Thoughts on our soon to be new president...

Before I talk about our president elect... I guess I should mention where I lie on the political spectrum so that is on the table and everyone knows where I am coming from. I am decidedly Libertarian in my outlook , but tend to vote Republican most of the time simply because voting Libertarian seems to be a futile gesture and I like to make my vote count for something like it did in Florida in 2000 when I voted for Bush and was part of the 500 something votes which put Bush over the edge (unlike the thousands of senior citizens in Palm Beach County who mistakenly voted for Pat Buchanan when they meant to vote for Al Gore). So yes, I admit I voted for W. Go ahead and blame me for the mess this country is in. I deserve any flaming comments you can dish my way (especially since I voted for him again in 2004).

Getting back to our President-Elect Barack Obama- I voted for McCain simply because I think Obama is too liberal for my tastes. It has absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin- there are African-Americans I would vote for without hesitation some of them Democrats such as Sanford Bishop or Harold Ford, Jr. (who got screwed over by one of the most overtly racist ads by the GOP in my lifetime). What did hold me back from voting for Obama was a record which was just too far from the center for me to support... I wasn't thrilled with McCain either for that matter.

But the election is over and I think I am just as excited as any Obama supporter about the inauguration. It is truly going to be a special day- one I thought would possibly ever happen in my lifetime. It does say a lot about the progress we've made in this country, and regardless of how much I disagree with him politically, he will be my president and I truly hope he does a good job.

I think he's got a tough job ahead of him and I do believe him when he says he is willing to lay politics aside to get the job done, and I hope Republicans will give him a chance. The argument I've heard many Republicans make is that the Left never gave W much of a chance, and maybe that's somewhat true (although W really didn't help his cause any- being very charitable in my assessment of GWB, he was a mediocre president at best).

So those of you who don't like Obama for whatever reason... I think you owe it to our country, our (soon to be) president, and your fellow Americans to support Barack Obama and pray that he will make the right decisions. True patriotism is supporting our elected officials regardless of what party they belong to...

Weight: 220.5, Body Fat: 32.5%