My political venting 25 October 2006: Why are the conservatives taking over the world? The following started as a short bullitin on myspace and I decided to make it a full blog since it got so long with all the quotes. Understand I mean no disrespect to anyone with any sort of political stance, however I do have my own convictions and I am scared to death about some things that are going on in my "free" country. Part One: A Caesar and a Cowboy
I have been reading quite a bit about Ancient Rome, right now particularly the Fall of the Republic (at the time of Gaius Julius Caesar). Last night I thought, "there are a lot of similarities between Caesar and George W. Bush." I came to this thought after reading about Caesar's conquest of Gaul, which no one particularly liked, Rome didn't sponsor it really, and it ended up after all was said, giving Caesar a lot of street credit. However, Bush, I fear Iraq is a terrible mistake. Why should I respect Julius Caesar more than my own president? Mr. Bush gave a press conference today which he said the following: "Now, I'm giving the speech -- you're asking me why I'm giving this speech today -- because there's -- I think I owe an explanation to the American people, and will continue to make explanations. The people need to know that we have a plan for victory. Like I said in my opening comments, I fully understand if the people think we don't have a plan for victory, they're not going to support the effort. And so I'll continue to speak out about our way forward." "This is a tough war in Iraq. I mean, it's a hard fight, no question about it. All you've got to do is turn on your TV. But I believe that the military strategy we have is going to work. That's what I believe, Peter. And so we've made changes throughout the war, we'll continue to make changes throughout the war. But the important thing is whether or not we have the right strategy and the tactics necessary to achieve that goal. And I believe we do." On the Non-Civil war in Iraq:
"Dick, our job is to prevent the full-scale civil war from happening in the first place. It's one of the missions, is to work with the Maliki government to make sure that there is a political way forward that says to the people of Iraq, it's not worth it. Civil war is not worth the effort -- by them. That's the whole objective, is to help this government be able to defend itself and sustain itself, so that the 12 million people that voted -- they didn't vote for civil war, they voted to live under a constitution that was passed." "You know, it's interesting, if you -- I'm sure people who watch your TV screens think the entire country is embroiled in sectarian conflict and that there's constant killing everywhere in Iraq. Well, if you listened to General Casey yesterday, 90 percent of the action takes place in five of the 18 provinces. And around Baghdad, it's limited to a 30-mile area. And the reason I bring that up is that while it seems to our American citizens that nothing normal is taking place -- and I can understand why, it's a brutal environment there, particularly that which is on our TV screens -- that there is farmers farming, there are small businesses growing, there's a currency that's relatively stable, there's an entrepreneurial class, there's commerce. General Abizaid was describing to me what it was like to go to Baghdad markets." (Apparently the over 90 American troops that died just this month and the 500,000+ dead Iraqis don't count as much). "The security of this country -- and look, I understand here in Washington, some people say we're not at war. I know that. They're just wrong in my opinion." (Who says that we are not in war??? I don't get this one). On Measuring Curtains from the End Zone
"I understand here in Washington people have already determined the outcome of the election, like it's over even before the people actually start heading -- voting. But that's not what I see when I'm on the campaign trail. Yes, we've got some people dancing in the end zone here in Washington, D.C.; they've got them measuring their drapes; they're going over to the Capitol, and saying, my new office looks beautiful, I think I'm going to have this size drape there, or this color. But the American people are going to decide, and they're going to decide this race based upon who best to protect the American people and who best to keep the taxes low.... No, again, I understand how -- look, I read the -- look at the newspapers around here. I can see why you would think that I'm concealing something in my heart of hearts. The race is over as far as a lot of the punditry goes. They've got it all figured out. And they just -- as I said, they're dancing in the end zone. They just haven't scored the touchdown, Mark, you know, there's a lot of time left." (I just posted this one cause I thought it was funny. Also, I would rather have higher taxes if that would mean America would be America the beautiful again, and ceases to be America the Tyrannical Supernation who doesn't meet with anyone and who slings dirt like a cowboy). On Who is Accountable:
"Wait a minute, let me say -- the ultimate accountability, Peter, rests with me. That's the ultimate -- you're asking about accountability, that's -- rests right here. It's what the 2004 campaign was about. If people want to -- if people are unhappy about it, look right to the President. I believe our generals are doing the job I asked them to do. They're competent, smart, capable men and women. And this country owes them a lot of gratitude and support." End of Quotes. While I am certainly not someone who has been known to support George W. Bush or his administration, I understand his job is difficult. I also understand how difficult it is to listen to him. A conservative newscaster on CNN said that he prefers to read Bush's speeches and conferences rather than watch them because it is difficult to follow his line of thinking on television or whatever (Glenn Beck). Well, George W. is the president of the United States right now. Though he scares me, and though I think he should talk directly with the handful of troublesome country leaders who very apparently want very little more than to have an open talk with the US. GW refuses in a sort of macho Texas cowboy sort of way that makes me sick. Every world crisis, I believe, has arose out of a lack of commuication or miscommunication. I do not believe our president is a good communicator. That is his biggest problem. His second biggest problem is his cowboy diplomacy. Do not get me wrong, I am not wanting to sound as though I disrespect Mr. Bush. I am scared to death by the whole administration, but I don't mean to throw mud. Yet, I am scared. To read the press conference and other speeches you can go to the White House website: www.whitehouse.gov. Part Two: Rush Limbaugh
Many of you know that Michael J. Fox has Parkinson's disease. Well, since his retirement he has been lobbying for stem-cell research which could very well help us find a cure for his disease and many others. At any rate, he appeared in a commercial promoting a democrat in Missouri without taking his medicine to show the effects of his disease. This took great courage and strength, but Rush Limbaugh, the "Big Fat Idiot," said that he was faking it. (Michael J. Fox had campaigned for a Republican in prior races, but Rush didn't say anything about him then!). He has gone further:
"I'm not going to fall for the trick of letting liberals get away with lying and misrepresenting things, despite their technique of putting forth people to do this who they think should be immune from such criticism. When anybody enters the political arena, they are subject to criticism, reaction and response. Nobody is immune. Nobody." Rush Limbaugh from the main page of his website, rushlimbaugh.com. That makes me sad. People can be so mean. If the Liberals are "godless" (Ann Coulter) then Conservatives might be heartless, or "without conscious" (John Dean). Either way, I think Rush and our good Christian brother Pat Robertson ought to get together, their hatred is similar. This is not so much about Michael J. Fox "faking it" and about a very important issue of stem-cell research. There are many things associated with stem-cell that most everyone doesn't understand. If there is a way that when I turn 60 and develop cancer, for me to have a cure to spend another 10 or 20 years with my grandchildren, then let's do it. Or, more apparent now, if we can find a cure to something that might take my parents lives, then we should go for it. Part Three: Dixie Chicks
Another way the Conservatives are ruining the world is how much fuss people are making over the Dixie Chicks. In case you don't know the head singer of the Country trio said that she regretted coming from the same state as George W. Bush, and everyone sort of started attacking them all, with death threats and all of that. Is this a free country??? There is a new film documentary "Shut Up and Sing" about this big thing. Country music stations won't play them, they won't talk about them, "because they don't want to get political." Toby Keith, the big honk, also said harsh things about the Dixie Chicks... all the while, late this summer, their new song, "I'm not ready to play nice" or something like that spent 11 weeks at the top of the Vh1 top 20 videos. I didn't like country radio anyway. See the Chick's website, www.dixiechicks.com Conclusion:
Having said all of this, I will be quite concerned if the Democrats do not win at least one of the two houses in less than two weeks. As Bush has said himself, he needs to be held accountable. Let's hope that there are new drapes in Washington after a couple weeks. Thanks for reading. | 
