Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Sep 21, 2008, at 12:25 AM, Akka Homestead wrote:

> Senile old man?
> Aren't you and John McCain the same age?  We have been through this  
> over
> and over- multiple people have stated common sense objections to  
> Obama.
> It seems that perhaps you are the one who is senile?

Others can be the judge of that. Yes, same age. As I have noted,  
McCain is giving we seventy-two-year-olds a bad name. I understand his  
forgetfulness and getting names wrong. We need better than that as a  
leader who represents us to the world.
> What does "much more sense of world conditions mean?"  Do you think
> McCain doesn't know what is happening in the world or that Obama knows
> more about what is happening in the world?

Mostly, it is the condition of understanding the modern world and  
knowing how to advance our interests. McCain, like Bush, thinks of  
military power before it should be considered.  We need more diplomacy  
and less killing. McCain was trained, endured, and has continued in  
the mindset of using guns. Obama would choose advisors of more  
balanced minds and would weigh their advice more wisely, I think.

>   If the latter, I doubt it.
> I'd bet that McCain's security clearance is higher.

He has been in the loop for many decades. He has been privy to much  
classified information. That information may well be useful, but the  
world is changing fast and new information is more useful.
> I don't intend to vote for McCain, as you should know, but perhaps  
> have
> forgotten that at least 4 of us intend to vote 3rd party,,,,but lets  
> say
> I would vote for McCain, since apparently that is the only way I can  
> not
> be a racist.  Here is why...(please remember people that I am not  
> really
> going to vote for McCain, this is only a debate, an exercise)
>
> 1. Despite the world travels of Sen. Obama, John McCain has more  
> foreign
> policy experience. Period.  That has nothing to do with race.

Agreed. And his mindset comes from that experience, going back five  
decades. It is the mindset of the neocons whose mantra is, what good  
is it to have the world's mightiest military if you don't use it? It  
is the mindset that led to the Iraq Invasion, which has killed tens,  
maybe more than a hundred thousand innocent civilians. All  
unnecessary. Inhumane. Beyond stupid. Do you want more of that? I  
cannot support that type of foreign policy. McCain would continue the  
carnage.
> 2. Despite the freshman senator's  ability to make friends and
> win people to his side, he doesn't have the market cornered on that
> ability, and in fact, McCain has been doing that very thing for far
> longer, making friends in BOTH parties.  Whether or not he is a
> maverick, he has surely stepped up in a bi-partisan manner and put the
> country first.

The maverick image has been carefully cultivated. His habit and  
demeanor has often been characterized as impulsive, reckless,  
tempestuous, hot tempered. We need someone who is a cool thinker.

>   McCain is well respected in both parties for that very
> reason.

Even in the classic good old boys club, the DC Whorehouse, many  
Republicans are turning away from him. They have the same reaction as  
I: we used to think we knew who he was, but, today, who is John McCain  
and what does he really stand for? We no longer know.

>   IMO, I have yet to see Obama put anything other than his
> political goals first.  He has not made too many Republican friends  
> that
> I can tell.  That has nothing to do with race.

Should either of us choose to take the time we could put together a  
long list of Republicans who have either expressed admiration for  
Obama or who have said they will vote for him.