Duct Tape Politics

This is entry 1 in our ongoing Book-o-logue project.  For more information look at our main homepage at www.DuctTapePolitics.com .

In chapter 1 of Real Change Newt makes a few solid points. He shows that there are more things America agrees on than disagrees.  And these are overwhelming agreements.  Newt also discusses how the two party system has wrongly divided America into Red & Blue.

One of his critiques of the Republicans is that they’re so focussed on limited government that they’ve failed to make government work period.  The belief in keeping government small has made Republicans fail in using any resources within government to get things done.  Newt calls on Republicans to have limited, but clear goals for goverment.

Newt also critiques both parties because both tend to appeal to their radical bases, while neglecting the middle ground.  According to him, the Democrats listen to their Hollywood elitest base while neglecting the more mainstream Democrats who could help them get things done.

A main message from Newt in chapter one seems to be that there is more that unites us than divides us and that both parties need to appeal to that.

Please come back later for more discussion about our current book, Real Change By Newt Gingrich.

I’ve been paying attention to Ron Paul followers for a while now, and many of them are reveling in the thought of the U.S. economy crashing and our nation just ceasing to exist.  It’s like they’re waiting for this moment to happen so they can do a huge, see I told you so.

This is probably why they epically failed and lost this election season.  They had nothing to offer other than this.  But my blog isn’t about them, it’s about the overall spirit of this, doomsday politics.

It seems like some on each side predict the end of America if they are not elected. But what would happen if the end of the world didn’t come?  Then what could these parties run on?  What would happen if politicians replaced fear with real ideas and hope?  Would this be a better America?

I’m pleasantly surprised with the remaining candidates this year. Republican’s chose to nomiate Mccain, a man I haven’t seen resort to knee-cap, smash-mouth politics. He actually approaches politics like a grown-up. He talks issues, keeps free of rhetoric and overall seems to keep things civil.

The Democrats will most likely nominate Obama. I admit, Obama has had to throw mud, but that’s only because Clinton keeps flinging it in his direction. Obama to me seems like a reluctant mud-slinger, unlike other politicians who toss more mud than actual ideas into the political arena.

If things keep progressing at this pace we could end up with a Mccain Vs. Obama election. An election that may be marked by an honest dialog of ideas. Sure your run of the mill talk show hosts will be flinging bud in their candidate’s name, but overall, we may actually get talked to like grown-ups this election year.

America has sent our politicians a signal so far. That signal says, quit slinging mud and discuss issues more. Hopefully they keep listening to us.

It it just me or are we in the desperate political season where everything goes?  All is fair in love war and now politics.  No matter where you look, everyone seems desperate enough to about try anything!

Mccain was so desperate he’s now adopted the economic policies and other policies of Bush, the same Bush who’s been polling around 35%.  Nothing like trying to win an election by taking on all the unpopular positions of an unpopular incumbent.

Hillary is so desperate to win she’s using Ferraro and her hubby to do her dirty work.  She’s willing to go back on her decision to punish Michigan and Florida and is now seeking another primary vote!

Poor Obama is so desperate to win, he gave a speech on race and his pastor thinking it would appease the likes of right wing talk radio hosts.  Hey Obama, you’re a democrat, they’re right wing radio hosts, nothing is going to appease them.  So don’t worry about it.

Soon the politics of desperation will be replaced with the politics of fear, cynicism and division.  Gotta love America.

I turn on the news today, a day after the Florida primary and on the headlines is a picture of Barack Obama supposedly snubbing Hillary Clinton at the state of the union address.  In other words, silly season is here.

America’s media is sick of those insignificant things like, issues, competence, informing the public about where candidates stand.  No now is the time to talk about two second snap shots that happened during the state of the union!

Maybe the media is a little power hungry?  Maybe they like knowing they can derail a campaign by pasting a two second sound, video or snap shot?  I’m sure that is what some in our media are aiming at.  They’ve tried so hard to make hay of Hillary’s cry, Obama’s snub, Chuck Norris comments on John Mccain.

Basically if something isn’t relevant, the media just might cover it!  Because in my opinion, it’s all about power to those in media.  That’s why you and I need to keep our eyes open. We need to not allow ourselves to be swayed by frivolous issues presented to us by the media.  Now I don’t mean to sit here acting like the media is to blame for all our woes.  Supply feeds demand and there is obviously a demand for this stuff.  Media also does us some good by presenting some facts, but we must remember to keep our minds and perceptions vigilant against those shady members in the media who want to distract us from what is indeed important.

In the end, it’s not shady media, evil politicians or some invisible boogy man whom will derail America and our elections.  Instead it is a lazy, non-vigilant mind from the citizens that will derail America and our elections.

This is a message for both parties this year.  Do not trade your ideals for what is practical.  In 2004 Howard Dean had mass support until people started thinking about what was practical.  The Democrats decided to trade in what they wanted for something they really weren’t passionate about.  Kerry was the safe pick for the party, but he wasn’t the passionate pick.

The Republicans and Democrats face the same issue this election cycle.  They can either pick Hillary because she seems more electable or Obama because that’s who people really are idealistic and passionate about.  Republicans may choose a Mccain Or Romney, not because they necessarily like them, but because they feel those two can appeal to a broader base of the population.

Don’t sell out my friends.   If you really like someone, then vote for them.  It’s easier to get people to the polls to vote for someone they really like, than to get them to the polls to vote for someone they aren’t to  passionate for.  What your candidate  lacks in broad based appeal can be more than made up for as you rally their passionate supporters to vote for them.

Your party, your ideals and your country can’t afford for you to sell out your passions for the sake of practicality.

We’re seeing a new dimension to the race card here in 2008. This is primarily happening in the Democratic race for president.

In the past race was about appealing to those whom followed the civil rights movement of old, lead by people like King, Jackson, Sharpton. It was about getting people out from the oppressive thumb of “The Man”.

Times have changed and many minorities have their thumbs on “the man” and politics is no longer about getting free of the oppressor. Rather it is about keeping strong economically, raising a strong family and the like. There is basically a wedge between the politics of race for the old school and the new school.

The new school views the civil rights cause as a victory in today’s rear view mirror. They’re thankful for the sweat, blood and tears of those who worked for their freedom, but they’re not content rehashing yesterday’s wrongs in order to gain even more power today.

The old school is still stuck on freeing minorities from the thumb of “the man”.  There is no arguing that some work remains in the cause of racial justice in America.  The old school appeals to these disturbing facts that still lingers in America.

These two schools of racial thought are competing for the race of race this campaign season.  The new school may prove more effective because not only will they haul in successful minorities but they will bring in successful white’s who view the politics of progress as refreshing and new.