In San Francisco, A Republican

I live in a San Francisco. Which is to say I live in a "bubble," political and otherwise. Without a car to leave it. Without perspective.

In this city, there is no GOP campaign headquarters, just a volunteer's e-mail address and a P.O. Box. There are no McCain campaign tables on the sidewalks handing out buttons and bumper stickers. There are few (if any?) McCain signs in home windows; I think they would likely be broken.

In fact, regarding those San Franciscans less-inclined to pay attention to what is going on in the presidential race, it is easy to imagine that, at least before Obama's convention speech, they didn't even know who Obama is running against.

It is, essentially, very easy to stay insulated here, and to assume that the entire country is leaning heavily to The Left. A presumption of Obama's victory, we lazily wait out the calendar.

Or so I thought.

Even here in San Francisco, it turns out, politics is not the black/white, Blue/Blue issue I had assumed it would be.

I spoke to one co-worker here whose views went well beyond the pale of my expectations. Ryan Sturtevant, a 29 year-old attorney, clearly favors McCain and McCain's advocacy of "small government," "lower taxes" and a "strong defense." Ryan told me that he views Obama as a "socialist," yet is also willing to admit that he is somewhat worried about McCain, who he sees as having been "off the reservation" too many times.

Apparently, being a "maverick" still has its detractors.

Another surprise for me was encountering someone who was largely apolitical, and who had not been following the race beyond anything other than major media soundbites. This conversation happened with a 64-year-old woman who did not yet know how she was going to vote, since she wasn't certain how either candidate felt about the "big issues." She did like that McCain had "experience" and "strong values," but felt that Obama, though "good," "just doesn't know what the heck he is doing."

One interesting interview I had was with another co-worker, Brian McMillan, a 43-year-old attorney who sees little-to-no difference between Obama and McCain, Republicans and Democrats. Brian's feels that: "Many of us Americans believe that the Democrats and Republicans are essentially the same. There desperately needs to be a realignment of the parties, perhaps a split of both parties, possibly three or four parties, to effect any real representation of 'the People' in this country. The 'Social Democrats?' The 'New Republicans?' Call them what you like."

I have to admit that I am quite pleasantly surprised by these encounters. A Republican in San Francisco? Someone who isn't obsessively following the campaigns? Republicans and Democrats the same? It is refreshing to realize that I do live in more of a "society," and less of a "bubble." A real democracy.

I have found some perspective.