Don't Repeat History!

Over the last couple of days I've thought a lot about the presidential election of 1928. There are some striking similarities between that election and the one we're facing now. Like 2008, no incumbents were running and the field was wide open.

Herbert Hoover was chosen to represent the Republican party. Al Smith was the Democratic nominee. Two of the main issues of the day were Prohibition and religion. Religion was particularly important because Al Smith was Catholic and it was feared that his presidency would be ruled by the Catholic Church.

Hoover was in favor of keeping the Prohibition. Smith wanted to repeal it, though he chose a running mate who favored it. Compare that with the modern-day issue of abortion. Since shortly before choosing Palin, McCain has been adamantly "pro-life." Obama is "pro-choice," though he has said that he hopes to reduce the need and demand for abortions. Like Prohibition, abortion is a wedge issue that doesn't have much to do with the everyday challenges of most Americans but gets everyone riled up.

As we now know, Hoover won that election. Fear of Catholicism played a role, as well as Smith's stand on Prohibition. And what happened next?

In October 1929 the stock market crashed, bringing about the conditions for the Great Depression. Camps for the homeless went up in some cities and were called Hoovervilles. Grown men stood in bread lines to feed their families. Many lost everything.

While America starved, Hoover dined comfortably in the White House. He refused to meet with the World War I soldiers who insisted on receiving their promised bonus. He wasn't personally affected. But his name will always be associated with the Great Depression.

To be fair, it wasn't only Hoover's fault. Harding led a corrupt administration for three years before his mysterious death and Coolidge was known as a do-nothing president who gave business free rein. He was a Republican, after all, and opposed to regulation.

As I write, the conditions for the next Great Depression may already be in place. But we still have a choice.

On November 4 we can elect the Republican candidate who argues that the fundamentals of the economy are basically strong. He owns seven or nine houses and will survive any downturn. He is against regulation of business and favors continuing many of the policies, including tax cuts for the rich, that were implemented by Bush.

Or we can elect the Democratic candidate. He faces some real obstacles because of his race and because of the persistent lies about his religious beliefs. But he wil regulate businesses and take care of the middle class while increasing taxes for the rich.

Do we really want another Great Depression? My vote is for Barack Obama.

I Have to Say It

I've deliberately stayed away from this blog, waiting for the whole Sarah Palin thing to blow over so we can get back to a normal presidential campaign. But it's not happening and I can't just walk away from this. So here goes.

I won't address the question of maternity, Troopergate, or any of the other potential scandals surrounding the VP nominee. I have something more important in mind.

It's become popular to say that a mother can take on the duties of a vice president, just the same as a father can. Palin has five children. Obama has two. If he doesn't have to worry about the effects of his candidacy on his young children, then neither should she.

But that's not the way it works. Mothers are different. When my husband is napping in the afternoon and I'm trying to grab a few moments for myself, who do the kids come to? Who do my kids call when they're away at college and need money? Who coordinates the schedules and knows what everyone is doing at any particular time?

My husband is a very good father, but my role as mother is still more encompassing than his parental involvement. It always has been and, I imagine, it always will be. I make the phone calls, buy the presents, send the encouraging emails and provide the care packages. I help with the homework and communicate with the teachers. That's the way it is.

There are some fathers out there who do parent as well as, or even better than, mothers. They're doing a great job. But they are far from the norm. In most families, the mom is the one who keeps her fingers on the pulse of the family, anticipating everyone's needs.

I have six kids, ages twenty-six (I still can't believe that!) to thirteen. We're talking all the way from marriage and grandkids to finishing middle school. My kids don't have any special needs but they need me plenty. I just sent one away to college last month. Next year I have another one starting high school. From fender benders to unemployment, we have our share of challenges.

Sarah Palin has five kids. Not quite as many as me. But two of her kids do have special needs--the pregnant teen and the tiny infant. She's sending her oldest to Iraq and those two girls in the middle need attention, too. But where is Mom? She's on the campaign trail.

I'm an author and I fantasize about going out on the road to promote my books, city to city, one book-signing and interview to the next. I have kids, though, and even though they're not babies they need me. My career is important to me, but it can wait. My family always comes first.

Why doesn't Sarah Palin feel that way?

Stress and Politics

I meant to post every day, or at least four days a week. I really did. But, you know, it's always something.

The good news is that I'm sick with a nasty head cold right now so I'm forced to sit in front of the computer and blog. The bad news is that my head is clogged, my voice won't work and I think I'm running a low-grade fever, so I can guarantee the quality of this post.

On top of the head cold, I have a couple of chronic illnesses. One of the things I should always avoid is stress. Which is why it's ludicrous for me to be sitting here, listening to Guiliani's speech while I write.

The lies never end. I need to turn down the volume and help my body. There, that's done. But I do want to hear Palin. I'm not sure why.

Since Friday, I have been almost obsessed with the choice of Sarah Palin for VP. It's like driving slowly past a terrible car accident. craning my neck to take in every last detail. Her choice is an insult to me, and to millions of women. We are not interchangeable. And you can't just pluck up a grossly inexperienced governor and pass her off as the best thing since sliced bread. (I'm showing my age!)

There are so many issues here I don't know where to start. There's the state investigation. There's the mother with a pregnant teen daughter and a seriously challenged infant. I've raised six kids and there is no way I would expose my kids, who don't have those kinds of problems, to the stress of the vice-presidency. It sounds sexist to many, but I believe a mother is different than a father. Fathers can raise children, and some do an excellent job of it. But a mother who has given birth to and nursed a child has a special bond.

Anyway, what Guiliani is doing is mostly ragging on Obama. (I'm old, but my kids keep my language young.) Thankfully there are two more months until the election and I really think something will happen to make Obama the obvious choice to all but a few.

I turned down the sound. I need to avoid stress. And as soon as this cold is finished I need to get on the phone or whatever and do everything I can to make sure that Barack Obama is the next president of the United States.

End the Insanity

I was born during a Republican administration. But this administration didn't lie, cheat, and lead the nation into war. Under Eisenhower, our country moved forward. A general, he presided over peaceful times. His greatest legacy was the interstate highway system we still use.

Nixon had many flaws. Things really began to go downhill, though, in 1980 with the dawning of the Reagan legacy. For the last 28 years I have watched my country decline steadily in common sense and general intelligence, misled by those who use pithy slogans and ignore the true challenges facing us.

I hope we have reached the bottom. George W. Bush is in the White House. Unemployment and inflation are rapidly rising. Wars of invasion are being fought in two countries. Cynicism rules the land. And the American people have reached the point where many do not trust a leader who can speak well or show intelligence. We've become so used to the incompetence of G. W. Bush.

We have the opportunity to choose a new leader in November. Will we opt for the intelligent man with good ideas, or will we go with the one who graduated near the bottom of his class? Will we respect insightful oratory, or are we more drawn to character assassination? Those questions wouldn't have needed to be asked before 1980. That's how far our country has fallen.

I support Barack Obama and I did not drink the Kool-Aid. I read his policy statements and compared them with those of Hillary Clinton, as well as other Democratic candidates. Going into the general election I had some small respect for John McCain. That has disappeared in the dust of his negative ads.

I never thought of Obama as "the Messiah" or any other such nonsense. He's a grounded, intelligent individual who can tackle the numerous problems our country faces. That's all.

I'm tired of playing games. Let's end the insanity.