Women's "Health"

Ok, I thought I had simmered down and wouldn't be writing a diatribe on the debate last night, but I am still steamed. Yes, I was already on Team Obama (having reluctantly found my way through my disappointment at not seeing Hillary at the top of the ticket), but McCain has just gone off the reservation.

As I told a friend, Obama "had me at hello"! A silly but true assessment.

McCain lost me and any chance I see at personal or professional redemption with his smugness, his negativity, and his total disrespect of a large segment of the electorate, and an obvious and true disdain of women and their right to make medical decisions for themselves. Yes, I am fervently pro-choice. Please do not mistake that for "pro-abortion". No one is pro-abortion. No One. To remove the nuance and dismiss the "health" of the mother as merely a far left, radical, and false argument is beyond infuriating. MORE infuriating than propping up Sarah Palin as an alternative for those of us who love and respect Hills. She's my home girl, I can call her that!

If he was the McCain of 2000 I sincerely believe that this race would have Obama heading toward defeat. The centrist, rational, "maverick" approach might of worked. But finally someone is beating the Republicans at their own game. Empty pledges, thinly veiled racism (I said it) and attempts to provoke fear or hate are not working. Ok, perhaps they are working among the fringe far right and even his base. But he had them. Independents and Republicans disillusioned with the last 8 years of mess and mayhem are simply saying no more.

McCain's positions and statements are falling on deaf ears, not because the public has been hypnotized by Obama's oh so eloquent speech. Many of us are educated. More of us, in this election particularly, have started paying attention to more than soundbites and swift boat tactics. We are not so stupid to believe that Obama is a friend to terrorists. So naive to believe that being a part of Washington for almost 30 years automatically places McCain on higher ground. We are not so blind to not notice that what he is peddling is at best empty and at worst a repeat of the last 8 years. He is out of touch and seemingly out of his mind.

At the end of last night's debate I found myself thinking, is he trying to lose? Are his advisers losing it? Is he losing it? Perhaps he had some strong words for Obama, "I am not George Bush" but they were not enough. He repeatedly opened the door for Obama to look like the thoughtful, patient, measured, rational, cool candidate. Not because he is so eloquent, but more because he was not flailing almost seething. I can't imagine this man in a diplomatic situation. I was left with the distincet and unbelieveable feeling that I dislike this guy even more than I dislike W. I never thought that would be possible. Surely 8 years ago, it would not have been the case.

I was one of those primed to be stolen from the Dems this time. After Hillary lost the nomination I was pissed. It wasn't so much that I didn't like Obama, it was that Clinton was just so emminently qualified for the job and it pissed me off that it didn't go her way. I doubt seriously I would have voted Republican but if McCain had presented a centrist, open minded, thoughtful and rational approach to the war in Iraq, our economy, a woman's reproductive freedoms, and other issues that matter to most people, I may have had to think long and hard.

Unfortunately for McCain, he decided to sell his political soul to the far right. He solidified that base, but in the process he alienated millions of voters. I am hopeful that optimism, openmindedness, tolerance, appreciation for differences, and a pure and deep intelligence will win over these people.

I, for one, hope McCain goes down and I hope he goes down in flames. Metaphorical flames, of course, because otherwise I would be just like one of the nut jobs at his rallies.

P.S. For the record on Joe the Plumber...

1. Joe doesn't have a license
2. Joe is a registered Republican
3. Joe 6 pack is his cousin (just making that one up, I think)
4. Well just read for yourself...More about Joe.