Last Minute Observations before Election Day

As the interminable campaign season wanes, it has become depressingly clear that we are faced with the weakest and most pathetic presidential choices in many years.
Perhaps the most telling moment in the presidential debates was when John McCain and Barack Obama were both entirely unwilling to answer Jim Lehrer's question about spending cuts. Both candidates addressed "belt tightening" in the most broad terms possible, that government would have to streamline and prioritize in the face of difficult economic times.
Lehrer tried valiantly to get either of them to commit to something – anything – specific. Both avoided the question as if they were utterly baffled by it.
One can't blame them. They are, after all, successful and pragmatic politicians, accustomed to getting what they want by making vague promises that imply no specific results. Any good politician knows that specifics only serve to alienate voters. Keep it vague; keep it general, and the voters will be thrilled to pieces.
The result of all that is easily predicted: whichever one wins, he will find some incredibly obscure plan or program to cut, a "bridge to nowhere," and increase spending on everything else. The debt will grow exponentially, inflation will continue unchecked and the savings and equity of voters will dwindle even further; the president will continue to blatantly obfuscate about the gravity of the situation, and will use the bully pulpit to blame the other party.
More of the same, but that's what voters want, isn't it?
-- We Americans put entirely too much trust in presidents. Our Founders gave us an executive to keep peace between states, and we demanded a king. You can read about that in the Bible.
God gave Israel judges who would enforce the law fairly. The Israelites demanded a despotic king they could admire and fear and cleave to and hate. So they got Saul, and misery and war and unpleasantness has been their lot ever since.
They didn't want peace and justice and prosperity; they wanted a scapegoat. They wanted a soap opera that would absolve them of any responsibility for any difficulties they may encounter. Americans are no better.
Of course there are quite a number of folks who will not vote for Obama for the sole reason that he is black. What you notice about those folks though, is that they are usually unconnected, poor, and without influence.
There are just as many, or more, folks who will vote for him precisely because he is black. Good for them! Black people have not had a nice time in America and they deserve a few concessions. Sure, you can point out a lot of bad things about him, but McCain is no better. For all his campaign's complaining about what a socialist Obama is (and he is, sure enough) McCain is a socialist too. As long as we're gonna have a socialist president, it might as well be one who will make people happy and foster a sense of progress and reconciliation.
-- The only executive decision a candidate gets to make is his vice presidential selection, and both have come up short in that department.
Joe Biden will always be a plagiarist (he ripped off a bunch of Martin Luther King speeches years ago) and an unstable maniac.
Sarah Palin is a mess. I can't think of any other way to put it. The Lord only knows why McCain didn't pick Joe Lieberman. I'm sure he regrets it terribly now.
My friend is a conservative single mother. She told me the other day about her impressions of Palin.
"If McCain thinks all you have to do to get the women's vote is have any stupid empty skirt on the ticket then he's crazier than I thought."
She said at least Hillary had followed a consistent track to power, not running for office until she had positioned her life to accommodate it. Palin, however, was ready to let her family suffer without a mother so she could climb the ladder to power. Family values, indeed!
-- Recently in this space, we discussed the proposed county animal control ordinance. In speculation about the commissioners' willingness to enact it, I lifted quotes from the questionnaire The McDowell News sent to the candidates for that office.
I had meant to make it clear that the draft included no spay-neuter requirements, but that the question referred to spay/neuter, among other issues.
I've been told by some that I did not make that clear. I apologize. I hope the county will consider responsibility issues, which are addressed in the draft, separately from procreation issues, which are not addressed.
The candidates' answers were published last Friday. They will also appear in The Express, available free today. I hope all of you will read it.
--We always hear about how important is that we all vote. I disagree. If you can't be bothered with civic matters 47 months at a time; if all you care about is who will promise you the most freebies; if you're driven by class resentment; if you have never bothered to read the U.S. and N.C. constitutions, please don't vote. You're muddying the waters for the rest of us, and you stick us with dreadful leaders. Please stay home.