Ahh, the silly season. It seems that commencement inspires all sorts of outbursts of insanity. From the burgeoning brilliance of spring across the land to the return to the stage of the unbridled and unhinged. A recent WSJ OpEd lamented the behavior and irrationality of the left. Another event occurred at the University of Missouri also went awry, but from the speaker's podium rather than the audience.
Don't get me wrong, people are entitled to their opinion, but I strongly believe in the proper time and place. You don't tell Aunt Edna at the Thanksgiving table that her moustache grosses you out. And you don't engage in histrionics (from the audience or the podium) at an event which is specifically designed for non-political speech, such as a graduation. As a good speaker, I would tailor my remarks to my audience. This is not to suggest folks should compromiuse their beliefs, it is simple courtesy.
Which brings me to another topic. The continuing mantra of one side of the political spectrum accusing the present administration of "lying" to bring us into war. First of all, those who pose that tenet automatically disqualify themselves from a rational discussion. They are no better than the conspriacy kooks who claim that the Pentagon was not hit by a jetliner on September 11. You may argue about our foreign policy, are we being aggressive enough with the Iraqis - is our stance in Afghanistan helping or hindering - do we need to act against Iran. You may have a rousing historical discussion about intel prior to the Iraq War or the state of Europe's effectiveness or the United Nation's level of corruption, but this is history and will not be changed by harping on woulda-coulda-shoulda. Additionally, unless some unknown facts are revealed, we know about 80% of the whys and wherefores about that period. Another 10% is sitting in classified files, but that data (and here I feel relatively confident in saying) does not substantively change the events as they have occurred.
Personally, I wish the world was a more peaceful place. I wish we had solved our dependence on fossil fuels and had colonies in space and on the moon. Alas, economics and politics conspire to seek the path of least resistance. Human nature, you know. Until the left side of the political debate begins to craft their vision and set aside their bitter fantasies, they will continue to be looked at as little more than a fringe element.
And for that reason, they will fail to regain the House and Senate and struggle to find a capable candidate in 2008.
5 comments:
Scoot, you are entitled to your opinion, as incorrect as it is (steak dinner on the outcome). And by virtue of referring to the republicans as "repugs" reinforces my proposition that left driven anger will only serve to undermine any legitimate progressive / democrat initiatives. And I certainly would not consider you a member of the far left.
As for the "irritants" you mention, I hardly think anyone is focused on tax cuts as being a "rich only" entitlement. The furor over the initial confusion about prescription drugs has abated as the system gets righted and the gay-marriage issue is not even on the front burner.
A google news search turned up only 5900 articles on gay marriage, 6600 articles on prescription drug benefits and 12,200 on tax cuts, about the same volume for a search on "2006 election"
Until we see some substance, status quo prevails.
Ahhh...negotiation, you really should have been an attorney.
I too look forward to this weekend when I can sit back and bask in the blistering heat of Arizona. It's like Iraq, only with better hotels and fewer bullets.
It is a stealth ship after all, I blame the CHINFO...
Personally, I think the hard Left in the US is going to drive the Democratic Party into schism, just as the Libertarian-Right is ready to toss the Republicans overboard. We could have a messy few years where the parties either shake up, or a new one comes out and snaps up the Center/Right/libertarian types.
Right now the Republicans have some good ideas, but only part of the party will try to execute them - the rest are old school, incumbancy protection/go-along-to-get-along, status-quo types.
I despair of the Democrats as of now. They are captive of their far Left fundraising base and haven't floated a significant and new idea in decades - Clinton got a couple of major reforms done (welfare to work and NAFTA) but only with 1/3rd of his own party or less. I doubt even a magnificent politician like him could even get that done today.
Bah! No wonder I find myself withdrawing from politics more an more...
MAJ, hardly withdrawing! Sometimes simply stating the problems go a long way towards solving them. No one is very happy with our politicians. However, the markets seems to be pleased with their gridlock...
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