Politics
Is President George W.
Bush in political trouble? I think not. He is still very popular with
the American people. He and the Republican party have not yet begun to
fight, so to speak. I think he has or at least is working on a political
plan to redirect the American voters perception of his latest political
liability, namely the alleged abuse of the Iraqian prisoners.
This supposed abuse is
despicable. It is inexcusable. It is unethical and immoral. The
investigation is just starting. I have a feeling that it will
expand and develop into a major undertaking. I don't believe the
situation is isolated. To me it seems that such behavior is reflective
of the treatment of prisoners or detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan or any
place such prisoners or detainees exits. It seems to reflect the
attitude of this administration and current military leaders. It stems
directly from the attitude of superiority and dominance that motivated
our governmental leaders to unilaterally invade Iraq. This attitude
started at the top of the chain of command both in the White House and
in the military ranks. Success at all costs. That could be the motto of
the Bush administration as well as the battle cry for this Iraqian
invasion.
The abuse is bad enough, but the manner
in which the military leaders including the Secretary of War and
the Commander In Chief dealt with the situation was abominable. Why is
it so hard for the Bush administration to speak the truth? Why must the
Bush administration try to control every aspect of American life? Why
doesn't the Bush administration respect the intelligence and dignity of
all Americans? Just be real.
Once again the Bush political machine
will use it's control, dominance and "spin" to make this
situation "work" for the president's re-election attempt. If
the president is successful, then the American people will be the
losers. People, open your eyes. Don't bury your heads in the sand. Don't
make rationalizations to explain the administration's meager attempts at
governing this nation. Wake up, take inventory of the American situation
and decide that enough is enough.
What is Senator Kerry doing about this
mess? Not much. As I've said before, Kerry is not my first choice for
the role as the Democratic presidential nominee, but now he is our only
hope. At least Senator Kerry would consider the working man and woman
when making decisions affecting the fate of the American way of
life. Kerry needs to get moving. He is a liberal. So be it. He is a
Clinton Democrat, conservative on spending and liberal on social
services issues. Be proud and firmly identify with that description Mr.
Kerry.
What's the media's role? It should be one
of reporting the news. Today's media is too concerned about
editorializing the news. We do not need to hear the media's so called
experts' opinion on the day to day events whether it be the presidential
campaign or the attack on Iraq. We are thinking people. After hearing
the news of the day, the majority of Americans are quite capable of
making wise decisions concerning their own attitudes concerning the
campaign or Iraq.
To me the written word, print media, the
newspaper is the best source of getting the "news". I feel
that I am able to get a more complete and objective reporting of the
news from the daily newspaper than from any other media types.
Television, especially cable news tends to dissect the news. We are
capable of hearing the news and deciding for ourselves our feelings
concerning the day's events. TV news people try to give their opinions.
That's not reporting news. I really don't care how Tim Russert or Chris
Matthews feels about a news event. I must confess; however, I do watch
such broadcasts, often times with enthusiasm. I do feel that I am capable
of evaluating their opinions and comments and contrast them with my own.
However, most TV viewers tend to take opinions of reporters as the
actual news events
How do most people determine their stand
on political matters? Do they search for the actual events and the
candidate's stand on the event or issue or do they watch those cute 30
second sound bytes, the political campaign ads? I think most people
depend on those 30 second campaign ads. Just think about it. The next
president of the United States may be selected by the quality of those
campaign ads. These campaign ads are often times inaccurate, misleading
and highly partisan. In a nutshell that is the basis of our
problem.
We are the problem. People must take the
time, make the time to become informed. They must start to see the world
in an objective matter. Ignorance is a problem, but so is apathy and
self interest. Most people simply do not care. Or they care only when
the situation affects them. Or only when the outcome affects their
unique situations. In a democracy each person must be informed,
concerned and active.
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