Emotional Debate

Alan DVR'd the Presidential Debate for me. I was square dancing with my family and then soaking in the hot tub with girl friends last night-so I missed seeing it "live."  Perhaps God knew I was going to have a very emotional reaction to the debate-so He let me see it in private this morning after the kids had gone to school.

From almost the minute the candidates started talking I felt like weeping. The intensity of their emotion, the physical, mental and political scrutiny both Obama and McCain have undergone is overwhelming. I don't know how they do it.  How do you day after day keep up the travel, family life, interviews, lack of sleep, speeches, debates, etc? I am incredibly humbled by their service and dedication. Both men show a deep love for the United States of America.  Both men believe they have "the right plan."  Both men are willing to go through this unbelievable, privacy busting, soul-bearing process in the hopes that they can take on the hardest job in the world. That to me is reason enough to look at both candidates with admiration and respect.  I was feeling exhausted just watching them take on one another's policies, records, and positions.  

The other reason why I got choked up is that I am so conflicted as to who to vote for.  One says something I like, the other contests it, and then I feel the other one is right.  If there was ever a "flip-flopper" on the issues...it's ME. I do have to be honest and say that despite my fears about Obama-his demeanor, and his answers to the major questions of health care, energy, and foreign policy spoke more closely to my beliefs than McCain.  And as much as I wanted to like McCain because he stands for some very core beliefs that I hold, I am so frustrated by his pick of Sarah Palin as VP that it makes me want to scream, "Why did you do that?"  

A few weeks ago Rick Warren talked with both candidates.  The question that grabbed my attention the most was one in which Warren asked, "Does evil exist, and if it does, do we ignore it, do we negotiate with it, do we contain it or do we defeat it." Essentially McCain said that we are to defeat it, while Obama said we should confront it, but that we must be careful that while confronting it, that we ourselves do not inflict evil.  For me, these two very distinct answers were the most defining of the campaign.  McCain says we should defeat evil.  Sorry, buddy, but I believe evil will always exist and we cannot go around trying to lop off it's ugly head where ever it pops up. Only GOD will be able to ultimately defeat evil.  I have to agree with Obama that we are to fight evil-but we should know our limits and find other ways besides fighting to promote peace and prosperity.

One more frustration with the Republican ticket is this: McCain and Palin need to stop using the phrases "maverick, reaching across the aisle, and reform." Do they think we haven't heard them the first 2000 times they have said those same tired old words.  What candidate would EVER say they only will work with their own party, that they want things to just stay the same as always and that they are definitely not going to try to get things done.  In basic grade school english, this whole thing is a, "no Duh."  In last night's debate McCain said that, "sometimes I'm not very popular with either party."  Ok, so if you are so unpopular-how do you get the backing to get anything done.  If I'm going around making everyone upset with me, I will have no power. Being in leadership shouldn't be all about a popularity contest...but you do have to have a certain amount of likeablity, respect and admiration from those you work with. Instead of constantly telling us how much he "goes against" his own party and is a "maverick" I want a leader that says, "People in both parties like me, agree with me, trust my judgement and when I work with them, we get things done for you, the American people."