This picture was taken at a rally in Leesburg, VA for Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for President.  I wonder if either of these kids could explain to me just what the “Marxist Ideology” is and its relationship to the “Obama Doctrine?

On Wednesday, I watched the final McCain/Obama Debate.  I think it was the best of the three debates, but that’s not sayingt much since I thought the first two were really a waste of my time.  And all the “Joe the Plumber” references were a bit too much for me.

Guess it’s all over now except for three more weeks of incessant political ads on TV and annoying phone calls from supporters of both candidates.

I watched the second McCain/Obama Debate this last Tuesday and I must say I was quite “underwhelmed” by the whole thing. I thought it was very poorly organized and that the moderator (Tom Brokaw) did a terrible job.

And, here we are in the middle of the greatest economic downturn since the 1930’s and neither candidate really had much to say about what their plans were to deal with this crisis. Nothing much they said differed from the first debate.

But I guess they both get credit for remembering all their scripted answers. 😉

As I watched the Biden/Palin Debate last night, it occurred to me that it would make these political debates much more meaningful if the candidates were required to give a yes or no answer when they are asked a question that clearly deserves one.  Granted they should be given the chance to explain and defend the rationale for their yes or no answer, but, in my opinion, the first word out of their mouths should be YES or NO!

I am constantly amazed by people who base their decision about who to vote for as President of the US based on their like or dislike of the Presidential candidate’s running mate.

I cringe everything I hear or read statements such as:

“If Hillary was the VP candidate, I know I would then vote for Obama.”

or conversely:

“I really like Sarah Palin, so my vote is going to McCain.”

Unless I missed an amendment to the Constitution somewhere along the way, I think the President is still the Chief Executive and that the buck still stops in the Oval Office at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington,DC USA, not in the VP’s office.  While VPs have no doubt provided advice and counsel to their bosses over the years, the fact remains that as Chief Executive, the President is the ultimate decision-maker.   And, in my opinion, the important issue here is which Presidential candidate is best qualified to lead the country over the next four years, not whether one likes or dislikes the VP candidate.

Last night’s McCain/Obama debate met my expectations.  That is, it did nothing to change my opinion of either candidate one way or the other.  And I doubt very seriously if the remaining two debates will change my prospective vote.

Maybe I’m just too much of a pessimist (or realist) to think that either candidate’s campaign promises will come to pass.  Right now I’m more concerned with just what impact the current financial crisis will have on me personally.  Truth be told, neither candidate can do much of anything about the financial mess other than inherit it!

Maybe it is time to take my money and run…or at least stuff it under my mattress for a while. 🙁