We are almost to the end. Tuesday will probably be the most important election of my lifetime and maybe the most important of my 2 month-old daughter’s life. Racism, sexism, religion, bias against old(er) people and even a little politics/issues have all been part of this campaign and getting excited. At the same time I’m getting nervous because the next president could keep us right where we are or even lead us to worse times. Scary isn’t it?  

There is still some time left to take some pot shots at the credentials of those who have went on record and endorsed the candidates.

Today I read an article concerning endorsements – John Cheney endorsing McCain to be exact. Click here to read the short article.  Here is what this article made me think of:

• Racism is still alive and well in the US – anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional
• Some people – for some strange reason – think an endorsement from Dick Cheney is worth something
• Looking at the comments, some people are willing to open their mouths (or use their keyboards) and show just how ignorant they are. 

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?