Yes, it’s that time of year again. All the newspapers endorse this time of year, and from what I’ve been reading on Editor and Publisher, Barack Obama is getting the lion’s share of endorsements. My readers have been literally (well, not literally…come to think of it, not even figuratively) swamping me with requests that I announce my endorsement for the highest office in the land. The suspense is killing them.
It’s true that I have said a lot of good things about Obama. But, other than the fact that I have hinted at times that I would sink into a clinical depression if he loses, I have not actually officially endorsed him.
The reason for this is that his opponent has qualities that must give one pause. He at least deserves some consideration. He has served his country long and, in the past, well. When he ran for president in 2000, I believed that a principled case could be made for voting for him, though I disagreed with those who made that case. He has been speaking out against the corporations, and has a long record of having opposed their interests and demanding stricter regulation of Wall Street. He is the original maverick, and has demonstrated in this election that he will stick to his positions even as his former supporters question his decisions and desert him in droves.
On the other hand, he supported Barry Goldwater in 1964. His decision making has been rather suspect. His running mate is a person of questionable competence and experience. Most of all, however, I still can’t forgive him for what he did to the country in 2000, and what he’s tried to do to it since then. At one time it appeared he genuinely cared about this nation, but lately it appears that he’d be more than willing to destroy the country in service of his own ego. When all is said and done, I simply can’t endorse Ralph Nader’s presidential run, so I am giving the CTBlue 2008 presidential endorsement to Barack Obama.
So, the suspense is over. Have a good weekend.
