I apologize for my recent absence, I am taking an abbreviated government course and it’s pretty much taking up all of my time. I’ve been sleeping, eating and breathing government and perhaps that is the reason for this post. I encourage you to state any objections or support in the comments section because this is a controversial topic that I hope will fuel some thought.
People Who Don’t Vote and Bash the President
According to Census data, there are roughly 301 million people in the United States. 126 million of those are registered to vote. Believe it or not, that does not mean the other half of the population is under 18. It means people aren’t voting. I’m sure there are good reasons. You’re busy, you don’t have a car, you don’t speak English, or maybe you can’t get your fat posterior off the couch anymore. Either way, we respect your right not to vote. But if you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to bash the President. If you don’t care enough about the elections to get out there and cast a vote, then you are not well enough informed to be able to make educated opinions about Bush, including what he did or didn’t do or you think should have done.
Everyone Else on the Bush Bashing Bus (and other alliteration)
Anyone else that thinks President Bush should be impeached or that he’s a bad leader, go get an envelope and address it to your local IRS office which can be found here. http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html Then, put your stimulus check in it and send it back. I guarantee whoever you thought would make a better President (ie- Clinton, Obama) would not be mailing checks out to Americans. Aren’t the Dems the ones that want to reduce the national debt? Yep, you go ahead and send that check right back and say you don’t want it because it’s from President Bush and he is a bad, bad man. Also exercise your First Amendment rights and practice some freedom of speech in that envelope. You tell him how you feel! Just wait and see if they tell you they can’t take their check back.
Okay, so now that that’s done and the government is getting A LOT of money back thanks to all you dutiful Americans who are working to reduce national debt, lets address the issue of authority.
What is authority? It is someone who has legitimate power. What happens when you get pulled over for a traffic stop? Do you tell the cop that you think he’s full of crap and needs to get back in his car and drive home? I’ve never met anyone that has disrespected a cop to his face. Why is that? Is it because you like him or know him? Probably not. It’s because he’s in a position of authority. President Bush is in a position of authority, too. He is Commander in Chief. That means, regardless of how you feel about him (and remember you’re 1/301 million), you need to respect him. His job is harder than any job you will ever have. He has to lead the world’s only superpower and thus, he has to also worry about the whole world. He went to Iraq not to “force” democracy on anyone. He went to Iraq based on the intelligence at the time and the CONGRESS (you know the one that Obama and Clinton were in) supported him. So that’s 436 people to blame NOT one.
Everyone needs to just step off their high horse and respect the man that has to trim his nose hairs in the public eye and hope it doesn’t offend anyone.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I surrender the soapbox.
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Well, here’s the thing. People, as a general rule, act like sheep. They make ridiculous noises, can be herded around by “dogs” (interpret that how ever you wish) and they LOVE to follow the group. So when one person out of that 301 million starts in on the bush bashing, everyone joins in.
The fact of the matter is exactly as the name of a war no one REALLY knows the reasons of. But it’s like she said — the job he does is infinitely harder than anything you’re ever likely to have to do. So there’s no wiggle room on that one.
As far as not agreeing with him and wanting to voice your opinions, that’s is A-OK. But is it really necessary to do it by bashing him at every opportunity you get? It’s just as bad as the way the hardcore right-wingers (cos I know they’re not all like this) are constantly bashing gays. Doesn’t that make you feel slimey? Cos it makes me feel slimey for you.
I don’t know if this was exactly coherent, this comment, but it’s all I’ve got at the mo.
So I was sitting in front of the minister doing my premarital counseling (lo those many years ago) chatting up my impending matrimony. He provided at least 300 metric tons of sage advice during those chats, and somewhere near the top of the pile was a broad category entitled, “Things not to discuss with your Father In Law. Ever.” Tucked into this manilla folder of knowledge were topics like, “Religious Views and Interpretation” and “Why My Generation’s Musical Choices are Better Than Yours” and “Things I’m Doing to Your Daughter While We’re Both Naked.” Tucked neatly among the very top was the simple word “Politics.” Circling the topic were hoards of hungry, rabid sharks. Staked nearby were pitbulls that had been recovered from Michael Vick’s estate and strategically starved. Scattered on the ground nearby were rusty nails, broken glass, jagged razor blades and medical waste labeled “Hepatitis A” and “HIV.” A note written in blood hung near the topic reading only this: “Politics = The Tree. Signed, Adam and Eve.” A straggly band of insurgent Al Qaeda terrorists were stationed nearby, RPGs aimed at me and IEDs and VBIEDs strewn about to inflict general mass casualties on those who approached.
Clearly, someone was trying to tell me something.
Fortunately, I am +1000 on health and have selected immunity to RPGs and medical waste. I also have an ample supply of fatty ribeye cuts to toss to said pitbulls. As a fruit, apples don’t specifically tempt me (especially when I’ve read what happened to The First Couple after they partook of the Holy Bowl of AppleJacks), and I’m well and truly unafraid of HIV and Hep, mostly because of the afore-mentioned +1000 health.
Fearlessly, I wade into the maelstrom, pluck the Forbidden Topic from the pile and march into the open air, ascend the bully pulpit to read, confess and profess.
Heckuva set up just to chat, ain’t it?
Caveat #1: Politics may be 1 or 1a in the “Most Explosive Topics to Introduce” contest, at least in America, that is. Politics may also be 1 (or 1a) in the “Most Important Topics to Introduce” in that our entire system of function in this country is established on the free expression of ideas and ideologies. Citizenry of this great nation is accompanied by great privilege, including but not limited to the right to express who you want to lead you for chunks of time. Note: your choice will not necessarily be honored because you must assume your place in society and, at least for this exercise, majority rule wins the day.
If you did not vote yea or nay in either of the previous presidential elections, your voice does not count. On this there can really be no argument - if you had the opportunity and did not vote, shame on you… now shut up. Further, if you have somehow, through action or omission of action, disqualified yourself from this privilege, you are similarly unable to complain.
Finally this - if you do not understand the process of our government or the underlying principles upon which the nation is built, then shut up. You are disqualified from complaining until you resolve prepositional phrases nos. 1 and 2 above.
So what are we, this loose band of people living betwixt the seas? America is a democratic republic founded on the work of about 100 people and 20 document groups, all of which completed their missions about 225 years ago. To say they were successful in their labor would be woefully silly… in barely two centuries, this land has emerged from being an outcast society of farmers, preachers and adventurers to this single greatest body of humanity the world has ever known.
Ever.
This nation stands this tall because of an incongruous intersection of rich natural resource, crafty and innovative invention, and stout and courageous leadership. The latter group includes the 56 Declaration signers, the 14 Presidents who lead the Continental Congress and 30someodd military leaders who defended, attacked and misled with verve and passion not seen since. In that band of men were the authors of the Declaration, the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, the Bill of Rights, and a few more documents that, though amended, have not needed revision ONCE in the two centuries of this Enterprise. I’ll bet 195 other countries on this planet would trade for that start…
Remarkably, these men were not popularly compelled. Rather, these men were justified by an allegiance to Rule of Law superceding the Will of the People. Why? Because humans are fickle, fad-prone, and largely stupid (I think the term ’sheep’ is wonderfully appropriate.) Many will follow an ideal because that’s the one making the most noise or attracting the biggest crowd… see also The Britney Spears Phenomenon. Many of these men faced dissent and ridicule for their vision and their direction. They stayed the course, however - often nearly alone - and produced the seed of genius that perpetuates to this day. Along the way, however, we stopped remembering that upon which we were founded, and started introducing that which we wished for as ideals.
And now we worship Television.
The Presidency of this nation is probably the most difficult job ever. Heck, before you can even APPLY for the job, your every second of existence must be scrutinized in public. Words or actions from 30 years earlier can be called into clear view as ‘evidence’ you are not worthy of the job. Sadly, we have probably disqualified wonderfully talented men and women from this post, simply because they were not gifted orators.
The President as he is elected is not a man, but an assembled contraption, built by the party mechanism, fueled by a wealthy few who have attained and seek to retain their privilege, and nearly impervious to the outside world. His every move, word and action are scripted by ‘handlers’ who provide information and pull the strings, but remain just out of the camera’s viewpoint. The campaigning process is really a multi-million dollar process of collecting soundbites and conniving the sheepish masses who looks, sounds, and ‘feels’ better. It is the epitome of style over substance and the byproduct of this process is a leader paralyzed to act because he has been conditioned not to hear but from selected voices.
I’ll confess to being a Republican, probably leaning further right than most people would care to understand. I am this despite having Democrats for parents. I am because I believe what conservatism stands for. No, it’s not a perfect system - no system is perfect - but I believe it is the best thing for my family, my community and my nation.
Note the use of the words “I” and “my” and “me.” These connote personal beliefs. I assume roughly 50% of my fellow countrymen do not agree with me. I’m good with that… I even applaud that, mostly because it means some of them have thought long and hard about what they believe and formed “their” opinions. For the overwhelming majority of Americans, however, I don’t give a care what you believe. You are the sheep and you follow the loudest clanging cymbal you can hear. I love Political debate because it shines the flashlight of wisdom and knowledge into the softly reflecting eyes of the stupid. And much like explaining organic chemistry to a six year old, discussion of societal principles with the vast majority of people is one sided, and for them is a lot of neat sounding words - some of which they’ll remember because they click - with meanings and implication far above any scope their undeveloped brains can currently attain.
Is Bush a good President? That depends on who you ask and how you define his job performance. Answer this question, allowing the 7.3 years of his presidency as the scope of reference.
Have our freedoms been maintained?
In a nutshell, that’s his job.
We’re at war on two fronts (Iraq and Afghanistan). Are we safer today than we were 7.3 years ago? Given the framing argument cast by the reality slap that was Sept 11, 2001, I’d say we are. That the safety about which we speak has been earned at the cost of about 8000 lives of American servicemen and women, and another 2500 civilians who happened to be flying/going to work that day is perhaps a necessary price to pay for securing ourselves. MY beliefs regarding the Iraq war are pretty simple… if he was hell bent on disabling his Axis of Evil, then President Bush has done a wonderful job of disabling it; he attacked the weakest of the axes and in defeating it also sent a clear message to other enemies that America will defend itself… on your turf. I believe his information regarding the build up to Iraq was erroneous, and I believe the execution of the combat at the highest levels was often laughable, but I do not question his purpose for attacking, nor his tenacity in carrying forward. I also note his primary rivals all indicated by vote that he should go forward, thus neutering their opposition to the conflicts.
Note the use of “I” and “MY”… personal opinions you may freely oppose.
The economy has flourished during his Presidency. Even air travel, once thought to have been devastated irreparably by 9/11, has rebounded, and both American and United have recovered to exceeded pre-9/11 levels of service. The current mortgage crisis doesn’t land at the President’s feet. He is neither an unscrupulous mortgage banker, nor an idiotic consumer signing up for the tripe that is a no-principal ARM in central California.
Most people with whom I debate (I do this a lot in my spare time, surprisingly enough) find their disagreement with him as a person. They don’t like his mannerisms or his voice or his confidence. I have talked/written with very few people who, after closer inspection of the issues at hand, don’t begrudgingly agree with his mode, even if they dispute why. I always reach agreement with the following premise about President George Bush: he is convicted to improve America. What HE sees and how HE responds are not motivated by anything other than a dying wish to see America grow and flourish (and then we disagree on mode and measure).
Is President Bush a good president? Again, that falls to your definition of what makes him good. I don’t think history will remember him iconically with the Lincolns, Roosevelts, Jeffersons, etc. I don’t think he’ll even be in the second tier that includes the Polks, Reagans, Adams, etc. He is an average president who has served under some extraordinary times in an increasingly venomous and partisan time. He has helped America grow and prosper. I believe we would be in a very different place had we elected Gore or Kerry, and I’m not sure we would like that place. I also believe he significantly exceeds the performance of his predecessor (a fact which has probably crippled the presidential aspirations for Sen Clinton). His predecessor defiled the dignity of the title and the integrity of the job and history will rightfully remember him as impeached. You may not like his mode of leadership, but President Bush exceeds in character and conviction, worthy traits of the man who must assume the most powerful title on the planet.
And all of our post-pubescent girls are safer than they were 8 years ago…
Sedgewick hath opined.
Once again, an excellent analysis and commentary. I applaud you, Sedge.
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