Thursday, November 18, 2004
Movin' On...
Monday, November 15, 2004
Rules of War: Shoot The Wounded
Call me naive, but I really thought there were rules for war. I thought we had all agreed, sometime after World War II, that the "civilized" nations of the world would abide by some minimum rules so everyone would understand that war is a kind of game -- a deadly game, to be sure, but a game nonetheless.
Oh, sure, the President keeps saying this is a different kind of war, and there are no rules when you're fighting against terrorists. But come on, all war is about acts of terrorism -- killing innocents (collateral damage), holding people hostage (siege), torture to get information from the enemy (Abu Grahib).
Now, we have pictures of Americans shooting the wounded. Fox News has been showing the entire video (minus the "too graphic" part of the actual act of shooting a wounded man in the head) of an incident that took place in a mosque in Fallujah. But another incident was shown earlier in the week in an alleyway next to a building, when one GI said, "There's a wounded guy down here," and another GI went down the alley, shots heard, and came back saying, "Not any more."
Commentators can say "the fog of war" all they want, but that doesn't change the fact that war makes just plain killers out of everyone on both sides. Just because our cause is "just" and our motives sound good to us, that doesn't change what is happening, or that the other side thinks the same of their justifications for horrific acts.
I hope the VA is setting aside plenty of money to pay for all the shrinks that will be required to help those lucky enough to return. They're going to need it.
Oh, sure, the President keeps saying this is a different kind of war, and there are no rules when you're fighting against terrorists. But come on, all war is about acts of terrorism -- killing innocents (collateral damage), holding people hostage (siege), torture to get information from the enemy (Abu Grahib).
Now, we have pictures of Americans shooting the wounded. Fox News has been showing the entire video (minus the "too graphic" part of the actual act of shooting a wounded man in the head) of an incident that took place in a mosque in Fallujah. But another incident was shown earlier in the week in an alleyway next to a building, when one GI said, "There's a wounded guy down here," and another GI went down the alley, shots heard, and came back saying, "Not any more."
Commentators can say "the fog of war" all they want, but that doesn't change the fact that war makes just plain killers out of everyone on both sides. Just because our cause is "just" and our motives sound good to us, that doesn't change what is happening, or that the other side thinks the same of their justifications for horrific acts.
I hope the VA is setting aside plenty of money to pay for all the shrinks that will be required to help those lucky enough to return. They're going to need it.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
WHAT IF...?
Maybe the ABC affiliates who are refusing to risk ridiculous FCC penalties, and not showing "Saving Private Ryan," are actually courageously banding together to show how stupid this policy is. Give appropriate warnings to parents whose sensibilities are too fragile, and let the rest of us enjoy the freedom our President says that God wants so badly for us all.
Enough Already!
Recriminations. Accusations. Personalities. Political jockeying. Farther left or more toward the center. New affiliations. Think tanks.
Enough already!
Where is the leadership? John Kerry is speaking out as if he wants to lead (is he a loser?), Howard Dean is mentioned (is he too left?), what about The South (is it lost forever?), and are Democrats going to be obstructionists, compromisers, healers, loyal opposition, or spend forty years in the desert trying to figure out who they are?
The press is already on a "honeymoon" with the administration, generally parroting whatever they're told by a White House that is in a permanent secretive campaign mode. Will no one actually press for answers on how much new initiatives will cost, how many troops are really necessary to bring some measure of security to Iraq, to what extent the most extreme views of the religious right will be infused into policy considerations, and why we still haven't had any articulation of what the damn "plan" is. Whatever happened to investigative journalism?
Kerry was faulted for not being specific enough, while Bush continues to spout memorized phrases as if they had any substance, and is not pushed for any details. Meanwhie, the situations on the ground (Iraq, Iran, Korea, Russia, Israel/Palestinians, Darfur) continue to worsen.
Rending one's garments or finding someone to blame for a loss are not leadership. Nor is splintering into separate groups, each with its own agenda but with no common vision.
Enough already!
Enough already!
Where is the leadership? John Kerry is speaking out as if he wants to lead (is he a loser?), Howard Dean is mentioned (is he too left?), what about The South (is it lost forever?), and are Democrats going to be obstructionists, compromisers, healers, loyal opposition, or spend forty years in the desert trying to figure out who they are?
The press is already on a "honeymoon" with the administration, generally parroting whatever they're told by a White House that is in a permanent secretive campaign mode. Will no one actually press for answers on how much new initiatives will cost, how many troops are really necessary to bring some measure of security to Iraq, to what extent the most extreme views of the religious right will be infused into policy considerations, and why we still haven't had any articulation of what the damn "plan" is. Whatever happened to investigative journalism?
Kerry was faulted for not being specific enough, while Bush continues to spout memorized phrases as if they had any substance, and is not pushed for any details. Meanwhie, the situations on the ground (Iraq, Iran, Korea, Russia, Israel/Palestinians, Darfur) continue to worsen.
Rending one's garments or finding someone to blame for a loss are not leadership. Nor is splintering into separate groups, each with its own agenda but with no common vision.
Enough already!
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
What's Next?
It's time for healing -- or is it?
Senator Kerry made a gracious concession speech, but was smart enough to make sure we all know that the issues on which he ran will not go away merely because President Bush was re-elected. If anything, a "loyal opposition" is needed now more than ever.
Among the issues clear coming out of this rancorous campaign:
Senator Kerry made a gracious concession speech, but was smart enough to make sure we all know that the issues on which he ran will not go away merely because President Bush was re-elected. If anything, a "loyal opposition" is needed now more than ever.
Among the issues clear coming out of this rancorous campaign:
- We need to clean up campaigning, especially the use of private money to influence elections. And we need an effective way to make sure the media is critical without being accused of being partisan.
- Democrats need to figure out what they stand for in today's world, and how to effectively communicate that to people who currently do not see Democrats standing for the issues that affect their daily lives in any meaningful way.
- We need to figure out what "values" means in the context of a Constitution whose intent is to separate the functions of government from the sphere of the personal.
- We must find a way to restore the social conscience of America -- to regain our soul as a nation -- so that we can truly set the example for others that our way is worth pursuing, without use of force. We must live our values.
How much damage can one small group, that believes it is on a mission from God, do in the next four years? Enough so that it could take decades to undo. That is why we must find a way to align ourselves as one nation.
One can only hope that President Bush will realize the importance to history of not trying to take advantage of our polarization on divisive issues, but instead trying to find a way to fulfill the promise of our nation's commitment to ALL its people, and thus to all the world as well.
Without that social conscience being restored, we will surely squander the opportunity we have to lead the world to a more peaceful, healthy, restorative future. I am not yet despondent and have not given up hope we can come through this period relatively unscathed -- but I'm close.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
The Real Deal
The Real Deal
The way you know how the election is going is to listen to conservative talk radio (is there any other kind?).
Before Election Day: The Hannitys and Limbaughs and the rest of their ilk are high-energy, loud, in-your-face, confrontational, disparaging, haughty, self-righteous.
On Election Day: The Hannitys and Ralph Reeds are cautiously morose, low-key, explaining, complaining, whiny, self-justifying.
John Kerry's message in the last week of the campaign was finally the right one (and he should have found it much sooner): We have to restore our place in the world as the world's leader based on our ethics and values and morality and integrity to those characteristics. The world will be safer and stronger when America leads based on what is best about us beyond our ability to fund and build and train and use a strong military. Our role is to set the example for what is possible. When we have seen ourselves in that role, we have always risen to our best.
What the will day after Election Day bring? Oy, there's the rub...
Bad rice! Bad rice!
The way you know how the election is going is to listen to conservative talk radio (is there any other kind?).
Before Election Day: The Hannitys and Limbaughs and the rest of their ilk are high-energy, loud, in-your-face, confrontational, disparaging, haughty, self-righteous.
On Election Day: The Hannitys and Ralph Reeds are cautiously morose, low-key, explaining, complaining, whiny, self-justifying.
John Kerry's message in the last week of the campaign was finally the right one (and he should have found it much sooner): We have to restore our place in the world as the world's leader based on our ethics and values and morality and integrity to those characteristics. The world will be safer and stronger when America leads based on what is best about us beyond our ability to fund and build and train and use a strong military. Our role is to set the example for what is possible. When we have seen ourselves in that role, we have always risen to our best.
What the will day after Election Day bring? Oy, there's the rub...
Bad rice! Bad rice!
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Is it over yet???
I admit it - I'm sick of it all! Can a campaign be imagined ever that would be this long, ugly, full of distortion and untruths, soaked with money, and less edifying?
Polls: Give me a break! There are so many polls, with such differing results, and then there are all those "experts" to explain them, and then they're averaged which skews the results in the end anyway. Hello?
Social Security: You have to learn to listen REALLY carefully. George W. Bush says repeatedly, "We will keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors..." That means he is making NO promises whatsoever about Social Security for anyone else. Hello?
Drug Reimportation: So we can't negotiate domestically with the drug companies for lower bulk purchase rates, and we can't reimport drugs from Canada. REimport means we sent them there in the first place. Bush says they might not be safe. Are American drug companies sending bad drugs to Canadians? Hello?
Iraq: Excuse me, but I've forgotten -- Who is the enemy? We went over there supposedly (one of the belated explanations, but one I've always personally favored) to "free" the Iraqis. Then why are we killing them? Hello?
Mary Cheney: John Kerry should have apologized quickly and completely, by merely saying that he was only presuming that since the Vice President had mentioned his grown daughter's sexuality, it was therefore okay for Kerry to personalize an issue that is not merely an academic argument. He certainly didn't intend to cause discomfort to anyone -- quite the opposite, he was acknowledging what he is sure the Cheney's themselves acknowledge -- that Mary's sexuality is not a "choice" (which was, if you'll recall, in response to a directly asked question from the moderator). And while we're at it, what does Bush's answer ("I don't know...") add to the discussion? What does he believe about Mary Cheney? Hello?
Flu vaccine: When the Bush administration has to reach back and try to blame the Clinton administration for a lack of flu vaccine, and then throws in trial lawyers (in spite of legislation on the books that protects drug companies that make vaccines), then you know someone is feeling at least threatened, if not desperate, about the outcome of this election. Hello?
When an election becomes about nothing more than getting elected, what is the point of democracy? Hello, is anybody there???
Polls: Give me a break! There are so many polls, with such differing results, and then there are all those "experts" to explain them, and then they're averaged which skews the results in the end anyway. Hello?
Social Security: You have to learn to listen REALLY carefully. George W. Bush says repeatedly, "We will keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors..." That means he is making NO promises whatsoever about Social Security for anyone else. Hello?
Drug Reimportation: So we can't negotiate domestically with the drug companies for lower bulk purchase rates, and we can't reimport drugs from Canada. REimport means we sent them there in the first place. Bush says they might not be safe. Are American drug companies sending bad drugs to Canadians? Hello?
Iraq: Excuse me, but I've forgotten -- Who is the enemy? We went over there supposedly (one of the belated explanations, but one I've always personally favored) to "free" the Iraqis. Then why are we killing them? Hello?
Mary Cheney: John Kerry should have apologized quickly and completely, by merely saying that he was only presuming that since the Vice President had mentioned his grown daughter's sexuality, it was therefore okay for Kerry to personalize an issue that is not merely an academic argument. He certainly didn't intend to cause discomfort to anyone -- quite the opposite, he was acknowledging what he is sure the Cheney's themselves acknowledge -- that Mary's sexuality is not a "choice" (which was, if you'll recall, in response to a directly asked question from the moderator). And while we're at it, what does Bush's answer ("I don't know...") add to the discussion? What does he believe about Mary Cheney? Hello?
Flu vaccine: When the Bush administration has to reach back and try to blame the Clinton administration for a lack of flu vaccine, and then throws in trial lawyers (in spite of legislation on the books that protects drug companies that make vaccines), then you know someone is feeling at least threatened, if not desperate, about the outcome of this election. Hello?
When an election becomes about nothing more than getting elected, what is the point of democracy? Hello, is anybody there???
Monday, October 11, 2004
Woe is us!
The final debate is coming up, and I still haven't decided how to assess what has been going on. I do have some observations, but they seem so trivial compared to the emormity of what the election results can mean for our country and the world:
- George Bush should wear boxing gloves if he wants to strut around like a fighter.
- John Kerry should be able to explain his position on any issue sure to come up - like abortion - in 10 cogent words or less.
- Bush should stop that stupid little "laugh" that is supposed to indicate he's making a joke. He's not funny.
- Supposedly "undecided" voters should make a choice or just shut up!
- Kerry should never again use the word "aggrandizement."
Finally, we should all recognize that we are suffering from collective amnesia. Am I the only one left who remembers that we rushed to war in Iraq because of the weather?
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
No Shame...
Finally, it is clear: They have no shame.
The President characterizes Senator Kerry's health care plan as a "big government takeover" and says it will cost too much. The plan, in reality, is not a government takeover, and the total cost of Kerry's ambitious plans -- altogether -- is LESS than the cost of Bush's proposals (which were conveniently not given a price tag at the GOP convention).
But if the Kerry camp won't respond strongly enough to put Bush on the defensive about all this, why shouldn't the Republicans say whatever they want that will get them re-elected? It works, doesn't it, and they truly have no shame if that is the result.
So where is Kerry? Explaining in tiresome detail, as if on the Senate floor (with charts, yet), how much Bush's plans and past lack of attention have raised health care premiums for seniors, as well as for everyone else.
Is there no one in that campaign who understands what a sound bite is??? It is unfortunate, but true, that the American voting public is schooled to pay attention in snippets of time, particularly noticing repetition of phrases in the background as the soundtrack of their lives.
WAKE UP DEMS! People are just waiting for a reason to oppose Bush's re-election. But they won't throw the bums out unless they hear something that makes them feel secure with the alternative.
The Republicans have no shame. They just want to win -- at any price. At this rate, they will.
The President characterizes Senator Kerry's health care plan as a "big government takeover" and says it will cost too much. The plan, in reality, is not a government takeover, and the total cost of Kerry's ambitious plans -- altogether -- is LESS than the cost of Bush's proposals (which were conveniently not given a price tag at the GOP convention).
But if the Kerry camp won't respond strongly enough to put Bush on the defensive about all this, why shouldn't the Republicans say whatever they want that will get them re-elected? It works, doesn't it, and they truly have no shame if that is the result.
So where is Kerry? Explaining in tiresome detail, as if on the Senate floor (with charts, yet), how much Bush's plans and past lack of attention have raised health care premiums for seniors, as well as for everyone else.
Is there no one in that campaign who understands what a sound bite is??? It is unfortunate, but true, that the American voting public is schooled to pay attention in snippets of time, particularly noticing repetition of phrases in the background as the soundtrack of their lives.
WAKE UP DEMS! People are just waiting for a reason to oppose Bush's re-election. But they won't throw the bums out unless they hear something that makes them feel secure with the alternative.
The Republicans have no shame. They just want to win -- at any price. At this rate, they will.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Vote for Bush or Die!
V.P. Dick Cheney finally says explicitly what the Republicans have been trying to say for so long -- vote for Bush or end up a dead victim of terrorism! Aside from being obnoxiously self-righteous, what nonsense.
I keep forgetting -- who are we at war with? I thought it was Al Queda and Osama, but obviously I'm behind the times. Oh, that's right, it's Iraq and its WMD and its potential to transfer its potential ability to make WMD to bad people who will potentially want to use them against us (or was it to bring democracy to the Middle East -- I keep forgetting).
Oh, that's right -- we're at war with terrorists, however we may happen to define them from day to day. And we have the right to pre-emptively go after them, as we happen to define them, just in case they don't like us enough to potentially hurt us in the future. But, of course, we're not going after the ones who already could fight back in a way that might be devastating (Iran, North Korea, etc.) -- yet. At least not until after we re-elect the only guys who can keep us alive.
But I keep forgetting -- 9/11 changed everything! Well, just from this one voice, let me remind you that 9/11 did NOT change everything. It did not change who we are, our principles, values, freedoms, guarantees of individual rights, our Constitution.
Who are we at war with? It should be the fearmongers, the hateful power-hungry do-anything-to-stay-in-office neo-conservative colonialists, it's those who are willing to divide us against each other -- that's who we should be at war with right now. How dare they try to scare us into keeping them in power after they've made such a mess of things, both here and abroad.
Is it hyperbole to say that this election is about our soul as a country? I keep forgetting.
I keep forgetting -- who are we at war with? I thought it was Al Queda and Osama, but obviously I'm behind the times. Oh, that's right, it's Iraq and its WMD and its potential to transfer its potential ability to make WMD to bad people who will potentially want to use them against us (or was it to bring democracy to the Middle East -- I keep forgetting).
Oh, that's right -- we're at war with terrorists, however we may happen to define them from day to day. And we have the right to pre-emptively go after them, as we happen to define them, just in case they don't like us enough to potentially hurt us in the future. But, of course, we're not going after the ones who already could fight back in a way that might be devastating (Iran, North Korea, etc.) -- yet. At least not until after we re-elect the only guys who can keep us alive.
But I keep forgetting -- 9/11 changed everything! Well, just from this one voice, let me remind you that 9/11 did NOT change everything. It did not change who we are, our principles, values, freedoms, guarantees of individual rights, our Constitution.
Who are we at war with? It should be the fearmongers, the hateful power-hungry do-anything-to-stay-in-office neo-conservative colonialists, it's those who are willing to divide us against each other -- that's who we should be at war with right now. How dare they try to scare us into keeping them in power after they've made such a mess of things, both here and abroad.
Is it hyperbole to say that this election is about our soul as a country? I keep forgetting.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Memo to Kerry
The best defense is a good offense!
Nice speech today to the vets -- keep it up. Only thing you missed was acknowledging that recently there has been much controversy over the past, but it's time we focused on the present mess this administration has gotten us into and on the need for a change in policies so there will be a future. Let those others, still mired in their memories and their anger and their disputes, fight the old war. You are running for President, and there is a new war being fought, and it requires new leadership and new ideas and the kind of real vision that is sorely lacking in the bunch that got us into this mess!
Bush brags that over 10 million have registered to vote in Afghan elections, and that is a good thing to brag about. But he forgets to mention how many millions are still living under the warlords and even the Taliban, whose votes will be dictated by others and whose lives are not free, especially the women. And he omits mention of the billions the drug trade is bringing in, and how that occurred on OUR watch and is OUR responsibility. He never even mentions Osama, the true source of all that happened on 9/11, while he and his cohorts continue to conflate 9/11 and Iraq and the war on terrorism.
These guys in power have a lot to answer for, and you're supposed to be asking the questions and confronting them for the answers. They say you're good in the stretch, when you start to believe you're about to lose it all. Well, it's time.
Nice speech today to the vets -- keep it up. Only thing you missed was acknowledging that recently there has been much controversy over the past, but it's time we focused on the present mess this administration has gotten us into and on the need for a change in policies so there will be a future. Let those others, still mired in their memories and their anger and their disputes, fight the old war. You are running for President, and there is a new war being fought, and it requires new leadership and new ideas and the kind of real vision that is sorely lacking in the bunch that got us into this mess!
Bush brags that over 10 million have registered to vote in Afghan elections, and that is a good thing to brag about. But he forgets to mention how many millions are still living under the warlords and even the Taliban, whose votes will be dictated by others and whose lives are not free, especially the women. And he omits mention of the billions the drug trade is bringing in, and how that occurred on OUR watch and is OUR responsibility. He never even mentions Osama, the true source of all that happened on 9/11, while he and his cohorts continue to conflate 9/11 and Iraq and the war on terrorism.
These guys in power have a lot to answer for, and you're supposed to be asking the questions and confronting them for the answers. They say you're good in the stretch, when you start to believe you're about to lose it all. Well, it's time.
