I am struck by the abundance of analysis in the after math of the 2008 election. None has been more fascinating to me than the Republican Party's own suspect attempts at introspection. What is truly amazing is that their are clueless as to their own foibles. Their new website, (ideas.rebuildtheparty.com/), is asking for suggestions and ideas as to why they failed so miserably and how they can regain power. There is already a long list of reasons why they failed, and what they should do, but, none of them is remotely close to being true or accurate.
My favorites are:
we need a new logo and slogan
stop reaching across the aisle
fight appointment of liberal judges
say thanks but no thanks to AARP
Here's my list for why you lost: Your party is:
imperious
amoral
cynical
superior
unscrupulous
deceptive
devious
Machiavellian
ruthless
slanderous
murderous
jingoistic
intolerant
self-righteous
Orwellian
brutal
exclusive
bigoted
prejudiced
close minded
mean
small minded
petty
vindictive
power-hungry
authoritarian
dictatorial
theocratic
anti-democratic
un-American
anti-constitutional
extra-constitutional
repressive
secretive
arrogant
ignorant
smug
intellectually stunted
uncurious
stagnant
unfair
elitists
opportunistic
cheating
lying
back-stabbing
belligerent
bellicose
bombastic
demagogic
fraudulent
blundering
buffoonish
underhanded
fear mongering
divisive
hypocritical
backward looking
reactionary
knee-jerk
an unending source of false accusations
bearing false witness
hate-filled
hateful
unchristian
uncharitable
unkind
unconscionable
exhibits barbarous international thuggery
breeds and promotes selfishness, greed and corruption
I could go on, but I am sure none of this will register with you or make the slightest bit of difference in anyway, as to you, making positive changes in your dismal party, you have embraced some of the worst aspects of human nature and enshrined them in a misguided wrong headed ideology that looks for the worst in others while ignoring your own glaring, grotesque deficiencies. You are bankrupt morally and spiritually.
Through your malignant foreign policies you have murdered millions of innocents while weeping disingenuous, pro-life tears, for the unborn. You have squandered this nations wealth on needless wars while denying basic social needs of its citizens.
You have allowed oil conglomerates to suppress and crush green car technologies in favor their continued pollution of our planet.
You cry freedom and deny freedom to others. You sing America's praises of freedom and deliberately undermine it's Constitution and in secret take away American's freedoms.
You have brought great harm to this nation and the world and and you deserve to be thrown into the ash heap of bad political ideas, like Communism and National Socialism.
You deliberately polished a political turd like Palin and served her with smug self assurance that the American people are stupid and will buy anything.
The spontaneous joy you saw expressed on the election of Barrack Obama was the expression of pent up hope that you and your party have repressed with your exaggerated fear mongering for eight long years. People gravitate towards ideas and hope you are bereft of either.
And last but not least, you do not govern as servants of the people, as the Constitution requires, you rule as an elite class of aristocrats with a smug sense of superiority and entitlement. You have even stooped so low as to steal elections through the suppression of peoples right to vote so that you can retain power. You are despicable and un-American in the extreme sense of the word. You are fascists to be exact. A remnant of Tory seed that sees itself entitled to a life of privileged ease at the expense of others, taking everything and giving nothing back. You despise the idea of a democratic republic, and are trying to create a theocratic, oligarchy that dictates and rules by fiat, guided by your narrow views and twisted philosophies.
In short you lost because you are out of touch and you suck.
Damn you and your party.
© 2008 by Michael Weber
Showing posts with label Sarah Palin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sarah Palin. Show all posts
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Truth About Sarah
The Thirteen Days in October, have been referred to as The Most Dangerous Two Weeks In History. Thirteen Days in October, chronicle the crisis in the fall of 1962, when Russia had moved nuclear missiles into Fidel Castro's communist Cuba, 90 miles from America.
The Russians' had smuggled them into Cuba beginning in August of 1962, under false cargo manifests'. The soviets' also had forty thousand soldiers and technicians stationed there feverishly and secretly trying to make them operational. They had intended revealing the missiles after completion and they were nearly successful.
But with more missiles still on the way in mid-October, the missiles already in Cuba were detected by American U2 over-flights, and that discovery, began two weeks never before experienced by human history, two nuclear powers close to an all out nuclear war.
I was still in high school and remember the entire country looking to our then, President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. His calm steady demeanor never betrayed the real peril we faced. His steady firm command of the situation showed the qualities that American's admired about him.
I just watched the movie "Thirteen Days In October", again last night. And relived the experience through the eyes of first hand observers in the White House. The pressure JFK was under from the military to act precipitously was enormous. His single minded focus on navigating the crisis and preserving peace came partly from a book, "The Guns Of August", he had read, that chronicled the events of pre World War One, that led to one of the bloodiest events in human history.
The leaders in Europe all missed opportunities, made blunders and suffered under false assumptions, on both sides, that could have prevented the war, if only they had talked to one another. Instead they floundered and made critical thinking errors, based on missed opportunities and miscommunication.
Kennedy's' cool unflappable temperament was thoughtful, courageous, and he saved mankind from a descent into nuclear madness.
This October, is the Forty-Sixth Anniversary of those thirteen days. It seems to me somehow appropriate in the midst of this heated presidential campaign, that we put the name calling and accusations aside, and ask ourselves as Americans what qualities we really need in the candidates, in these times.
Sober reflection requires that we ask ourselves if we really want Sarah Palin, a heart beat away from a 72 year old man at the helm of this nation. The consequences are in my opinion too terrible to contemplate.
She is not running for prom queen or miss congeniality, she is running to be America's Second in Command and she, may very well be, in the position of deciding this country and the worlds fate.
The truth about Sarah Palin is that she is not ready.
And this country would be fool hardy to think that she is ready.
The Russians' had smuggled them into Cuba beginning in August of 1962, under false cargo manifests'. The soviets' also had forty thousand soldiers and technicians stationed there feverishly and secretly trying to make them operational. They had intended revealing the missiles after completion and they were nearly successful.
But with more missiles still on the way in mid-October, the missiles already in Cuba were detected by American U2 over-flights, and that discovery, began two weeks never before experienced by human history, two nuclear powers close to an all out nuclear war.
I was still in high school and remember the entire country looking to our then, President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. His calm steady demeanor never betrayed the real peril we faced. His steady firm command of the situation showed the qualities that American's admired about him.
I just watched the movie "Thirteen Days In October", again last night. And relived the experience through the eyes of first hand observers in the White House. The pressure JFK was under from the military to act precipitously was enormous. His single minded focus on navigating the crisis and preserving peace came partly from a book, "The Guns Of August", he had read, that chronicled the events of pre World War One, that led to one of the bloodiest events in human history.
The leaders in Europe all missed opportunities, made blunders and suffered under false assumptions, on both sides, that could have prevented the war, if only they had talked to one another. Instead they floundered and made critical thinking errors, based on missed opportunities and miscommunication.
Kennedy's' cool unflappable temperament was thoughtful, courageous, and he saved mankind from a descent into nuclear madness.
This October, is the Forty-Sixth Anniversary of those thirteen days. It seems to me somehow appropriate in the midst of this heated presidential campaign, that we put the name calling and accusations aside, and ask ourselves as Americans what qualities we really need in the candidates, in these times.
Sober reflection requires that we ask ourselves if we really want Sarah Palin, a heart beat away from a 72 year old man at the helm of this nation. The consequences are in my opinion too terrible to contemplate.
She is not running for prom queen or miss congeniality, she is running to be America's Second in Command and she, may very well be, in the position of deciding this country and the worlds fate.
The truth about Sarah Palin is that she is not ready.
And this country would be fool hardy to think that she is ready.
Pig In A Poke; With Lipstick
It is curious that Sarah Palin is being kept under wraps by the McCain campaign. Their reluctance to expose her to the rough and tumble of presidential politics with only 67 days until the election is highly suspect. What are they hiding? Are they afraid she's unprepared? Unable to bear close scrutiny?
As an American voter I want a closer look at how she functions when she has to field hard questions, which would give at least some idea of her temperament under fire. I am sure the Republican base is enamored with her narrow right-winged credentials, which was made obvious by her reception at the RNC.
The fact that McCain was completely overshadowed by her was stunning. It brings to my mind that McCain is 72 years old and that maybe the base is betting McCain will not serve out his entire first term, which would put a radical right winged ideologue in the Presidency. It is obvious that the only thing that excited the base was her addition to the ticket. Why so much excitement? She has no chance to govern unless he dies.
Is she really ready? Is she really the person most qualified to step into the most important office in the world? The world is a chaotic and dangerous place. Pakistan has a nuclear bomb and the government has become unstable, it is being openly challenged by the Taliban. What if they are successful in overthrowing the government and get hold of nuclear materials? Is Sarah Palin really the brightest most qualified hockey mom to step in and deal with that scenario? Personally I have strong misgivings.
McCain met with her for a hour at most before he picked her. If that is all the thought he put into picking her, it begs the question how good is his judgment. Or was it a cynical political move simply meant to "electrify" the base?
America has a right to thoroughly question Sarah Palin, and the Republican party has a duty to expose her to our scrutiny. They may feel completely comfortable with their truncated vetting process, but, I do not. I am not willing to buy another one of their best and brightest based on what they have allowed us to see and hear so far. America deserves better than buying a pig in a poke; lipstick or not.
As an American voter I want a closer look at how she functions when she has to field hard questions, which would give at least some idea of her temperament under fire. I am sure the Republican base is enamored with her narrow right-winged credentials, which was made obvious by her reception at the RNC.
The fact that McCain was completely overshadowed by her was stunning. It brings to my mind that McCain is 72 years old and that maybe the base is betting McCain will not serve out his entire first term, which would put a radical right winged ideologue in the Presidency. It is obvious that the only thing that excited the base was her addition to the ticket. Why so much excitement? She has no chance to govern unless he dies.
Is she really ready? Is she really the person most qualified to step into the most important office in the world? The world is a chaotic and dangerous place. Pakistan has a nuclear bomb and the government has become unstable, it is being openly challenged by the Taliban. What if they are successful in overthrowing the government and get hold of nuclear materials? Is Sarah Palin really the brightest most qualified hockey mom to step in and deal with that scenario? Personally I have strong misgivings.
McCain met with her for a hour at most before he picked her. If that is all the thought he put into picking her, it begs the question how good is his judgment. Or was it a cynical political move simply meant to "electrify" the base?
America has a right to thoroughly question Sarah Palin, and the Republican party has a duty to expose her to our scrutiny. They may feel completely comfortable with their truncated vetting process, but, I do not. I am not willing to buy another one of their best and brightest based on what they have allowed us to see and hear so far. America deserves better than buying a pig in a poke; lipstick or not.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
A Dream That Was America
If there was any doubt about whether John McCain is the agent of change he claims, it was laid to rest with Sarah Palin's acceptance speech.
Not only is his ticket more of the same, it's more of the same on steroids.
Sarah Palin's nasty, personal attacks were distasteful even in the dog-eat-dog world of American politics. It was completely devoid of anything that approached a new idea, that would bring this nation together to face the future. I was stunned that the press, instead of asking hard questions as they should have, sounded more like cheerleaders for her nomination.
A future that has been made less bright, by eight years of a Republican regime, marked by stunning failures in every area the Republicans have always claimed as their own.
Namely the economy, foreign policy, and protection of the Constitution.
As Palin spoke, I started reading the Republican platform. The fine print of what the Republicans are offering this country, if we rehire them this fall. Their religious, culturally driven agenda is stunning.
It is full of their disingenuous words that would strip certain groups of their rights under the Constitution. The question is whose traditions and values? Not mine.
It suggests numerous constitutional amendments that would codify their narrow minded and self righteous views.
These are dangerous people, that worship a mythical ideal that never was. A christian America that never was, because, the founders had first hand experience with religous persecution and didn't want a theocracy which is much too narrow in its view to include the kind of equality and freedom they envisioned. The separation of church and state was a deliberate choice.
Much like the nazi obsession with an idealized, heroic Germanic myth of aryan superiority in some forgotten age. Their same obsessive nature allows them to dismiss groups they find repugnant and strip them of their unalienable rights.
That same sense of self righteous superiority allows them to lie deceive and push their agenda even through violent means, invading other countries on manufactured evidence that they leak to the press and then site as confirmation.
They have become masters of "Orwellian" double speak. And nothing will change under their continued administration. Except a dream that was America.
Not only is his ticket more of the same, it's more of the same on steroids.
Sarah Palin's nasty, personal attacks were distasteful even in the dog-eat-dog world of American politics. It was completely devoid of anything that approached a new idea, that would bring this nation together to face the future. I was stunned that the press, instead of asking hard questions as they should have, sounded more like cheerleaders for her nomination.
A future that has been made less bright, by eight years of a Republican regime, marked by stunning failures in every area the Republicans have always claimed as their own.
Namely the economy, foreign policy, and protection of the Constitution.
As Palin spoke, I started reading the Republican platform. The fine print of what the Republicans are offering this country, if we rehire them this fall. Their religious, culturally driven agenda is stunning.
It is full of their disingenuous words that would strip certain groups of their rights under the Constitution. The question is whose traditions and values? Not mine.
It suggests numerous constitutional amendments that would codify their narrow minded and self righteous views.
These are dangerous people, that worship a mythical ideal that never was. A christian America that never was, because, the founders had first hand experience with religous persecution and didn't want a theocracy which is much too narrow in its view to include the kind of equality and freedom they envisioned. The separation of church and state was a deliberate choice.
Much like the nazi obsession with an idealized, heroic Germanic myth of aryan superiority in some forgotten age. Their same obsessive nature allows them to dismiss groups they find repugnant and strip them of their unalienable rights.
That same sense of self righteous superiority allows them to lie deceive and push their agenda even through violent means, invading other countries on manufactured evidence that they leak to the press and then site as confirmation.
They have become masters of "Orwellian" double speak. And nothing will change under their continued administration. Except a dream that was America.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Reading The Fine Print: Republican Platform
While Sarah Palin was speaking words that thrilled the Republican faithful I started reading the words in the Republican Platform. It is full of exagerations and some outright lies. the following are direct quotes from the document along with some of my first reactions:
"To protect our servicemen and women and ensure that America Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service."
(all men are created equal except for the following...)
"That is why our reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was so vital, and why the Democrats' opposition to it was so wrong."(It gutted the fourth amendment)
"Supporting Our Heroes: Republican leadership, from the presidency to the Congress, has given America the best-manned, best-trained, best-equipped, and best-led military in the world." (McCain voted NO for new GI Bill. It was pushed through by the Democrats)
"That is a radical change from the late 1990's, when national defense was neglected and under-funded by the Clinton Administration." (Clinton proposed the biggest military spending boost since Reagan)(Rumsfield under Bush pushed for massive cuts in military manpower)
They (the 9/11 attacks) should have put an end to the Democrats' naive thinking that international terrorists could be dealt with within the normal criminal justice system, but that misconception persists. (secret military tribunals without habeas corpus...star chambers...indefinite imprisonment...no jury)
We must develop and deploy both national and theater missile defenses to protect the American homeland, our people, our Armed Forces abroad, and our allies. Effective, layered missile defenses are critical to guard against the unpredictable actions of rogue regimes and outlaw states. (re-implementation of star wars a and a re-ignition of the cold war mentality...Russia threatened to aim nukes at Europe in response)
To be successful international leaders, we must uphold international law, including the laws of war,and update them when necessary. Our moral standing requires that we respect what are essentially American principles of justice. In any war of ideas, our values will triumph. (the treatment of prisoners of war don't count we can ignore the long established Geneva Convention...we can imprison, torture and try them by secret military tribunals)
State Department Reform
Advancing America's values should be the core mission of every part of the federal government, including the Department of State. America's diplomatic establishment must energetically represent our country's agenda to the world. We propose a thorough reform of its structure to ensure that promotions and appointments are based on performance in supporting the nation's agenda. Our diplomats must be the best our country has to offer, and America's diplomatic abilities must be an integral part of
America's national security system. (this wreaks of radical christian double speak basically they only want radical christians and want to appointment and promote based on a narrow religious values test) (Radical religious intolerance is a the heart of most major human conflict it is why the founders insisted on a neutral secular form of government...it is why most people of their age fled their countries of origin—religious persecution)
Commentary:
The culturally driven ideological attacks that continue to undermine the Constitution have not abated. And that the radical religious far right will not rest until they take away the rights of those they find repugnant to their self-righteous views.
They will continue those assaults until America votes to put an end to them or until America succumbs.
"To protect our servicemen and women and ensure that America Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service."
(all men are created equal except for the following...)
"That is why our reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was so vital, and why the Democrats' opposition to it was so wrong."(It gutted the fourth amendment)
"Supporting Our Heroes: Republican leadership, from the presidency to the Congress, has given America the best-manned, best-trained, best-equipped, and best-led military in the world." (McCain voted NO for new GI Bill. It was pushed through by the Democrats)
"That is a radical change from the late 1990's, when national defense was neglected and under-funded by the Clinton Administration." (Clinton proposed the biggest military spending boost since Reagan)(Rumsfield under Bush pushed for massive cuts in military manpower)
They (the 9/11 attacks) should have put an end to the Democrats' naive thinking that international terrorists could be dealt with within the normal criminal justice system, but that misconception persists. (secret military tribunals without habeas corpus...star chambers...indefinite imprisonment...no jury)
We must develop and deploy both national and theater missile defenses to protect the American homeland, our people, our Armed Forces abroad, and our allies. Effective, layered missile defenses are critical to guard against the unpredictable actions of rogue regimes and outlaw states. (re-implementation of star wars a and a re-ignition of the cold war mentality...Russia threatened to aim nukes at Europe in response)
To be successful international leaders, we must uphold international law, including the laws of war,and update them when necessary. Our moral standing requires that we respect what are essentially American principles of justice. In any war of ideas, our values will triumph. (the treatment of prisoners of war don't count we can ignore the long established Geneva Convention...we can imprison, torture and try them by secret military tribunals)
State Department Reform
Advancing America's values should be the core mission of every part of the federal government, including the Department of State. America's diplomatic establishment must energetically represent our country's agenda to the world. We propose a thorough reform of its structure to ensure that promotions and appointments are based on performance in supporting the nation's agenda. Our diplomats must be the best our country has to offer, and America's diplomatic abilities must be an integral part of
America's national security system. (this wreaks of radical christian double speak basically they only want radical christians and want to appointment and promote based on a narrow religious values test) (Radical religious intolerance is a the heart of most major human conflict it is why the founders insisted on a neutral secular form of government...it is why most people of their age fled their countries of origin—religious persecution)
Commentary:
The culturally driven ideological attacks that continue to undermine the Constitution have not abated. And that the radical religious far right will not rest until they take away the rights of those they find repugnant to their self-righteous views.
They will continue those assaults until America votes to put an end to them or until America succumbs.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Palin Pick Is Shocking
A recent headline from Politico: "Palin electrifies conservative base", is appropriate because it's shocking to the rest of us.
The shear cynical pandering of McCain to Hillary Clinton supporters by the selection of a conservative, christian, woman is breathtaking in its ham-fisted transparency.
The fact that Hillary's supporters voted for Hillary, not because she is a woman, but because she is, Hillary Clinton, and just happens to be a woman, is completely lost on McCain, re-enforcing Obama's allegation that, "McCain just doesn't get." It brings to mind a famous retort in the 1988 Vice Presidential debate. "Governor Palin, you're no Hillary Clinton"
The fact, that it has energized McCain's radical right wing base, solely because she falls into their narrow political ideology, having nothing to do with the real issues facing country, is another reason to take a long serious pause.
The base of the Republican party has spawned most of the problems this nation must overcome. It is directly responsible for the erosion of the Constitution with its tortured christian ideology.
Its stubborn opposition to the rights of gays, is only one example; the fact they want a Constitutional amendment that denies rights unalienable, to the rest of society, is not only unchristian, it is un-American, and it is unconstitutional.
On a strictly practical level it is truly shows that McCain's judgment is clouded at best. The man is 72 years old and by the time he takes office will be 73 years old. He has castigated Obama for his inexperience and has repeatedly said, his (McCain's) experience and judgement is why we should elect him.
The fact that he may very well die in office and leave the country in the hands of a woman who's sole experience is being a small town major and the governor of a sparsely populated state is truly insulting. And mind numbingly irresponsible, for a man of his so called "experience and judgment".
The reality is that Palin's sole qualifications and the reasons she is on the ticket, are: she is a, conservative, christian, woman who hunts and loves guns.
Can you say, desperate pandering?
I for one miss the John McCain who was more interested in his Nation's welfare than his own political fortunes.
The one that stood up to the christian right,
the one that rejected their influence in American politics,
the one that railed at the corruption of lobbyist,
the one that called for and end to pork barrel spending,
the one that castigated the republican attack machine,
the one that called for an end to negative attack ads.
Remember him John?
I do. I liked him, at one time, I would even have voted for him.
Commentary:
It is time that America gets back to selecting a President based on the issues and the common "wants" of the Nation, not on, a narrowly defined, radical, theologically* based political ideology that will destroy the Constitution and in the process the country we love.
We are a democracy, not a theocracy, they just don't get the difference.
We are all created equal not just the self-righteous chosen few.
The shear cynical pandering of McCain to Hillary Clinton supporters by the selection of a conservative, christian, woman is breathtaking in its ham-fisted transparency.
The fact that Hillary's supporters voted for Hillary, not because she is a woman, but because she is, Hillary Clinton, and just happens to be a woman, is completely lost on McCain, re-enforcing Obama's allegation that, "McCain just doesn't get." It brings to mind a famous retort in the 1988 Vice Presidential debate. "Governor Palin, you're no Hillary Clinton"
The fact, that it has energized McCain's radical right wing base, solely because she falls into their narrow political ideology, having nothing to do with the real issues facing country, is another reason to take a long serious pause.
The base of the Republican party has spawned most of the problems this nation must overcome. It is directly responsible for the erosion of the Constitution with its tortured christian ideology.
Its stubborn opposition to the rights of gays, is only one example; the fact they want a Constitutional amendment that denies rights unalienable, to the rest of society, is not only unchristian, it is un-American, and it is unconstitutional.
On a strictly practical level it is truly shows that McCain's judgment is clouded at best. The man is 72 years old and by the time he takes office will be 73 years old. He has castigated Obama for his inexperience and has repeatedly said, his (McCain's) experience and judgement is why we should elect him.
The fact that he may very well die in office and leave the country in the hands of a woman who's sole experience is being a small town major and the governor of a sparsely populated state is truly insulting. And mind numbingly irresponsible, for a man of his so called "experience and judgment".
The reality is that Palin's sole qualifications and the reasons she is on the ticket, are: she is a, conservative, christian, woman who hunts and loves guns.
Can you say, desperate pandering?
I for one miss the John McCain who was more interested in his Nation's welfare than his own political fortunes.
The one that stood up to the christian right,
the one that rejected their influence in American politics,
the one that railed at the corruption of lobbyist,
the one that called for and end to pork barrel spending,
the one that castigated the republican attack machine,
the one that called for an end to negative attack ads.
Remember him John?
I do. I liked him, at one time, I would even have voted for him.
Commentary:
It is time that America gets back to selecting a President based on the issues and the common "wants" of the Nation, not on, a narrowly defined, radical, theologically* based political ideology that will destroy the Constitution and in the process the country we love.
We are a democracy, not a theocracy, they just don't get the difference.
We are all created equal not just the self-righteous chosen few.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
