A few political thoughts from a non-political person...

As soon as the Olympics ended I found myself thrown into the Democratic & Republican conventions and all the news media that came along with it. So these are just some random thoughts I've been having lately.

• Before I start...My views tend to sway to the Republican/Conservative side, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't vote Democrat if I agreed with the candidate.
  
• I love listening to Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden. They are much better orators than McCain or even Palin. I just wish I agreed with more of what they have to say....
• Race & Gender don't really have a significance in the election for me--either way it's going to be a historic election with either Obama being the first African-American President or Palin being the first Female Vice-President. It does slightly bother me that Obama gets so much press about being black when he's just as much white...yes, he does look more black...but he's just as much white. Plus, wasn't he raised by his white mother?
  
• While I haven't ever been a huge McCain fan, he is growing on me. And while Palin doesn't have experience in Washington...I think she is an awesome addition to McCain.
• About the war--whether or not you agree with the war, motives for going, pulling out, sending more troops, etc....the fact is that we are STILL at war. Because of this, I think it's extremely important to have a President with military experience. Yes, John McCain has an awesome story about being a POW, etc. But more important than that, he KNOWS how ugly war is. He lived it. Do you really think he'd keep the troops in Iraq & Afghanistan longer than is needed? I don't think so....
• I think Barack Obama has the potential to be a great political leader, maybe even President down the road. I just don't think that he is the right person for the job RIGHT now.
  
• While I wish McCain had picked Romney as his Vice-President because of his economic experience, for some reason Kurt & I both really like Sarah Palin. She's not afraid to stand up for what she believes and is not easily intimidated. I love that she is down to earth and is a self proclaimed "hockey mom". While this might not seem to qualify her to be Vice-President of the United States I think she compliments McCain in almost every way.
• Quoting Fred Thompson (Rep. & Law & Order dude), "Now, our opponents tell us not to worry about their tax increases. They tell you they're not going to tax your family. No, they're just going to tax "businesses." So, unless you buy something from a business, like groceries or clothes or gasoline -- or unless you get a paycheck from a business, a big business or a small business, don't worry, it's not going to affect you! They say they're not going to take any water out of your side of the bucket, just the other side of the bucket! That's their idea of tax reform."

My mind just went blank...so I think it's time for a nap. Maybe I'll add to this list later...as my thoughts grow.