Starting off with a Bang

Hey all, this is my first blog, but I figured since it seems to be becoming more then a pointless hobby, and since my own mom has been blogging successfully for a while, I might as well jump in and try my hand. For some background, I'm a college student, Political Science major with a pre-law bend to it (I'm lucky enough to go to a school that honestly has two different Poli Sci programs, one for just normal and one for pre-law). My parents raised me to be interested in politics, and from a young age I was always 'that kid' who actually watched the news for fun, enjoyed debating, and actually wanted to learn more about things that interested him. So, to get back at them for making me into a political nerd at a young age...I became the only Democrat in my Conservative immediate family. As you can imagine, it's fun at home.

Anyway, I figured I'd make my first blog about a rather common topic, Sarah Palin. I like McCain, I respected him in 2000 for being a real 'rebel' in his party, and I was honestly mad that he was vilified for daring to say 'hey, maybe the other side has good ideas too'. Now in 2008, he's learned his lesson, stay down, don't rock the boat, and play ball to get elected. I wish I could say 'how DARE he, he's a horrible politician' over this but, well, he's just a typical politician now. What really got me upset was he went from typical politician to shameless pandering politician in one move, that move's name is Sarah Palin.

I get what he was going for, he wanted a typical American, he wanted someone 'you can have a beer with', it worked before for both parties, it works now, people like people like them. There's a problem though, people like you and me, an average American, shouldn't be in such a high rank of politics. It's nothing bad, there's nothing wrong with us, but the Vice President of this country needs to be better then us. We don't like intellectuals anymore, something happened to us to make us see anyone who uses big words as an elitist. It's how Bush beat Kerry last time, and Kerry fell for his trick by trying to show how average and normal he was, and looked like a giant tool. Why does all this matter? Because this is the kind of political atmosphere that bred Sara Palin.

McCain knew this well, he's not a stupid man, he knew Obama and Biden would look bad compared to Palin in the mind of a person who votes solely based on who they want to drink and watch football with. I don't mind her in Alaska, the people there voted for her, good for her, I respect her for being a mother, a wife, and managing to be a political figure in her state. That said, she needs to keep as far away from the national scene as possible. Why? Because this woman feels living near Russia makes her good for foreign relations. She sees brokering a Canadian/American pipeline deal that did further damage to the Canadian native people as a great gold star on her record. She thinks asking for topic changes midway through a debate is acceptable. She thinks she wins a debate when she winks and makes a joke. Worst of all, she thinks she can win by being 'cute'. This is something I find hilarious considering she took offence to Obama calling the McCain campaign 'a pig in lipstick' (A reference for the fact that Palin comes from the state with HUGE amounts of Pork Barrel spending, or insinuating that McCain is just Bush for a third term depending who you ask) as a personal attack on her for some reason. Remember though, it's ok to call yourself a pit bull in lipstick, because pit bulls are so cuddly and sweet normally.

The final point she brings up to me is the massive double standard that still is thriving in society. That standard is that a woman should never be insulted, even if her party has launched the same insults on her male opponent. Ironically, people wanted Hillary because she broke that stereotype in their minds, these are the same people McCain expects to win over with Palin. Here's a little list of things it's ok to insult Obama for, but not ok to point out on Sarah.

Obama's crazy pastor: Fair game.

Palin's husband's connection to the Alaskan Succession Interest Group: Not fair game.

Obama has no experience in the national scene: Fair game

Palin has even less experience: Not fair game.

Anything Obama does to try to connect with the average American: Pandering and insulting.

Palin saying she should get votes because she's a Soccer Mom: Acceptable.

Obama voted for things that cost money: Booooo, hiss.

Palin's state is constantly the single highest pork barrel spending requests: Nothing wrong there.

Obama plays the 'race card' to get support: How dare he!

Palin is a living embodiment of the 'gender card': You go girl!

All in all this election is fascinating, this is the first time in a while we don't have an incumbent or a Vice President running, we have four politicians going for their own place in the highest job in the country. This is a great election to use my first vote for, and the 'Palin Factor' only makes it more interesting to watch.