Effect and Cause

i was listening to Icky Thump by the White Stripes on the way to work this morning. i have always really like the last song, Effect and Cause. and i kind of thought that it was the best come back to what John McCain has been spouting lately.

he has said repeatedly that 'we are where we are.' which has about as much substance as Jessica Simpson. really, i thought that we are where we were from what hes been saying. all the while claiming that he has the record to prove he is the one to lead. but then he missed the vote on the economic stimulus package. the economy has got to be in the top 3 of just about everybody's big issues this election year. if not the issue that determines who they will vote for.

so McCain is basically saying "dont look at the past, we need to focus on the present. and what makes me best to lead in the present is my past, which shouldnt be looked at, but trust me its what qualifies me." he is pulling a Bush/Cheney and riding the Iraq war, terrorism, and fear to success. he has made these issues his cause, but in reality they are the three musketeers' effect and legacy, not the cause. I dont understand how the republicans have been able to run on the same issues for more than 6 years.

now if we focus on what McCain is doing now, its not so bad, but what he has proposed for the future is a little scary. he has admitted that he doesnt know jack about the economy and says that we will be in Iraq for another 100 years. i dont understand how people can consider voting for a candidate that says these things. in contrast Obama has denounced NAFTA in an appeal to bring back jobs lost to our neighbors to the north and south. mostly south. he has also pushed to withdraw troops as quickly as possible and push for talks with Iran and other hostile nations. while this sounds better to me than McCain, its still has its problems as Michael Gerson of the Washington Post lays out.

the issue i have here is that McCain is deliberately redirecting our attention to a cause that is really the effect of what he is in large part responsible for. Obama and Clinton have made promises that are unlikely to be honored, mostly because they sound good, the idea is right, but as president all actions must be calculated, thought through thoroughly, and planned out. one cant shoot first and ask questions later or you end up in a prolonged conflict with people you dont really understand, hemorrhaging money in a place where you didnt belong in in the first place.

what we cant do is allow McCain to get away with turning a horrible thing that he is at least partially responsible for into a cause that he can ride to the white house. its like if i came into your house and crapped in your bed, then said 'i am the one to resolve this problem! over the next month we will use a tooth pick to slowly remove the shit, then leave the sheets on the bed for the next year, and maybe, sometime after that, we will rinse off the sheets.' when any idiot can see that you kick the asshole who fucked up your house out, clean up the mess, and get on with life.

people keep saying that this is an historic election, what with a black guy, and girl, and and old white guy vying for the presidency. but its also historic because of what is at stake. the economy, the war, the renewal of real diplomacy, the restoration of fundamental American rights, and restoring the world's respect for the US. i have been pointing the finger at McCain, but i have little more confidence in Clinton, and a bit more for Obama, but i fear that none of them is really bringing America together and proposing realistic solutions.

like i said before, ill probably become disenfranchised by the time of the election and vote for someone like Ralph Nader. while i dont agree with all that he says, he does address the issues at hand, propose solutions to them, and seem to actually care about America and Americans.

woe is me. when i think about the future, i get scared. maybe ill move to Denmark, not have to worry about social issues, work 3o hours a week, and stay out of the worlds business. except for the occasional inflammatory cartoon...