Tag Archives: Election

Oww, it hurts!

Seriously, I may have a joking tone but I really do not think I could sit through Sarah Palin’s interview with Charles Gibson. As it is described in the New York Times, it is painful enough. I’m starting to have a visceral discomfort over the prospect of her winning the vice presidency. She is so obviously grossly unprepared for the job that it turns my stomach. Again I just have to ask, how can this even be close? If enough people choose to be willfully ignorant or just don’t care enough to pay attention, well then, they get what they deserve. But that leaves the rest of us with little option besides emigrating to Canada. Too bad I didn’t get my passport renewed already.

Historic first now inevitable

One of these people is absolutely, positively going to be in office come next January.

One of these people is absolutely, positively going to be in office come next January.

I was initially nonplussed when I heard the news early this morning that John McCain had selected Sarah Palin (who?) as his running mate. I know a lot more about her now than I did twelve hours ago, but nothing that’s been added to my brain in that time span has done anything to change my opinion that this was a move that was at best cynical, at worst a sign of utter desperation (and/or utter cluelessness).

Along the way the geeky but not terribly profound thought occurred to me that (as I’ve always liked to think anyway) the Democrats are like Apple in this election, and the Republicans like Microsoft. Apple delivers true innovation while Microsoft plays copycat and catch-up. But despite offering what the people really want and need, Apple usually loses to Microsoft and whatever appeal it offers. (Really, I don’t know. Why do people like Microsoft? And why do they think the Republicans represent their interests? Unless they count themselves among the select group of Americans who think people making $4,999,999 a year aren’t rich and are even more self-centered than that would suggest.)

But then another thought occurred to me. A non-partisan thought (for once). History is going to be made in this election. History has already been made of course, but nominating someone who’s not an old white guy is not so new (1984, anyone?). Having someone who’s either non-white or non-male (or both, but Oprah’s not running this year, and I don’t mean that to be as glib as it sounds) actually win election to either office, president or vice president, is something that’s never even been close to happening before (again, 1984?). But it is definitely going to happen this year. There will be an African-American president. Or there will be a woman vice president. One of the two of these things absolutely is going to happen this year.

Wow. Of course I have a preference. And I suspect that accusations of racism and/or sexism are going to be flying for the next couple of months. But in the end, history is going to change, and we don’t even need a flux capacitor to do it.