I usually pay a lot more attention to politics that I have of late. I am not sure if having a toddler that doesn’t sit still is the reason or if the reason lies in the fact that this seems to be the longest campaign season ever. I feel like the election should have happened about two years ago. Our primary is on Super Tuesday so we haven’t seen much actual campaigning going on yet and probably will not. I feel totally uninformed at this point. Hubby and I were talking a little last night pondering who we might give our vote to. I just don’t know. I feel like I don’t know anything about Obama or Edwards. For so long the entire political world focused on Clinton. She was the one questioned and interviewed and analyzed to death. Obama and Edwards were in the background for so long. I don’t really feel like their message has been overlooked–or maybe they don’t know their own message yet except that they are the Anti-Clinton. I just don’t know. I am ready to hear where they stand on Education and some other major social issues. I am tired of hearing who is or isn’t this or that.
So, Internet what do you think? I am not soliciting your advice because I am too lazy to make up my own mind and do my own research. I am really interested in your political interests. When you vote, how do you make your decision? Do you vote for the person of your conviction or do you vote for who you think can win? What is the most important issue to you? What should every great president have as a quality?
Onto sadness…Sunday one of Minnow’s caregivers from Ethiopia was killed in a car accident while enroute to pick up a baby. I am sad. She (as do the other nannies as well) loved these children and viewed them as her own. She leaves behind a husband and two small children. It is a sad day. She helped give the great gift of love Minnow received and had a hand in making him the amazing, kind, loving little baby he was and the loving boy he is becoming.
Genet you will be missed. Rest in peace.
Embracing Imperfection 
I am so sad to hear about Genet! I didn’t know her personally or even use your agency, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about her. When we were picking Amelie up a van of new kids came into the orphanage (literally, as we were standing there), and we asked lots of questions about how the whole transfer from satellite to main orphanages works. Without car seats, the nanny’s often have the babies on their laps, sleeping in boxes, etc. Having drove a lot in Ethiopia all we could think of was how dangerous that was for everyone involved, but clearly there isn’t another way. I know you will keep her memory alive for Minnow. I’ll be thinking of her family.
Onto politics. Hubby and I were both poly sci majors in college and because of that we were taught to watch and analyze the debates, commercials, etc. despite what side of the fence you fell on. We watched the double header debate the other night and discussed it the whole time and it was so interesting. I came away with such strong feelings about the candidates on either side.
I tend to be a Democrat (but am registered Independent), but Rudy made sense to me in the Republican debates. I also wanted to kick Mitt Romney off a cliff after watching that debate–good GAWD that man is pompous. And I felt like McCain looked & acted tired and beaten down–like he needed a cookie, a nap and some prozac.
In the Democrat debate, I expected to LOVE Obama…not so much. He didn’t seem to have much of a plan other than “CHANGE!”. Um, what sort of change, Barack? Hillary actually blew me away in that debate (until she started name calling…then she got annoying). She has such concrete action plans for EVERYTHING. She kinda made the others look like they hadn’t thought about anything. At all.
But all of this is just my opinion. If you listen to the analysts, they will say how poorly Hillary did, how much of a rock star Obama was. Were we watching the same debate?!
Hubby leans Republican (but is registered Independent) and we both walked away thinking the same thing–Rudy did well, Hillary did well. Obama and Edwards have promise, but they need to flesh out their ideas more. Someone needs to kick Mitt Romney off a cliff and give McCain a snack.
I’m actually really excited to see future debates, and I haven’t been excited about politics in a long, long time.
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Did you get to spend much time with Genet while you were there? I have several pictures I took of her and Boomer. I emailed my parents about it, it really is really really sad.
Oh, and politics…I heart Obama. Have for a while, plus he’s my Senator you know, so I send him lots of email 🙂 anyways and haven’t found many points on which I disagree with him…
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I am still undecided. I have narrowed my choices to Democrats, and I prefer Clinton, Edwards, and Obama, in no particular order. I, like you, need more information.
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My Aunt just told me about a quiz you can take on Glassbooth.com. It asks you a bunch of questions about what’s important to you and has you rate various things, then tells you which candidates most fit you. I took it last night and it told me the same thing the debates did–that I liked Clinton, followed by Obama. Republican hubby is apparently ALSO and Obama fan…who knew? It’s cool to check it out. It also tells you how UNLIKE other candidates you are.
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Go Obama! We may even, for the first time ever on any issue or for any candidate, put up a sign in the yard and a sticker on the car (-:
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