Time Trying To Change Us
Written by: Tom Sawyer
Yesterday we got the latest edition of Time magazine in the mail. I’m tempted to make this the last magazine we get from Time due to the cover. I hate it – hate is a strong word but applies here – when someone does or says something to persuade opinion and assumes those they are trying to persuade are too dumb to realize it. This cover left me feeling this way and I will tell you why.
Senators Obama and McCain are on the cover along with two former presidents. The cover mentions temperament – one of the former presidents presumably has a temperament similar to Senator Obama’s and the other similar to Senator McCain’s. I immediately get what they are trying to say/do and I don’t like it.
It doesn’t matter who you think is more qualified to run the country, the candidates are who they are and discussions on temperament are clearly coming from someone who wishes to dismiss on of the candidate’s temperament – Senator McCain. Say what you will about their plans for our country’s future, but one would have to admit that Senator McCain has come across bitter, sarcastic and basically like a jerk on more than one occasion.
If Time magazine had put “McCain For President” on the cover I would have had more respect for the magazine. What they did was try to plant a seed in the readers’ minds that temperament – in this case McCain’s temperament – may not matter. I actually think they are right, but I didn’t need this cover to make me think so.
Both men are politicians so whose to say either one of them are going to do what they promise once elected? That being the case, we may need a jerk or someone with “jerkish” 
tendencies to run the country. We have some real problems with our economy, terrorists and many other things and this may not be the time for someone with a calm demeanor to lead us. Either way, I would have liked it if Time magazine didn’t blatantly (I call it that) put something in my face to persuade my opinion.
Do you think that Obama is too calm or McCain is too…whatever he is? If so, what temperment do you think is appropriate to lead our country given the current national and international climate?
Tags: McCain, Obama, presidential election, temperament
October 21st, 2008 at 7:34 am
In order to lead our country, the man must be even-tempered. McCain does not show that. He is sarcastic, haughty, angry and believes he has the ‘right’ to win this election (his actions prove this). Obama hasn’t shown any other emotion except calmness. It appears he has extreme control over his emotions. There were times, especially during the debates, that I would have liked him to show righteous anger but here in America that would have made him an ‘Angry Black Man!’ For the first time, I will say that between McCain and Obama, Obama will probably lead the country BETTER than McCain. I guess that means I’m finally throwing my support behind Obama:–)
Kim Sawyers last blog post..Why Does Life Seem To Go So Fast?
October 21st, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Praise the Lord Sister Kim! Say it loud! Say it proud! I am an Obama-ian!!!!
October 21st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I must say that I respect your opinions but I do feel that something should be said here. I haven’t seen the Time cover but I can imagine where your reaction could stem from; those leaning towards McCain have been dealing with the partisan media slant for many months. Here’s the reality though folks, aside from Fox News and the usual conservative talk shows Mr. Obama has been given a free ride throughout the election process. Obama faced his toughest scrutiny during the primary as Hillary Clinton slammed him on many occasions. I do think it’s a bit funny that Mrs. Clinton was actually responsible for bringing up Obama’s friends like “The Rev, Mr. Wright” and even The Ayers scenario. I swear Obama must be coated with Scotch Guard because nothing seems to stick to him. McCain and Palin get slammed left and right by all of the liberal media outlets.
Here is just one of many examples:
Baracks Warm Reception on the View – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg4Wqkl60lE
Mr. McCain’s Not so Warm Reception on the View – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyQpmN-nH64
In Closing, if the Time cover is slanted toward favoring McCain then I say it’s about time he gets a little positive press because I didn’t think that was possible. Frankly I think we are being forced to choose between two sub-par candidates but lets look at the whole picture and not just one magazine cover.
Ryan Kazinecs last blog post..Are you over the age of 36? You’re a minority on Social Networks, but why?
October 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Hey Ryan, here’s my opinion on why Obama is like teflon – the things that are being said about him are sooooo irrelevant at this point, why bother bringing them up? For instance, the Ayers connection. Come on, how long ago was that? The guy did some terrorist activities over 30 years ago! He is now an upstanding, law-abiding citizen. Plus, Obama is not associating with him now and hasn’t for over 3 years, which is way before his run for presidency. There are so many things that require scrutiny (like who can run the country better). McCain, in my opinion, is not the man to do it. I can just see him getting really upset over some foreign policy and reacting emotionally, which will lead us to another war with another country! Don’t even get me started on Palin – that lady is a mess! Sometimes, she says the most idiotic things! I just read she believes the vice-president is in charge of the Senate and “can make good policy changes.” Huh?!!!!
I will agree with you about two sub-par candidates. But Obama is by far, the lesser of two evils!
Kim Sawyers last blog post..Why Does Life Seem To Go So Fast?
October 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Kim,
I’ll agree that the Ayers connection is a stretch but lets not forgot the upstanding citizens comments published on the morning of September 11th, 2001 of all dates. That’s right on that horrible day Mr. Upstanding citizen said,”I don’t regret setting bombs” but he didn’t stop there, Bill Ayers said. ”I feel we didn’t do enough.” So Kim please tell me you retract the “Upstanding, law-abiding citizen” statement.
Here is a conservative proof source for you:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E1DE1438F932A2575AC0A9679C8B63
I’m a firm believer in that people can change, I’m living proof of this. I went from getting a DUI at the age of 19 to being the first college educated member of my family, to starting my own business, and purchasing my first home. Everyday of my life I regret making the choice to drink and get behind the wheel but Ayers has no remorse hence he is not a upstanding citizen. The connection with Ayers is a big stretch so I’ll agree with your Teflon analogy with that but not with the “Rev.” How do you attend a church for 20 years that preaches pure hatred towards America? I sure the hell would have been out of there in less than a month, that’s for sure.
I’ll agree that Palin makes an ass out of herself on a regular basis but in theory she is right. The VP is the president of the senate. However the only time she would have any control is if the votes were split down the middle. (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong)
I will have to respectfully disagree with you in regards to the lesser of two evils but It is great news that so many people are taking this election seriously and doing their homework.
Ryan Kazinecs last blog post..Are you over the age of 36? You’re a minority on Social Networks, but why?
October 21st, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Ryan, I think you are correct with many of your points. The beginning of the interview on The View was somewhat awkward for McCain.
I wish we could look into a crystal ball and see which one of these candidates will make our country better during their tenure. If we knew that, we could fully throw our support behind one or the other. I think both of them say some things that are good, but I have some reservations about them both.
I will third your motion – neither one is an ideal candidate at this time. Does this say something about our country? I mean, it may be another indication if this is the best from both parties.
Tom Sawyers last blog post..Time Trying To Change Us
October 21st, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I think this – http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081021/ap_on_el_pr/palin_family_travel – is McCain’s number one problem. I don’t necessarily mean the article, but Palin in general. I think everyone would agree, if he could go back and choose another running mate he would do it in a heartbeat.
Tom Sawyers last blog post..Time Trying To Change Us
October 21st, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Okay, you are right that in theory Palin is correct. But, I don’t believe she was answering in theory. :–) For me, it’s scary to think that if she and McCain win the election, she’d be just a unfortunate incident away from being president. I shudder at the thought…..
Now about Obama and Wright, I believe you can be associated with/have a relationship with someone and still not be in agreement with them. Having said that, I don’t think just because Wright has some strong, negative feelings about America that Obama feels the same way. It’s not that black and white.
Sorry, I can’t retract. I agree with you that what Ayers said in 2001 was unpatriotic. But it’s his opinion. Isn’t being allowed to say things like that what makes America, well America?
Kim Sawyers last blog post..Time Trying To Change Us
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
Before I make this statement and sound really dumb, let me preface it by saying, I AM NOT POLITICIALLY savvy. With that said, have we ever had an election where the choice was clear cut? Gosh, sometimes I think we SHOULD actually pick a president based on him – his integrity, his ability to handle business, his integrity, his personality, his integrity, his demeanor, his integrity, his ideas of right and wrong, and most importantly, his integrity. Why? We all know good and well, once they are in office, all bets are off! Regardless if they are democrat, republican, liberal, whatever! Promises get sidetracked. Policies get changed. Words spoken are forgotten as if they were never uttered. The bottom line always comes back to abilities to handle business, the morals of right and wrong, and of course integrity. I think we have had presidents that we believe did a poor job but we didn’t decimate them because we felt their integrity lead them to do what they thought best at the time, even if it didn’t work out. We actual believed he had the best interest of our country at heart. You can’t fault a man for being that, (I think an example might be Carter? I’m just thinking….) but those are far and few between I think. We have had those whose agendas just don’t match up with what seems best for the country.
Now, what about Obama? Ain’t he a good guy with loads of integrity?
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Tom
I’m afraid I have to disagree for a number of reasons but primarily if it wasn’t for Palin, McCain would be about thirty points behind Obama. Palin aligned the Republican party who otherwise had no excitement about McCain. She’s made a lot of mistakes but there are still a very large number of people who like her.
I will say this to the article you linked to; I find it quite amusing that charging the state for her kids travel and lodging is such a big deal when no one seems to care that Obama has received over $120,000 in contributions from Fannie May employees. (He’s been in the senate roughly three years. McCain received money as well but it was something like $21,000)
We can also touch on ACORN in this analogy, The Obama campaign paid a direct subsidiary of ACORN $800,000.00 for what they labeled as “Stage, Lighting, and Sound.” But I thought he said he had no ties to ACORN? The company is known as Citizen Service Inc. (CSI) and when asked if their organization handled any kind of stage, lighting and sound work they said no.
One of many articles highlighting this as did McCain in the final debate:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=73335
McCain’s biggest problems are that he is a horrible speaker, he’s old (Okay, VERY old), and he’s a registered republican.
Ryan Kazinecs last blog post..Are you over the age of 36? You’re a minority on Social Networks, but why?
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Ryan,
You are well informed and I like that. One problem I have with the whole election process is the fact that both candidates will probably do something other than what they are promised if elected. All the campaign lies and money spent recklessly will not matter once we have one of these men in office and they don’t help the country out of our current situation.
My question to you is, which one do you think will help us the most?
Tom Sawyers last blog post..Random Nonsense
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Tom,
I agree with your statement that both candidates will likely do something other than preached throughout their campaigns. My mother, wife, and I had a discussion about this today. It might surprise you but I constantly correct people about misinformation whether it supports the candidate I do or not. The perfect example was today when it was mentioned that Obama will raise all of our taxes, this of course is inaccurate based on his current promises but as you stated the reality is that neither candidate will follow through with all of their promises.
This presents a major problem, how do we know that they will follow through? We don’t, unfortunately. Instead of asking which candidate will help us the most maybe it would be better to ask which candidate would follow through with the most promises?
As far as helping us, it really depends on how you look at health care, economics, and foreign policy. I really just hope people educate themselves and make the best decision they’re capable of based on facts, if they can be found. Thanks as always for the very interesting conversations here on 7DayBuzz.
Ryan Kazinecs last blog post..Are you over the age of 36? You’re a minority on Social Networks, but why?
June 29th, 2011 at 8:47 am
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