According to a Macworld article, there are no Macs in the White House–only a fleet of six-year-old PCs. Obama’s campaign ran on Macs, and Obama himself uses a Mac.

So, REAL change may be coming.

George Bush showed incredible grace in how he left office. He set the standard for turning over the presidency to a new person. I read that the Bushes, last summer, began moving belongings to Texas to eliminate the spectacle of moving vans backing up to the White House as new moving vans arrived. All they had left was suitcases, basically.

Bush took some shots during Obama’s speech, but afterwards, showed only cordiality and respect for his successor.

The transition is something Bush could control.

He gets a lot of blame for Katrina, but only deserves some; the local and state governments in Louisiana deserve the lion’s share of the blame.

The economic collapse–I’m not sure who to blame for that, though we always want to assign blame to someone. The whole “American way of life” perhaps deserves the blame there, for our greed, lack of discipline, lax regulation, and spirit of “I want it all now.” So, though the collapse happened on Bush’s watch, and his policies contributed to it, this thing was a long time coming, and circumstances beyond our borders contributed mightily to it.

But Bush could control the transition. And what we saw was extraordinary class.

As opposed to the left-wing nuts who lined the route with “Arrest Bush” signs. On Morning Joe this morning, Mike Barnacle said, “The left doesn’t do graciousness well.” That was really an interesting observation.

(But lest you mistake me: there are still plenty of things for which George Bush deserves blame. And he did, indeed, occupy the office where the buck stops.)

Barack Obama will find ways to disappoint and upset me, I’m sure. But right now, I’m very excited about a new administration taking over (I would have been excited about McCain taking over). Here are some of the reasons I have high hopes for an Obama administration.

• For the US to elect a black man as president–what an incredible example to the rest of the world. I’ll bet it produces all kinds of shamed introspection in ingrown countries like England, France, Italy, and other nations with large but disenfranchised non-Caucasian populations.
• We’re gonna get serious about alternative energy. That would never happen under Republicans, I’m sad to admit.
• We’ll have an exemplary family in the White House (though most Presidential families are admirable, for the most part).
• The rest of the world is excited about Obama. This is not a bad thing. Our unilateral, bullying actions during the last eight years have disappointed people in other countries, because they expected better of us. They need us to provide moral leadership. Under Obama, I am hopeful–and people around the world are hopeful–that we can provide that again. The world needs us.
• There is a general spirit of optimism across the country. Obama-mania is a bit extreme, but it’s good to see people optimistic–and proud–of our country once again.
• We’ll start abiding by international agreements again. Like the Geneva Conventions.
• It’ll be nice having an orator in the White House–the first since Kennedy.
• Obama is tech-savvy. He uses and understands the internet and new media. That’ll go a long way in wise problem-solving in the world of 2009.
• Obama will, I trust, restore the proper balance of power in government. The Bush administration, following the lead of Dick Cheney and his chief of staff, David Addington (the most powerful man you’ve never heard of), focused a great deal of power in the Executive Branch and placed themselves above the law. (Read Jane Mayer’s incredible book, “The Dark Side.” It’s chilling, the way Cheney and Addington set the agenda and ran roughshod over Bush’s own staff of naieve Texans.)
• I think Obama has the ability to rally the American people.
• My country simply needs a fresh start.

Pastor Tim, via Facebook, asked people to answer, “What factors should shape who/what we vote for as Followers of Jesus living in this liberal democracy?”

An interesting question, and he received some interesting replies. I wrote a response. I decided to post it on my own blog, with some additions since I wrote the original piece. Follow the link below.

A number of issues have nothing to do with faith, and how I view them aren’t necessarily shaped by the fact that I’m a Christian. But there are, indeed, some issues with clear faith implications.

The Poor
The poor, the powerless, the disenfranchised–these people were constantly on Jesus’ mind, and he talked about them and advocated on their behalf all the time. So this is important to me. Though I’ve been a Republican all my life, Republicans do a dismal job on this issue. They’ve always sided with the rich, which is totally unbiblical.

Trickle-down economics basically says, “We’re going to give extra money to the rich, to make sure they stay rich. But hopefully, some of that money will make it back to the poor.” Jesus never advocated anything like trickle-down economics. (You could also argue that Jesus never advocated anything regarding economic policy.)

During the past 8 years, the gap between the rich and poor has expanded. We’ve seen a redistribution of wealth, with the wealth going from the middle and lower classes to the upper classes through various tax breaks. Not too long ago, middle-class people regularly retired at 65, and most companies provided healthcare. Now, middle-class people are working into their 70s, and companies are finding ways to NOT provide health coverage. Meanwhile, the rich remain secure in their increasing wealth.

There is no biblical justification for this. Obama won’t continue these policies. Would McCain?

Abortion
I’m anti-abortion, which means I should vote for McCain…I guess. This issue should definitely matter to Christians. From a pragmatic viewpoint, though, it seems clear to me that neither candidate, once in office, would end up doing anything, good or bad, regarding this issue. It’ll be left to the states to decide (which is all repealing Roe v. Wade would accomplish). So I view it as merely an issue for political posturing at the Presidential level. I could be wrong about that.

Gay Marriage
I’m against it. So are both candidates. But again, the states are taking the lead in this matter, and the nationalwide recognition of gay marriage may be unstoppable. Perhaps the only thing to be done at the national level is to prevent a Constitutional amendment.

However, since we do live in a pluralistic society, we need to allow tolerance for various things. One, to me, is partner rights in civil unions. This does not mean I’m okay with homosexuality. It just means I’m cognizant of the society we live in, and of what is needed to make our society work. We are a diverse collection of people cooperating to maintain a civil society.

Talking to Your Enemies
Jesus says that if we have problems with someone, we should go talk to them. Directly. From a biblical standpoint, it makes sense to talk to and negotiate with folks like Iran, Korea, Libya, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, etc. What can be gained by not talking? That’s just a Cold War mentality. We all understand the preconditions argument, but McCain’s stand still seems unduly hardline, and that worries me in today’s world. I can’t imagine Jesus saying, “I don’t like you, so I’m not going to talk to you…unless you first do this and this and this.”

War and Peace
For many decades, my denomination’s Discipline has contained this statement: “We positively record our disapproval of engaging in voluntary, national, aggressive warfare.” I agree with that. Iraq most definitely doesn’t qualify. We didn’t need to go there, and at this point, staying in Iraq means zilch for our national security. In fact, it just means all of our forces are focused on the other side of the world, and wouldn’t be available in a case of true national security.

At the same time, I believe America needs to be willing to come to the aid of persecuted people and distressed situations. Like Darfur, Bosnia, and Somalia, for instance. That’s something God expects of a righteous people. But as long as our military and national resources are mired in Iraq, we’re stretched too thin to do much anywhere else. I favor, as a nation, being prepared, ready, and able to intervene on behalf of people who need our help. But that can’t happen as long as all of our eggs are in the Iraq/Afghanistan basket.

The Religiosity of Candidates
Presidential candidates always describe themselves as persons of faith. That their faith is a very important part of who they are. They know how to play the appearance game. When, late in the campaign, John Kerry began talking about how important religion was to him, it came across as totally fake, and he lost any chance of getting my vote.

At the Saddleback forum, Rick Warren asked each person, “What does it mean to you to believe in Christ?” Obama’s answer began, “As a starting point, it means I believe in ‚Äî that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and that I am redeemed through him. That is a source of strength and sustenance on a daily basis,” and then he elaborated. McCain began, “It means I’m saved and forgiven,” and then he told a story from his POW days. Obama came across to me as the one who was saying more than words, and who actually knew what the words meant. I’m not sure McCain could have explained, “What exactly do you mean by ‘saved and forgiven’? Plus, Obama’s the one who actually attends church regularly (say what you want about his church–at least he goes.)

The Candidate’s Marriage
What is the candidate’s own marriage like, and his history in marriage? Were there infidelities (or rumors thereof)? Divorce? Carter and both Bushes get high marks in this area. Obama seems to have a great family. McCain’s is a little harder to get a handle on, since the family has been divided so much between Arizona and DC, but it seems solid to this outsider. When asked about something he regretted, or a major personal failing (I forget the setting), McCain mentioned the failure of his first marriage.

Frankly, I like what I see with all four candidates. But the “what I see” can be misleading. Exhibit A: John Edwards. (Meanwhile, the Clinton marriage remains impossible to explain.)

Torture
When US intelligence officers are torturing an 18-year-old guy who got swept up in an Al Queda attack in Afghanistan, trying to get him to talk about things they probably know already; or when US intelligence officers are forcing a detainee at Guantanamo to wear pink women’s underwear to humiliate him…God is looking down. Do you think God approves of what he sees? Would Jesus have been an active participant? In these situations, I see God’s heart going out to the mistreated person. Please show me, biblically, that God is on the side of the US intelligence officers in these cases.

Fortunately, both candidates oppose torture. McCain has been very forceful, a leader in combatting the Bush Administration on this issue. I suspect, and hope, that very soon after either of these men becomes president, we see an end to Guantanamo, secret CIA detention facilities, and the hypocritically immoral and horrid rendentions.

My world (especially work) is dominated by Republicans. I am flummoxed that so few Republican Christians are disturbed that the United States tortures people to obtain routine information. This should outrage Christians, as it outrages me. It just shows how easily our political leanings overrule our sense of humanity, justice, and righteousness.

Climate Change
By continually spewing vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, mankind is changing the planet entrusted to us. The science is undeniable. George Bush has continually thwarted any action against global warming, thereby wasting eight crucial years. Fortunately, both McCain and Obama intend to actively fight climate change. I can’t imagine that God enjoys seeing us, in our greed and self-interest, destroy what he created for us, and for his own pleasure.

Capital Punishment
George Bush took glee in executing people when he was governor of Texas. The New Testament shows me nothing that would indicate God favors capital punishment. Consider Tmothy McVeigh, the unrepentant Oklahoma City mass-murderer. There was no rejoicing in heaven over his execution. But if he were still alive, whiling away his days on death row, the possibility would remain that he might find Christ. And then, there would be rejoicing in heaven.

I don’t favor anything which decreases the possibility of rejoicing in heaven. (And don’t tell me, “Well, he snuffed out over 200 people, ending the chance for nonChristians to find Christ.” God doesn’t think like that.)

Capital punishment isn’t an issue in this election. But it’s an issue that I, as a Christian, care about and monitor.

Religious Freedom
This isn’t an issue, either. But it’s one to watch. In our pluralistic society, we must ensure religious freedom for all faiths (unless they advocate child sacrifice or something else whacko).

Justice
God always seeks justice. He hates seeing people treated unfairly. Hates seeing the rich become richer at the expense of the poor. Hates seeing guilty people go unpunished, and innocent people suffering for the sins of others. Hates seeing the “little guy” cheated, misused, or abused.

Enough. Those are some of the issues that shape my political thinking. I’m okay with people taking different approaches.

I was just four years old in 1960, so I have no memories of that election. But some of my coworkers do. During breaktime this afternoon, they recalled the fear-mongering of the 1960 election.

• That if JFK were elected, he’d be taking orders from the Pope.
• That JFK will force everyone to use the Catholic Bible, including in Sunday school, and outlaw all other Bibles.

One coworker, while out at lunch (in historically racist Huntington), was asked by some guy at the gas station or bank or somewhere, “Are you ready to have a black man as president?”

John McCain, to his credit, has avoided the fear-mongering that trademarked the Karl Rove campaigns of 2000 and 2004. There has been plenty of negative campaigning (on both sides), but the fear-mongering (not to mention race-baiting) has come from people outside the official campaigns. That’s something we can applaud.