I want my money back! (AND my country!)

The U.S. taxpayers provide $50 million per party for these shams called conventions. After watching the chicago version of a staged roll call and what amounted to a real deathblow to democracy, I want to ask every one to write their congressional representatives and senators and demand their money back!  I don’t feel like I need to pay for advertising rigged elections, false unity, and forced results.

I didn’t blog yesterday on Hillary’s speech and I’m really reluctant to do so on Bill’s speech because they both did an excellent job doing exactly what the party demanded.  They were brilliant speeches making the case against McCain and any continuation of the Bush 43 policies.  This was supposed to make the case for Senator Obama.  I felt they tried, but since the case FOR Obama is basically nothing BUT the case AGAINST McCain, even the brilliant oratory of skilled politicians couldn’t do it for me.  I’m glad that many AA’s will get the chance to vote for a black presidential candidate, but there has to be something going for a presidential candidate other than an opponent that doesn’t share your views and historical opportunities.  That candidate has to have a proven record that shows he’s up for the job.  Senator Obama falls woefully short on that account and I cannot turn my country over to another President that requires training wheels and is so obviously over his head on issues regarding the economy and national security.  He may get to appoint a Supreme Court Justice, but he also has to decide what to do with the resurgence of Russian Aggression, Osama Bin Laden, and a stagnant economy that is not providing equal opportunities for all Americans.

I am so damned tired of feeling that the Democratic Party has offered us the lesser of two evils and I just need to fall in, I could scream.  I want to feel inspired by a presidential candidate, not feel like I have to reluctantly go along with whatever the party insiders offer up.  I think, PUMAS, it’s time for a party of our own making.

I’ve spoken about this election to what I consider typical Americans.  I asked several of the women I teach with at the University if they’ve been watching any of the convention.  I’ve talked to my dad and sister in Seattle.  Every one pretty much agrees, once again, we have two choices that none of us really want.  Dad–a Republican–doesn’t want McCain.  Most of the folks I speak to, other than my young students, really don’t want Obama.  I hear so many folks saying that this is the worse choice they’ve had for a long time and they feel like staying home rather than exercising their most sacred duty and wonderful gift from our ancestors, the right to vote for who will lead us.

So what I want to know is why do have to pay for this sham upfront if I’m going to spend the next four years paying for this Hobson’s choice?  Why do I want to scream and say, not again!  This is just another set of mediocre politicans that have pandered to the worst of their party’s interests.

Something has to be done about the two party system.  Since the birth of the televised convention, democracy is becoming less and less vibrant.  It is more a televised attempt at giving us what they want. I even felt that the primaries and caucuses this year were a complete waste of money.  They’ve been fixed and gamed to produce a desired result.  Caucuses need to be eliminated.  Primaries need to be held on a rotating calander and a regional basis with a very short election cycle.  Iowa keeps creating these losers and needs to be put into a pack with the rest of the heartland and no state should have any kind of special status.

Last presidential election cycle, I felt I got stuck with John Kerry by the time Louisiana had it’s primary.  I knew he was a complete loser but went along any way.  By that time, I had no choice in it.  My vote was meaningless.  I also felt that when I voted for him, I knew I was voting for a predestined loser.  This time, I refuse to do it.  Obama cannot win and I refuse to put any effort into pretending he will.  I’m frankly expecting a repeat of the McGovern-Nixon election.  Have any of you ever heard of a situation where a candidate gets a negative bounce with a vp selection and during a convention?  The DNC is too caught up with itself to stop this disaster in process.

I’d like to put my two cents in for the future of the PUMA movement.  It’s something I’ve been putting forward here for some time.  We need to spend the next four years building the infrastructure for a viable THIRD party.  One that is based on the American people.  One that removes itself from corporate control and the control of those loud and obnoxious interest groups we see every convention time.  I don’t want to pander to evangelicals, I don’t want us split up by skin color,  and I definitely don’t want to obsess on wedge issues.  I just want a party that is interested in the economic issues and the safety issues we face every day as americans.  I want to focus on our shared interests.  I want to focus on  our health, our safety, the future of our children, jobs, and an equitable tax system.

Is that too much to ask?