The journey so far. . .

I'm no expert when it comes to politics or society. I only know what I see, what I experience, what I feel, and of course all of that is filtered through my own frame of reference. Objectivity, true objectivity in the sense that no filters are applied, isn't possible. Or at least, I'm not capable of it. And while I'm 48, that doesn't mean I'm particularly wise or intelligent. I don't mean to sound modest; I'm smart enough, but I'm not, say, anywhere near as educated as someone who went to an Ivy League school and studied political science and learned how to read in Greek and Latin (I can scarcely remember the Latin I learned, but I'd probably do better than Sammy on "Supernatural" at pronouncing things--at least, insofar as anyone can really be sure of his/her pronunciation when it comes to a "dead" language). Still, I can read, and I can examine, and I can watch human beings as they put their ideas and promises out there, and I am well-capable of making sure I'm not being lied to.

Enough preface.

This election is the first one in a long while to really get me going, to pull me in and make me want to participate throughout the process. Ennui plagued me the last two times we elected a president, and I feared this year would be no better. Not to worry--that is definitely not the case. If anything, this election is making me really care for the first time in a long while.

When the primaries started, I watched the potential candidates as they began to speak to the American people. I honestly respected Senator McCain. It's normal to respect someone whose character seems exemplary, who has survived some of the worst challenges a human being can face. I didn't disrespect Senator Obama, but he had no "history" with which I was familiar. He was a face only, someone who seemed more Hollywood than Washington, D.C.

As time passed, as the field got whittled down, and as the candidates began to fall away, I started to wonder who would end up in the final two. McCain, I thought, and that was a comfortable thought. Or comforting. No, most likely comfortable. Someone I at least respected. And, I hoped, Hillary Clinton, although I doubted that she could beat McCain.

I loved the fact that the Democratic nominee wasn't final until near the end of the process, that it was so close between Clinton and Obama. People around me said, "oh, for crying out loud, concede, Hillary!" but I thought, "hell, no. This is the way it's supposed to be. Votes counting, candidates battling until the bitter end and giving American voters the opportunity to really make their voices heard." Loved it. LOVED IT.

But since the time of the conventions, I've been appalled by what's followed. First of all, Palin. One of the most frightening politicians I've ever seen. McCain's rationale escaped me. More than anything, however, it was the rabid response of the convention attendees, and then of certain groups since then, that blew me away. I'd talk to women, ask what it was they liked about Palin, and all they could point to was CRAP. They like her as a human being, they'd say. "You've met her?" I'd ask. "Know her personally? Had the opportunity to see the kind of human being she really is?" Well, uh, no. But she looks nice enough. And she has a sense of humor.