Looking Back: Election 2008

I've waited a while to write my election recap/reaction piece in order to let the hype and steam settle down. I don't know how things are in other parts of the country, but at my campus things were very hostile for about 48 hours after the results came in- from Obama supporters, not McCain. There were lots of shouts of "Black Power" and other things, and several acts of unkindness, disrespect, and violence towards McCain supporters. Luckily, things are back to normal here, and I find it is time to look back on the first presidential election I have had the privilege of voting in.

This has been the longest election cycle ever. Started all the way back in February of 2006, I believe. Indiana Senator Evan Bayh (D) tossed his hat in the exploratory ring in late 2005, but saw that Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were frontrunners, even though the former had yet to announce, and quickly got out of the pool. Both party's nominees seemed to double by the day until each had nearly 10 people running for president. What followed was an endless series of debates, none of which many people watched, and many a failed campaign strategy (For the record, never stake your ENTIRE campaign on Florida...it ends badly and causes Ashley great strife and sadness).

Who would have thought that the Republican nomination would come down to Senator John McCain and former Governor Mike Huckabee...a guy who had lost like, 200 pounds and no one had ever heard of? He certainly was funny, but in the end never gained enough support. McCain seemed all but gone, then somehow magically came back from the dead (no pun intended) to secure the Republican nomination, a feat he failed to do in 2000.

After countless denials of his running, Barack Obama entered the ring on what he recounted many times, a "cold February morning in Springfield." He was immediately a frontrunner, along with former Senator John Edwards and Clinton. None of the other candidates every seemed to get in the game, and after a few months Edwards just seemed to be sticking around for the face time. Clinton seemed untouchable...until Super Tuesday when she only won a few states. Her campaign clearly hadn't planned for a strategy past that point, as she lost primary after primary, until Reverand Wright and William Ayers appeared. Afterwhich, Clinton won every remaining primary, but never reached the magic number of delegates needed to win. After a very long, tiring, and stressful campaign, Obama emerged the victor and the field was set: McCain v Obama.

Do I think the parties picked the best or most qualified candidates? No, I do not. I feel that former mayor Rudy Guiliani was the most qualified person on the Republican side, with former governor Mitt Romney a close second. Former governor Bill Richardson has a resume a mile long, and was the most qualified individual from either party for the job. Hell, I'd vote for him! I don't feel that Senator Clinton was or is qualified for the job, but I believe she could do the task without too many horrible things happening.

Not surprisingly, I did not, and still do not feel that now-President Elect Obama is qualified for the job. He has no executive experience and has never run so much as a bake sale to the best of my knowledge. McCain, I believe, had and has the leadership necessary to be Comander in Chief and his experience leading others into battle is i think more of a qualification than being a mayor or governor.

However, America has made its choice. I am not at all ashamed to say that I voted for Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin. I believe I voted for change, just not President Elect Obama's change. I will, however, support the President Elect, as he is my president even if I did not vote for him. I will, however, be what Newt Gingrich called 'the loyal opposition." I will let it be known when I agree with the President Elect, and I will let it be known even more when I disagree. I hope the media treats him with as much scrutiny as they have President Bush, but I doubt it will happen.

I do admire the President Elect for one thing. In his first news conference since winning the election, President Elect Obama let it be known that he will not try to enforce his policies on the nation until January 20, 2009. He said that America has only one president and one administration at a time, and that he will wait until he is president before attempting to do anything. He said he would communicate with President Bush, but would not try to enforce his policies or views on the President or try to have him enact them. I did not expect this move from the President Elect, but I admire him for it. He also said that the change he seeks will take time, another admission that I admire. As long as he stays honest with the American people, I think he and I will be able to coexist without much conflict. I will give him at least two years before I start to really criticize him. At that point, if he has not lived up to expectations, I will let it be known that I think that, and even if he has, I will hope that the Republicans will gain ground in Congress in order to put more of a check on the President Elect, and make the balance of powers more balanced than they currently are.

However, if he tries to redistribute my food, there will be some MAJOR problems!