The Republican Convention is over.

The Republicans spent the last 3 days degrading, belittling and mocking the accomplishments of Senator Obama. They offered no ways to fix health care, create jobs, improve education or do anything but continue the failed policies of the last 8 years. Oh wait -- I forgot! They offered us a position on oil, "Drill Baby Drill". How thoughtful.

When they weren't mocking Obama with a sarcastic tongue --which reminds me of the Bush smear tactics-- they inspired fear. They told us the Republicans are the party who loves the USA and that the Democrats will not keep us safe. Which message do you prefer, hope or fear? I'll go with hope for a change.

They continued to lie about Senator Obama's record. They said he has no 'real accomplishments'. Here are a few:
1. Obama helped reform the death penalty in Illinois 2. Obama helped pass bipartisan legislation in Illinois that gave health care coverage to 154,000 citizens, 70,000 of which were children 3. Through bipartisan efforts Obama helped pass the Earned Income Tax Credit, giving over 100 million in tax-cuts to families across Illinois 4. Being a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Obama fought to help Illinois veterans receive disability pay 5. Obama played a critical role in passing the strongest Ethics legislation that has emerged from the US Congress.

They also said Obama will raise taxes, when in reality he would cut taxes for over 90% of Americans. Do Republicans love to lie?

The Republicans praised John McCain for being a maverick, putting his country first, having experience and being a solider. Well I've got news for you, America needs more than a solider. Furthermore, if he was a 'maverick' why did he pick a vice presidential candidate that rallies to the Republican base? If he puts his country first, why did he pick an inexperienced vice presidential candidate, who could potentially become President considering McCain's history of cancer and age? I'll tell you why: McCain picked who he thought would win him votes, not what would be best for our country.

Granted, McCain does have experience -- voting with George Bush 90% of the time. Experience doesn't count if it's on the wrong side of the issues.

Instead of experience, let's focus on judgement. Obama had the good judgement to oppose the Iraq War from the beginning, to push for a withdrawal of our troops (which is now, finally, echoed by the Bush Administration) and by his insistence to focus on Afghanistan, where the true threats to our nation reside. The only good judgment McCain has is on the troop surge. But that issue would not have been an issue if Obama had been commander-in-chief and not gone to Iraq in the first place. Good judgement from our commander-in-chief, from day one, is what we need for our country and that is exactly what Obama offers and McCain doesn't.

Now lets get to 20-month Governor, Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin who has even less experience than Barack Obama and Joe Biden. She preaches family values and abstinence-only education, but has a pregnant daughter. She slashed funding by more than 50% for special needs children in Alaska, but says those with special needs will have a friend in the White House. She left the town she was mayor 20 million dollars in debt. She is against abortion (ie: against women) and is under investigation for abuse of power. Yet she has the audacity to belittle and mock Obama being a community organizer early in his life. She's a sarcastic, condescending, belittling, joke. Simple as that.

Republicans can blame the media for 'unfair' treatment of Sarah Pailn, but that's a scapegoat. The media is just doing their job. Republicans, including Sarah Palin, told Hillary Clinton to stop "whining" about the media being "sexist". They said if she can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. I guess they want it both ways!

The bottom line is, you have solutions or smears. You have hope or fear. You have more of the same or change.

Obama-Biden '08!