Norm Coleman is one of the current senators for Minnesota. He is up for re-election this November. He was formerly the may of Minneapolis, before becoming a senator. These are the facts about him, but as I have tried to search, to find out what drives him, who he is and what is important to him, I have found scant evidence.
There are, of course, two possible causes of this. First, that he is not well-known outside of Minnesota, and so people have not made much attempt to reach down and determine who he is. Second, he is trying to keep those things secret. I think the second is a much more likely scenario, because he lacks conviction in the things that he says in his own website.
My attempt with this blog is to put to the forefront the qualities and attributes of the leaders of this country, be they good or bad. It seems to me that Norm Coleman is hiding behind the issues. As I come to do more research, perhaps I will find that many senators not seeking the presidency also have this tendency. Only time will tell.
For now, though, it seems that there are a few things that he wants people to think he thinks are important. First of all - getting things done. Second - that he wants what is best for Minnesota. If porkbarrel spending that helps a few interests groups in Minnesota is what he means, then he has succeeded, but I think that those sorts of actions come at the cost of hurting America as a whole.
With elections, though, it always gets tricky, because the choice often comes down to - vote for this person, or the other guy. So are the people he is running against better for America? That, I do not have an answer for. I really feel like I have no answers. Who is Norm Coleman? I don't know. So with this guy, I guess the only advice I can give is to vote with the issues, because there ain't a whole lot there besides.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
John McCain
It is refreshing to be able to get all the information you need from someone's own website. Reading about John McCain on his site, I saw both good and adequate, though I did not realize the adequate until I read the good.
There are some things he cares a lot about, and some things he cares about, because it is politics. That is evident just from the way he addresses the issues. He believes in government reform, in public finance. It is a problem that a lot of everyday Americans don't see, but I can tell that he sees it, and he thinks it is a problem, and he is working to eradicate it. He is doing that because he believes in America, and believes in change. Campaign finance reform is not the kind of thing that wins elections -- he's doing it because he believes it.
He also believes in the military. That can be both good and bad. He may have more of a tendency to look for military answers rather than diplomatic. He does know the military, though, and knows how to use it.
If my only consideration of McCain was that he is a senator, I would have no qualms with him. He is doing work that needs to be done there, trying to get our country on the right track. I do not question his ability to think through those issues. I am left wondering, though, how he will act as president when push comes to shove on the issues that he is not a sure about.
As a senator, he is a great asset to our nation. He shows us that we can make a difference on issues that other people don't care about, just because we do care about them. I trust him on campaign finance, on pork barrel spending, and those are things I do not care about, but I am glad to know that he does. His actions tell me that I should care, and so I support his positions and decisions there. To have someone who can lead with what they care about, and who does not just cater to lobbyists or even just to voters, that is rare.
There are some things he cares a lot about, and some things he cares about, because it is politics. That is evident just from the way he addresses the issues. He believes in government reform, in public finance. It is a problem that a lot of everyday Americans don't see, but I can tell that he sees it, and he thinks it is a problem, and he is working to eradicate it. He is doing that because he believes in America, and believes in change. Campaign finance reform is not the kind of thing that wins elections -- he's doing it because he believes it.
He also believes in the military. That can be both good and bad. He may have more of a tendency to look for military answers rather than diplomatic. He does know the military, though, and knows how to use it.
If my only consideration of McCain was that he is a senator, I would have no qualms with him. He is doing work that needs to be done there, trying to get our country on the right track. I do not question his ability to think through those issues. I am left wondering, though, how he will act as president when push comes to shove on the issues that he is not a sure about.
As a senator, he is a great asset to our nation. He shows us that we can make a difference on issues that other people don't care about, just because we do care about them. I trust him on campaign finance, on pork barrel spending, and those are things I do not care about, but I am glad to know that he does. His actions tell me that I should care, and so I support his positions and decisions there. To have someone who can lead with what they care about, and who does not just cater to lobbyists or even just to voters, that is rare.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Hillary Clinton
I haven't read all of Hillary's book, but I think enough to get the general feel of what she is saying about herself, and today I was doing research on her on the internet. Her book had the very positive side, and the internet had the very negative side. I figure somewhere in the middle is probably the truth.
Hillary is someone who started out wanting to make a difference in the world. She cares about women's rights, and worked her life to effect change. She cares about the problems in the world - children without education, without advocates, about people without healthcare, about countries without democracy. I don't think this is just the view of herself that she sells to the nation - I believe it is the version of herself that she sells to herself. If that were not a part of her, I think it would be easy to see her as evil. She is willing to go to any lengths to be in power.
As a blog about leadership, the main fact that matters is that she is divisive. Some people love her - they see the side of her that wants to do all of that good, and they want to support that. I understand that point of view - there is a lot of good in the world that she desires to do, but that is not the only part of her. Many people dislike here, even go so strong to say that they hate her. It is because she is willing to do anything for power. She has no scruples about how to get power. That she wants to do good things with that power, there is no doubt, but it does not change her willingness to do anything to get the power.
She likes to play on fears, encourage divisiveness, and discount the electoral processes -- all for the sake of her campaign. She is not necessarily a bad person. She to me has this view of herself as the mother of America. She is the parent that will do anything to protect her child, whether it is legal, moral, ethical or not. With that attitude, she can do some good, but what is the cost in the example she will set for the nation?
She is divisive, and what we need is unity.
She has done some good in the world, and I think she will do more good in the world working not as a politician. The power is too much for her.
Hillary is someone who started out wanting to make a difference in the world. She cares about women's rights, and worked her life to effect change. She cares about the problems in the world - children without education, without advocates, about people without healthcare, about countries without democracy. I don't think this is just the view of herself that she sells to the nation - I believe it is the version of herself that she sells to herself. If that were not a part of her, I think it would be easy to see her as evil. She is willing to go to any lengths to be in power.
As a blog about leadership, the main fact that matters is that she is divisive. Some people love her - they see the side of her that wants to do all of that good, and they want to support that. I understand that point of view - there is a lot of good in the world that she desires to do, but that is not the only part of her. Many people dislike here, even go so strong to say that they hate her. It is because she is willing to do anything for power. She has no scruples about how to get power. That she wants to do good things with that power, there is no doubt, but it does not change her willingness to do anything to get the power.
She likes to play on fears, encourage divisiveness, and discount the electoral processes -- all for the sake of her campaign. She is not necessarily a bad person. She to me has this view of herself as the mother of America. She is the parent that will do anything to protect her child, whether it is legal, moral, ethical or not. With that attitude, she can do some good, but what is the cost in the example she will set for the nation?
She is divisive, and what we need is unity.
She has done some good in the world, and I think she will do more good in the world working not as a politician. The power is too much for her.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Barack Obama
His true power comes in words, not in debates, but in speeches and writing. He is inspiring. His story in inspiring too. He made it to the Senate, all without the politics of mudslinging. He is running a campaign on money from everyday American voters, rather than the money from lobbyists. He looks at the face of Washington, and says "We can do better", and tries to do better himself. He believes that we can change the politics of Washington.
He is clear-headed and intelligent. He has certain stances on issues, but he is willing to work together with republicans to help the American people. He will rethink his stance on issues when he hears it from the other side, when he hears another way of thinking about it.
He is in power because he truly believes that he can make a difference in the world, and that is why he seeks to be president. Hope like his is infectious. He has given the American people, has given me, someone to believe again in politics.
He says what he believes. Not many people in politics stand up for what they believe in. They say it if it is politically convenient. He says it because he thinks it is right. He spoke out on the Iraq war from the beginning, even when it was popular to support the war. He spoke, even though it was politically unpopular, because it is what he believed was right.
He is the Smith who went to Washington, but in our day. When I think of Barack Obama, I cannot think but that we are blessed to have again in our day another Lincoln, another King, another JFK. People say that inspiring speeches are just all fluff, that they just make you feel good, but they do more than that -- they change people's lives. It is not policy and laws alone that will make the politics of Washington be better -- it is something to strive for. Obama is that example. It is someone who inspires people to be better, and inspires the public to believe in politics again. Obama does that.
This blog exists because of Obama and the type of person he is. I am interested in politics, because I believe it can be more than just a dirty game, and I only believe it because I have seen what Obama can do. The media is driven by ratings and making money -- what sells? Intrigue. Scandals. But politics is more than that. Our political leaders should be more than avoiding scandal. They should be able to show the American people why they got into politics, not what they feel they have to do to stay in politics.
One man giving an inspiring speech can move the masses. He can do more than just what he can do alone. Obama has a lot of people behind him, who care about him and what he is doing, because he inspired them. It is that he can inspire people that makes him so strong. For then, he is not just Obama alone, he is everyone behind him as well. I am working to do my small part in making the change he wants in Washington. He has me behind him, all because of his words.
He is clear-headed and intelligent. He has certain stances on issues, but he is willing to work together with republicans to help the American people. He will rethink his stance on issues when he hears it from the other side, when he hears another way of thinking about it.
He is in power because he truly believes that he can make a difference in the world, and that is why he seeks to be president. Hope like his is infectious. He has given the American people, has given me, someone to believe again in politics.
He says what he believes. Not many people in politics stand up for what they believe in. They say it if it is politically convenient. He says it because he thinks it is right. He spoke out on the Iraq war from the beginning, even when it was popular to support the war. He spoke, even though it was politically unpopular, because it is what he believed was right.
He is the Smith who went to Washington, but in our day. When I think of Barack Obama, I cannot think but that we are blessed to have again in our day another Lincoln, another King, another JFK. People say that inspiring speeches are just all fluff, that they just make you feel good, but they do more than that -- they change people's lives. It is not policy and laws alone that will make the politics of Washington be better -- it is something to strive for. Obama is that example. It is someone who inspires people to be better, and inspires the public to believe in politics again. Obama does that.
This blog exists because of Obama and the type of person he is. I am interested in politics, because I believe it can be more than just a dirty game, and I only believe it because I have seen what Obama can do. The media is driven by ratings and making money -- what sells? Intrigue. Scandals. But politics is more than that. Our political leaders should be more than avoiding scandal. They should be able to show the American people why they got into politics, not what they feel they have to do to stay in politics.
One man giving an inspiring speech can move the masses. He can do more than just what he can do alone. Obama has a lot of people behind him, who care about him and what he is doing, because he inspired them. It is that he can inspire people that makes him so strong. For then, he is not just Obama alone, he is everyone behind him as well. I am working to do my small part in making the change he wants in Washington. He has me behind him, all because of his words.
Friday, March 7, 2008
The daunting task of the First Post
I need to write this post, more for me than for anyone who may eventually read this blog. I need to write this post so that I can actually keep this blog.
These posts aren't going to be perfect. They will be researched, but I do not have the time to go through 100-200 hours of research for each post, which is what I think it would take to really do these justice. So as a disclaimer -- I will not be able to give a full view of this person's role in politics. I will be giving a snapshot, but I hope it can go beyond the soundbyte.
I have been intimidated in trying to figure out how to describe Obama. I know a lot about him. I have followed his campaign for the presidency closely for a long time. I like him, but I don't know what to say about him. That being said, I will probably fumble a lot in the beginning. Things may seem chaotic and not unified. That is because I am figuring out how to do this as it goes along. Hopefully in a year from now, I will be better than I am today.
To those reading this blog who want to see a change, and feel like they want to be a part of it -- I welcome you. I think it will take more than one blog of alternatives to start to change the face of the media and the face of soundbyte politics. I cannot do it alone. I need readers, and it will take a whole lot of other writers who want to change the face of American politics. We can learn and grow together, and make the American political process one we actually feel like participating in.
These posts aren't going to be perfect. They will be researched, but I do not have the time to go through 100-200 hours of research for each post, which is what I think it would take to really do these justice. So as a disclaimer -- I will not be able to give a full view of this person's role in politics. I will be giving a snapshot, but I hope it can go beyond the soundbyte.
I have been intimidated in trying to figure out how to describe Obama. I know a lot about him. I have followed his campaign for the presidency closely for a long time. I like him, but I don't know what to say about him. That being said, I will probably fumble a lot in the beginning. Things may seem chaotic and not unified. That is because I am figuring out how to do this as it goes along. Hopefully in a year from now, I will be better than I am today.
To those reading this blog who want to see a change, and feel like they want to be a part of it -- I welcome you. I think it will take more than one blog of alternatives to start to change the face of the media and the face of soundbyte politics. I cannot do it alone. I need readers, and it will take a whole lot of other writers who want to change the face of American politics. We can learn and grow together, and make the American political process one we actually feel like participating in.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Not Issues
People look at a man like Barack Obama, and they see people flock to him, worried that people are not paying attention enough to who he is, and just following the media's soundbyte politics. In our country, we have become a nation of issues. What is his stance on abortion, on stem cell research, on the environment? We are driven by issues, and there is a pretty justifiable reason why. All of the soundbyte politics supports the supposition that we care only about the issues.
But there is something more important than just the issues. The reason people love Obama is not because he perfectly coincides with their stances on the issues. People love Obama because he is a leader. We have seen a strong drought of leaders in our times. And perhaps, there have been leaders, but all we get is their soundbytes. Obama has been dedicated to being who he is, and has been somewhat fortunate in succeeding, despite not playing the Washington game.
Why do I want Obama and not Hillary? Why do I want Obama and not McCain? It has little to do with issues. It has to do with leadership, inspiration, and honest intelligence. Obama tells me the truth. He believes that honesty still means something in this country, and that you don't have to be calculating to get to be president.
The irony is that I think Hillary and McCain, and many of the other candidates, contain that potential, but their time in Washington has shown them that straightforward honesty and true leadership is not valued by the nation.
I want to send Washington a different message. My goal in making this blog is to present events in Washington as they really are -- the day in and day out, and not just the soundbyte politics that so many are guided by, because it is the only access we have.
I haven't quite figured out how to meet this goal. I live in Utah and not in D.C., so it may be harder for me to access things. Probably the best way to start is just with the senate. Each week I'll release a post about the senators, as much information as I can find, their voting records, but also their views on their votes, things that I think are good and bad about them. My first week will be Obama, and then the next week Hillary, then McCain. From there, I will move on through, trying to make sure I will hit all of those who are seeking re-election this year before elections, and then on to the rest.
My goal is to present senators in their success at leadership, and not just their views on issues. I think few of us today would say we wouldn't vote for George Washington because he wasn't against or for abortion. We would look and want to see his reasoning, and still perhaps disagree with him, but think his leadership more important than his stance on one certain issue.
But there is something more important than just the issues. The reason people love Obama is not because he perfectly coincides with their stances on the issues. People love Obama because he is a leader. We have seen a strong drought of leaders in our times. And perhaps, there have been leaders, but all we get is their soundbytes. Obama has been dedicated to being who he is, and has been somewhat fortunate in succeeding, despite not playing the Washington game.
Why do I want Obama and not Hillary? Why do I want Obama and not McCain? It has little to do with issues. It has to do with leadership, inspiration, and honest intelligence. Obama tells me the truth. He believes that honesty still means something in this country, and that you don't have to be calculating to get to be president.
The irony is that I think Hillary and McCain, and many of the other candidates, contain that potential, but their time in Washington has shown them that straightforward honesty and true leadership is not valued by the nation.
I want to send Washington a different message. My goal in making this blog is to present events in Washington as they really are -- the day in and day out, and not just the soundbyte politics that so many are guided by, because it is the only access we have.
I haven't quite figured out how to meet this goal. I live in Utah and not in D.C., so it may be harder for me to access things. Probably the best way to start is just with the senate. Each week I'll release a post about the senators, as much information as I can find, their voting records, but also their views on their votes, things that I think are good and bad about them. My first week will be Obama, and then the next week Hillary, then McCain. From there, I will move on through, trying to make sure I will hit all of those who are seeking re-election this year before elections, and then on to the rest.
My goal is to present senators in their success at leadership, and not just their views on issues. I think few of us today would say we wouldn't vote for George Washington because he wasn't against or for abortion. We would look and want to see his reasoning, and still perhaps disagree with him, but think his leadership more important than his stance on one certain issue.
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