“Hey Glimpse! I’ve got a question.”
“And that is?”
“Did you see that first Presidential Debate?”
“Yeah. I saw it.”
“Wow. Your guy might as well have stayed home. Old Romney came out swinging. Full of pep. Full of facts and figures. He cut your guy down to size. But the President probably didn’t even feel it. Man, he was in a coma. Bet you’re worried now aren’t you? But hey, it’s a free country. You can switch sides and back Romney. I won’t tell another living soul.
“But really what did you think of the debate?”
“No question, Mr. Romney dominated that affair. My guy, as you call him, made me think he might not want a second term. If that were true, I can understand it. The country is almost as divided as it was during the Civil War, and it’s not likely to get easier for him if he wins.”
“You’re really worried aren’t you?”
“Sure. I want to see Mr. Obama reelected, and, at this point, it seems he might lose. I’m as sad as I am worried. He let his followers down.”
“Well take heart, friend. If Romney’s elected, the country will be better off. By next year this time, you’ll see jobs coming back big time. Romney will get rid of Obamacare, he’ll stop throwing money at people who don’t want to work and take responsibility for their lives. He’ll bring the age of coddling freeloaders to an end. It’ll be like old times. We’ll show the world America still has some muscle and can’t be pushed around.”
“If so, we’ll see the volume of pain and suffering in this country rise, the gap between rich and poor will increase, there will be fewer restraints on Big Business. Our world won’t end, but it will be turned around if Romney wins.”
“It’s about time!”
“I know there’s absolutely no point of arguing about this. The truth is, though, that neither your vision of what will happen nor mine is accurate. Would-be presidents can achieve just a fraction of the things they promise to do they’ll do if elected. And many of the things we blame or praise Presidents for are things they couldn’t do much about anyway. If for instance there were obvious solutions to the slow economy, Mideast peace, and the rest, it’s certain they would have been adopted. Presidents don’t have as much control as we impute to them.”
“Okay. If that’s so, what difference does it make who you vote for?”
“For me it’s this. I think I have a fair idea where Obama stands. He’s not ideological. He’s a pragmatist—a centrist. True, his campaign has said some nasty things and bent the truth—what you’d call lying--but I trust him. Romney’s done the same truth bending.
" I’m biased, so I think Romney’s dishonesty is worse. That aside, I could never vote for him. I don’t know who he is. Months ago he was a “severe conservative.” Months ago, he was going to get rid of Obamacare on his first day in office. Now he sounds like a “moderate” and now he supports much of Obamacare. The contradictions go o and on. Who is he?
“In the debate Romney came on in a rush. He spouted facts and figures. He declared everything President Obama has done is wrong. To me, he seemed frenzied and acted like a man who will say whatever will grab him a few votes.
“I’d rather vote for a smart, dedicated politician who doesn’t really relish the presidency than for a politician who will say—and possibly do—anything to win the prize. After all, a few of our greatest Presidents practically hated the job. George Washington is one. Abraham Lincoln another. And they did magnificently.”
“I’ve got to tell you Glimpse—you’re full of it.”
“That’s what you always say. But look—you indicated you want what’s best for the country. We both want that. Let’s just hope we get that wish.”
“Yeah. Okay. One more thing though Glimpse. I saw an Obama-Biden sign in your garage. Are you really going to put that on your lawn?”
“You betcha. But I’ll tell you, if Romney wins, I’ll still lend you my hedge trimmer when you need it.”
“It’s a deal.”
---Gus Gribbin
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