Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Sinking to New Levels

I really didn't think it was possible for our president to sink any further into the muck, but he did so today, in my opinion. I saw a clip from a question and answer session following a speech he gave today. A child (I'm sorry but this sounded scripted and rehearsed to me) asked Mr. Bush how people can help in the war on terror. The president replied that in the lead up the 2006 elections, people should remember the effect of rhetoric on those who serve in harm's way, and its effect in emboldening or weakening the enemy. W. The King of Rhetoric. It's OK for him (his rhetoric obviously weakens the enemy), everyone else should shut up, we're hurting the troops and helping the enemy. Once again, our president has tried to stop us from expressing any disagreement with his creation, this war in Iraq. And he has used a child to do so. That's low.

Mr. Bush (and even more so Mr. Cheney) tries to dismiss dissent by labeling each area of discussion as if he were promoting a boxing match. Come see the big event: "Us vs. Them"... "Republican vs Democrat"... "Liberal vs. Conservative"... "Christian vs. Heathen." By limiting the conversation with an, "You're either for us or against us," attitude, he keeps tempers high. He makes his base see red so they cannot see reason. The needs of our country cannot be met in this toxic environment of hatred.

Mr. Bush's monolithic reasoning becomes even more frightening when viewed in light of his voracious appetite for increasing executive power (also here). Have we ever had a president less deserving of expanded executive authority, a man less capable of governing? Not in my lifetime.

I am a Democrat, and I am moderate to liberal on most issues. I do not consider my way to be the only way, and I'm not writing about crushing the opposition in the next election. I just want to see intelligence, planning and cooperation in our governing bodies. A United States that does not value and encourage well-considered dissent is no longer the great nation where I grew up; the Fourth of July becomes a holiday for sad memories of past glory, Memorial Day bemoans lives lost for a forgotten ideal. Our past has had its share of shameful incidents and missteps, but we've always returned to our roots and found our way again. I am apprehensive that we may have strayed so far from the path this time that we've forgotten the way back.

We must demand these things of each of our politicians, no matter what their party affiliation: listen to differing opinions and enter into real discussion with a measured intelligence; use reason and good judgment in making decisions instead of party dogma; no more Rovian manipulation and innuendo; and no more using social issues to create an emotional wave of unbalanced voting.

It's time for Americans to develop a job interview questionnaire and demand answers of the men and women who want us to hire them. Not questions about positions on abortion or intelligent design, but questions about working through conflict and handling opposition. And its time to give fresh consideration to term limits. The corporation is unhealthy, and it's time for some massive changes in personnel.

5 comments:

Virginia Gal said...

ahhh, I love the Bush Administration and their blantant double standards "you can't use retoric, only we can!" They are so much like those they hate (the Taliban etc) its eery.
You have such a positive attitude on what change could be inacted. I've just about given up - as long as Americans continue to vote in the same corrupt people, no change will happen - my God even this Abrahamoff thing hasn't shaken people. I truly believe Republicans could come on live television, kill a man with their bare hands and people would still vote for them. This blind following must be changed.

missmagnoliathunderpussy said...

I heard about the child but didn't believe it untill I saw the clip this morning, that really is sinking to new depths, dragging innocent children into this mess, like they're not in it enough, their parents overseas, some not to return.

God Help us all, we still have three years to go, the thought of what can still happen scares the hell out of me. Bush will leave office as the one of, if not, the wordt president in US history, leaving his mess for the next administration to clean up but don't cry for him, he'll retire to Crawdad, write a book and make millions.

I think we'll find our way back but thanks to the sitting moron, it will be a long time in coming. I only hope the next generation and future ones will be able to experience a resurgance of our glory, I won't say former, it's still there but thanks to Bush, Cheney and the like, a bit tarnished.

Pax Romano said...

Preach it sisters!!!

Frankly, and I truly believe this with my heart and soul; this country is getting what it deserved when it put this moron in control, not once but twice.

A grave error was made, and now we ALL must pay the price.

I think it's called Karma.

Merci said...

VG-
I think they play Jedi mind tricks. They make you see what they tell you to see rather than what they do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_mind_trick

Miss Magnolia-
I don't know how we can make it through 3 more years of this either. You're right, it will be a long road back.

Crawdad ;) LOL

Pax-
I like your notion of a cultural Karma. I don't like the results of living with it, but the concept fits.

Anonymous said...

I believe in what you preach from the gospel of merci. There will be no peace while he's in office.

Bubba O' Reilly