Sunday, October 05, 2008
Sarah Palin - the next President of the United States
There is so much déjà vu about the current November presidential election that I'd like to share here.
Having watched Sarah's performance last Thursday, it reminded me eerily of the first time I saw Margaret Thatcher, the parallels with a grocer's daughter, very ambitious, deeply right wing, and prone to wanting to win people over with homily expressions and her mannerisms. But underneath having an agenda of stark consequences for the very people who thought that they could trust their own well being to her.
So here is the scenario that leads to Sarah becoming President of the United States.
First in November, the Republicans once again pull off a win without winning the popular vote. America is deeply polarized between the democratic cities and the republican countryside surrounding them. You can see this from the voting patterns and general behaviour of each group. Travelling out to West Virginia this weekend, lots of McCain / Palin campaign banners displayed in peoples front yards and on their trucks. I only saw one Obama banner, carefully placed back in the yard so passersby can not easily drive off with it.
So Democrats win the cities, Republicans the towns and villages around them. However particularly in the 14 swing vote States we could again see voting machine irregularities leading to a narrow but crucial win for Republicans. Perhaps the last time they will be able to play this card because changes are coming in voting systems to safeguard them for the future.
So the McCain/Palin ticket gets their noses across the finish line by a hair for the win.
Next we have the inauguration and McCain in place for a brief moment before claims of health failure lead to him stepping down and handing the reins to Sarah. And the right press and media will line up behind her remarkable talents as meriting the chance to run the country.
What is especially disturbing is how this happened in the reporting of the Vice-Presidential debate. For instance CNN mentioned Sarah Palin 2-to-1 over Jim Biden in their front page piece, and also picked meaningless quotes from Jim compared to homily and targeted pieces for Sarah that her supporters clearer would resonate with.
Perhaps the most telling answer was when each was asked how they would react if they did have to take over as President (CNN left those answers out). Jim answered that he is deeply committed to the Obama program and the ideals they share together and that he would complete Obama’s program. Sarah said she and John were both mavericks and that she would make her own mind up on what would be needed to be done. If that is not a person who sees themselves as a President in the wings, I don’t know what is.
But even if I’m wrong on all this, the dice has been cast because next there is the 2012 election for which Sarah is clearly being already groomed to win.
I just hope that citizens realize that it is their country and they need to elect people that respect that and put citizens best interests ahead of corporate America and the global financial industry and energy industries.
Having watched Sarah's performance last Thursday, it reminded me eerily of the first time I saw Margaret Thatcher, the parallels with a grocer's daughter, very ambitious, deeply right wing, and prone to wanting to win people over with homily expressions and her mannerisms. But underneath having an agenda of stark consequences for the very people who thought that they could trust their own well being to her.
So here is the scenario that leads to Sarah becoming President of the United States.
First in November, the Republicans once again pull off a win without winning the popular vote. America is deeply polarized between the democratic cities and the republican countryside surrounding them. You can see this from the voting patterns and general behaviour of each group. Travelling out to West Virginia this weekend, lots of McCain / Palin campaign banners displayed in peoples front yards and on their trucks. I only saw one Obama banner, carefully placed back in the yard so passersby can not easily drive off with it.
So Democrats win the cities, Republicans the towns and villages around them. However particularly in the 14 swing vote States we could again see voting machine irregularities leading to a narrow but crucial win for Republicans. Perhaps the last time they will be able to play this card because changes are coming in voting systems to safeguard them for the future.
So the McCain/Palin ticket gets their noses across the finish line by a hair for the win.
Next we have the inauguration and McCain in place for a brief moment before claims of health failure lead to him stepping down and handing the reins to Sarah. And the right press and media will line up behind her remarkable talents as meriting the chance to run the country.
What is especially disturbing is how this happened in the reporting of the Vice-Presidential debate. For instance CNN mentioned Sarah Palin 2-to-1 over Jim Biden in their front page piece, and also picked meaningless quotes from Jim compared to homily and targeted pieces for Sarah that her supporters clearer would resonate with.
Perhaps the most telling answer was when each was asked how they would react if they did have to take over as President (CNN left those answers out). Jim answered that he is deeply committed to the Obama program and the ideals they share together and that he would complete Obama’s program. Sarah said she and John were both mavericks and that she would make her own mind up on what would be needed to be done. If that is not a person who sees themselves as a President in the wings, I don’t know what is.
But even if I’m wrong on all this, the dice has been cast because next there is the 2012 election for which Sarah is clearly being already groomed to win.
I just hope that citizens realize that it is their country and they need to elect people that respect that and put citizens best interests ahead of corporate America and the global financial industry and energy industries.
