Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Random Questions: The Week in Politics Edition

I'm back with another segment of Random Questions! You know the drill: I ask random questions about whatever's bugging me and you can answer them for me. This week, it's all political, with Bush Jr. explaining what he's 'sacrificed' in the name of his Iraqi War, why diplomacy has become appeasement, and how difficult it is to figure out the motive behind Hillary Clinton.

- Exactly when did using diplomacy become a symbol of weakness in this country? Sure this is probably a redundant question since most of us already know the answer, but when did it become equivalent to appeasement? It's becasue of negations with leaders we particularly didn't care for, that has saved our nation's backside in the past! During the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the United States and the Soviet Union were on the brink of launching a nuclear war, it was JFK's harsh negotiation s with Khrushchev that kept either side from pushing the button. During Nixon's tenure as president, he talked to Communist China's leader, Mao, and opened the doors to trade with the communist nation. Hell, even Ronald Reagan, IMO, the most overrated president in U.S. History, and despite him being the rise of the neo-conservative movement in American politics, he still understood that he needed to talk with the coined nickname "Evil Empire", and did so with Gorbachev. Put simply, negotiation and keeping diplomatic relations, even to our enemies, has proven to have had great effect. So why is it that now, after the mess we've created in Iraq, are we still clinging on to this moronic foreign policy of 'talk tough and bomb the shit out of a nation?' when it has done this country, Iraq, and the rest of the world, no good?

- Why do I find the motives for Hillary Clinton staying in the race so hard to read? Part of me believes that she's still running becasue she really believes that she would be the stronger nominee against John McCain, and that the superdelegates will overturn the wises of the people to satisfy her drive to become president. Another part of me thinks that she's merely in it for positioning in Obama's administration, or to become his VP (sorry, I don't see her doing it becasue there's too much bad blood between her and Obama and that I don't think she would want to become anyone's second fiddle). Another part of me thinks that he's still running purely on her arrogance and her pride. Whatever the reason, it still doesn't change how I feel that I have lost a good amount of respect for her in this campaign season, thanks in part to her attack ads and her conduct.

- Why must President Bush continue to degrade himself, the office he swore to uphold with honor and integrity, and the young men and women who have died in his Iraqi War, by saying stupid, insensitive shit like this? This week, out of all the things this jackass has said and done during his seven years as Commander-in-Chief, his most offensive and heartless comments came out.

For the first time, Bush revealed a personal way in which he has tried to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers and their families: He has given up golf.
“I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf,” he said. “I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”

Nine rounds of hitting a fucking ball with a damn stick?? That's been your sacrifice to the 4,000+ men and women you've sent to their deaths??? Mr. President: this is NOT about you, or your damn game of golf! Pretend that you actually give a shit about the innocent blood that has been shed because of your lies, sir.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Outstanding stuff Jonathan. As I said on your blog. I wish you would continue to post these political thoughts here. They are outstanding.

Anonymous said...

I'm with the Count, Jonathan. You're three for three this week, no question.

Diplomacy = weakness? Fine debunking of same, my friend.

Hillary's motives - again, yes. I've become as disillusioned as you outline, and disappointed in the way she's allowed her campaign to be conducted. If you look at campaign management as the harbinger for how you'll govern, it seems to me that Obama has quite an upper hand, given the water under the bridge. "Leading in the popular vote"? WTF - maybe by Karl Rove's "math," but what does that say?

And when it comes to Bush and GOLF...geez, words fail me in earnest. He might as well give up "tetherball" in solidarity with the Troops. It's so pathetic it scarcely bears talking about.

You have him cornered, Jonathan, and I applaud you. Well done and finely perceived. You could teach many individuals your elders a thing or two...or three...or four.

Anonymous said...

It is cool that some anonymous white trash who doesn't even know how to spell the spell the word "board" can talk tough on a internet message board and can say stuff and act like he is important. Very interesting indeed.

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