The Ojai Post

It's been such a nasty, negative campaign their camp has run. Personally, I can't contemplate the thought of another 4 years of spreading the wealth Republican style. Four billion in tax breaks to big oil when, only yesterday (Friday), Exxon Mobil posts profits of $10.5 billion in just the 3rd quarter alone!!!

If it's question of Obama's character and associations based on the McCain/Palin perspective, let me put forth this as a self-reflective example: in all honesty, can you claim in all your years you've never been around or hung out with anyone that has had a sordid or questionable past? Can you say your entire life has been free from such known associates? I know a few of my friends ended up on the wrong path. Does that make me guilty of their sins too? The fact is they have yet to prove anything of substantial consequence on the topic - just spreading slander and false accusations.

If it's a question of experience, Consider the bigger picture. There have been presidents in the past elected without, what some deem, qualifications for the office. However, even candidates that bolster an experienced resume still surround themselves with a cabinet of advisers to compensate for personal inefficiencies. Doing so provides the president with a cast of knowledgeable and insightful individuals that shape their decisions. Obama has presented both his economic and military casts to assist his presidency. A bipartisan group of well respected and experienced individuals. Furthermore, he has been endorsed by more military generals and prominent republican officials than has McCain.

In revealing McCain's experience, he doesn't instill or convey any intellect, wisdom or confidence to me. Graduating at the bottom of your class doesn't set the bar too high nor does crashing 4 planes prove brilliance. (You should learn from mistakes!) [For the record, he was shot down to crash the fifth plane.] Without exaggeration, I've witnessed his demeanor which is tense, always on edge and just a moment away from a raging outburst. He has not demonstrated the cool, calm calculated thought-process that is required of the office. McCain has reversed his position on numerous occasions (i.e. Bush tax cuts, against now for, McCain immigration bill, for now against) so you never know where he stands. His campaign has floundered without direction or a moral compass - reduced to slander instead of issues. Additionally, if your decision is influenced by the moral issue of abortion, remember, McCain's record is pro-choice.

Therefore, my decision will be based on judgment and intellect - ingredients Obama has earned with his education and demonstrated throughout his campaign and tenure as Senator. His record has been consistent with his beliefs. He is not Muslim, a terrorist or the anti-christ (the latter as the Rev. Dobson proclaims). He has endured many false accusations during these past months and yet he's 3 days from the presidency. I feel he can best represent "real-Americans" no matter where they live and with his being the face of the United States, restore the world respect and dreams that America once was.

Patrick Duffy