Silver Lining (Election Day Eve)

Tomorrow is election day and what is likely going to be a large victory for Barack Obama and the democrats, if the polls are to be believed. It will be a sad night indeed if that is the case, but there is always a silver lining. In this case, there will be multiple silver linings. Here are a few.

Obama winning confirms what we already knew: that racism does not play a significant role in American life in the 21st century. His success is far from the first piece of conclusive evidence, but it does make it that much more blatantly obvious how far we've come as a nation. In case you missed the last 20 years, which many leftists and black leaders (a la Jackson/Sharpton) and their disciples seem to have done. With their constant race baiting and incessant crying foul where none occurred. Racism will always exist in certain pockets and fringes of society, but it is no longer a major stumbling block in every day life, be it at school, work, or even in the judicial system.

Obama and McCain trying to 'out-conservative' each other during the general election was the 2nd ray of hope. "I'll cut taxes more! No, i will!", "I'll freeze spending! Well I'll cut spending item by item.", "I'll get Bin Laden", "well I will KILL Bin Laden" etc. In truth Obama is no where as near to the center as he portrayed himself during the general election, but the fact that when he did move right voters responded is a validation of conservative principles, not a rebuke of them. Of course this doesn't mean Obama's move is genuine in any way. But it does mean that conservative principles are alive and well and not going anywhere soon. Though expect them to be quickly abandoned after inauguration day.

Obama winning (along with dems controlling Congress) would also send a message to the Republican party that has been drifting further and further from it's core principles to return to them. You need a Carter before you can get a Reagan. That has been said many times by various pundits, and it is true. It would be nice if we could keep a principled, conservative, Republican Congress and President forever to infinity, but as their power grows more consolidated, they slide further from their principles which are ANTI centralized, strong federal government. So that ebb and flow is inevitable, and in order to keep Republicans conservative, it's also necessary. If only they would remain principled of their own volition.


However, all these positives will hardly outweigh the negatives that Obama's policies, in tandem with the Pelosi/Reed/Frank Congress, will wreak on our lives for at least 4 years. Indeed the biggest negative of Obama winning would be the fact that there would be few checks on the Democrats running wild with their preposterous policies, both domestic and foreign. If you want to avoid this, get out and vote McCain tomorrow. But even if you don't, I'll look on the bright side. So smile conservative kids. Losing isn't as bad as being wrong. And they are, and we aren't.

Incompetence in a Liberal is a Virtue

Many attacks from the media, and various other left wing sources, are being leveled at McCain and/or Palin in regards to their competence and ability to lead. Personally, I don't question either of them on those grounds, but if others want to that's fine. I'm more concerned with Obama's competence and ability to lead. My problem with Obama is not that I feel he lacks competence, or the ability to lead. On the contrary, I fear that he DOES most likely have those attributes. And the fact that he does possess those qualities, combined with his values, policies and agenda, and you have a BAD thing, not a positive one. The fact that he is competent and possesses strong leadership qualities means he's more likely to be able to push his agenda through, especially with a Dem-controlled Congress. If Obama was less competent and less capable, he would probably be less dangerous because he would be more ineffectual. Hitler was a competent, capable, charismatic leader. Someone else in his same position, who shared his ideals, goals and beliefs, but who had less competence and leadership ability, would have wreaked a lot less havoc than Hitler did. Not to say Obama is Hitler at all, I'm just making the point that although being a strong, competent 'leader' is usually considered a positive, it isn't necessarilly. So don't try to convince me that Obama is competent and ready to be a strong leader. That's exactly what I'm afraid of. And because he is, that's all the more reason to never, ever, ever consider voting for him, given his dangerous and asinine beliefs and policies.

I believe Obama when he says that he will nationalize health care. I believe Obama when he says that he'll submit American foreign policy to the court of world opinion. I believe Obama when he says he thought going into Iraq was a bad idea, and that the surge would never work. I believe Obama when he says that he will raise taxes. I believe Obama when he says that he'll raise the federal minimum wage EVERY year that he's in office. I believe that he will defend and expand abortion 'rights' whenever given the opportunity. I believe Obama when he says he will massively increase federal spending on social programs. I believe that he will do, or attempt to do, all of these things. That's precisely the problem. I'd be less concerned about him if I felt he was lying about his agenda, or if I felt he'd be incapable of accomplishing it.

As another example, look at the leadership deficient democratic controlled Congress. Case in point. Right now they lack both competence and strong leadership, and the result is that they are the quintessential do-nothing Congress. But a do-nothing Democratic controlled Congress is a lot better than a do-something Democrat controlled Congress. And when they get nothing done I breathe a sigh of relief, because if they got done what they wanted to get done we'd all be in trouble.

In summation, when you say 'Obama would be a good leader', I reply 'Yes he would, hence vote McCain'. Not because McCain wouldn't be a strong leader. I think he would. But even if he wouldn't be, an ineffectual leader with sound policies and goals is better than an effective leader with destructive policies and goals.

Synecdoche, NY - new trailer

Check out the new trailer for Synecdoche, NY the directorial debut of Charlie Kaufman (screenwriter of Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Human Nature, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). It stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman who is definitely one of the best actors working now, and the trailer is gorgeous. Kaufman appears to be a quick study as a director, if this trailer is any indication. This is right up there with Benjamin Button as my most anticipated film. Watch the trailer here:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/synecdochenewyork/