Americans need to refocus on issues

What do you know, Alaska is on the map. Not in the lower left hand corner, mind you but now in the upper left hand, correctly positioned, attached to Canada. Oh, and did I mention that we can see Russia from here?

Family members and friends from the “Lower 48” have been emailing me asking “Who is this Sarah Palin anyway? Adrianna Huffington of the Huffington Post would say that she is a “Trojan Moose concealing four more years of George Bush.” Howard Bess, an Alaska clergyman describes her as “Jerry Falwell with a pretty face.”

My personal opinion is that she is a distraction. McCain’s ailing campaign was sorely in need of a transfusion. I don’t know who gets the credit for her being on the ticket but it was genius. This diversionary tactic has taken America by storm. Enter small town Alaska governor with incredible charm, designer glasses and an ability to relate to the average working Joe or should that be Jane?

My intent in writing this piece would be to appeal to intelligent voters to remember that we are responsible to examine the issues. I repeat, The Issues, not this tabloid election that is a cross between Jerry Springer and American Idol. As long as the media focuses on her family drama and the sarcastic, “he said, she said” one-line zingers, our attention will be drawn away from what we must do to regain our country’s integrity and financial stability.

I implore any thinking individual to look at the headlines and you will agree that our country cannot endure another four years of the Bush agenda. There is not one area of the public arena that has not been damaged by this current administration. The McCain/Palin ticket claims to be the anti-establishment reformers dedicated to delivering us from, (guess who?) themselves. What a clever marketing ploy. Surely we can see beyond the smoke and mirrors. These two self-proclaimed mavericks have a past voting record that follows the party line and ideology.

I would also request that we (myself included) examine why we align ourselves with a certain party, person or ideology. Is it because our family has always voted Republican or that our friends are Democrats and they seem to be “in the know?” Do we align our allegiance depending on gender or race? Or is it an emotional connection such as a beautiful baby with special needs that tugs at our hearts?

I look forward to the upcoming debates, both presidential and the VP. Hopefully then we can cut through this fluff and mindless chatter and consider thoughtfully the candidate that is best suited to lead this great nation back to the respectability that it once could proudly claim.

Toni Faubion-Truesdell has lived in Alaska for 40 years. She is a retired educator and writer who resides in Palmer with her husband and five felines.