That's my mom!
Tyler and me waiting for the rally to begin!
This one is a little blurry, but that's Sarah Palin standing next to John McCain.
You can see Todd Palin in the center, and John McCain over toward the right.Monday, September 8, 2008
Political Rally
My Mom & Tyler & I were inspired to attend our first political rally this morning. We arrived about an hour before the doors were to open, but it wasn't enough...the first 3000 people got in, while the rest of us were directed to an "overflow" area outside the Pavilion at John Knox Village in Lee's Summit. John McCain, along with Sarah & Todd Palin stopped to speak to the "overflow" crowd on their way into the rally. We weren't quite close enough to shake hands when they stepped down into the crowd...but Mom got a few photos to document our experience!
That's my mom!
Tyler and me waiting for the rally to begin!
This one is a little blurry, but that's Sarah Palin standing next to John McCain.
You can see Todd Palin in the center, and John McCain over toward the right.
That's my mom!Tyler and me waiting for the rally to begin!This one is a little blurry, but that's Sarah Palin standing next to John McCain.You can see Todd Palin in the center, and John McCain over toward the right.
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That's Sarah between Todd Palin & John McCain with someone else's camera partially covering up her head. She had the microphone in her hand and was speaking when this photo was shot...only way to get a photo from our vantage point was to hold camera high over head, point, shoot & hope you capture a shot without moving hands and moving signs covering up the intended subjects when the shutter responds! Someone else's camera is partially covering her face in this shot.
I've never been moved to attend a political rally...of any kind nor am I nor have I ever been a "star/celebrity" chaser. However, what I've seen thus far of Palin, and that McCain chose her, gives me hope for our nation. Though I am fairly conservative in my views, I'm not a straight ticket voter. And I am cynical enough about politics and politicians in general and believe nothing one hears on ANY media source can be considered 100% "fact" such that usually by election day I am pretty much left feeling that I am needing to make a choice between who I think will screw it up less. I'm thinking this may be the first time ever that I might still feel hope by election day. I look forward to watching the debates this year. So far, what I'm hearing makes me feel hopeful and excited about a presidential election for the first time ever. I have for years wondered why ANYONE would be nuts enough to place themselves under the outrageous scrutiny assassinations that happen in politics today. Sarah appears to be the "real deal"...a regular everyday person that knows what people like me of this nation think and feel and want. She's smart, tough, courageous, articulate, and seems to have her heart and head in the right place. She's a breath of fresh air. Her success record and approval rating in her own state are indicative that she has the backbone and where-with-all to navigate the waters with the "big boys" in a successful way. I would never cast a vote only because someone is a woman; I do, however, LIKE it that the traits I want in a leader of our nation seem to present themselves in this woman...and I think those same things strike a cord in many other voters out there. Lots of "heat" comes with making change, yet she's made change with a high approval rating by the people. She has heard the people and "fought city hall" so to speak...and been successful doing it. I think that says something great about the capability of Sarah Palin. Whereas Washington DC is a bigger "city hall"...the concepts are the same.(Whereas I don't agree with Obama's approaches to solving some of our nations problems, I also like it that a black man is being taken seriously and is a candidate of a major party for the presidency. It speaks to the social progress our nation has made during my lifetime.) I like the track record presented about Sarah...executive branch leadership experience, fighting corruption even within her own party, controlling spending....she can play/fight hard and stand the heat in the kitchen and keep on ticking. The message is right for me. Take steps to shut down corruption. Control spending. Support our military. With one of our son's in the Air Force and another considering the military, it gives me comfort that decisions that might impact him/them are going to be weighed from not only a national security point of view but a parent's point of view...for a balanced decision of what is best for our country. Improve our economy with approaches that promote competition and free enterprise WITHIN our nation...not bigger government/government takeover of things better handled in the private sector, aggressive energy plans in all directions...by people with proven track records. Leading a nation is a different skill set than playing politics on the congress/senate floors. I like the message of regardless of political party association, McCain wants the best people/best minds in the specific jobs to do what is best for our nation. The message of "public servant" "country first" is one I like. How can McCain's POW experience and what he's done with his life since not be viewed as anything but that? Both McCain and Palin have records of "standing up against" their party when the cause is right for the country. What is NOT to like about that? Isn't that what we common folk seek? I don't so much want the government to "take care of me". I want our government to govern in ways that help me take care of myself and others to have the opportunity/obligation to seize those opportunties to grow to take care of themselves. If I or others falter, I want a hand to help me/us get back on my/our feet...and promote free-enterprise incentives that foster communities better taking care of themselves. I don't necessarily think that in EVERY case BIG government is the best to deliver the programs...and I think extreme "Take care of me" philosophies are too socialistic, become overly bureacratic, corrupt, ineffective and wasteful without fulfilling the intended purpose as well as it might be better handled in many instances on a community level. Yes, we need programs to help underpriviledged and folks in need...but not as their way of life for ever and ever. I believe the nation best creates jobs by structuring incentives to keep jobs in OUR nation and to promote the private sector to prosper and make more jobs in fields that look to the future. Giving people hope is helping them to get on their feet to make their own way in pursuit of the American Dream, not by providing them a never ending meager handout that leaves them in poverty and "disadvantaged" for generation after generation. Whether in the workforce or the welfare lines, I don't much care for an attitude of ongoing entitlement for do-nothings. In the same respect, those "trapped" in that rut need a hand and the motivation to find the path out. I believe part of the answers are within education assistance in fields that have employment potential for the future and stimulating prosperity in the private sector so there are more jobs/opportunities. There is lots of "wrong" in our country that will not change overnight, but aggressive steps need to be taken to make progress in healing what ails our people.
I have nothing but a muddled mind when it comes to our health care system as to what will help it, though big governmenting it doesn't intuitively seem like the answer. I feel victimized by insurance companies...working in a "self-employed" profession, our basic health insurance costs are incredibly high...($1,500+ per month). We pay more in premiums than many families LIVE on and pay almost as much out of pocket for uncovered expenses and we're not even to our "golden years" yet! I don't know the answer, but "its broken".
My view on Irag...I don't like that we're in Iraq though at the time it seemed like the answer. However, now that we're there and destablized what existed, we can't quit till that void is filled with something that is less threatening to our national security than what we found when we got there. And when we send our troops somewhere, they need to have the nation, nation's leader, nation's people and funding behind them to do the mission. These are troubled times we live in. In my mind, having a strong military is a defensive position we cannot allow ourselves to be without to keep our nation safe as possible and to stand ready to deter/defend from whatever harm threatens when "talking" doesn't resolve it. In some instances, talking works best when their is "prepared bite" behind the bark. I'm not saying bullying barking is the answer, but am saying that military strength/preparedness matters when national security issues are at stake.
Strength of character, knowing and understanding the problems, and the ability to make unselfish tough decisions based on the data obtainable putting country first, whether popular or not...all are traits we seek in our countries leaders are they not? McCain has a track record putting country first. It looks like Palin does too. I'm ready for an executive branch that has the demonstrated moxy to reach across party lines and help our legislatures HEAR what the people want and make it happen.
I think our instant (mis-)information age in itself makes leading a nation the toughest it has every been. I'm not sure how to balance "rights" versus potential "abuses" of the nation having/collecting "secret/private" data. However, I don't fathom how else our national security can be maintained in this information age. Power and greed are corrupting forces that exist within all government forms...there will always be abuses. Top down leadership that is against corruption and takes steps to expose and get rid of it is probably the best bet we've got going on that issue. Winning is playing the hands dealt the best way they can be played.
I'll watch the debates and listen to what is said and transpires in the next 2 months with an open mind. However, if the election was today, I'd be voting McCain-Palin...and suspect that will still be true come election day.
I'm not so idealistic as to believe that the kind of change they profess might not be rough at first. I think it is a period of time our nation will need to go through to get to where we need to be, and it "won't be pretty" while it is happening. But to get more people in office that are there for the right reasons, it is a necessary process. I think the McCain-Palin ticket is up for the task of invoking that kind of change.
That's more "political" views than I've ever expressed in my lifetime!
Sarah's existence on the McCain ticket has inspired that. She inspires hope that makes it worth thinking about.
Mom
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