After watching twenty-one Democratic Party debates, one need not be a political junkie to become an "expert" on what makes for an intelligent discussion of the candidates' ideas, positions, and how they intend to make this a better, safer, and more prosperous and equitable country and world. We are looking for answers and guidance to many issues from the most basic: education, jobs, health care; to those that involve other parts of the world - Iraq, the entire mid-east, Russia, China, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, global warming - you name it. You would think that after twenty-one such debates all would have had some serious and in-depth discussion by now. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
What the public was subjected to, if they stayed tuned, was a sham, a display of politics and media at their worst. I'm sure many viewers would find reality shows more entertaining and more enlightening. Come to think of it, it was like a reality show, at least for the first half. The second half offered nothing more than a rehash of just a few topics that most of us can recite without much difficulty.
No one came away unbloodied. ABC News started out impersonating the National Enquirer and never recovered. The absolutely useless course of questions directed at Barack Obama matters zero to most except to entertain those who follow media driven "headlines" and "misspeaks." And to those who say that Obama will be subjected to more of the same from the Republicans when and if he receives the nomination, for those of who are looking for substantial debates - heaven help us.
I was extremely disappointed in both Obama and Hillary Clinton. Neither seemed to be inspired. And both failed to inspire. Obama looked like he wanted to be anywhere except on that stage. I began after a few minutes into the debate saying to myself - hey, Obama, say "can't we put all this dribble to rest and get to things that are important and matter to the people of this country?" He failed to do so.
Clinton was obviously enjoying seeing Obama squirm in the spotlight. But I said the same of her - let's get to the important stuff. But she didn't. Damn any important discussion. She has developed a reputation, helped along by Bill, for doing and saying whatever is necessary to win, including taking down the Democratic Party, and helping the debate turn into a debacle. She didn't help her cause either.
Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos did not shower themselves with glory either. They received a lot of flack, deservedly so, for their line of questioning. Having a one-time aide and supporter of the Clintons, Stephanopoulos, as a moderator, is not very assuring that impartiality will prevail. And to come to the public's attention in the days following the debate that Shawn Hannity, a right winger if there ever was one, well maybe except for Rush Limbaugh, was dictating questions that Stephanopoulos should direct to Obama, smacks of conspiracy. We must remind ourselves the Republicans want to run against Clinton who will bring all the factions of the right together en masse in the fall election.
But what was most disappointing to me was that neither Obama nor Clinton appeared "presidential." Obama wasted an opportunity to take charge, to say "enough with this tabloid material, let's move on to more important issues facing all Americans." The feeling of mistrust, all the misspeaks and negative attacks by Clinton, including in her own words, her 'baggage," was draped around her like a disaster waiting to happen.
Being let down by the lackluster debate is one thing. To lose confidence in Obama and Clinton is something else. And more important. And more disturbing.
John McCain and all the right wingers must be licking their chops. But there is hope in all of this. McCain's free ride will come to an end soon. We hope.
Peace.
Larry
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Enough is Enough
I found it very disturbing to listen to the testimony before US Senate Committees by the top commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, describing the status in Iraq and the surge that President George Bush ordered last year. As the Senators asked a number of questions, most politely, many supportive, some specific, very few challenging or probing, the thoughts of having lost 4000 plus of our bravest, and counting, the 30,000 plus wounded, and counting, the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead, and counting, 2 million displaced Iraqis, and counting, all for an illegal and unjustified invasion more than 5 years ago, and counting, I found myself grinding my teeth, which, at my age is not something I can afford to do.
And all, as we speak today, without a short time goal, a long time goal, or an exit strategy. But the surge "has worked, is working," a "pause" is needed, and much of what has been gained is "fragile and reversible."
And now the Iranians are coming. No, the Iranians are there, "contributing to the killing of our American military." So maybe a military confrontation with Iran is just around the next alleyway?
And our military, according to most of the experts, is at the breaking point, maybe past the point of no return - military draft anyone? Iran? Forget it. Afghanistan? Has anyone been paying attention to the increased violence there?
And at a cost of nearly a trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000), and counting, the US economy is tanking, the US dollar is falling off the radar screen, our health coverage is an embarrassment, thousands out of work, our education system is another embarrassment, and, oh, you get the idea. Add any of your pet peeves to the growing list. Israel-Palestine road map? What road map?
And what of our dead, wounded, and their families? That is a cost that can never be assessed, and, if you are not one of those families, a cost you can never really feel. After all, our president has never asked us to sacrifice. In fact, he rewards us with tax breaks that mainly go the wealthy, has taken away many of our so-called rights, asked us to "go the malls, go on living your normal lives," and has added so much to the budget deficits and debt that our future generations may never be able to pay it off.
United Sates for sale? Heck, with the growing list of home foreclosures and sales, we might as well add it to the list.
And this is what we have after 5 years, and counting?
I wonder, dear George, if you will ever realize in your lifetime, much less admit, that Osama bin Laden is smarter than you and all of the so-called brains and experts you have, and did have, running our once proud nation into the ground. Let me remind you of two things he said: one, he and his fellow men will never tolerate any US citizen or military on any mid- eastern soil; two, he intends to bankrupt the US. Dear George, you fell right into his trap.
Bankrupt, or bankruptcy, is almost always associated with monetary issues. I would take that a bit further. The morals that we once stood for as a nation is bankrupt. The lives of those who lost their loved ones in a totally unjustifiable fiasco are bankrupt.
And one last reminder, dear George: if you think you can bring democracy to a region that has been fighting among themselves for thousands of years, you're smoking the wrong stuff.
A military victory in Iraq is unattainable. We must remove our military and civilian support personnel in an orderly but rapid manner immediately. Now.
Enough is enough.
Peace.
Larry
And all, as we speak today, without a short time goal, a long time goal, or an exit strategy. But the surge "has worked, is working," a "pause" is needed, and much of what has been gained is "fragile and reversible."
And now the Iranians are coming. No, the Iranians are there, "contributing to the killing of our American military." So maybe a military confrontation with Iran is just around the next alleyway?
And our military, according to most of the experts, is at the breaking point, maybe past the point of no return - military draft anyone? Iran? Forget it. Afghanistan? Has anyone been paying attention to the increased violence there?
And at a cost of nearly a trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000), and counting, the US economy is tanking, the US dollar is falling off the radar screen, our health coverage is an embarrassment, thousands out of work, our education system is another embarrassment, and, oh, you get the idea. Add any of your pet peeves to the growing list. Israel-Palestine road map? What road map?
And what of our dead, wounded, and their families? That is a cost that can never be assessed, and, if you are not one of those families, a cost you can never really feel. After all, our president has never asked us to sacrifice. In fact, he rewards us with tax breaks that mainly go the wealthy, has taken away many of our so-called rights, asked us to "go the malls, go on living your normal lives," and has added so much to the budget deficits and debt that our future generations may never be able to pay it off.
United Sates for sale? Heck, with the growing list of home foreclosures and sales, we might as well add it to the list.
And this is what we have after 5 years, and counting?
I wonder, dear George, if you will ever realize in your lifetime, much less admit, that Osama bin Laden is smarter than you and all of the so-called brains and experts you have, and did have, running our once proud nation into the ground. Let me remind you of two things he said: one, he and his fellow men will never tolerate any US citizen or military on any mid- eastern soil; two, he intends to bankrupt the US. Dear George, you fell right into his trap.
Bankrupt, or bankruptcy, is almost always associated with monetary issues. I would take that a bit further. The morals that we once stood for as a nation is bankrupt. The lives of those who lost their loved ones in a totally unjustifiable fiasco are bankrupt.
And one last reminder, dear George: if you think you can bring democracy to a region that has been fighting among themselves for thousands of years, you're smoking the wrong stuff.
A military victory in Iraq is unattainable. We must remove our military and civilian support personnel in an orderly but rapid manner immediately. Now.
Enough is enough.
Peace.
Larry
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)