As Sarah Palin scans her morning coffee cup for words of inspiration and wisdom, one wonders if, in light of their campaign’s recent turn toward the Dark Side, this quote appeared to her:
“In life you need either inspiration or desperation.”
– Anthony Robbins
And THIS is enough to make anyone desperate:
Pollster data from 10/6/2008
This is Desperation’s Crocodile.
At a time when what American needs most is inspiration, the McCain campaign has chosen the low road of character-assassination and smear. This will certainly solidify the support of their base – and I do mean “base” since these are truly base attacks. But will it appeal to those voters who are still undecided – the only voting bloc with the potential to close the crocodile’s mouth?
The short answer: NO.
People in this country are watching their retirement nest eggs evaporate as the stock market sinks like a rock. They’re worried about the fact that they have more credit card debt than they are comfortable with. They’re worried that their new small business might not make it, not because they don’t have a good idea but because there won’t be enough credit available for them to nourish and grow their fledgling venture. And many are facing the appalling fact that they now owe more on their home than the home is actually worth.
What they want now more than anything is for a leader to speak to them in calm, thoughtful, rational terms about how we’re going to move beyond this catastrophe and into a more secure future. Right now, the only candidate that’s doing that is Barack Obama. His words to the American people harken back to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inspiring words during the depression.
“…let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.”
These are words of inspiration, not desperation, and they are echoed in the considered and patient rhetoric of Barack Obama.
“I know these are difficult days, and I know there are a lot of families out there that are feeling anxiety about their jobs, about their homes and about their retirement savings. But here is what I also know: This is not a time for fear, it’s not a time for panic. It’s a time for resolve and a time for leadership.
I know we can steer ourselves out of this crisis because we have done it before. That’s what we do as Americans.
Our nation has faced even more difficult times. And each moment, when we have, we’ve risen to meet the challenges as one people and one nation. I’m confident that we will be doing the same in this circumstance.”
John McCain has no credibility on economic matters. He knows this and he knows that with each passing day of bad economic news, his past and current ties to deregulations and powerful lobbyists from the financial sector open the crocodile’s mouth a bit wider. His actions over the past two weeks are cementing his image as an erratic, desperate candidate in the minds of voters, including the crucial “Undecideds”.
What we as a country need right now is inspiration and wisdom. Only Barack Obama and his campaign of Hope and Change is providing that inspiration and wisdom.
I leave you with a final quote:
“It is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.”
– Henry David Thoreau
Coming soon to a Starbucks cup near you.
I’m just sayin’…
Image and quotes provided by my wife ♥
