Retail analysts have just come out with the predition that this will be the worst holiday sales season in 17 years!
This should come as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to the economy for the past few weeks.
Yesterday I heard Barack Obama (man, he is so cool on the stump!) talking about going into a diner on the campaign trail because he wanted some pie. The waitstaff were really excited he was there and Barack graciously (what else) agreed to pose for photos with the staff. The waiters told him that the owner was supporting McShame and that they wanted the pictures to needle him a bit. Then the owner came out with the pie (coconut cream if memory serves me) and notices Obama. Obama, knowing that the owner is a McShame person, tries to engage him in conversation. "How's business?" he asks. The owner complained that business is off because none of his customers have any money. (No wonder with gas prices, unemployment or the fear of pending unemployment). Obama asks him "Who do you think is responsible for this economic situation?" The owner says "The Republicans." Obama then says to the crowd (it is not clear that he said this to the owner)"How many times do you have to hit your head against the wall before you realize it hurts?"
This is why it is so maddening that "business people" are still in lock-step with the failed economic policies of Bush/Rove/Cheney/McShame. How many times do they have to see their bottom line fall through the floor before they realize that Obama is good for the middle class and when the middle class prospers, there will be a trickle up that will help business because the consumers will have money to support their businesses?
I hope that the predictions of a disasterous holiday sales season will prompt some of the traditional Red voters to finally see the light and realize that by continuing to vote Republican, they are cutting their own financial throats. How can any of these people look at Bush's pathetic speeches on the economy and be reassured that things are in "good" hands?
When you listen to Obama's speeches, instead of the fear and hatred promoted by McShame and Failin', you feel as though there is hope for our future, both economically and as a nation. Bill Clinton said, well before Hillary's campaign destructed, "If one candidate talks about hope and the other candidtate talks about fear, always vote for the Hope Candidate."
Obama is a brilliant individual, an inspirational speaker, a deft politician and a compassionate leader. He will lead our nation back to prosperity and restore our stature as the envy of other nations. McShame is just a nasty old man who wants to be president because he wants to be president. He has no vision, he has no plan and he has no respect for the American people as intelligent and thoughtful and compassionate.
They say that you make your own luck. The Republicans can argue that Obama has been very lucky that the economy has tanked (which helps him). I prefer to believe that Obama is not "lucky" but "prepared". He has run 2 brilliant campaigns (one against Hillary and now agaisnt McShame). He has wisely chosen his running mate as opposed to McShame who couldn't have made a worse choice unless Bin Laden had been available. I have not seen this much excitment and energy in a campaign since JFK. America needs Obama for more reasons that I can count and we need him now. The holiday sales projections are just another reason why we must get our message to business people that the Republicans have no solutions and that it is in their best interest to vote Blue.