We Can Still Pull This Off

By Chuck Young

This has got to be the most interesting presidential elections ever. No matter who the candidate is the overwhelming theme is “CHANGE”. And why is that? Well, let me see…Unless you partied and it was 1999, and you lapsed into a coma for the first eight years of the new millennium, you realize the questioned elected president has brought this country to the brink of destruction. That last comment could have brought cries of anti-American sentiment, possibly brandishing me a traitor, but now that we are all on the same page (finally), this is just a stated fact. In the course of history, no one, albeit President of the United States, or any other elected official has divided this country since the Civil War. When we were attacked 7 years ago, the President became a leader of the free world that could have brought this country to unity and fight against a cancerous enemy. Instead, he divided us, Democrat and Republican, as much a divide as Yankee and Rebel. George W. Bush was given a blank check, not only by Republican Senate and House, but by all Americans. We pleaded, Mr. President, please make us safe.

What happened next will be questioned by millions of people in the future. They will read their history books and ask how and why an entire country, the strongest nation on earth, could let this atrocity happen. And why didn’t anyone stop him. Mr. Bush took the blank check, broke the bank, piled up credit that our grandchildren will be paying, and took away all of our strength, our peace of mind, and our credibility to our neighboring countries, and the world.

The clock is ticking, and the reign of this barbaric leader is coming to a close. We are now faced with the task of finding someone qualified enough to begin the healing process, one which will take decades. What a phenomenal race it is…we are on the brink of changing history with the possible election of either the first black United States president, or the first woman. Anyone says this election is not about race or gender, they are dead wrong. How could it not be? We are not ostriches. You can’t close your eyes and say it isn’t so. But both these candidates have run their campaign as if it weren’t an issue, and I applaud them for that. There is no feeling coming from Barack Obama implying, ‘vote for me because I’m black’, nor is there sentiment coming from Hillary Clinton that she should get your vote to show everyone how a woman can do a better job.

They are running on their merits alone. They let you know what they bring to the table.

So, it’s not either of them who cause problems for the Democrats, it’s the circus they’re performing in. The talk is, since the Republican candidate is already known, the democrats have to hurry and pick a candidate so they are challenging him, not themselves. The only problem I have is this…didn’t we know who the republican nominee was at the beginning of the last race for the white house? Personally, I believe it was an injustice to Hillary for people to tell her she needs to get out of the race. Why? She has just as much right to run for the position as Barack does. I’m not suggesting she should hang on as long as Mike Huckabee did. I mean, when it’s over, it’s over. But as long as she has a chance, any chance, she should be able to do what she needs to do without any flack from any of us.

In reading the previous paragraph, it would seem I’m for Hillary. I say with reservations, I am not. I have a tremendous amount of respect for John McCain. I believe he is a loyal and honest American that I am proud of. But I’m not for him, either. And don’t even start with Ralph Nader. I would have no problem with him running, if there was a chance he’d win, or at least believed he had a snowballs chance of winning. But how can a guy, who had to put up with zero campaigning, zero debates or caucuses, or smear ads, just toss his hat into the ring and say, I’m here. He’s in just to throw the proverbial wrench in to try and hurt the Democratic Party (no matter what he or anyone else wants us to believe). But his running brings me to the point of this. I want John Edwards to be the next president of the United States. He is the most capable, the most qualified person for the position. His health care plans, economic plans, foreign policy (the list is endless) are sound and better than anything any of the other candidates possess.

Why he didn’t come out as the top candidate (or at least second) is, WE took our eye off the ball.

Our minds are a whirlwind of panic and doubt. Are we safe? Will the gas price level anytime soon? Will we lose our houses? Will there be a recession, or a depression? Can we regain the faith of our neighbors? Since 9/11, we’ve lived in a fog, and it seemed there was another scandal every other day. The unpopular war rages on, with no end in sight. So we ARE looking for change. We want to return to some state of normalcy. And maybe that is why we have the candidates we do. I mean, how much more change could there be than making a historic change, a first. I’m in no way suggesting we are not ready for a black or a woman president, we are. We are the United States where we welcome all…your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

As far as a woman leader, you can look to history to see many great leaders were (and are) women…Golda Meier, Queen Elizabeth, Indira Gandi, the list too extensive to display here. I am also very impressed with Obama, and have been since I first saw him in 2004 commenting on the war. He is very intelligent, charismatic and decisive, and would make a phenomenal and highly effective Commander and Chief.

But, look back at the debates. How many times did John Edwards have to vie for time? No one cared about what he had to say because everyone’s attention was drawn to the center ring. We showed John no mercy. And it wasn’t anything he did. On the contrary, as I said before, I believe he has the most solid plans for our nation than anyone up there on stage. The other two candidates thought so as well, and stated their admiration for him and his proposed policies.

We need to find a way to band together, and get John Edwards to run as an independent (and to also level the playing field) and elect him to be our next President of the United States. If you agree with me, and have any thoughts or proposals on how we can make this a reality, please submit your ideas to: submit@ChucksTips.com.

We still have time. Let’s take back our nation and put the most qualified person to do that in as Commander and Chief. Tell everyone you want to start 2009 out right…by the swearing in of John Edwards as the President of the United States.