The Maverick, Obamarx, and BYU Socialists

“Maverick” “Terrorist” “Socialist” “Liberal” “Conservative”

Is that all that John McCain can do? Create a one-word appellate for all issues, effectively reducing the entire issue to a few letters intended to evoke either loathing or loving? “I am a Maverick.” What does that even mean? How can you even pretend to know what issues are facing America or the problems with Washington when you have so long been immersed in them? And I do not mean to beat a dead horse, but this guy cannot even use a COMPUTER!! Obviously each one of you reading this has a leg-up on McCain because you are reading this right now.

Speaking briefly about the labels of liberal/conservative/republican/etc., I do not care. I do not want to hear them. It cheapens who you are by pigeon-holing you to a perceived set of ideologies and beliefs. In 1948, Utah was a Democratic state—54% of the population voted for Harry Truman. It has since swung to be severely Republican. I believe that Utah is still decidedly Republican, but slowly migrating the other way. Why? Because people are starting to look beyond the hot-button issues of abortion and gay marriage. I recently read an article in the magazine-for-imbeciles-of-Brobdingnagian-proportions, Schooled Magazine, which counseled all voters in Utah who planned on voting for Barack Obama to stay at home and not bother. His name is Scotty Spjut and his exact words on page 10 are, “So if you live in Utah and want to vote for Obama, don’t. The Democratic nominee has never collected more than 2 percent of the popular vote, making Utah redder than Communist Russia.”

That is the most dumbest of dumb person thing I have ever heard anyone say. Despite being entirely unoriginal in comparing “red” to Russia, it seems like that is the country that he wants to turn us into. First and foremost, vote because the Presidential candidates are only a few of the many names and issues on the ballot. These issues affect your taxes, your land, your apartment lease, your garbage collection, your education, and so much more. Your decision for whom to vote in a city or county election could have a far greater impact on your daily life than the whole McCain v. Obama debacle. Second, not voting is the most sissy and pansy copout I have ever heard of. You are akin to Pilate, washing your hands of the whole mess so that somewhere down the road, no matter who wins, you can feel blameless because you did not support either one. Thus said, if you have studied the issues and feel like you would be best served by voting for a third-party candidate, great! My good friend, Joe, has said that he is voting for Nader. That is awesome. He is exercising his right to vote. Just vote for someone, and please know why you are doing so.

Returning to Obama and the accusatory appellate of Socialist, how is that such a bad thing? And how is John McCain any less of a Socialist? John McCain wants to buy up all of the bad mortgages in the country. He would likely continue the bailouts of Wall Street and continue the financial backing of bad loans. Using the same definition of “Socialist” with which people are applying to Obama, Sarah Palin instituted some of the most Socialist policies in American history during her tenure in office in Alaska.

Most under fire is his tax policy of cutting the taxes for the middle and lower classes while repealing the tax breaks afforded to the top 1% of the population in recent history. He is not going above and beyond any taxes of the past. The rich will likely not even feel the pinch. I have another friend, Tim, of a different political persuasion who compares it to a student who studies and does well on a test only to find that all points above the threshold for an “A” will be donated to those who did not do as well. Speaking from the position of a student who regularly received good grades in our ridiculously easy and generally ineffective public education system, I say let them have them! As long as those who earned an “A” get an “A”, fine. Why should there be a cap on how much the rich put into the Social Security system? Why should they get a tax break? I want it! I do not want a handout. I do not want a gimme or a freebie. I want to keep what is mine. And honestly, given the choice between me paying more of my limited income or having those making over $250,000 a year pay more—have them pay it! I, too, consider myself to be in possession of an entrepreneurial spirit and hope to make more than that someday, but until that day, I would love to keep more of my earnings. Yes, even at the expense of them having to sell one of their boats, cars, or houses. One wealthy man recently decried Barack Obama, saying that if he wins, life is over for him and his family! He would not then have enough money to pay for his grandchildren’s college funds and they might have to earn their way through college. Well, shucks. I did not think of it that way. Fine, make me pay more taxes so that the grandchildren of these greedy, bloated, fart-bags can have their unappreciative grandchildren go to college on their dime. You win.

Speaking of college, that brings me to the titular subject of this post, “Why BYU Students are Socialists”. Quite simply, it can be summed up in three words—Pell Grant, Medicaid. It should come as no surprise to anyone that many in the LDS culture get married and have kids young. I am the father of one at 26. That is, by the standards of an Italian friend with whom I conversed today, “Stupificante” or stupefying. I stand by my wife and my decision and feel that marrying and having a child was the best one we ever could have made. What I am getting at here is this—Students do not qualify for Pell Grants until they are 24 years old…unless they are married. With such a high percentage of young BYU students married, many are getting a Pell Grant their freshman year and carrying it through the 5-6 years until they can settle on a major and graduate. According to one report, over 30% of BYU’s undergraduate students receive a Pell Grant.  That’s more than any other university in the United States! Pell Grants and Welfare are simply steps towards Socialism, so if you are or have been a participant in either of these, do not talk to me about Obama being a Socialist. Unless, of course, you have paid the government back.

Tim also mentioned that the Presidential election has become somewhat of the appointment of a king. Frankly, and Tim too, I do not understand the “king” analogy. I agree that no President can fix all the problems. The Constitution denies him the power to do so. The entire premise of my post was to illuminate that John McCain is not necessarily the best choice for those who have traditionally aligned themselves with the Republican Party for no other reason than the cultural association between said party and the LDS faith. Religion should never be the sole basis of one’s vote, but especially not in an election as close as this one and especially not when the opposition party’s candidate is less congruous with your religious beliefs than your party’s candidate.

But one extremely important job of the President is to be a figurehead for the United States of America. Take the president at face-value, because that is pretty much what he is worth. As you mentioned in another comment, the conditions in this country will not improve until the people “buck up” and take responsibility. Thus said, the biggest impediment we currently face is fear. The money is still there, to a certain degree. The people, myself included, are simply more reluctant to spend it. Having an angry maverick, prone to publicity stunts and unorthodox aggressiveness will not help anything. Even if Obama does nothing more than keep a cool head in the world spectrum, that is enough for him to get my vote.

So, yeah. Another entry about how the ignorance and pigeon-holing surrounding this election gets under my skin. Just a little. Vote for whomever you will, just promise me that you will vote, and that it will be an educated vote.

And finally, if you disagree with me or find holes in my logic, please say something. Not doing so would be like you letting me go on TV with my zipper down. While I realize that many cannot discuss issues with someone of an opposing point of view without getting hot under the collar (McCain), please try. The world will be a much better place once we learn to educate and control ourselves.

Post-It Palins and Morbamans

My 30-second rendition of the GOP's VP hopeful

Thanks to Camie, who helped me to see that you do not have to be completely right-brained to express a distaste for all things Palin on sticky pads.  Above, you can see my version of Sarah Palin designed on a blue Post-It note, as opposed to all the other artistic renditions on the Palin Comparisons site.

Now you must understand, my friend, that I do not really “hate” Governor Palin or Senator McCain.  My friend, I just happen to prefer Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden.  There are many reasons, my friend, for my preference in the matter, and, my friend, I will not elaborate on all of them at this time.  For starters, my friend, I hate how McCain feels like he must say, “My friend,” in every sentence.  I wonder if after doing his business he says, “Farewell, my friend,” before flushing.  Sometimes he’ll even say it twice in one sentance.  Thrice is rare (recordings of which currently sell for $3 and up on eBay).  During his unsuccessful 2000 run for president, a supporter at a rally had to be life-flighted to the nearest hospital after McCain unexpectedly whipped out a quadruple-my-friend-barrage of a sentence.  He made a full recovery, my friend, but is reported to be continually experiencing emotional anxiety.  McCain kept it to two or less after that.

And now that I have one foot on the soap box, allow me to firmly place both feet, an arm, and my left butt cheek on there as well.  I am damn amazed that more members of the LDS community are not flocking to Obama.  Without party affiliations, I do not think that McCain would stand a snowball’s chance in hell of being elected.  Offended much by my non-swearer’s weak attempts at swearing?  Then perhaps you should reconsider which damn box you check on November 4 (or sooner with early voting).

**Please keep in mind that this is not meant to convince you to vote for Obama/Biden.  I am because that is my right.  You should study the issues and vote for whomever you believe will be the best President of the United States of America.  Just please, please, please, please, PLEASE do not do two things: 1) Vote Republican because you are LDS, and 2) Not vote because you do not like either of the candidates.  I digress.**

Thus said, I bring the following to the attention of my fellow Americans.

Senator John McCain has the worst temper and one of the most profane mouths in the Senate, if not Washington.  Please refer to this summary of articles done by Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report in 2000 for further illumination on this issue.  Long story short, when he gets angry he swears like a sunburned sailor.  He has been known as “Senator Hothead”.  When asked if he was calling someone stupid, he replied that on the contrary, he was calling them a —-ing jerk.  Maverick my white butt.  This guy is just old and likes to be contrary.  He’s no better than the 89-year-old woman who was arrested for stealing and refusing to return the football of neighborhood boys which landed in her yard.  One GOP aide said it well that, “He doesn’t just take contrary positions. He uses them to grandstand. He’ll say whatever it takes to land [him] on Meet the Press.”  And you want to put Profane McCaine the Hothead behind our country’s nuclear arsenal?  Think twice, my friend.

Second, McCain is a moral dirtbag.  Many sources have reported, and McCain is not shy about admitting his infidelity to his first wife.  She raised their three children while he was held prisoner in Vietnam, but upon return, she must not have been as cute because she held his interest no more.  Once a bathing suit model, his first wife certainly had lost her original figure (three kids have a tendency to modify you, at least slightly).  An auto accident shortening her legs perhaps did not help either.  As reported here, “McCain was still married and living with his wife in 1979 while, according to The New York Times‘ Nicholas Kristof, ‘aggressively courting a 25-year-old woman who was as beautiful as she was rich.’”  So what did the man who you want to put in the White House do?  The man who you think will preserve the sanctity of marriage?  He dumped the fat, crippled bag of his first wife to get jiggy with the hottie and her money.  Plain and simple, he used Cindy, an heiress to a beer fortune, and her money to start a political career and has been a career politician ever since.  Never had a “real” job.  Hmmmm, and who thinks that he is going to change anything in Washington?

C’mon people.  This guy has no idea what it is like to live in America.  He neither owns nor knows how to use nor cares to learn to know how to use a computer.  By now it is no surprise to anyone that he owns eight houses (well, I guess it was a surprise to him to find that out this election cycle).  I concede that he took a step in the right direction by deciding to sell one of his houses… for $3 million, which is now up for auction for all you looking for a starter home.  Yep, he’s just one of us, my friend.

So even though John McCain is an infidel, profane, a real-estate glutton, and ugly, because he is a Republican and so are all good Mormons, you are going to vote for him.  Please step away from that logic.

Now if you tell me that Obama is a Muslim, a racist, a media darling, and pals around with terrorists, I will be impressed that you have at least exerted yourself to use right-wing sources like Sean Hannity to become more familiar with the issues, but then I counsel you to go a step further.  I listen to Seany-boy every single day and think about the few nuggets he talks about which are worth considering.  And if I can listen to that goober-tard every day and still feel good about voting for Obama, that is saying something.

He’s not a Muslim.  He’s not a terrorist.  Plain and simple.  He has affirmed that multiple times.  With regards to ol’ Billy Ayers of the Weather Underground, CNN and Fox News both report that there has been no inappropriate interaction between Obama and William Ayers.  I am not extremely educated on the ACORN issue, but believe that it is an organization with noble intent that has fallen into corrupt times.  And about the whole “media darling” issue–a non-partisan study has found that while Obama does get more media coverage, the attention that McCain receives is resoundingly more positive.  Oh yeah, and who appeared on the television show 24?  And who made a cameo in The Wedding Crashers?  That be my home boy, excuse me, my friend John McCain.

So what about abortion?  Nothing is going to change on abortion.  NOTHING!!  Roe v. Wade will not be overturned if McCain is elected.  For goodness’ sake, people, I worked as an intern for the Utah State Legislature when my representative proposed an amendment to a bill which would have made abortions in Utah illegal.  It did not pass.  What in the world makes you think that anyone will be able to change that if it cannot be changed in Utah?  And while Obama is pro-choice, does it not comfort you at all to know that his stance is very similar to that of the LDS Church?  Read the following from the third Presidential Debate:

“With respect to partial-birth abortion, I am completely supportive of a ban on late-term abortions, partial-birth or otherwise, as long as there’s an exception for the mother’s health and life….

“The last point I want to make on the issue of abortion. This is an issue that — look, it divides us. And in some ways, it may be difficult to — to reconcile the two views.

“But there surely is some common ground when both those who believe in choice and those who are opposed to abortion can come together and say, ‘We should try to prevent unintended pregnancies by providing appropriate education to our youth, communicating that sexuality is sacred and that they should not be engaged in cavalier activity, and providing options for adoption, and helping single mothers if they want to choose to keep the baby.’

“Those are all things that we put in the Democratic platform for the first time this year, and I think that’s where we can find some common ground, because nobody’s pro-abortion. I think it’s always a tragic situation. We should try to reduce these circumstances.”

And what about the other hot-button issue, same-sex marriage?  Well, we find out from the Vice Presidential Debate that the difference between the two candidates is null:

“No. Barack Obama nor I support redefining from a civil side what constitutes marriage. We do not support that. That is basically the decision to be able to be able to be left to faiths and people who practice their faiths the determination what you call it.

The bottom line though is, and I’m glad to hear the governor, I take her at her word, obviously, that she think there should be no civil rights distinction, none whatsoever, between a committed gay couple and a committed heterosexual couple. If that’s the case, we really don’t have a difference.”

Thus said, I am truly surprised that there are not more Morbamans (Mormons for Obama).  But no, we get really embarrassing letters to the editor from people like this who believe that they or others have received revelation that Obama is just as bad as Hilter:

(This is an actual Letter to the Editor from The Daily Universe – October 10, 2008)

My Wife and I took a trip down to St. George this weekend and we had an opportunity to talk with a great uncle who lived in Austria during World War II. He remembered he was six years old when he hear Hitler speak for the first time. He told us he had a very distinct feeling of how evil Hitler was. The conversation switched to politics later on and he told us that he had the exact same feeling when he heard Obama speak for the first time. There’s a common saying that those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it. I’m not a hard-core Republican or anything like that, but since he received the same revelation for these two people, shouldn’t we be doing something?
Christan Anderson
St. George

Why is he then like Hitler? Because he can speak good?  Real darn good?  People who think like that are not Mormons, they are morons. And I really believe that.  I wonder if he got the same feeling listening to Martin Luther King, Jr., or any other skilled speaker.

In conclusion (my bombasting has gone on long enough) I like that Obama is more real, more grounded, and remembers what it is like to be a normal person.  He appeals to the international community and is humble enough to realize that America cannot traipse around like it owns the world anymore.  He can inspire people.  He surrounds himself to deal with all the tough issues and, once again, acknowledges readily those areas where he needs help, and finds people to help him.  He does not need to resort to media stunts like pulling mothers from their homes in Alaska to be Vice President.  (Honestly, if she left her Down’s Syndrome newborn and pregnant daughter to be VP, I’m sure that she would regret it.  And if she didn’t, she’s more calloused than I thought.)  Barack Obama loves his family and is a religious man (please don’t insult your intelligence by bringing up Rev. Wright).  Again, I am not telling you that you must vote for Obama.  Just open up a little.  Don’t end up like these people.  They are disgusting.  Try really hard to go beyond what you hear and read.  I am only expressing my humble opinion that anyone with half a brain will vote before or on election day, and vote informed.