Bush's Response
Nov. 8th, 2006 02:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
weswilsonI am so astoundingly motivated today by the things I've been watching on the news. It seems like a whole new world has opened up... and I know I'll get shot back down in the next few weeks, but at least a few steps are being taken in the right direction. I'd like to cover a few of these that Bush discussed in his speech today.
First off, Rumsfeld is stepping down as Secretary of Defense. I'm perhaps putting a little too much into the political analysis on MSNBC, but I do agree that this appears, superficially, to be a rejection of the Neo-Conservative regime that has kept us in international denial for so long. By going against Cheney and pulling in a classic conservative, it APPEARS that our president is recognising that this finger-crossing and mantra-chanting is intellectually bankrupt and counterproductive. It honestly looks like a fresh start for out foreign policy. I am sufficiently convinced that we might get less idealism in our defense department.
Secondly, I was surprised to see a flicker of humility come from the Bushman today. It was amazing! Rather than his laughable swagger and reprehensible talking points repeated ad-infinitum, he spoke of real recognition that things weren't going the way he predicted. In response to the democratic win he said, "That shows what I know!" In response to his dogmatic Stay The Course attitude, he responded, "I need to do a better job of explaining that we are constantly adjusting strategy." He also said, "I should not try punditry." I actually paused the TIVO and got paper to write this shit down! I felt relief... premature, I'm sure... but deep relief that there might actually be a split from all the denial and oblivious grandstanding... and a switch to a discussion of issues. Have we really elected a new president as well as changing the houses?
This is not to say that Bush didn't do a lot of flip-flopping now that he's behind the 8-ball. Last week, he campaigned around the country on the grounds that votes for democratic leadership was a vote to let the terrorist win. Today he said, "No leader in Washington is going to walk away from trying to protect this country... their spirit is such that they want to protect America. That is what I believe." He also commented, "Democrats are going to support our troops just like republicans will." This is what grosses me out about partisan bullshit... if it isn't true, don't fucking say it. Don't broadcast that democrats are the devil one week if you don't honestly believe it. There are millions of americans who listen to talk radio and are under the kind of neoconservative voodoo that this ridiculous rhetoric casts. It's time to end this and talk seriously.... without exaggerations and straw men.
I also found it a bit strange to hear No Child Left Behind and tax cuts being referred to as bipartisan issues. Yes, we all believe in the items, but I don't think that making token votes of acceptance to a bill that is going to pass regardless could be construed as bipartisan support. Were I in the senate, it would be politically foolish of me to vote AGAINST those token tax cut packages that Bush pushed through. It was political suicide. I'm not saying it's RIGHT... but I'm certainly not going to believe that voting in favor of those issues was an acceptance of their rightousness. I'm sure the NSA wiretapping bill and the vote to go to authorize the president to use force had similar baggage associated with voting against them. If you want real bipartisanship, you need to remove social and political penalties for disagreeing. Period.
Is enlistment really high? Is re-enlistment really up?
And lastly, I finally found an argument in support of those faith-based initiatives that doesn't sound like crap. "There are just some problems that require something other than goverment help." He commented that he saw no reason not to bid these services out with tax breaks to those who wish to do them. But are they actually BID? Good argument, I'll have to look into the way things have been run.
First off, Rumsfeld is stepping down as Secretary of Defense. I'm perhaps putting a little too much into the political analysis on MSNBC, but I do agree that this appears, superficially, to be a rejection of the Neo-Conservative regime that has kept us in international denial for so long. By going against Cheney and pulling in a classic conservative, it APPEARS that our president is recognising that this finger-crossing and mantra-chanting is intellectually bankrupt and counterproductive. It honestly looks like a fresh start for out foreign policy. I am sufficiently convinced that we might get less idealism in our defense department.
Secondly, I was surprised to see a flicker of humility come from the Bushman today. It was amazing! Rather than his laughable swagger and reprehensible talking points repeated ad-infinitum, he spoke of real recognition that things weren't going the way he predicted. In response to the democratic win he said, "That shows what I know!" In response to his dogmatic Stay The Course attitude, he responded, "I need to do a better job of explaining that we are constantly adjusting strategy." He also said, "I should not try punditry." I actually paused the TIVO and got paper to write this shit down! I felt relief... premature, I'm sure... but deep relief that there might actually be a split from all the denial and oblivious grandstanding... and a switch to a discussion of issues. Have we really elected a new president as well as changing the houses?
This is not to say that Bush didn't do a lot of flip-flopping now that he's behind the 8-ball. Last week, he campaigned around the country on the grounds that votes for democratic leadership was a vote to let the terrorist win. Today he said, "No leader in Washington is going to walk away from trying to protect this country... their spirit is such that they want to protect America. That is what I believe." He also commented, "Democrats are going to support our troops just like republicans will." This is what grosses me out about partisan bullshit... if it isn't true, don't fucking say it. Don't broadcast that democrats are the devil one week if you don't honestly believe it. There are millions of americans who listen to talk radio and are under the kind of neoconservative voodoo that this ridiculous rhetoric casts. It's time to end this and talk seriously.... without exaggerations and straw men.
I also found it a bit strange to hear No Child Left Behind and tax cuts being referred to as bipartisan issues. Yes, we all believe in the items, but I don't think that making token votes of acceptance to a bill that is going to pass regardless could be construed as bipartisan support. Were I in the senate, it would be politically foolish of me to vote AGAINST those token tax cut packages that Bush pushed through. It was political suicide. I'm not saying it's RIGHT... but I'm certainly not going to believe that voting in favor of those issues was an acceptance of their rightousness. I'm sure the NSA wiretapping bill and the vote to go to authorize the president to use force had similar baggage associated with voting against them. If you want real bipartisanship, you need to remove social and political penalties for disagreeing. Period.
Is enlistment really high? Is re-enlistment really up?
And lastly, I finally found an argument in support of those faith-based initiatives that doesn't sound like crap. "There are just some problems that require something other than goverment help." He commented that he saw no reason not to bid these services out with tax breaks to those who wish to do them. But are they actually BID? Good argument, I'll have to look into the way things have been run.
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no subject
Date: 2006-11-08 09:07 pm (UTC)My big hope for the election results is that all the negative campaign tactics may be on the way out. People didn't fall for the same old BS (well, maybe in TN, but I really didn't pay too much attention to that race). I'd like to think we could get back to politics being about the issues and not demonizing your opponent. As much as folks are talking about this being a repudiation of Bush, I would hope it is also one against Rove. He thought he was building a lasting Republican majority through hate, and it all came crashing down. I hope it stays that way.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 01:59 am (UTC)But from the little I heard, he did sound like a different man.
You're right about how so many people "...who listen to talk radio and are under the kind of neoconservative voodoo that this ridiculous rhetoric casts."
Speaking of being under the voodoo, I heard a couple of guys at work today saying it was all over, that we're going to have a President Pelosi (music to my ears), because now that the Dems are in power we'll impeach Bush and Cheney. And they said Pelosi would pick Barbara Boxer as Veep. They sounded very sad and scared. A couple of misogynist assholes shaking in their boots.
I hate it for 'em. But not as much as I LOVE IT FOR US!!!!!
no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 05:53 am (UTC)Our local girl, Queen of the San Francisco Liberal Politics, is gonna be in charge now.
(God that woman rocks, please let it be her or Boxer instead of Clinton running for president.)
no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 07:33 am (UTC)