Politics as Unusual
Ok. Imagine if you will that you are walking up the stairs to get aboard a Boeing 747 for a long overseas flight. At the top of the stairs you are greeted by a tall, good looking smooth talking guy in a captains uniform. He is going to take you flying. He will be in command of this huge aircraft with all of its needles and dials, bells and whistles. Oh boy. He looks like an airline captain. He talks like an airline captain. He even has the uniform. You strike up a conversation and you ask him how long he has been an airline captain.
"1 year and some months" he replies. You ask him how long he has been flying.
"1 year and some months. I just got my private pilots license last month, but I am a fast learner."
Decision time. You can turn around and get off that aircraft with all possible speed or you can say "wow. He is good looking in his captains uniform and he sure talks a good line. I think I will take my chances with him" and you go ahead and board. Before you take your seat you ask him what his name is.
"Barack Obama" he says and smiles.
Now I don't know about you guys, but that is the feeling I get when I see, hear or read about Mr. Obama.
Does he look presidential? Yes, kinda. ( I'm still curious to know why he doesn't put his had over his heart during the national anthem or why he says he is showing his patriotism by NOT wearing a flag lapel pin.)
Does he sound presidential? Oh yea. Until you stop and listen to what he is saying. Like wanting to increase profits tax on "Big Oil" and give every citizen of these United States a $1,000 check. Cool. Then Exxon will increase the cost of gasoline and that check will go right back to Big Oil.
Mr. Obama is (or was) against offshore drilling. He said it would take 7 to 10 years to affect oil prices. President Bush lifts the presidential ban on offshore drilling and in 7 to 10 minutes the price of oil (and gasolinge) started to drop. Barack is now re-considering his stand on offshore drilling.
Mr. Obama must have missed the part about the cost of oil being dictated by the futures market. His "year and some months" leads him to make uninformed and grandiose statements just to hear the crowd cheer and make young groupies faint. (move over Bono, there's a new rock star in town)
During his year and some months in the senate he voted "present" or not at all more times than he voted yea or nay. One vote in particular he voted to close a welfare office in Chicago. When a fellow senator called him on it and asked why he voted to close it Obama said that he didn't know he was voting to close the welfare office. Seems he wasn't even in the Senate when the vote was taken and that he had given his proxy vote to someone else. Sorta like an airline pilot asking the head stewardess to fly one leg of a trip. (1 year and some months)
I'm really not all that political and I wouldn't normally use my little blog here to rant about politics but I am scared by what is happening. We have a little private pilot trying to fly a 747 and an old 747 veteran who is old enough that he sometimes forgets how he got aboard that damn thing or what he had for breakfast.
Don't even get me started about all the Nero's in the house and senate who are on a 5 week vacation fiddling away while Rome is burning.
"1 year and some months" he replies. You ask him how long he has been flying.
"1 year and some months. I just got my private pilots license last month, but I am a fast learner."
Decision time. You can turn around and get off that aircraft with all possible speed or you can say "wow. He is good looking in his captains uniform and he sure talks a good line. I think I will take my chances with him" and you go ahead and board. Before you take your seat you ask him what his name is.
"Barack Obama" he says and smiles.
Now I don't know about you guys, but that is the feeling I get when I see, hear or read about Mr. Obama.
Does he look presidential? Yes, kinda. ( I'm still curious to know why he doesn't put his had over his heart during the national anthem or why he says he is showing his patriotism by NOT wearing a flag lapel pin.)
Does he sound presidential? Oh yea. Until you stop and listen to what he is saying. Like wanting to increase profits tax on "Big Oil" and give every citizen of these United States a $1,000 check. Cool. Then Exxon will increase the cost of gasoline and that check will go right back to Big Oil.
Mr. Obama is (or was) against offshore drilling. He said it would take 7 to 10 years to affect oil prices. President Bush lifts the presidential ban on offshore drilling and in 7 to 10 minutes the price of oil (and gasolinge) started to drop. Barack is now re-considering his stand on offshore drilling.
Mr. Obama must have missed the part about the cost of oil being dictated by the futures market. His "year and some months" leads him to make uninformed and grandiose statements just to hear the crowd cheer and make young groupies faint. (move over Bono, there's a new rock star in town)
During his year and some months in the senate he voted "present" or not at all more times than he voted yea or nay. One vote in particular he voted to close a welfare office in Chicago. When a fellow senator called him on it and asked why he voted to close it Obama said that he didn't know he was voting to close the welfare office. Seems he wasn't even in the Senate when the vote was taken and that he had given his proxy vote to someone else. Sorta like an airline pilot asking the head stewardess to fly one leg of a trip. (1 year and some months)
I'm really not all that political and I wouldn't normally use my little blog here to rant about politics but I am scared by what is happening. We have a little private pilot trying to fly a 747 and an old 747 veteran who is old enough that he sometimes forgets how he got aboard that damn thing or what he had for breakfast.
Don't even get me started about all the Nero's in the house and senate who are on a 5 week vacation fiddling away while Rome is burning.
posted by Rob | 8:16 AM
5 Comments:
Wow, Dad- excellent analogy! Using the idea of a very new pilot and a veteran pilot to describe our presidential candidates really puts things into perspective.
What analogy would you use to describe our candidates' individual takes on education?
Your statement that you are not political makes me chuckle a little, because I would describe you somewhat differently!
I'm with Mandy - I totally disagree that you're not political. You certainly make your feelings know.
This post is extremely well written. I'm impressed! And of course I agree with everything you said...I'm your wife. :-)
Wow.
When you finally post, it's worth reading.
I think it was an excellent analogy, and frankly I'm not willing to chance the new guy.
At all.
Especially after last night's form iwth Rick Warren. I don't believe there was a straight answer of of him all night.
BTW- there's nothing wrong with being political!
Great post, Uncle Rob! (Yes, I'm know I'm over 30 and could probably leave off the "Uncle," but it would just feel weird.)
I'm with you--neither candidate has me very excited.
Mandy: I havn't heard Obama's plan for education. McCain believes in Charter Schools, public schools and the rights of parents to choose. He also belives that good teachers should be rewarded and bad teachers should be offered some other employment.
Sarah: I will always be "Uncle". I love being "Uncle Rob"
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