Here's the pitch... mudball, low and away

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm usually not engaged in "polite" conversation. My irreverent foul mouth is quite infamous amongst my peers and has gotten me in trouble on numerous occasions. However, as I get older I'm noticing that an irreverent foul mouth isn't always the best way to get one's point across, and often times results in the speaker being seen as unintelligent and annoying. This goes beyond the spoken word into the world of writing and blogging.

Throw politics into the mix and a huge mess is the result. This week I have seen and heard many things that are inappropriate in "polite " conversation. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but do the democratic supporters calling VP candidate Palin a "cunt", "bitch" or "caribou barbie" (a personal favorite of mine; you're welcome Allie) really think that language helps their cause? Is that how the democrats plan on convincing America that their platform is the better choice for Americans?

The inappropriate name calling actually seems more prominent with the democratic supporters than the republicans and I have a good idea why; the main derogatory term that would be used to describe Obama is so inappropriate and incendiary that even rural simpleton racists (the ones clinging to their religion and their guns) that are voting for McCain solely based on his skin color won't mention it publicly. Even those people understand what polite conversation is.

Maybe the name calling is in the Obama playbook. Maybe when one signs up as an Obama supporter the weekly email newsletter gives out talking and blog points to rally the troops and making sure that there is enough mud slinging and name calling to help nail down the loose planks on their platform. Maybe politics as usual in America is becoming as much of a joke internally as the rest of the world sees it.

In any event, this is our political system in 2008. Candidates flap their mouths while no one listens. The Ameican people rally behind what is best for them in the short trerm and what is best for their chosen party rather that what is best for the nation. In this era of instant electronic media we are bombarded with information. Our next leader is going to be chosen by people who read blogs or listen to commentary to determine who they should vote for. That being the case, the bloggers and commentators have a ethical responsibility to rise above name calling and mud slinging. It's very easy to convince a swing voter on a point / counterpoint basis, one just has to try.