Thursday, August 27, 2009
...And Then There is This Repub...
Rex Rammell a GOP candidate for Governor in Idaho said, while discussing wolf hunting licenses, that he would buy a tag to hunt Obama. Smart, huh? Well, when you are talking to the base, it works. Why not slyly advocate assassinating the President, when your Christian right base prays for him to die? He has "apologized" of course, as is the standard Republican procedure when making outlandish, but in their case, serious statements. Just add this one to the long list of Republican devious hate mongering.
Another Republican Racist Speaks Her Mind
Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas is the latest in a long line of Republicans who have let their racist dark side show. Recently, in a speech in her home state she said that Republicans are "looking for a great white hope" to stop the Democratic agenda and President Obama. These statements, and I have chronicled them in several other posts, are not slips. They are calculated to speak to the base. The base is for the most part the racist side of this country's voters, so it is easy to speak to them with a racial slant, then "apologize" later.
From racist emails to downright racist comments from the top of the party on down to the right wing radio and TV hacks, the GOP is showing its true colors. It works well with the base and continues to stir up the hatred and potential violence that lies underneath. There will be more of these comments over the course of the years coming from the GOP leadership and designed to keep the racist element stirred up. In the meantime the GOP will continue to flounder and move more deeply into a dark chasm.
From racist emails to downright racist comments from the top of the party on down to the right wing radio and TV hacks, the GOP is showing its true colors. It works well with the base and continues to stir up the hatred and potential violence that lies underneath. There will be more of these comments over the course of the years coming from the GOP leadership and designed to keep the racist element stirred up. In the meantime the GOP will continue to flounder and move more deeply into a dark chasm.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
9/11 - Time to Move On
I received an email today from someone, using the World Trade Center attack as yet another nationalistic crutch to wave the flag and celebrate our "patriotism." Frankly, I think we need to move on past this tragedy. It has been used far to many times for purposes beyond its true meaning.
George W. Bush won an election misusing this terrorist attack. During the years following the attack he constantly reminded Americans of it and how his administration had thwarted another such holocaust through its constant vigil. At the same time Rudy Giuliani leaned on it as his only claim to fame, constantly bringing up his self proclaimed heroic actions following the attack, especially during his ill fated presidential campaign. Yes, he did a great job, but one can only go to that well sparingly, if it is to retain its true meaning. Expect to hear more about it during his upcoming gubernatorial campaign.
The attack on the World Trade Center was a horrific tragedy. We all remember where we were at the time we first learned about it. I was on I-95 south of Savannah, GA going about my work. I have always believed that it was a one-shot deal. We were told for years that Osama Bin Laden was out to destroy us and that this attack was only the first. However, it quickly became clear, that his people prepared for the one attack and did not have the resources to make another. Otherwise, they would have followed up. This country could easily been thrown into chaos, had they possessed the resources to put people in place to follow up with attacks on shopping malls, sporting events, subways, etc.
We were the victims of a terrible tragedy in part because we did nothing to prevent it. We are still very vulnerable as is any free society. Let's do ourselves a favor and let the horrors of that day in September of 2001 rest. We have issues today that far outweigh 9/11. We lose many thousands of people each day to terrible diseases, auto accidents, and gun violence. We have millions without health insurance and that many more who have no jobs. Let's remember these folks and do something to prevent their tragedies.
Somehow, these tragedies that are closer to us seem to slip through the cracks, unless they can be used as pawns in a political campaign. In reality politicians really do not want to hear about auto accidents, diseases, and gun violence. These are issues that cannot be used for political gain because we are all touched one way or the other by them. Politicians could actually do something about some of them, but they would risk the loss of votes. It is much easier to play on the fears and tears that tragedies such as 9/11 bring.
George W. Bush won an election misusing this terrorist attack. During the years following the attack he constantly reminded Americans of it and how his administration had thwarted another such holocaust through its constant vigil. At the same time Rudy Giuliani leaned on it as his only claim to fame, constantly bringing up his self proclaimed heroic actions following the attack, especially during his ill fated presidential campaign. Yes, he did a great job, but one can only go to that well sparingly, if it is to retain its true meaning. Expect to hear more about it during his upcoming gubernatorial campaign.
The attack on the World Trade Center was a horrific tragedy. We all remember where we were at the time we first learned about it. I was on I-95 south of Savannah, GA going about my work. I have always believed that it was a one-shot deal. We were told for years that Osama Bin Laden was out to destroy us and that this attack was only the first. However, it quickly became clear, that his people prepared for the one attack and did not have the resources to make another. Otherwise, they would have followed up. This country could easily been thrown into chaos, had they possessed the resources to put people in place to follow up with attacks on shopping malls, sporting events, subways, etc.
We were the victims of a terrible tragedy in part because we did nothing to prevent it. We are still very vulnerable as is any free society. Let's do ourselves a favor and let the horrors of that day in September of 2001 rest. We have issues today that far outweigh 9/11. We lose many thousands of people each day to terrible diseases, auto accidents, and gun violence. We have millions without health insurance and that many more who have no jobs. Let's remember these folks and do something to prevent their tragedies.
Somehow, these tragedies that are closer to us seem to slip through the cracks, unless they can be used as pawns in a political campaign. In reality politicians really do not want to hear about auto accidents, diseases, and gun violence. These are issues that cannot be used for political gain because we are all touched one way or the other by them. Politicians could actually do something about some of them, but they would risk the loss of votes. It is much easier to play on the fears and tears that tragedies such as 9/11 bring.
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