hear the truth of what is going on in Washington. Americans want to be respected, not loved. This is what Romney is trying to convey to the American people. That his ideas and values will help America get out of debt and to get people working. His points were very valid. Watch his speech below to hear more after the break.
So, America wanted change... and now it's in trouble economically. With high gas prices hurting working people and the $16 trillion national debt is a threat to your personal security and to my personal security.
Those are the issues not being addressed by the President of the United States. Instead Obama is trying to put together a coalition of the willing; women who think Republicans want to hurt them; Hispanic voters who believe Republicans want to deport them; African-American voters who believe that Republicans are biased against them. Younger voters who are being told that the GOP does not want to lend them educational money and older Americans are being told that the Republicans will destroy their Medicare.
That's what's going on here, rather than solving the economy, energy and the massive debt we have fear tactics and lies being told by the Obama Administration. I gave Obama a chance to fix the economy and the brokenness this government has become. But, I just don't see much progress and I'm not the only one. It seems like he has nothing to run on now. This is why he is attacking the other side with lies and cheap parlor tricks. But I'm sure people can see right through them.
Now I don't hate Obama. Nor do I hate Romney. I pray almost every day for our President. That he makes the right choices and that it's not just about what party he's on but it's about the people. Right now, Mitt Romney has a very good chance to defeat Barack Obama. There shouldn't be any doubt in your mind that Obama hasn't fixed the economy yet. Some say he needs more time. Others say he had enough time and it's time for someone else to try to fix it. Who knows.
So, what can you and me do? Vote. And tell others to vote. Vote your ideals and vote your principles. But before voting in November, all Americans should consider one question... Who is best suited to solve the complex problems that are weighing this country down?
