BLOGS BY BOB

Our economy is in shambles, we are involved in two wars, we are losing our competitive edge, Pakistan is on the verge of becoming a Taliban country, (consider that thought  – a Taliban country with nuclear weapons), and the rest of the world is not terribly fond of us.  This is no time to elect a leader who will rely only on past experience to solve future problems. 

The issue in this election is one in which knowledge of the 20^th century may have little bearing on problem solving in the 21^st.  In order for a new leader to be effective he cannot be bound by the artificial restrictions of past experiences.   

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The Republican nominee for President, John McCain, is so tied to the past he simply is not equipped to handle the increasing number and intensity of problems with which the next President will be faced.  His computer and high tech illiteracy is a clear indicator of intellectual laziness.  He has convinced himself that he has so much experience that he need not learn anything new.  He is sure that whatever the problem, his experience will offer the solution. 

Senator McCain is about two years older than I am.  I think he is too old for the office he seeks.  Not old in the sense of years but old in the sense of inquisitiveness.  When one no longer cares about how things work, and new things keep coming, how can that person repair those things that break. 

Barack Obama is a man unbound by the paradigms of the cold war and the politics of the 20^th century.   He offers a freshness of insight and foresight that hasn’t been seen since The “New Frontier” of the 1960 Kennedy administration.  He is a man of ideas, of new approaches and one who understands how political gridlock serves no one.  As a long time political observer and insider I have placed my faith in Mr. Obama, a faith based on experience and my own curiosity.   I think the Senator from Illinois will not disappoint us.   Most certainly he will challenge us — I hope he will inspire us.    

If the McCain campaign and Sarah Palin’s handlers had any sense they could have used her need for campaign clothing to their advantage.  Instead of spending $150,000 on clothing at Neiman Marcus she could have strengthened her “Hockey Mom” image by refusing to shop in places that “Joe the Plumber’s” wife couldn’t afford.  The McCain campaign could have scored beaucoup points with the public by inviting the news media to go on a shopping trip with Governor Palin, a trip to Target, Kohl’s or Sears.  I’ll bet she could have purchased everything she needed in those stores for under $2,000 and still looked good.

What this says about Governor Palin is that at heart she’s a Neiman Marcus mom not a hockey mom.  At heart she is a elitist.  If she was really “just one of you” she would have looked into a camera and said, “The campaign has offered to buy me some new clothing ‘cause I left Alaska in such a hurry and don’t have much with me.  They said I could buy my clothing anywhere, even Neiman Marcus, but y’know, I’ve always bought our family’s clothing at stores like Target and Sears.  I got to be Governor dressed that way, why should I change now?  God bless those who can afford Neiman Marcus but I think my Sears clothing will do just fine, and I’ll pay for it myself.  Why don’t you (the news media) come shopping with me?” ….and the cameras could have followed her around the ubiquitous “Big Sale” signs at Kohl’s.    

Can you imagine the positive publicity she would have received?  She could have solidified her position as a “common, ordinary, everyday woman.”  She would have been the subject of praise not criticism.  But, when you secretly desire to make a fashion statement, to have people recognize the labels on your clothing and oooh and ahhh over your new jacket, there is no way you can resist.  Governor Palin (and the Republican National Committee) you’ve just been outed as a closet elitist and just another duplicitous politician whose words don’t match their actions.  Oh bother.