Election Night Blogging- Pt 2 [Faith and Politics]

The election is nearly over. As a social studies teacher and a citizen of the United States, I love the democratic process. As a objective observer, I am frustrated by the partisanship and negativity of the campaigns.

Call me an optimist, but I believe we will be fine. Despite the economy, the war on terrorism, environmental and energy issues and the election of a new president, I don't believe the things that make us great will change. We might struggle-- gut check, as we call it in my wrestling room. But we will survive.

I hear all these doomsday scenarios where if we elect "so and so" or "this candidate" that the United States will be over or we'll be screwed. Or that our religion is at risk if we elect a certain candidate or if we don't elect a certain candidate. If that's true, then we deserve to come unraveled. If the Constitution that is the foundation of our democracy is so unsteady or our faith so small that the simple election of a man in 2008 is enough to ruin it all, then it deserves to end.

Trust me guys, have faith.


Have faith in the Constitution. If the American people elect Barack Obama (as currently it looks at 9:57pm), increases the Democratic majority in the House and secures a filibuster-proof 60 seats for the Democrats in the Senate, it is because the Constitution and the democratic process works. The people of the United States are exercising their option for change. If the Democratic party does not take the nation in the direction that is best for America, then the American people will again exercise their option for change-- just as they did in this election.
Have faith in faith. Living where I live, the common belief is that Democrats are godless and a liberal government will compromise our ability to practice our religion. If that happens, again, it's well deserved. I am reminded of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us". I happen to believe that God is bigger than the President of the United States, even if the President is Barack Obama, the sarcastically christened Messiah.

Just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego believed their god was bigger than Nebuchnezzar, I believe that the God I believe in and worship is bigger than me and you. God was bigger than Ferdinand and Isabella during the Spanish Inquisition, Hilter in Nazi Germany, Stalin in the Soviet Union and modern China's communist regime. Is our faith that small; is our god that inadequate? The God that made the universe can take care of himself. Stop trying to save and rescue God, when you are already saved and rescued by God.

Election Night Blogging- Pt 1 [a more perfect union]

...a more perfect union...

I walked into the National Archives last weekend when I was in Washington, DC and looked up and saw this inscription from the United States Constitution. I was humbled. It made me think about our election, our economy, our nation and our future. It gave me hope. In the midst of a terribly negative campaign season, I found a glimmer of hope in 4 words written over 200 years ago.

I have read the Preamble of the Constitution hundreds of times as a student, scholar and teacher. Not until last week, however, did these words impact me so much:

A - an article used to distinguish something-- in this case, our fledging nation

More - means greater or additional. Not to be confused with most, which means greatest. The purpose was not to be the greatest, but to be better and strive to improve. When you are the most, you have reached the pinnacle. When you are simply more, you've attained something but have not accomplished everything.

Perfect - without fault; flawless. To pretend that we are flawless is a flaw in itself. But to strive for perfection is human nature. Perfect is not what we are, more perfect is what we seek to be.

Union - something that is made one. A union is differing opinions and ideas of different people that are bound together. That's America. We may not always look the same, dress the same or think the same but we are bound together by a union, or confederation, of this common goal to be more perfect.

We the people of the United States
In order to form a more perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestice Tranquilty
Provide for the Common Defence
Promote the General Welfare
and Secure the Blessings of Libery
for ourselves and our prosterity
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Your Favorite Maverick?

If we had a primary of the "Maverick" Party to run for the President of the United States, which "Maverick" would you choose?

A. Top Gun Maverick









B. Ford Maverick










C. Mel Gibson in "Maverick"













D. Dallas Maverick













E. "Mavericks"

Choice 2008

281/366 - 9 Oct [Choice]
Originally uploaded by heanguy

The decision we must make is between these two men. Study issues. Consider character. Make a wise choice.

Vote! If you don't vote, don't complain.

Let's Get Political

Alright, now the election season is starting to get very exciting. John McCain announced Republican Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, making her the first woman vice-presidential candidate in Republican party history. It is a very bold move. It might also be a very dangerous move.

Before I chime in on Palin, let me make a few points about Joe Biden:

The Good:
- He has experience.
- He is pretty respected in political circles
- He is not Hillary

The Bad:
- He has experience
- He is pretty respected in political circles
- He is not Hillary

As someone who is campaigning as a candidate of change, Obama risks backfiring by choosing a running mate who has served as a US Senator since 1972 and is tangled with many political alliances. Some people were hoping for a "Super-ticket" of Obama and Hillary, but I understand why Obama did not do that. For most of GW Bush's presidency, I felt that he was sometimes overshadowed by Dick Cheney, that is was Cheney calling many of the shots. Had Obama nominated Hillary, I think people would have wondered who the real President was.
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Now Sarah:
It seems like she has done a pretty good job of governor of Alaska. I got a good impression of her while I was in Alaska. She appears to be in touch with the constituents, personable, pretty and smart. She's advocated for Alaska and, for all my knowledge, seems like an effective governor. McCain is the maverick, the candidate not confined by the Beltway. To prove that, he chose a running mate from another country. Okay, I know, Alaska is not another country... but how many Americans know that (not my student who was arguing that there were 53 states in our country)?

McCain also knows that there are a lot of Clinton voters who are not happy with Obama and many of those voters are women. Here is a chance to steal some votes. Did you see the interviews of the Democrats that were still upset about Hillary losing in the primaries? They were all women. To me it means that: a) women are more passionate/opinionated or b) they're not mad their candidate lost, they are mad their WOMAN candidate lost. (btw, voting for Hillary because she is a woman is stupid. Or voting Republican because McCain brought a woman is stupid. Stupid is also voting for Obama because he is black. As is voting McCain because he is 80 and white)

How could this historic and bold pick hurt McCain and the Republicans? Off the top of my head, two things: Ted Stevens and experience. Ted Stevens is the Republican US Senator from Alaska who has been federally indicted for shady dealings with oil contractors. He is a mainstay of American politics as he is currently the longest serving US Senator, chaired the Senate Appropriations committee and is beloved by many Alaskans for his ability to bring beaucoup of federal money to Alaska (ex: the infamous Bridge to Nowhere). I don't think the Democrats need to necessarily smear Palin, they just have to make it known that Palin is the Republican Governor from a state whose senior Senator, a Republican, just got indicted and also has a host of other ethical issues. As an uniformed electorate, we won't want to know anything else. Why bother checking facts, the connection is enough. Amazingly, despite indictment, Stevens won the Republican primary in Alaska and will be on the ballot for re-election in November.

Experience is the other issue that has to concern the Republicans. For months, they have attacked Obama's experience in national and, especially international, politics because his only major political experience is 4 years in the US Senate (not including 8 years in Illinois State Senate) . And you know something, the campaign has been working as McCain has closed the gap considerably. But it's hard to criticize the Obama-Biden ticket now since Biden brings over a quarter century of US Senate experience and the McCain-Palin ticket includes a candidate, who despite being a star (sound familiar?), only has been elected to two offices: 6 years as Mayor of Wasilla (population 5,469 in 2000 Census) and Governor of Alaska (who's entire population is less than Brooklyn, NY) for 2 years. John McCain turned 72 today (29 Aug). I can see the commercial now... what if McCain's health took a turn for the worse? The next president would be a 44 year old lady (two years younger than Obama) with only 2 years of major office experience and no foreign policy experience (even though Alaska is a foreign country).