When Alpha is out of town, I usually end up answering phone calls that come up as “unknown number” on caller ID. No, I’m not so bored for conversation that I’ll answer the phone just to talk to somebody. I just never know when it will be her calling from a hotel or borrowed phone.
So, last night I answered the phone for one of these “unknown” callers. They said they were a research firm doing a survey. It’s well known that I enjoy giving my opinion. Of course, I haven’t been sleeping enough so I must have forgotten that we’re in the middle of political campaign season. Oops. But still, I wouldn’t have minded if it hadn’t turned out to be a push-poll from the Clinton campaign. I guess my leaning towards the Obama camp has fallen the whole way now.
It wasn’t a full-on Atwater or Rove negative push poll. It may even have come off as subtle to some people. It simply asked me how certain statements might affect my vote. The statements about Obama were negative about his readiness, experience, lack of policy, etc. The statements about Clinton were positive statements about her readiness, experience, strong policy, etc. I’m married to a PhD social psychologist; but I didn’t need her to tell me what was going on.
The funny thing is, if the situation were different, I’d be happy to vote for Hillary Clinton. In many ways I admire her. The right-wing really did seem to start attacking her from the very beginning of Bill’s first term. (Fear strong women much?) And, if she ends up with the nomination, I’ll be happy to vote for her.
The thing is we need us some change in this country. Not the generic campaigning politician, “change.” What we need even more than that is a change of names on the Whitehouse china. Our last 3 presidents have been named Bush or Clinton. In five presidential elections, we the people pulled the lever more for Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush*, Bush. Before that, the first Bush was VP for two terms. If we the people go: Bush**, Bush**, Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clinton… The last time there wasn’t one of those names in the Whitehouse was pre-1980. Do you think some people might think that US President is more of a birth right?*** Will the elections in 2016 be a compulsory showdown between Not-Jena Bush and Chelsea Clinton?
*Or, Gore depending on the maths you use.
**Vice President, duh.
***Yes, I know about John Adams and son John Quincy Adams. The four terms between them and the vastly smaller pool of citizens makes that excusable. Besides, they’re Alpha’s family.
So, last night I answered the phone for one of these “unknown” callers. They said they were a research firm doing a survey. It’s well known that I enjoy giving my opinion. Of course, I haven’t been sleeping enough so I must have forgotten that we’re in the middle of political campaign season. Oops. But still, I wouldn’t have minded if it hadn’t turned out to be a push-poll from the Clinton campaign. I guess my leaning towards the Obama camp has fallen the whole way now.
It wasn’t a full-on Atwater or Rove negative push poll. It may even have come off as subtle to some people. It simply asked me how certain statements might affect my vote. The statements about Obama were negative about his readiness, experience, lack of policy, etc. The statements about Clinton were positive statements about her readiness, experience, strong policy, etc. I’m married to a PhD social psychologist; but I didn’t need her to tell me what was going on.
The funny thing is, if the situation were different, I’d be happy to vote for Hillary Clinton. In many ways I admire her. The right-wing really did seem to start attacking her from the very beginning of Bill’s first term. (Fear strong women much?) And, if she ends up with the nomination, I’ll be happy to vote for her.
The thing is we need us some change in this country. Not the generic campaigning politician, “change.” What we need even more than that is a change of names on the Whitehouse china. Our last 3 presidents have been named Bush or Clinton. In five presidential elections, we the people pulled the lever more for Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush*, Bush. Before that, the first Bush was VP for two terms. If we the people go: Bush**, Bush**, Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clinton… The last time there wasn’t one of those names in the Whitehouse was pre-1980. Do you think some people might think that US President is more of a birth right?*** Will the elections in 2016 be a compulsory showdown between Not-Jena Bush and Chelsea Clinton?
*Or, Gore depending on the maths you use.
**Vice President, duh.
***Yes, I know about John Adams and son John Quincy Adams. The four terms between them and the vastly smaller pool of citizens makes that excusable. Besides, they’re Alpha’s family.
1 comment:
My Problem with Clinton is her voting record. She voted for the war, so I can not vote for her. If it's her and McCain when it comes down to it, I'll vote for her because she is or at least was, pro-choice and McCain was but isn't now. I'll vote for her but I'll hold my nose while I do it.
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