The time has come. Allow us here at Shakabarack to be the first to congratulate Mr. Obama on a hard fought victory. This is truly a historic day. The first African-American ever elected to the Presidency is something earth shattering for Americans. The molds have officially been broken, and society has taken shape beyond a hurdle that for hundreds of years has plagued our hearts and minds. This night is dedicated to every slave that walked on American soil; to every soldier who fought and died for the freedom; to every politician who wrote legislation designed to chip away at the racial divide. This night is for them. This is truly a historic day. We at Shakabarack take nothing away from the legitimacy of this election, and the profound implications it has bellowed forth for all to hear. We hear them loud and clear. Our nation has one less weight dragging at our feet.

Though when all of the streamers have landed, and when every tear has dried, we find ourselves in a very precarious situation. What have we done? It is a great and significant thing to elect an African-American as our president, but has anyone paid attention to what he has said? Do the voters who casted their vote for Mr. Obama really understand what they have done? We have just elected a president who has voted over 94% along his own party lines. Combine that with the fact that the Senate and the House have just picked up more seats, and what you have left is a puppet president. You have a president who for the vast majority of his votes has not challenged anything his own party has set forth. No objectivity. That means the following: No drilling... (see you later gas prices it was nice for the time you were low), no military... (democrats will be playing the Bill Clinton card now that the war is all but won), higher taxes... (bye, bye jobs), more dependence on the state... (socialism anyone?), destructive health care policies... (hey Hawaii, how did it go for you? Oh no? That sucks...), world praise... (go Kenya).

It is just about that time. Only a couple weeks separate the reigning president and the new one, at least as far as who will take over. It is also true that the country has chosen its leader, Mr. Obama. Since the beginning of the campaign between Obama and McCain directly, Obama has without question demolished McCain on strategy, innovation, and style. He has completely obliterated McCain in almost every respect except for unpredictability. McCain wins that one hands down. Mr. Obama did not take public financing for his campaign which looks to be one of the biggest victories for his campaign. The reason for this is because without public financing he is able to raise as much money as he wants. McCain on the other hand has taken public financing and therefore is restricted in how much money he can raise. Obama is therefore out spending McCain in the range of 2 to 3-1 in battleground states. Mr. Obama purchased a TV spot, video game ads, and the like. He has a much more efficient and long-winded website, but with a 21st century touch to it. Mr. Obama has also chosen a safe VP pick one who has been in the game a long time, who's dirty laundy has already been exposed, and would not hurt him in the long-run. McCain chose a firecracker, one who had the potential to blow up the other campaign, or blow up his own. Mr. Obama has spent his time discussing the errors of one of the most hated presidents in modern history, and easy card to play. McCain has had the burden of distancing himself from President Bush, not an easy task when you are of the same party. Mr. Obama has played to the lower-middle class voters who love to hear when the rich get punished for being rich, McCain has had the burden of trying to convince America that a tax cut across the board is better, even though we are going into a recession.

Taking these things into account I believe there is no question that Mr. Obama should win this election with a large margin. People have seen the economy decline, Bush is the sitting president, therefore Bush is part of the problem. With this mentality, and clearly Mr. Obama has hammered this point several times during his campaign, it has become clear that people are given little choice but to vote for Obama, or no one at all. McCain is winning among independents, but the large percentage of democrats is becoming overwhelming. Conservatism is becoming less mainstream and more radicalized. Tax cuts for everyone is no longer a value of Americans, only tax cuts for those who need it. Abortion is virtally a lost battleground; gay marriage is increasing in strength; the government is growing larger as people are crying out for more regulation; hope it seems is lost for those who push for it. This article is named "The Army of Darkness (or Wrong Policy) because after November 4th, the current trend of political opinion is pointing towards a liberal army rising from the ashes of a destroyed conservative world. The House, Senate, and President will all be of one mind and value system. 

The looming economic crisis has caused quite a panic and stir. Democrats and Republicans are bickering worse than usual; both campaigns have said that their opponent is the problem; the stock market has fallen hard, and will likely continue to fall; and one banker even killed himself. Of course in the midst of this crisis the presidential candidates are walking on thin ice. For any word of weakness, or one wrong step in this volatile emotional climate and public opinion could sway. Naturally this crisis also brings up the old partisan disputes about how the government should act when dealing with private business and so forth. That is the topic of this blog today. It is titled The Dragon's Breath in reference to the end times. Now let me be clear. I do not believe that this is the end times. I do not think there is sufficient evidence for it. But, I do believe that the hysteria that is referenced during the end times reflects the hysteria currently running through the veins of our elected leaders. Let us for one second look back in history to the Great Depression. The Great Depression was caused primarily for the same reason we are in a crisis now. People living in debt. It is really that simple. People who live beyond their means, and fail to pay their bills. In the 1920's they had what was called the installment plan, or in other words, the credit card with no actual card. The installment plan function like this: First a person would walk into a cabinet store and would like to purchase a new wall unit for their house. The wall unit cost $100. The person, knowing that they do not have the funds available on hand to purchase the unit, thinks about it for a second, and then says no thanks. But wait!!! The store salesman mentions to the customer that they could pay for the unit in installments, in about $20 per month increments. The buyer is intrigued and eventually purchases the unit. For what is $20 per month right? Well the buyer then begins to think... hmmm... what else could I buy in installments? He then rushes out to the auto dealership, the clothing store, and the department store and everything he buys is through installment. About a month or two later, he begins to look at his financial situation and his stomach turns sour. His last monthly paycheck was only a net of $75, and he has incurred over $150 per month in debt. Slowly but surely he begins to default on the payments. The stores that he bought his items from seize the commodities, and he is left with little to nothing. 

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