The Real Win...

Slightly modified from a comment I made on another website...

Today we will elect a new President. There will be a winner and a loser in this election. The one who lost will return to his "regular" life as a United States Senator. The one who won will begin preparation for a smooth transition of power.

And therein lies the win for the citizens of the United States of America. Whether it is President-Elect Obama come Wednesday morning or President-Elect McCain, the citizens of the United States of America will still wake to enjoy the freedoms ensured by our Constitution and Bill of Rights; free to declare who they voted for without fear of goon squads arriving at their door, free to teach their children how to respect the office of President of the United States because he was elected and will take power by the will of the people without a single gun fired in the process, free to stand amidst those who voted for either candidate with an extended arm of citizenship and pride because we are all citizens of this great nation.

Of course, we could also wake up on Wednesday morning with hate in our eyes and venom in our tongues. But what good would that serve this nation? What example does that set for the world?

On election day I vote my conscience and respect my fellow Americans to do the same. And on Wednesday, wherever the votes lead, I am grateful to be a citizen of the UNITED States of America.

Regards of the NW,
Kathryn Simpson

A New Dawn for Republicans

Until today I was going to sit out the rest of the Presidential campaign and grudgingly vote for Senator McCain in November. But this morning, Senator McCain announced his Vice Presidential running mate, Governor Sarah Palin.

Frankly, I didn't think McCain would have the courage to really address change in a VP pick. But he pleasantly surprised me.

Governor Palin is a regular person, who embodies working class America. She is a responsible Republican who stands up against corruption, even in her own political party. She is a responsible parent, who balances the needs of the community with the needs and aspirations of her family. She is a responsible American, who is willing to address tough issues and work towards what is best and right rather than what suits the desires of select special interests. She is a responsible maverick and I am a big fan those who know how to think and act independent of the political wind that whirls around them.

Governor Palin is not a Washington DC insider. She does not owe her soul to special this or special that. She is not well connected to lobbyists. She is not your average Republican. She is not the status quo.

Senator John McCain has earned my vote because he found the courage to start his change action plan now! Senator Obama says he wants change, but chose Senator Joe Biden (in the U.S. Senate since 1974). Does that speak to a real change action plan? Until today, I did not see either candidate distinguish himself as an agent of real change. That all changed this morning!

Today I see that Senator McCain understands that real leadership requires risk, that real change only occurs when there is a real catalyst to make it happen, that America deserves real changes over the status quo!

Vote McCain/Palin!