How I feel about the election season

After getting into a heated debate/argument about the political future of the USA at a local bar last night with two friends...Nicco being one, I think it will be helpful to sort out my own thoughts on the current Election season.

First, a few words about the importance of this election.
It's really not all that important who wins. All three front runners [McCain, Obama, Clinton] are moderate candidates. All candidates boast significant experience and all have tasted the seat of federal government... they're all established in the U.S. Senate. While the economy beseeches the parties' primary campaigns, the focus should switch to foreign policy when we reach a nominee from both parties. This election is about fixing the poor policies of the former president. It's about finding a rational way to reach back out to foreign nations to get them on the band wagon again. It's about the best candidate to envoke a change in sentiment towards the U.S., from bully to peacemaker. There's no doubt that our reputation has suffered. From no weapons of mass destruction to Abu Ghraib et al., our image in the middle east is suffering and without a plan to improve anytime soon.

I do not consider myself a blanket Democrat although my politics lean to the liberal side. While I don't think the differences between each of these candidates is that wide, there are a few critical points that concern me.

Clinton: Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton? Are we becoming an empire. Let's give some fresh hearts and minds to lead America. Hillary Clinton is very intelligent. It is high time for a mindful politician to take the reigns of power after the last 8 years of cowboy diplomacy. I'd rather a shrewd leader than one pig-headed. Healthcare could be improved. It's about time for that. However, we are clinging to military campaigns by a thread now and a moment of weakness could cost us. This is not to say change is not essential in regard to foreign policy; our Iraq strategy has been a snafu since the first year's rapid victory. Clinton will remove the troops from Iraq and allow them to operate with more striking power in the region.

McCain: Initially, I really liked McCain. He seems to make his own decisions in his voting record and understands the political processes well enouth to reach across political lines. These lines have become entrenched to a depth that only a president with experience in reaching across the aisle can get bills passed and end the stalemate. But, the other two candidates from the democratic side also understand the chamber and have experience getting bills passed. McCain is a warrior who suffered for his country in a North Vietnam prison during the war. I have a lot of respect for his dedication to duty. His military service does not guarantee wise-decision making with regards to military diplomacy. He mentioned that he would stay a hundred years in Iraq if that's what it would take to secure victory. That is frightening. He admitted that he doesn't know much about how the economy functions. I don't want aides dictating economic policy behind the scenes for the world's leading economy.

Obama: He, so far, is the dark horse (no pun intended) of the election. He is great with speeches. He spews messages for Hope and Change. He intends to be a uniter in the mold of Kennedy or Reagan. I know because his campaign spin doctors have said both. What a boost America would see in the rest of the world electing a man of color to the presidency. Feelings of inferiority and despair well entrenched within the black community would be erased overnight with the election of a black man to the most powerful position in America. He has the makings of a great man, but there are a lot of questions left unanswered at the moment. I am sure that if he gets the nod from the Democratic committee, we will soon find out... at the hands of the republican political machine that will leave no stone in Obama's backyard untouched.