Speak to My Heart

The Fall Classic has taken shape. Not the college football bowl season-that wonderful vestige of frontier wars and backyard brawls that have defined much of the character of our states. Instead, I refer to the 2008 presidential election, which is finally down to two candidates.



Yes, this has been the most exciting primary season in a long time, with passions running high on the Democratic side. The internecine war between Clinton and Obama, even had conservatives mesmerized and taking sides. Dinner tables were split, barbershops were fractioned, and even individual minds experienced cognitive dissonance over this protracted primary. What a show, a really big show. We also can't forget the other candidates, who represented the long term policy establishment, the growing Latin American communities of the U.S., the downscale Democrats of rural America, the anti-war activists and the blue collar voter in Blue states.



The Republican primary (remember that?) also started with a fire, with an upset in Iowa. The GOP flirted with different leading men- the polished Northern governor in Mitt Romney, the charming Southern preacher in Mike Huckabee, the Hollywood star turned politician in Fred Thompson, and the pre-coronation of America's Mayor in Rudy Guliani. Campaigning almost through the Christmas Holiday season, the people from the party of Lincoln found themselves succeeding in pulling only small clusters of voters. The resurrection of John McCain, who had been labeled as a ship dead in the water, or at best limping to port while listing to starboard, became the comeback story of the hour.



But the McCain victory, while a feel good story for a war hero and proven maverick from the George Bush (I & II) policies, seemed more of a lesser of evils victory verses a consensus choice. In fact, after being declared the presumptive nominee, John McCain lost several primaries and competitors on the supposed fringe (read Ron Paul) still pulled percentages in the 20's. The selection of John McCain became a watershed event in the strictest sense, where the run off allowed for the collection of rain that fell on loose soil. McCain is found holding the earth vessels filled collected precipitation, hoping to quench the thirst of a parched nation.



The challenge for John McCain is not his stance on the war, as a combat veteran his stance against the Bush administration was admirable in the face of friendly fire. Nor it is his tepid grasp on the economic landscape; his advisers could steer him there; and its not his age- he has a vitality that comes across the screen- if you didn't know his age, you are not drawn to it by his mannerisms.



McCain's problem is that he is not touching the sentiments of the American people. For all the talk of Iraq and Afghanistan, the people of these United States are not so moved by the sacrifice of the soldiers as they are by the instability of their families. The foreclosure of homes; the lack of good paying jobs; the erosion of educational institutions- our nation is concerned about matters of the heart-food, family, and the fuel to provide for them. He speaks to America's pride in country.



Conversely, Obama and the Democrats have honed a message that is speaking to people at the emotional level, one that is inspiring all areas of the Democrat Party. No matter what subgroup, the party of Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Clinton is fully engaged in a message of change and hope. This compelling message is taking root and has become saturated in the skins of many Americans.



America is not crying for the Straight Talk Express to speak to its heart, Obama is currently doing that quite well.



In the fall, our nation will be once again gripped with its passions- football, family, food- and this year- politics. The states of the union are imbued with time honored passions that make for wonderful football rivalries; will McCain find an issue to reach the heart of America?

Summer Storms

Once past Memorial Day, the weather usually breaks in the midwest, so that sunny skies are prevalent. Tossing off the white of winter, the world begins to adorn itself with colors of beryl and bice, giving light to things anew. The skies open up, producing sun rays and showers alike, a cathartic mix of water and warm winds that produces in the person a calming sensation.

It is the time of vacations and long weekends; family gatherings and great escapes; early departures and late arrivals, signaling a change of seasons. The great malaise of summer encroaches on the sensibilities of daily decisions.

It is these annual doldrums of the summer solstice that worry veteran election candidates and give emerging hopes to new aspriants for office. The low voter turn out in the primaries of summer often put incumbents into caution mode and allow challengers to see opportuinties for upset victories.

The faithful voter usually makes sure that they do their civic duty, and they usually encourage other to do the same. There is a sense of regularity for these voters: I must cast my ballot; my pilgrammage is not passive- it is an expression of my idenity.

There are those who never pay attention to the primary. Why bother? I vote when it really matters, for the big elections; its vacation time or time to be out doors. See you in the fall.

In the center are the well-meaning voters who fall prey to temporal matters, those who fail to plan out the time to make it to the polls and consequently, may or may not vote. They are not always successful in casting ballots for tactical or logistical reasons: the line is too long, it will take too much time, they have moved my polling place, I would get there too late.

These things are not evident to them as their day starts, but it comes upon them like severe summer storm; sudden and unexpected; filled with instant fury to blow them off course; derailing them by diverting their attention to exigent issues.

Summer storms have been known to overturn trees and apple carts alike, and knocking out power to those accustomed to it.

The fear of the incumbent is that these particular voters will fail to cast their ballots, giving the challengers the advantage. Power losses occur often in the summertime and not just in power companies.

Just like planning for inclement weather; one must plan for the unexpected in voting and be prepared to exercise great patience and flexibility. While it is not conceiveable to prepare for every emergency, it is possible to give your self options- absentee ballots, voting at the clerk's office instead of your precinct, voting early as possible in case problems occur. Taking your voter registration card and other proper ID, and lastly getting educated days ahead of time. Without these steps, your candidate may not be successful.

Beware of the summer storm that comes unawares. Power loss may be imminent.

Flip Flops are Comfortable Shoes

In the modern era of political discourse, a new and heavily covered aspect of the American political theater is the notion of the change of perspective of political figures. Flip-Flopping is a new buzz word, indicating more than a change in positions. It implies, somehow, a weakness of the mind- an inconsistency in the political will of a person. To flip-flop is to not have conviction, to exhibit a lack of fortitude, a tentative heart- qualities not wanted in leadership in these states, united.

Flip-flopping, or at least the accusation of it, gives to the voter a sense of a weakness in a candidate. A portrait of double-mindedness, where the weighty decisions of the elected official are squandered, due to an inherent character flaw in the candidate.

Straight talk is what is wanted, no “waffle-ing”, plain talk, a common sense approach.

The Great Communicator, embodied by President Ronald Reagan, was revered for his ability to take complex issues and boil it down to its critical elements: Freedom, Family, Fortitude.

So now people seeking office are somewhat skeptical of the changing of minds; being seen as a political chameleon, a person with a shifting perspective. Woe to the politician that changes their position!

The emergence of the 24 hour news cycle and the constant stream of information has made it challenging to have the complete set of facts, so that a confidence level can be established quickly. Yet this same force makes it challenging to wait for the facts, as people want a responsive government,one that is better at problem solving than in years past.
Thus the dilemma- is there really change that is not a symptomatic of feeble mind?
Leadership is a funny business, as it people are evaluated by two overriding standards: Did they get it right? And did they get it right in the right way?

Sound decisions require time, and profound policy changes require time and space. These fundamental truths are pillars of the American political process and have been for some time. The rush to judgement mentality that fills the air time on cable news diminishes the movement for good public policy. It is entirely possible to deal with a set of facts one day, and get contradictory information the next.

We should reward our aspriants for political office for their preparedness, their ability to rationalize and sort through the facts, and propose solutions. And when appropriate, we should also reward them for a change in position, especially if it ultimately benefits the people of our nation. Course correction has saved this union more than once.

If the heart is in the right place, a change of mind does not equal a change of heart; lets not confuse the two in our daily banterings on the state of the nation. Flip Flops are comfortable shoes for the summer; changes in perspective in policy matters are another thing altogether.