Because I'm too lazy to post things myself...
This was the absolute highlight of my morning. Jeff posts a link to a Keith Olbermann (yes, the former SportsCenter guy) speech decrying the lies and manipulations of the current White House administration. Nothing much to add here, as Jeff put it best: we're pissed. Political posturing has always been fairly obvious to anyone with half a brain, but I can't remember the last time it seemed to threaten the very core of our nation's ideals. Then again, maybe that's just because I'm too young.
On a personal note, I'm reminded of the primary complaint raised by my father over the Lewinsky scandal: the fact that Bill Clinton lied about it, repeatedly, even under oath. I can't help but wonder what he would think now, about an administration who has been caught in the lie so many times over the past year that it seems paranoia about government approaches sanity.
Shortly after viewing Olbermann's speech, I had an IM conversation with Ploeger, who commented that the Democrats were poised to possibly win 18 seats in the House. My response? "Oh, so instead of lying Republicans we'll have lying Democrats." Cynical? Perhaps, but after the government I've experienced since I was old enough to begin following government, can you honestly blame me? (Ploeger naturally replied that since his party, Libertarian, had no chance of winning it was all the same to him.)
The fact of the matter is, I plainly and simply yearn for the truth. I think most of us do. I don't believe -- I refuse to believe -- that honesty is at odds with presidency. My favorite moment in "The West Wing" came during a flashback to President Bartlet's campaign, in which he addressed a New Hampshire farmer's complaint that he had voted for a bill that cost the farmer more money. I remember exactly what he said: "Yeah, I screwed you on that one." He then proceeded to explain, clearly, why he had felt it necessary to vote for that bill. He didn't assume the man was not up to his level of intelligence. He didn't play political games. That, among many other reasons, is why a 2000 poll revealed Bartlet would win in a landslide if put up against Dubya and Gore. We, as a nation, long to see a day when the presidency is a position of nobility and integrity, rather than dishonesty.
I'm reminded suddenly of a quote that's not really a song lyric, but since it was put to music...
Song lyric of the day:
"Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders."
- Baz Luhrmann, Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
On a personal note, I'm reminded of the primary complaint raised by my father over the Lewinsky scandal: the fact that Bill Clinton lied about it, repeatedly, even under oath. I can't help but wonder what he would think now, about an administration who has been caught in the lie so many times over the past year that it seems paranoia about government approaches sanity.
Shortly after viewing Olbermann's speech, I had an IM conversation with Ploeger, who commented that the Democrats were poised to possibly win 18 seats in the House. My response? "Oh, so instead of lying Republicans we'll have lying Democrats." Cynical? Perhaps, but after the government I've experienced since I was old enough to begin following government, can you honestly blame me? (Ploeger naturally replied that since his party, Libertarian, had no chance of winning it was all the same to him.)
The fact of the matter is, I plainly and simply yearn for the truth. I think most of us do. I don't believe -- I refuse to believe -- that honesty is at odds with presidency. My favorite moment in "The West Wing" came during a flashback to President Bartlet's campaign, in which he addressed a New Hampshire farmer's complaint that he had voted for a bill that cost the farmer more money. I remember exactly what he said: "Yeah, I screwed you on that one." He then proceeded to explain, clearly, why he had felt it necessary to vote for that bill. He didn't assume the man was not up to his level of intelligence. He didn't play political games. That, among many other reasons, is why a 2000 poll revealed Bartlet would win in a landslide if put up against Dubya and Gore. We, as a nation, long to see a day when the presidency is a position of nobility and integrity, rather than dishonesty.
I'm reminded suddenly of a quote that's not really a song lyric, but since it was put to music...
Song lyric of the day:
"Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders."
- Baz Luhrmann, Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
1 Comments:
The State House candidate I'm working for has told people she's met on the campaign trail several times that she didn't agree with them, and told them why. To be honest, she's about the first politician I've met with the metaphorical balls to do that. I hope she runs for President someday.
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