Can you imagine how it would have been perceived if a president of the United States of one party had pre-emptively taken from the female governor of another party the command and control of her forces, unless the security situation made it completely clear that she was unable to effectively execute her command authority and that lawlessness was the inevitable result?No matter what side of the argument you fall on, take a step back and absorb the impact of those words. This is was spoken anonymously by a senior administration official. In a nutshell, a great many violent crimes and deaths could have been prevented but for knee-jerk, irrational partisan politics. If you hate George Bush and cannot be persuaded to make the slightest concession where he is concerned, you are not alone. But take a hard look at those words and shoulder a fraction of responsibility in this matter. Republicans are no better. They desperately turned over rock after rock for something to hang on Bill Clinton, and had to settle for a sex scandal, embarrassing our nation for it's pettiness while Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda put the final touches on their fateful attack plans.
Do you see the pattern here? While we bicker amongst each other and lambaste our politicians in the media, we are helping destructive forces to be more effective. I'm sick of it.
By the same token, I'm shocked that a port responsible for 20 percent of our nations energy supply could be knowlingly left to the whim of nature. Didn't we just invest in Homeland Security? Regardless of who eventually shoulders the blame, I submit that we are all to blame, to varying extent.
Why aren't we harnessing alternative sources of energy? Bush talked about tax breaks for wind farms. Off the coast of Nantucket, the elites don't want to have their view obstructed, so that project sits and waits.
What about our borders? The slow distintigration of the middle class? The exportation of our jobs is a joke when we have such poverty as we are painfully witnessing now. Why not create some kind of agreement with those states that gives tax breaks to corporations that manufacture there, where people would gladly work for third world prices. Let's take care of our own for a while. We can take care of the world but we can't lift a finger to save ourselves. We have been exposed as impostors.
The next wave of politicians aren't getting my vote for their party affiliation, but for the ideals they hold dear. I better start hearing about reduced oil dependency and self love, or I'm not voting at all.
16 comments:
The whole situation almost seems out of control. I am trying to look for positives but it appears that blame is going to have to be placed sometime.
I agree that we need to concentrate our efforts here at home. We have been exposed and the poverty level and comfort we all have with it is astounding.
I think we are all comfortable with it because we don't see it every day. I think that's why people living in cities are more liberal, because they are exposed to the greatest diversity, and see the ugly side of poverty.
Very true Scott but there are rural areas with the same level of poverty as the cities. My mom's area for example. I have seen the decline there for the last 10 years truly take a turn for the worse.
P.S. Sorry about the blog question. Support got back with me. Doh!
I don't vote primarily based on party. Never have. I go for the one who could do the most good or in worst case scenario, the least amount of damage.
Jen - Don't be sorry, you can write me for any reason whatsoever.
Knitter - Good for you. We all need to be that way.
Well said! I didn't vote in the Gore/Bush election because I didn't like either. Last time I voted Bush... I really question that decision. Maybe I was pulled in by the whole 9/11 thing. I don't know... I still don't like Kerry at all. I'm an Independant and tend to want to vote for people who are a "waste of a vote" anyway.
You're right about needing to seek alternatives forms of energy/fuel... There should be some kind of program encouraging people (by paying part of the bill?), to have solar panels installed on the roof and things like that.
As for gasoline... God help us. I have seriously wished I were Amish and dependant on horse and carriage instead of living in this conmplicated and expensive society sometimes.
Hopefully the continued war in Iraq and post Katrina, etc will rile up people enough to change things around here... Haven't been feeling too proud to be an American for quite a time... Sometimes, downright embaressed.
What happened to New Orleans makes me want to research the San Francisco earthquake of ’89. I don't remember hearing stories criticizing our preparedness and response like I have with Hurricane Katrina. One so-called expert I heard on the radio thinks that much of the blame can be attributed to Homeland Security, because the restructuring and combining of the different agencies needed to create it took a lot of the power and effectiveness away from FEMA. There was too much worrying about terrorism (especially prevention of it) and not enough emphasis placed on natural disasters according to this guy. Could be true.
Nice post.
I've always said tis time we take back our country... we've slowly let it fall to people that have disengaged from the American people. Ross Perot was not a likely candidate but he did what most could not... he wedged himself into our bipartisan government. I've always voted on a politician's views not party.. parties only get in the way. But then again most politicians don't end up living up to their platforms or those with decent platforms are non-bipartisan so have no hope of being elected.
Another reason I can't wait for the Republic of Texas to rise again!!
Vive Revolution!
Tee - I was passionate about pursuing terrorism, and I hated John Kerry, probably as much as others hated Bush. I probably would have been as bad as the dems are now in opposition to Bush. But Bush disappoints me too, even if he can wash his hands of this mess. He was getting his picture taken, congratulating himself and other politicians while people were still, and are still dying. A good leader would have had hip waders on and helping people out of their homes.
Mr Schprock - You strengthen my main point. Indeed nobody questioned our preparedness in 89, and yet in todays heated political climate we have a MoveOn.org demonstration now at Crawford Ranch. I've read a lot on where the blame is pointed, and there is enough to go around, and I hope they pursue this honestly, then get rid of the dead weight and replace these people with serious and qualified candidates. I just want those replacements to be based on skill and merit, not on party affiliation. Haven't we had enough already?
Mr T - Funny you should mention Ross Perot. He did a lot for this country by bringing out the hard issues. I wish he would run every year, so he could scream about these serious issues and force the dems and the reps to take a stand and let the people see who they are voting for. Bush is never going to close the borders, and he certainly isn't going to harm the oil industry's profits, so we are stuck for three more years. Maybe you're right, bring on the revolution!
I voted Libertarian last election and am mostly disgusted with all the major players. When will voters wake up?
As far as I'm concerned, politicians are all liars and this country is going to Hell. But what else is new? (g)
Tanya
Scott-
You have voiced an opinion that a lot of Americans share right now. Bush's approval rating has taken a nose-dive and his all too convenient photo ops aren't going to help. The red tape issue associated with this fiasco was ridiculous. What happened to help first, ask questions later? The dems want Bush to be humiliated (as do I for various reasons) and the reps are like "placing blame doesn't help the victims!" The truth is the victims deserve to have those responsible for this mess at every level to be held accountbale for it. By a non-partisan panel. Not only has this situation devestated a one-of-a-kind city, displaced thousands, and caused a tremndous loss of life but the handling of it will do absolutely nothing for race or class relations in this country. I truly hope that our economy and morale can bounce back. In the meantime I am thanking heaven that I drive a Honda Civic everyday to my work which is less than 3 miles away.
What about our borders? The slow distintigration of the middle class? The exportation of our jobs is a joke when we have such poverty as we are painfully witnessing now. Why not create some kind of agreement with those states that gives tax breaks to corporations that manufacture there, where people would gladly work for third world prices. Let's take care of our own for a while. We can take care of the world but we can't lift a finger to save ourselves.
I'm 100% in agreement with every single one of those words.
I submit that we are all to blame, to varying extent.
and I agree. It's time we all start bearing some resonsibility instead of blaming everyone else; that's too easy.
Jason - I need to look into becoming a registered Libertarian, as most people that I hear speak that make the most sense to me are so.
Tanya - I think you may be right, but let's hope for some American sanity soon.
MagnetBabe - I agree that the people responsible should be found out and stripped of duty. The 9/11 climate and the virulent response to Bush's actions are to blame for the lack of response on the administrations part. If he would have taken control from Blanco, the dems would have flayed the flesh from his body and feasted on his bones.
Zombie and Sadie - Thanks. Let's write our congress people and let them know how we feel about it.
Very true and very fair.
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