2008 Woodie Awards
Voter Waiting to Be Inspired
In Critical Election, Tough to Get Excited Over Choices
Karl DeVries
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Opinion
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This November, as we are presented with arguably one of the most important presidential elections in the history of this nation, Americans must decide in the post-9/11 universe which man they feel is the best qualified to lead the free world and protect us, re-ignite our economy, and hold America's hand as we walk into an era of general uncertainty.
These are times when great men are in demand; England had Churchill; America had FDR; Russia had Gorbachev. However, as I look at the lukewarm choices I'm made to decide between, my method of decision comes down to which candidate I detest less.
I doubt this represents democracy in its ideal form of execution, and yet I still feel compelled to vote.
Torn between what I want and what I'm presented with, it's like going to Blanton dinner hungry.
I want a president with a strong foreign policy and a commitment to fight terrorism. And yet, preferably a president whose own family and business ties are not linked to one of America's most distrusted "allies" (Saudi Arabia).
I'd like a president whose views on abortion, environment, economy and other domestic issues are liberal in nature. On the other hand, I want my president to be a man I believe to be of strong personal character. It looks like I'm out of luck this year; maybe there's a decent president lying somewhere between the two.
When we live in an era where the conglomerate of news media is larger and fiercer than ever, when the personal lives of our candidates are ripped apart and strung out for all to see, when parties spend more time and energy prettying up and packaging their candidates rather than focusing on genuine leadership qualifications, we understand that the era of inspirational government has probably passed us by.
Of course, who am I to question this anyway? Maybe I just want to believe in something, just want to be stirred, just want to believe in the future. My unending loyalty and support waits for the man willing to really perform; until then, I won't just be waiting around.
These are times when great men are in demand; England had Churchill; America had FDR; Russia had Gorbachev. However, as I look at the lukewarm choices I'm made to decide between, my method of decision comes down to which candidate I detest less.
I doubt this represents democracy in its ideal form of execution, and yet I still feel compelled to vote.
Torn between what I want and what I'm presented with, it's like going to Blanton dinner hungry.
I want a president with a strong foreign policy and a commitment to fight terrorism. And yet, preferably a president whose own family and business ties are not linked to one of America's most distrusted "allies" (Saudi Arabia).
I'd like a president whose views on abortion, environment, economy and other domestic issues are liberal in nature. On the other hand, I want my president to be a man I believe to be of strong personal character. It looks like I'm out of luck this year; maybe there's a decent president lying somewhere between the two.
When we live in an era where the conglomerate of news media is larger and fiercer than ever, when the personal lives of our candidates are ripped apart and strung out for all to see, when parties spend more time and energy prettying up and packaging their candidates rather than focusing on genuine leadership qualifications, we understand that the era of inspirational government has probably passed us by.
Of course, who am I to question this anyway? Maybe I just want to believe in something, just want to be stirred, just want to believe in the future. My unending loyalty and support waits for the man willing to really perform; until then, I won't just be waiting around.