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African-Americans. Thanks BlackFrederick.com!"
- B Patterson
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The Presidential Election
By BlackFrederick.com Political Editor Derek Shackelford
Published October 05, 2008
Okay, the it has been weeks since the glitz and glamour, the pomp and circumstances, the cartwheels, boos over the
“other” name and cheers for just because someone delivered a good punch line. What else would anyone expect
from the Democratic and Republican National Conventions? These meetings were simply to rally the party base and
attempt to convey that each party has been unified behind the party’s nominee. Democratic Nominee Senator Barack
Obama and Repbublican Nominee Senator John McCain have campaigned across this country vigorously stating
their case for the presidency. Each trying to convince the voters of America that they have the plan for the next 4 years
to be the leader to what is known as the free world. There is a saying that goes, “You can fool some of the people all
of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” We will divulge into this saying later to see how it
pertains to us the voter.
It is 6 weeks until November 4th, when this nation will cast its ballot for the next President of the United States. Every 4
years the mantle is brought out that this is the most important election in this nation’s history. Why? To a large
degree, we are living in some real challenging times. No matter how we dissect over our political landscape the
world has greatly changed over the last 8 years. This year’s theme seems to focus around the word change.
Washington needs to change, Washington needs to be reformed, we need a change of direction, and a change in
leadership. A change is coming to America. But the question that remains is what kind of change? Change for the
better or change for the worse? This is an important question because it could said with almost certainty that things
have changed for the worse in the last 8 years under the Bush Administration. So, if change for the better is the theme
by these 2 majority candidates, then please convince me. It is important to note that it is not just 2 candidates who are
vying for the office of President. There are just 2 who have garnered the national media spotlight. Since, the
Democratic and Republican candidates have taken on the banner of change let us really see how much change is
well, positive change.
When we dissect this election we find that no matter how much candidates talk about change some things are staying
the same. Senator Obama went the traditional route in selecting a vice president in Senator Joe Biden. Sen. Biden
has labored in the Senate for as long as Sen. McCain. Senator Obama has also surrounded himself during this
financial bailout plan with former President Clinton advisors. The one thing that must be noted is there was no way
Obama could have selected Sen. Hillary Clinton. Although it would have appeared to be a wise move in ensuring her
voters, the dynamics of them working together would have made it rather difficult. Sen. Clinton had her hopes on the
highest hopes in the land and to succumb to the No. 2 position would have been trying for her to swallow.
Sen. John McCain selected Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate and this was somewhat of a check
political move. In other words, it was to garner the women’s vote that Obama did not sure up in not selecting Clinton.
It is admirable that in 2008 women having taking national prominence on the political landscape. Gov. Palin has been
somewhat guarded in her appearance with the national media so far. Thus is she ultimately ready for the grand
stage? The experience factor has been discussed comparing Sen. Obama and Gov. Palin. One of the differences is
that Sen. Obama has had the opportunity to be scrutinized for 20 months while Palin less than 2 months. The reality
is this a null and void subject because Obama is not running against Palin so the experience issue between the two
is cancelled. Sen. McCain is being called somewhat of a maverick because of his split with Republican policies in
some previous votes but overall he has held true to the party line in his campaign. He had to in order to ensure the
nomination.
So here we are as the voters in this election trying to discern who will lead us for the next 4 years. Both sides have
given us ample ammunition on why one should not vote for the other but not have sold one on why they should vote for
them. Each election cycle appears to be not who is the best candidate but who is the lesser. I am hoping this time
that we the voter will make the wise decision on the issues that face this nation because the one change that is
definitely needed is not so much from the presidency but from us the voter. In the words of the singing group the
Spinners, “Everybody plays a fool sometime there is no exception to the rule.” Let us be vigilant this time around in not
only voting but also involving ourselves so that we don’t just fall for anything.
By BlackFrederick.com Political Editor Derek Shackelford
Published October 05, 2008
Okay, the it has been weeks since the glitz and glamour, the pomp and circumstances, the cartwheels, boos over the
“other” name and cheers for just because someone delivered a good punch line. What else would anyone expect
from the Democratic and Republican National Conventions? These meetings were simply to rally the party base and
attempt to convey that each party has been unified behind the party’s nominee. Democratic Nominee Senator Barack
Obama and Repbublican Nominee Senator John McCain have campaigned across this country vigorously stating
their case for the presidency. Each trying to convince the voters of America that they have the plan for the next 4 years
to be the leader to what is known as the free world. There is a saying that goes, “You can fool some of the people all
of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” We will divulge into this saying later to see how it
pertains to us the voter.
It is 6 weeks until November 4th, when this nation will cast its ballot for the next President of the United States. Every 4
years the mantle is brought out that this is the most important election in this nation’s history. Why? To a large
degree, we are living in some real challenging times. No matter how we dissect over our political landscape the
world has greatly changed over the last 8 years. This year’s theme seems to focus around the word change.
Washington needs to change, Washington needs to be reformed, we need a change of direction, and a change in
leadership. A change is coming to America. But the question that remains is what kind of change? Change for the
better or change for the worse? This is an important question because it could said with almost certainty that things
have changed for the worse in the last 8 years under the Bush Administration. So, if change for the better is the theme
by these 2 majority candidates, then please convince me. It is important to note that it is not just 2 candidates who are
vying for the office of President. There are just 2 who have garnered the national media spotlight. Since, the
Democratic and Republican candidates have taken on the banner of change let us really see how much change is
well, positive change.
When we dissect this election we find that no matter how much candidates talk about change some things are staying
the same. Senator Obama went the traditional route in selecting a vice president in Senator Joe Biden. Sen. Biden
has labored in the Senate for as long as Sen. McCain. Senator Obama has also surrounded himself during this
financial bailout plan with former President Clinton advisors. The one thing that must be noted is there was no way
Obama could have selected Sen. Hillary Clinton. Although it would have appeared to be a wise move in ensuring her
voters, the dynamics of them working together would have made it rather difficult. Sen. Clinton had her hopes on the
highest hopes in the land and to succumb to the No. 2 position would have been trying for her to swallow.
Sen. John McCain selected Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate and this was somewhat of a check
political move. In other words, it was to garner the women’s vote that Obama did not sure up in not selecting Clinton.
It is admirable that in 2008 women having taking national prominence on the political landscape. Gov. Palin has been
somewhat guarded in her appearance with the national media so far. Thus is she ultimately ready for the grand
stage? The experience factor has been discussed comparing Sen. Obama and Gov. Palin. One of the differences is
that Sen. Obama has had the opportunity to be scrutinized for 20 months while Palin less than 2 months. The reality
is this a null and void subject because Obama is not running against Palin so the experience issue between the two
is cancelled. Sen. McCain is being called somewhat of a maverick because of his split with Republican policies in
some previous votes but overall he has held true to the party line in his campaign. He had to in order to ensure the
nomination.
So here we are as the voters in this election trying to discern who will lead us for the next 4 years. Both sides have
given us ample ammunition on why one should not vote for the other but not have sold one on why they should vote for
them. Each election cycle appears to be not who is the best candidate but who is the lesser. I am hoping this time
that we the voter will make the wise decision on the issues that face this nation because the one change that is
definitely needed is not so much from the presidency but from us the voter. In the words of the singing group the
Spinners, “Everybody plays a fool sometime there is no exception to the rule.” Let us be vigilant this time around in not
only voting but also involving ourselves so that we don’t just fall for anything.
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