A Nation Divided by Fundamental Beliefs

The voters in the United States are divided, but they always are in a presidential election year.  But the divisions go deeper than mere political party.  Americans have real, fundamental beliefs that are very different, whether they consider themselves a Liberal, a Conservative, a Moderate, a Libertarian, an Independent, or any other group.  The bitterness and divisiveness after the 2000 and 2004 elections never healed -- in fact, it grew worse as the years went by. 

Elections are supposed to offer clear choices.  Enter the 2008 election season, where we have a Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, who is more popular than her counterpart Joe Biden and more popular than either Presidential candidate, Barack Obama or John McCain.  The differences between Obama/McCain and Biden/Palin are huge and Americans have no problem voicing their choices.  

Phyllis Chesler says:

Each of the Presidential candidates and those who support them are fighting for the soul of America. Each has a radically different world view; each inhabits a radically different culture.[snip]

 ...  They are cultures, perhaps worlds, apart. McCain has said that he wants to work with everyone, “Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.” I am not sure that Obama has weighed in on this precise point as yet, but he has said that he would sit down and try to work with America’s enemies.  [snip]

What do you think will happen after one side wins and the other side loses? Will blue or red states want to secede from the union? Will there be more violent and ugly confrontations upon encountering ideas and practices with which one disagrees?  (read it all)

The Obama camp and the MSM are doing their best to smear Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, specifically on her abilities to be the Commander in Chief of the United States should something happen to John McCain if he is elected President.  Blog friend Aukmuntr Bizzarre rebuts that idea completely:

Consider these salient points: Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It's on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.

As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's and certainly by far exceeds Obama's. She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans.

Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia , she may have security clearances we don't even know about. According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.

She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.  (read it all)

On the war on terror and specifically Iran, Chesler says:

In my opinion, President Amadinejad might indeed have  formidable opponents in Senator McCain and Governor Palin who understand that we are at war and that it is one we must win. Unlike Senator Obama,  I bet they do not view the terrorists as “perverting the Islamic faith” (Obama said this in his interview with O’Reilly) but rather, as expressing it all too well. On this very point,  (whether there is a “good” and “peaceful” Islam or not),  our Republic will either stand or fall.

Compare the two candidates:

The main difference that distinguishes their presidential candidate John McCain from Democratic candidate Barack Obama, according to them, is that McCain will send his representatives to the dialogue table armed with his resolve and willingness to use military force in case the dialogue fails, in defense of US national interest and national security, and will thus be taken seriously.  (Dar al Hayat)

Looking at the Republican National Convention through Muslim Eyes, By: Shahed Amanullah :

If you listened closely during the various speeches at the RNC convention, you'll notice that the times when the crowd was most animated was when Republican rage was focused on what Sen. John McCain calls the "trancendent challenge of our time: the threat of radical Islamic terorrism".  Various speakers through the convention returned to this theme, which consistently galvanized the crowd.  "John McCain hit the nail on the head," thundered former Gov. Mitt Romney. "Radical violent Islam is evil, and he will defeat it."   Rejecting calls to avoid using the term "Islamic terrorism" for fear of fomenting hostility towards Muslims, former NY mayor Rudy Giuliani was defiant.  "Please tell me who they are insulting when they say Islamic terrorism," he said. "They are insulting terrorists."

Americans are divided, this will be an extremely important election, and when it's over ... there will be angry Americans.  How will we handle that anger?  How will the new president deal with a divided nation?   Will the resentments continue to fester as they did after the last two elections?  If so, what does this mean for the future of America?

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Zondervan Publishing Announces New Biography of Sarah Palin  - Most Talked-About Woman in America is the Model for the 21st Century Leader.

Comments

[Proud to be an AFRICAN AMERICAN DEMOCRAT]

I am a liberal, and i voted for Obama. How dare you classify me as "not american" because I was raised with different morals and values than you. Ignorance to my background and up-bringing, is feul to your hatred for the change this country has chosen. The reason I chose MY President is because of his ability to relate to the issues McCain chooses to ignore; ie the fact that African Americans have been in a silent Depression for five years. To be clear While the general population has been in recession for one year, people of color have been in recession for five years. By definition, a long-term recession is a depression. So when 24% of blacks and 21% of latino's live in poverty compared to the 8% of whites living in poverty I'd say America's made a better choice.

And yes, Al Gore or John Kerry were the better choice in my opinion. If they had ben elected I'm sure we wouldn't have had th catastrophies we did the last 8 years or at least we would've responded and reacted a lot better than Bush did. He let almost an entire state be wiped off our map, no suprise the majority of the people affected were African Americans. Or the Banks failing the way they have, or even the War on Terror. Honestly I believe he stole the elections. He's one of the worst leaders this country has seen hands down.

MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK SO WHAT, I didn't vote obama because of color i voted because of his intelligence. So what if he isn't a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant like our past Presidents (other than Kennedy!) He represents us well, or have you not noticed the World-Wide praise he is receiving, just for inspiring people near and far to do what the've dreamed? CHANGE!!!

Inspire Change, that's what he's done...

[Ralph E.]

snake hunters sez,

*...and we love debbie & maggie. reb
___________________________
FOX NEWS, FAIR & BALANCED
(Democrats hate that).

Gov Sarah Palin: Drill ANWR. Get that Nat Gas PipeLine to the Lower 48, now! Create Jobs/Save the Dollar/Reduce Our Dependence On Foreign Oil.

Drill Off-Shore, Now! Clean Nuke Power, Now!

(Nancy Pelosi hates those ideas).

>>

Sen John McCain: ALLOW OUR CAREER GENERALS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS IN IRAQ, AFGANISTAN AND PAKISTAN.

(Sen Harry Reid hates that idea).
>
>
>
Voters will decide on November 4th. (print)
___________________________
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com

[sage]

She was the perfect choice for sure. I wish the ticket were reversed though.
The country will always be divided, thinkers on one side, emotional folks on the other.

[Maggie Thornton]

This comment from Bizzaar is a good point.

"Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia , she may have security clearances we don't even know about."

The optimism from your commenters here is palpable. I believe we can count on McCain-Palin to face down Iran, and even Russia, which we'll likely need to do.

I missed the Obama-O'Reilly interview. Hoping to catch it this weekend. The above quote where Obama refers to terrorists "perverting the Islamic faith," is telling and not surprising, except that he doesn't speak of Islam because he has forbidden the press from asking. At least one half of his family is Muslim.

I loved McCain's stand-up, stand-up, stand-up and fight.

Terrific post.

Maggie

[Fautline USA]

If the radical Marxist, Barack Obama, wins the election the leftists will be giddy with power and Congress will go into high gear enacting every type of legislation designed to dismantle what is left of our Judeo-Christian society and to destroy our capitalistic economy. Folks, that’s the plan. See the truth about Obama’s non-profit org: Public Allies.

[Debbie]

Steve, you are correct. It is the Liberals that are angry and picketing, causing troubles. You don't see Conservatives doing that.

Excellent point

[Steve Harkonnen]

Angry Americans? Where? Did you mean angry liberals? I can see that, but they are not Americans in my view!

[Katie]

The American People turn to a "proven" leader in tough times. Nobama is not that man. He speaks of change, but has no record of it. The American people know of the true man of change: John McCain. That is why Obama is in trouble in the polls.

[Debbie]

Skunkfeathers: I think you are right, I have faith in the American people. Security, love of America, fundamental Conservative beliefs, will win out.

[Skunkfeathers]

Liberal anger in 2000 is based in large part on the fact that AlGore couldn't win an election he was "entitled" to, and was inept in trying to steal it. It grew in '04 when John Kerry couldn't win an election he felt "entitled" to, and was even more inept than Gore. Now, in '08, liberals are more angry than ever, because they have yet another "entitlee" as their candidate, and are matched against two unfairly "worthy" opponents.

It's no cakewalk, I'll grant you; but I will venture a prediction (and a hope that common sense isn't dead in the great majority of America): that it'll be close, but common sense and "Country First" will win out over "Change" and socialism.

Guarantee you that this will anger the liberals even more.

And I don't give a f....foo.

McCain/Palin in '08.