I am not a psychologist, nor do I claim to be an expert in the field of psychoanalysis. I am, however, a keen observer and student of human nature. I am also quite intuitive and have always been able to see well below the surface of a matter. There are things I simply know...just because I do.

If John McCain is elected to the presidency, America can essentially
pack her bags and go home. This country's reputation as a respected and revered world leader will be damaged beyond repair. My claim is daunting; I know. But, I call it as I see it. And, eight years of "The
Decider" are incomparable to what may be in store for us with "The
Maverick."

As a young student of literature, I learned two terms that were associated with the protagonist in Greek tragedy and those of Shakespeare-- hubris and hamartia. Hubris is a word that refers to excessive pride. This is the sort of pride that goes entirely unchecked until it becomes extreme arrogance. In a tragedy, hubris typically becomes hamartia or tragic flaw, the character defect which is so profound that it eventually leads to the cataclysmic downfall of the protagonist. Anyone who has read Oedipus Rex or MacBeth knows how things end up. I don't think I'm out of line in suggesting that Senator John McCain's way of being might resemble hubris.

Like most Americans and people all around the world, really, I've been watching the 2008 Presidential Election unfold. While politics has never really interested me before, this time around, I'm paying attention. In some ways, I may be more hyper-focused on this political race than I have been with previous elections. It is abundantly clear to me that the American people simply cannot cast their votes haphazardly. As I've said before, thinking Americans must take the lead and ensure that Barack Obama is elected this election day, November 4.

Sarah Palin likes to toss out the question, "Who is Barack Obama?" It is a fair question to ask. In fact, it's a necessary question to ask. If you've watched the debates, you know the answer to that question. For a moment, let's put policy and political platform aside and ask that question on a fundamental level. Who is Barack Obama? What I saw in Wednesday night's debate speaks volumes. Senator Obama is intelligent and articulate. He's also a man of integrity and good judgment, and he possesses a calm, collected demeanor. The man seems unshakable.

And to be fair, we must also ask "Who is John McCain?" Senator McCain is a smart man. His military service to the US, and his career in the Senate are certainly indicators of a level of patriotism that inspires his Republican base. He is the self-proclaimed "Maverick" who promises change on the one hand while waving the flag of the Neocons who hijacked this country eight years ago with the other hand. His campaign has been built on attacks and fingerpointing at "That One." He patronizes and condescends while puffing up his chest and saying, "I know how to fix Washington."

November 4 is just a few weeks around the corner, and each of us will have the opportunity to cast our vote. As an electorate, we must be diligent about weeding through the rhetoric and propaganda to find the facts. We must take attack ads and propaganda at face value and not be swayed by attempts to skew reality and incite fear. We must strike a balance between emotion and reason and trust the latter to inform our decision on all of the issues placed before us on the ballot. Most importantly, we must look beyond our own special interests, our biases, and our personal agendas to see the bigger picture. Armed with the facts and a thorough understanding of all that is at stake, we must each cast the vote of a lifetime.