No one on the Affect likes politics anymore. I think we used to like to debate and talk about it from time to time, but not anymore. What has worn us out is politicians. From the lowest level to the highest, politicians are like cheerleaders.
What do I mean by that? Well if you knew a cheerleader in high school, especially in the last 10-15 years, you saw firsthand how cheerleaders think the world revolves around cheering. It's a year round thing for them, so it's not surprising. But a step away we realize that cheerleading is just something to do.
Politics is similar. Politicians think the entire world revolves around them. They think everything is political or should be "simplified" into either a conservative or liberal issue. This happens with things that should be personal and religious, like abortion. Rudy Giuliani is considered unelectable because he's pro-choice. Even though the likelihood that Giuliani will have any say in the abortion legality in a presidential term are akin to the likelihood of me landing the first spaceship to land on the gaseuos giant Jupiter.
I find it disgusting that the War in Iraq has become so politicized. Personally, I put Harry Reid at the very front of the line for dimwits who use soldiers as pawns in their political games. But certainly the lunacy of such action spreads into both sides of the aisle. Reid raised eyebrows when he said that the war in Iraq is already lost. He has since backtracked but the verbal damage is done.
Now Democrats are pushing through an Iraq funding bill that's chocked full of pork projects and loaded with a mandatory pull-out date in Iraq. The President has promised he will veto this bill. Democrats know he will, yet they put it through yesterday anyway. This is a great example of how putrid modern politics is. Why send a bill that is guaranteed to be vetoed without any hope of gaining the two/thirds majority needed to override the veto? Because of politics.
I'm eager to hear the opinion of the Affect on this issue. Should we have a pull-out date set for the Iraq War?
One more thing, I actually agree with John Murtha on something. I believe this is the first time. Murtha said any war funding bill would include some benchmarks the Iraqi government must meet to keep us in country. This provides motivation for the Iraqis and gives us some definitive assessment of whether progress is indeed being made.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
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6 comments:
I think we need to really find a plan for withdrawal, but not worry about a timeline because plans can change. The White House is bound and determined to keep on throwing our brave soldiers into a civil war, while Bin Laden is in a cave somewhere laughing at us as the Taliban and al-Qaida regroup in Afghanistan. Really, when was the last time Bin Laden's name was uttered by the administration? This man came to the U.S. and killed innocent citizens and we attack Saddam. Saddam was an evil SOB and needed to be dealt with, but couldn't we have finished our first job? Bush keeps saying we are going to finish the job in Iraq, but how can we left things undone in Afghanistan.
I can't see this thing in Iraq ending until Bush is out because I don't think he wants to be the one to say, "Lets' get out." We already accomplished the mission we were sent on, I saw the big sign on the aircraft carrier. We got rid of Saddam. Let’s figure a way out of this and give those men and women in the armed forces some rest.
I think Iraq needs to be split into three areas one each for Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds and then have elected officials from each area meet in Baghdad to make policy. If you keep everyone away from everyone else maybe then we can end the violence. Unfortunately, the violence has been going on for thousands of years, and I don't think George Bush is the man to stop it.
As for politicians in general, they will use anything and anyone they can to further their political agenda. I am so disappointed in both parties because they would rather spend their time stuck in the red or blue and not try to meet in the middle and really try to do some good for the country. The worst thing about politics is that as soon as someone is elected, they have to immediately begin campaigning again for their position or help their friends campaign. It seems like the politicians are worried more about keeping their jobs than doing their jobs. This will never change just like the people in the Middle East will never stop fighting with each other.
I think Travis is right on about how politics work in this country. It's all about your stance on gay marriage, abortion and the war. As if there has been anyone that was up for a good war.
Despite other issues that could be addressed during a campaign, few ever are actually addressed and rarely discussed at any reasonable length.
And the fact of the matter is, regardless of political affiliation, 99 percent of politicians are for and against the same things. They never take a stand on anything and they never come out and say they are going to make big changes because the threat of big change might lose them a vote.
Sure some say they are going to make big changes like cleaning up Washington or something ridiculous like that, but politicians don't rock the boat because the one thing they love more than politics is being paid to be in politics.
That goes down to even the smallest local official.
Our governor here in Kentucky actually did clean up the capitol, but he had to pardon a few dozen people including himself because of various laws he violated.
We live in an age where any politician with proper funding can hire people who study the public and voters and see what people like and dislike. See what issues are important to the most people and when certain things need to be said in front of certain crowds.
At the end of the day, we don't really know what any politician stands for and what they really want to do in office. We are electing a suit and smile after the researchers have constructed their perfect political candidates.
I think Travis is right on about how politics work in this country. It's all about your stance on gay marriage, abortion and the war. As if there has been anyone that was up for a good war.
Despite other issues that could be addressed during a campaign, few ever are actually addressed and rarely discussed at any reasonable length.
And the fact of the matter is, regardless of political affiliation, 99 percent of politicians are for and against the same things. They never take a stand on anything and they never come out and say they are going to make big changes because the threat of big change might lose them a vote.
Sure some say they are going to make big changes like cleaning up Washington or something ridiculous like that, but politicians don't rock the boat because the one thing they love more than politics is being paid to be in politics.
That goes down to even the smallest local official.
Our governor here in Kentucky actually did clean up the capitol, but he had to pardon a few dozen people including himself because of various laws he violated.
We live in an age where any politician with proper funding can hire people who study the public and voters and see what people like and dislike. See what issues are important to the most people and when certain things need to be said in front of certain crowds.
At the end of the day, we don't really know what any politician stands for and what they really want to do in office. We are electing a suit and smile after the researchers have constructed their perfect political candidates.
piccu, I think you're spot on. Our great mistake in Iraq wasn't going in, it was when we went.
We're still warring in Afghanistan. I don't think most Americans know this. It's a UN led force now and we don't seem to ever hear of anything in Afghanistan anymore.
An honest, open discussion of what to do in Iraq might be productive. We might be able to find things that work and establish some benchmarks to reach to track our progress. But we don't get that. What we get is Reid, Schumer, Cheney, and others barking at each other in a never ending dogfight over a political Milk Bone.
Some things don't deserve to be politicized. War is one of those things. Unfortunately the good people of Nevada won't ditch Reid, the same way Massachusettes won't ditch Ted Kennedy, or New York won't ditch Schumer. Those guys will continue to make their biannual returns to Capitol Hill and they'll continue their politics as usual approach.
And we suffer. We need a mandate for change like the Dems talked about, but not just in Iraq. We need a change here in this country to stop the partisan garbage and start progressing like America should.
The greatest mistake in forming this country was not putting term limits on congresspeople.
Term limits would be a great idea because I bet the longer these people stay in office, the easier it is to become slimier and greasier.
I hate it that my representatives have so disillusioned me that when I vote, I feel like I have to vote for the lesser piece of crap and not the best candidate for the job.
I don't know how you change the system but term limits would seem like a great start. When a senator or congressman reaches his final term then maybe he can concentrate on doing some good instead of gearing up for the next election campaign.
One good thing about the crap that is going on in Washington is that it seems to be uniting the people of the U.S. Of course we are uniting in our hate of Washington, but it is a start.
That's why term limits should have been in the original drafting of the constitution. Now laws are proposed by congress. Congress isn't likely to pass a law that hurts themselves.
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