Things I've Learned From the 2012 Election

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Dan Rackley

Dan Rackley is a US Naval veteran living in Philadelphia and a contributor to "Will They Ever Trust Us Again?"

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November 7th, 2012 9:36 AM

Things I've Learned From the 2012 Election

Well, those of you that stayed up late to watch the election returns on the east coast will be saddened to know that I unfortunately have not yet seen President Obama’s speech from last night. Romney’s sort of put me to sleep. Yes, Mitt sure did put up a good fight. However, from watching a great deal of the election coverage dating back to when Herman Cain was (allegedly) ho’ing around and my damn near inciting a riot amongst die hard Ron Paul supporters; I’m not sure what I am going to do with myself now. Perhaps I’ll read one of the many books that are sitting unread on my desk. I might even write one. Watching the 2012 presidential race made me an expert on various forms of fiction through osmosis alone.

Here are some things I've either learned or figured out during the 2012 election season. This by chance is the first presidential election that I can remember where people are actually bothering to listen to what I am saying. By the way, it will be easier to listen to what I am saying now that the people making all the “Barack O’Carter” jokes have shut up.

For one, people will use any potential oversight no matter how simple and honest a mistake it may be. Give you an example. Here in sunny Philadelphia, there was a school serving as a polling place that had a mural of President Obama that happened to be in the room. Somebody griped (rightfully) about a giant painting of one of the candidates sitting near all those voting booths. Once the matter was brought to the attention of the folks that are supposed to take care of that sort of thing, it was covered up. As I’ve said before, I try to look at things from as pragmatic of a level as possible.

So here’s how I feel about that. Whoever complained about the Obama mural had every right to. However, if you are so undecided that you are going to be swayed by a damn painting in a school that’s next to the booth you are in; you probably shouldn't be voting based on your lack of ability to act on your convictions alone.

Another note on MuralGate; the people using what could be chalked up as a potential oversight by some innocent party should just shut the heck up. If the MuralGate conspiracy theories were true and giant paintings really did influence voting, there had to have been a great many more uncovered Obama paintings in many more American high schools than people are letting on. Those meddling kids and their election rigging. How shameful of them to paint those pictures.

Another thing I’ve learned, Donald Trump is still a jackass. No witty digression into the reasons why, no long winded response about how he’s holding onto the hope that Obama’s birth certificate is a fake. He’s a jackass, plain and simple. His constant ranting and raving about Obama to the point where it made him look like a bully making fun of a smaller classmate is one of the factors that got votes towards Obama in my opinion. People can only stand so much of a guy talking trash before they are convinced he’s wrong even if he may be right.

There is a great deal of work that needs to be done in this country. On veterans issues, unemployment, the economy, and more that would take me far too long to point out and require me to publish a book that you probably wouldst buy. Hopefully with the results of the election, the anti-Obama camps can strike their tents and realize that they have to try to work with the man to try to do some good. And don’t say it isn't possible. If the New York Yankees could win a World Series with Billy Martin as manager and half the team hating him; then maybe the GOP can realize they need to put differences aside and stop trying to block the president at every turn. Like him or not, we’re all stuck with him for another four years. At least try to work with the man.