Hope, and a batch of cookies.

I watched Obama's acceptance speech last night and I have to say that I was impressed. I thought it was a great speech.

I didn't vote for Obama. It's not because he's a Democrat or the color of his skin. I didn't vote for Obama because of two very important reasons, his voting record and complete lack of any plan or platform. His voting record in Congress ddin't blow my skirt up any. All I saw were a lot of programs that cost a lot of money and a lot of legislation that screwed with my individual rights. His complete lack of a plan or platform is clear to anybody that actually listened to (or at least desperately sought for) any kind of ideas during his campaign.

Nothing. It was an idea drought. The only things he promised were "change" and a slogan. "Yes, We Can!"

I wasn't that crazy about John McCain. There are a few things in McCains voting record in Congress that rubbed me the wrong way as well. The difference is that I knew what his plan was and it was one I could live with. I would have preferred a diferent candidate but I didn't get one. I was kind of hoping Ron Paul would get the nod but, he wasn't for a larger more powerful government so naturally he was out before he got started.

I was made even more nervous when the pundits didn't even really have anything good to say when Obama was elected by electoral college. The only thing I heard any of them say was how it was a huge leap forward for civil rights and for race relations.......

... wait, WHAT!!....

What they neglected to point out in all of their discussion for the huge voter turnout (and I know I'm going to get blasted for this) was that the HUGE increase in registered voter turnout was from primarily inner-cities and metro-population centers with large minority populations.

While I didn't cast a vote based on race, THEY certainly did! How do I know? Take a look at some of the post election commentary and it's clear.

There were a few things that disturbed me about Obama's campaign. He flatly refuses to say the pledge of allegiance and he WON'T salute or recognize the flag. That was something that was drummed into him by his ellitist mother. Of course, I noticed during his acceptance party that he didn't bother to be out on stage when the pledge was spoken but he didn't mind everybody else saying the pledge and saluting the flag now that he's standing under it.

Before someone rolls there eyes and starts decrying "sour-grapes" I want to assure you that I am hoping and praying that Obama has the intentions that he seems to in the generalized sense that he has voiced them. I hope beyond all rationale that I am dead wrong about his motivations and intentions. Unfortunately for me, and for YOU by the way, his past doesn't indicate any error in my thinking.

I've already voiced in previous entries what my feelings are about the Bill of Rights and the importance they have for all of us as a cohesive document. What gives us our rock to stand on and declare ourselves Americans in the classical sense and what most other Nations and their peoples are jealous of are our freedoms declared in that document. It doesn't GRANT us those freedoms, it RECOGNIZES them as inalienable, God given. The only thing needed to have those rights bestowed is to be born. Our Declaration of Independence also states that the very rights and freedoms given to us by our creator also give us a responsibilty to maintain those rights against those that would take them from us. It is what the Founding Fathers based the revolution against the English crown on and it's the reason that the Bill of Rights includes the statements that it does, they wanted to ensure that Americans would always have the tools needed to maintain the United States as a nation of individuals with equal voices and opportunities.

A lot of people (particularly the more liberal and socialist types) would point out that they are mearly words on paper, subject to revision. Funny enough, those same people place great stock in words and give great weight to those who can speak them well.

The uneducated and illiterate tend to look upon someone with great oratory skills as someone who is superior to them in some way. If they appear to be learned then they must know something the rest of us don't and we should listen and take what they say as good information. Barack Obama said a lot of very intelligent things about nothing in particular, allowing the listener to plug in their own hopes and ideas. He basically provided fill in the blank question with himself placed as the answer to whatever equation was drafted by the onlooker.

Lots of other historical political figures were able to do the same thing. I won't mention any names so as not to make anyone nervous.

LIke I have mentioned before, not all change is good. Winning the lottery changes a persons life, so does losing your job or your house burning down. WHAT is he going to do? He never said. Who is it going to effect? All of us of course. Some will like it others won't. Once again, I look to his voting history, I probably won't like it.

I am very proud that so many pepole went out and voted, we've been wanting a bigger turn-out for elections and we got it, for better or for worse, more of us are involved in the political process. That can be a good thing as long as we aren't selfishly looking to our own interests.

Voting for someone because they are black is just as wrong as NOT voting for them because they are black. The color of the man's skin shouldn't mean anything to us. THAT'S the dream Dr. King spoke of. He didn't ask for a nation dominated by any one culture, he wanted to see a nation of mixed cultures who were able to peacably coexist without judging one another for our diferences. I think he would be very disappointed that the first African-American elected as President wasn't elected for his qualities of substance but for his race.

I've already heard of some of the plans for dealing with our nations economic issues and I am very worried. Not just Obama's projected responses (projection is all anyone's been ale to do since he hasn't said anything substantial) but the plans of the Democratic party who for the first time in decades have majorities in both houses of Congress and a man behind the executive pen signing off on their legislation.

Yet another huge economic stimulus that we can't afford (didn't the Democrats say that was a bad thing when Bush did ti?), higher taxes (they are inevitable), higher inflation (they are already talking about cranking out more currency to try and spur spending), work programs based upon FDR's Works Progress Administration (without an admission that they failed, they simply stalled the economy until WW2 showed up to rescue our industry). There are all kinds of things being discussed that they are hoping will "stimulate" the economy but historically have only raised inflation and taxes which will of course result in more money to spend on fewer things (loaf of bread costing $12 for example) and lower consumer confidence.

For the record, there isn't anything to stop what is happening to our economy. It has to happen. We've had a great run and now it's time for the slump. The higher an economy goes before the slump, the farther it will slump. There is no growth without loss.

Obama's speech was a brilliant work, but like a recipe, the words on the page are nothing without quality ingredients and the well measured execution of a talented cook.

I hope he's really good in the kitchen and that in the process of his creations our Constitution doesn't get burned.