Tuesday, September 16, 2008

It's the Economy Stupid!!!

At the end of President Bush’s first term, I had a huge argument with a good friend who is an investment banker in Paris. He thought it was absurde of me to think that Bush would be elected for a second term: “The entire world knows that the Bush boy is an imbécile! The American people will never repeat their mistake.” My response to him was to snicker.

“Look, it is a question of self-interest,” he continued. “Your economy is fragile and everyone is jumping from the dollar to the euro. Bush is destroying your economy.” Oh, Europeans. Needless to say, my friend was dumbfounded when the election results were announced. (I won’t even try to describe his reaction when we failed to “rebel” as a result of the voter fraud.)

Four years later, the same friend has moved to New York City with his family. He is excited about being in the United States at such “a historical moment.” His eight year-old is asking if he can join me in the voting booth. “The election of Obama will bring the United States into the 21st century,” my friend proclaims. “It will invigorate America’s credibility with the rest of the world.” When I tell him that I doubt that Obama will actually be elected, he directs the word “imbécile” at me. Cynical, maybe. Imbécile, I am not.

It may be possible to excuse Americans for not realizing how quickly the dollar is losing value. But, it should be obvious to everyone that our economy is in even worse shape than it was four years ago. People have been out of work for so long that they are no longer showing up in the unemployment statistics. Families are being kicked out of their homes unable to pay their mortgage costs. At this point, even the upper-echelons of our society are hurting. Major investment banks are being sold as if they are tenement homes in the inner-city. The sellers are happy to get whatever they can.

With the economy spiraling downward, support for the McCain-Palin team surges forward. McCain and Palin have yet to even fully acknowledge the predicament that we are in as a nation.

What does the future hold for us?


9 comments:

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

well u know how i feel LOL

Anonymous said...

I mean, at this point in the game, do we really expect Annie Oakley of the Arctic to articulate anything about the economy, much less John McCain?

I mean, remember this election isn't about the issues.

But real talk, they're doing a VERY good job of making this out to be about identity politics, and here we are looking a fool, and very well may lose this election. Not unless Obama has something up his sleeve and he's just trying not to bust too early and leave the electorate looking like "Wtf? Get off me!" it's not looking great.

Although, there is the wild card of these young voters.

I'm just praying for 70 degree weather and sunshine in all major metropolitan areas on Nov. 4th, cuz if it rains in some major cities, it's a wrap for his O-ness.

Zora said...

Yes, I know you're right. The fact that "issues" are not important to voters at such a difficult time just depresses me.

I, too, am wondering about the Democrats. There is no learning curve for them. Both Al Gore and John Kerry lost in large part because they were perceived as being "too intellectual" and because of their desire "to take the high road." Why hasn't the Obama camp learned from this?

Don't they get that Americans could care less about integrity and objective knowledge? They need to push Biden out into the ring for some bare-knuckled fist fighting. They need to get some of their supporters to sponsor some dirty ads to which Obama can claim no attachment.

Democratic strategists stop sleeping on the job!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I officially love this post, blog, all of it!

I'm glad someone is writing that Obama can't win being soft like this, and will probably not win since we're dealing with a bunch of scared white people in America.

I also wish Obama would put aside his grace for a minute and bring out the truth : Black Dad. Make America get its own switch and beat it into behaving.

DrPuma said...

Obama/Biden has a lot to offer to voters who are not interested in issues--certainly more than McCain/Palin does--simply because he is the change candidate, and I believe that is what voters are looking for.

PS, let's get Obama elected and then see if France can join us in the 21st century by electing a black president.

Zora said...

"PS, let's get Obama elected and then see if France can join us in the 21st century by electing a black president."

...even better, a North African candidate!

Lady Zora, Chauncey DeVega, and Gordon Gartrelle said...

Obama/Biden has a lot to offer to voters who are not interested in issues--certainly more than McCain/Palin does--simply because he is the change candidate, and I believe that is what voters are looking for.

I don't know Dr. Puma...lots would suggest the McCain Palin's demographic could care less about the issues and are voting based on fear, anxiety, and an appeal to white anxiety, i.e. "tradition". Plus, how can anyone vote for the 2nd half of that ticket--to the degree this as a rare thing in american politics because vp choices are generally meaningless for voters, based on her appeal to any "issues voter."

Just thinking aloud..

post often,

Chauncey

DrPuma said...

Oh how I long for the days just a few months ago when we were all thought the Dems couldn't lose this thing. Now we are in a neck-and-neck fight to the death. One of the smartest guys I know said to me, "the Republicans are lousy at governing, but they are great at winning elections." He pointed out the very thing we are talking about: the lion's share of voters cannot or will not bother to process the issues. They vote on slogans and deep-seated prejudices. The Republican vote-generating machine has finally gotten into gear. The choice of Palin was clearly (see post re Euphamisms for White). That strategy will win unless Obama can successfully appeal to voters with another time honored slogan: kick the bums out. Damn I'm getting worried.

DrPuma said...

Oops. Meant to write: The choice of Palin was clearly an appeal to hockey moms/middle america, read white, racist or fear of Other... or something like that.