We’ve had new appointments to President Elect Obama’s Cabinet since my last post, I will get to that later.  As I listen to and read the news and blogs today, I can’t help but wonder about the connection between the quality and integrity of our leaders, and our economic situation. Of course I’m referring to Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois wanting to buy Obama’s Senate seat…maybe I’m a bit naive, but I didn’t even know things like that could be “bought”. Forgive me, but all that flowed through my mind as I listened to comments about the things he said while wire-tapped was the old movies about the Chicago mafia that I’ve watched.

I know all of our leaders are not corrupt, but I can understand an even greater concern on the part of “common” people, the people on Main Street, or as in my case on Rural Roads,  NOT Wall Street, when we hear such things, and think that these are the people managing money that is taken from our paychecks. What do you do in a situation like this? Who can you trust? You know from reading my blog that I believe God is above all and will guide those who trust in Him through it all, and it does make it easier to live day by day knowing that.

It also helps to know that there are good companies out there who want to help people through the process of working through financial challenges…companies like The March Group featured in Newsweek, who are especially helpful to businesses that are struggling in a big way right now. I am not knowledgeable about what goes on behind closed doors in big, medium or small business, but I am watching the affect on my son…he has been home more than at work lately as his company cannot pay the employees right now, and they are in need of guidance. March Group helps in areas that are way above my head, with things like acquisitions, mergers (VERY common during the present economic crisis), business plans, finances, and so much more.

Many of us have taken things for granted, and don’t have answers, it is good to know there are companies and people that know more than we do and can give direction.

As I type, Obama has 207 Electoral Votes, and McCain, 138, and it’s looking like the huge crowds gathering in Chicago-land at Grant Park will have good reason to celebrate.  I’m going to hang in there for the declaration of winner, concession speech, and the speech of our new President.

Hubby went to close the local polls, things went the way he hoped in our area,  he’s resigned to whatever is going to happen as far as the Presidential election, and has to get up very early to go to work, so he’s snoring away in the other room.  I’ll only wake him if something miraculous happens.

I know, you’re right, it is a miraculous night no matter who wins.  Back later, getting back to watching them crunch the numbers.

Today the hubby passed along an email written by a man in Chicago that’s been passed about a bit who sounds like he is an independent, not with either party.  I haven’t “snoped” it to check whether it’s a valid email or not, but many could have written this letter with all sincerity - what he says speaks to the silent ones (the lazy ones?) that aren’t getting up in arms about the election, and to those who are just voting for so-in-so without much thought as to why.  It’s a bit long, but worth the read:

My name is Joe Porter. I live in Champaign , Illinois .. I’m 46 years old, a born-again Christian, a husband, a father, a small business owner, a veteran, and a homeowner. I don’t consider myself to be either conservative or liberal, and I vote for the person, not Republican or Democrat. I don’t believe there are ‘two Americas ‘ but that every person in this country can be whomever and whatever they want to be if they’ll just work to get there and nowhere else on earth can they find such opportunities. I believe our government should help those who are legitimately downtrodden, and should always put the interests of America first.

The purpose of this message is that I’m concerned about the future of this great nation. I’m worried that the silent majority of honest, hard-working, tax-paying people in this country have been passive for too long. Most folks I know choose not to involve themselves in politics. They go about their daily lives, paying their bills, raising their kids, and doing what they can to maintain the good life. They vote and consider doing so to be a sacred trust. They shake their heads at the political pundits and so-called ‘news’, thinking that what they hear is always spun by whomever is reporting it. They can’t understand how elected officials can regularly violate the public trust with pork barrel spending. They don’t want government handouts. They want the government to protect them, not raise their taxes for more government programs.

We are in the unique position in this country of electing our leaders. It’s a privilege to do so. I’ve never found a candidate in any election with whom I agreed on everything. I’ll wager that most of us don’t even agree with our families or spouses 100% of the time. So when I step into that voting booth, I always try to look at the big picture and cast my vote for the man or woman who is best qualified for the job. I’ve hired a lot of people in my lifetime, and essentially that’s what an election is - a hiring process. Who has the credentials? Whom do I want working for me? Whom can I trust to do the job right?

I’m concerned that a growing number of voters in this country simply don’t get it. They are caught up in a fervor they can’t explain, and calling it ‘change’.

‘Change what?’, I ask.

‘Well, we’re going to change America ‘, they say.

‘In what way?’, I query.

‘We want someone new and fresh in the White House’, they exclaim.

‘So, someone who’s not a politician?’, I say.

‘Uh, well, no, we just want a lot of stuff changed, so we’re voting for Obama’, they state.

‘So the current system, the system of freedom and democracy that has enabled a man to grow up in this great country, get a fine education, raise incredible amounts of money and dominate the news, and win his party’s nomination for the White House that system’s all wrong?’

‘No, no, that part of the system’s okay we just need a lot of change.’

And so it goes. ‘Change we can believe in.’

Quite frankly, I don’t believe that vague proclamations of change hold any promise for me. In recent months, I’ve been asking virtually everyone I encounter how they’re voting. I live in Illinois , so most folks tell me they’re voting for Barack Obama. But no one can really tell me why only that he’s going to change a lot of stuff ‘Change, change, change.’ I have yet to find one single person who can tell me distinctly and convincingly why this man is qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on earth other than the fact that he claims he’s going to implement a lot of change.

We’ve all seen the emails about Obama’s genealogy, his upbringing, his Muslim background, and his church affiliations. Let’s ignore this for a moment. Put it all aside. Then ask yourself, ‘What qualifies this man to be my president? That he’s a brilliant orator and talks about change?’

CHANGE WHAT?

Friends, I’ll be forthright with you I believe the American voters who are supporting Barack Obama don’t have a clue what they’re doing, as evidenced by the fact that not one of them - NOT ONE of them I’ve spoken to can spell out his qualifications. Not even the most liberal media can explain why he should be elected. Political experience? Negligible. Foreign relations? Non-existent. Achievements? Name one. Someone who wants to unite the country? If you haven’t read his wife’s thesis from Princeton , look it up on the web. This is who’s lining up to be our next First Lady? The only thing I can glean from Obama’s constant harping about change is that we’re in for a lot of new taxes.

For me, the choice is clear. I’ve looked carefully at the two leading applicants for the job, and I’ve made my choice.

Here’s a question - ‘Where were you five and a half years ago? Around Christmas, 2002. You’ve had five or six birthdays in that time.. My son has grown from a sixth grade child to a high school graduate Five and a half years is a good chunk of time. About 2,000 days. 2,000 nights of sleep. 6, 000 meals, give or take.’

John McCain spent that amount of time, from 1967 to 1973, in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp.

When offered early release, he refused it. He considered this offer to be a public relations stunt by his captors, and insisted that those held longer than he should be released first. Did you get that part? He was offered his freedom, and he turned it down. A regimen of beatings and torture began.

Do you possess such strength of character? Locked in a filthy cell in a foreign country, would you turn down your own freedom in favor of your fellow man? I submit that’s a quality of character that is rarely found, and for me, this singular act defines John McCain.

Unlike several presidential candidates in recent years whose military service is questionable or non-existent, you will not find anyone to denigrate the integrity and moral courage of this man. A graduate of Annapolis, during his Naval service he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. His own son is now serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq .. Barack Obama is fond of saying ‘We honor John McCain’s service…BUT…’, which to me is condescending and offensive - because what I hear is, ‘Let’s forget this man’s sacrifice for his country, and his proven leadership abilities, and talk some more about change.’

I don’t agree with John McCain on everything - but I am utterly convinced that he is qualified to be our next President, and I trust him to do what’s right. I know in my heart that he has the best interests of our country in mind. He doesn’t simply want to be President - he wants to lead America , and there’s a huge difference. Factually, there is simply no comparison between the two candidates. A man of questionable background and motives who prattles on about change, can’t hold a candle to a man who has devoted his life in public service to this nation, retiring from the Navy in1981 and elected to the Senate in1982.

Perhaps Obama’s supporters are taking a stance between old and new. Maybe they don’t care about McCain’s service or his strength of character, or his unblemished qualifications to be President. Maybe ‘likeability’ is a higher priority for them than ‘trust’. Being a prisoner of war is not what qualifies John McCain to be President of the United States of America - but his demonstrated leadership certainly DOES.

Dear friends, it is time for us to stand. It is time for thinking Americans to say, ‘Enough.’ It is time for people of all parties to stop following the party line. It is time for anyone who wants to keep America first, who wants the right man leading their nation, to start a dialogue with all their friends and neighbors and ask who they’re voting for, and why.

There’s a lot of evil in this world. That should be readily apparent to all of us by now. And when faced with that evil as we are now, I want a man who knows the cost of war on his troops and on his citizens. I want a man who puts my family’s interests before any foreign country.

I want a President who’s qualified to lead.

I want my country back, and I’m voting for John McCain.