Change?

So I covered religion already and basically showed my border-line atheist views. Might as well go on and talk politics now too. 

I've always had an interest in politics. I grew up with parents who had some strong political views, and pictures of my mom and dad with several high-ranking Republicans. I do realize that in this day and age (or at least in the Northern VA neighborhood I call home), saying you're a Republican is akin to beating a puppy for fun or mugging a 90 year old lady. But I promise you, not all Republicans hate minorities and love war. 

I went to a very conservative college who refused to take federal funding, and thus didn't have to follow government rules. There I majored in political science and history. So yeah, I'm well versed in conservative doctrine. 

Over the past 10 years or so, I've found some of my conservative views remain (albeit changed in some ways), but I find my association with the Republican party distancing. I've voted Democrat, Libertarian, and Republican in various elections. I'm for smaller government, and I thought the Republican party was too....my bad. $700 billion? 

Which brings us to 2008. Obama and McCain. The young idealist and the cranky old man.  And I'm totally undecided on who I support and want as President. At this point I'm almost trying to determine which would do the least amount of harm in the next 4-8 years. 

I don't believe a single word of what any candidate says. All the promises they make, how they both claim to be outside the Washington system, the empty calls of change...its all just marketing and advertising. Just like any infomercial selling you the product that will change your life, but in reality is a piece of crap - this election just reeks of "tell 'em what they want to hear". 

I'm a federal employee. I'm on the fringe of being able to influence management, and a lot of my work directly effects how our "area" runs. And again, I was a political science and history major....I understand bureaucracy. There are well over a million federal employees. There are no switches that you can flip to institute overnight change in the federal government. So stop saying that you're going to "change" Washington. Oh sure, of all those campaign promises you're making to teachers, Detroit auto workers, Pittsburgh steel workers, retirees, celebrities, and any other group willing to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to your campaign....maybe 10% of that will actually be accomplished. 

You'd think Obama would know how laws are made, what with all the major legislation he's written. Oh....wait. Scratch that. And he's as bad a speaker off-script as Bush is. If he's smart he'll do as few debates as possible.

McCain rocking the "Maverick" label is bullshit with all those lobbyists he's got involved in  his campaign.  His legendary temper is going to do wonders for repairing our foreign relations. And he's drinking the religions right kool-aid a bit more each day. Let's not even discuss the possibility of President Palin....

You see where I'm going here? Both these guys scare the shit out of me. 

I don't think either one is a bad person, and I think they both have good intentions for the most part. McCain has a tremendous record of working with Democrats get important and less-than-popular legislation passed because it was the right thing to do. Obama has such a warming personality that it's hard to dislike him, and I think that will go a long way to repairing U.S. foreign relations (now what he does AFTER that is completely suspect...). 

I voted for the Libertarian candidate in 2004, mostly because I was tired of Bush and couldn't stand the wimpy Kerry. But there are things I like about both of the candidates this year, and things that terrify me. I may go that route again this year, but I don't feel good about it. 2004 was a protest vote; 2008 seems like a cop-out vote. 

I still have some time to make up my mind. 

It's just sad that the least effective way to learn about the candidates is by listening to what they say on the campaign trail.