The Good and The Bad
Haven't put up a political post in a while, and this one is very similar to a post on the B**** Blog from way back when in the summer before I was all internet anonymous. Still don't think I'll ever be interested in posting political things that often, but obviously there is something about this issue that speaks to me.
THIS makes me sick. And John McCain is still the human being on the planet who makes me most proud to be an American and have faith that there are still people fighting the good fight. I always feel like I need to defend that when I say it, because my friends/generation/comrades etc. are by and large 100% democrat or at least middle of the road. So am I. But McCain is simply the best example of integrity and courage I can find, and until I find a better one, what he says is good enough for me. Even if I disagree with him on something, he earns so much respect I'm comfortable with what feels like healthy disagreement and I try to learn something from him.
Cheney talking to McCain about the use of torture is embarrassing at best.
(And I recall a clip from the Daily Show a few months ago where O'Reilly was talking about McCain pertaining to his stance on this issue and he called McCain un-American or some shit, and for that there are no appropriate words that can accurately describe O'Reilly.)
McCain/Obama 2008. I'm gonna write it in. I swear I will.
And for that matter, Mr. Jimmy Carter has better thoughts and perspective than all but two active democrats I can think of, so I want him as McCain's Secretary of State, even if he will be 85 or so in 2008.
Political ramblings done for a few months.
posted by Teodoro Callate @ 4:39 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
fyi -
http://www.pandagon.net/archives/2005/11/mccain_slips_between_the_sheets_with_falwell.html#more
How much more does it take for people to see this man is evil?
"Please can I torture some people? Just a few?"
anonymous -
I get the gist of your post. I understand. In this political day, it would be virtually impossible to agree with any candidate on all issues. I wholeheartedly disagree with the amendment posted. And while this is disconcerting in my support of my man McCain, all I can say is that I offer him the benefit of the doubt, because in my estimation he is the man that has done supremely amounts more good for the world than he has done harm. While what this amendment suggests IS harmful...this is one of those times where I have to chalk up the issue to a disagreement, rather than because he is vile vermin (as are most of the people who support such amendments). By the way, the context with which I approach this issue is the fact that democrats aren't much more enlightened on this issue. Democrats have been spineless here for years. This is not consolation. So McCain may not be the Man when it comes to gay rights. I agree. But I also think he has more integrity and honesty here than most. Though I will contradict myself as I suspect he is indeed pandering to the right here. But he has to do that to get the primary votes. I still believe in him in the long run.
By the way: I am not preaching. I know very little about the details of many of these issues. My original post states that I'd like to put one of the weakest presidents in the 20th century back into a high position of the White House when he's 85 years old. Take nothing I say without a grain of salt and the realization that this is an anonymous blog and I had all sorts of time on my hands on Saturday. Not claiming political superiority, correctness, rightousness, or intelligence.
'cept when Cheney tries to talk to McCain about torture. On that, I'm confident that McCain wins the discussion before it starts.
As I'm reading Teo's post, I have TiVo playing back SNL from this weekend. It's a montage of the best ad spoofs they've done, and - wouldn't you know it - the ad for "McCain Sings Streisand" comes on. Hilarious. (McCain says: "I know how to sing as well as Barbara Streisand knows how to run a country." Gotta give him props for humor.)
I think it is possible for someone to support a socially conservative issue without being "in bed with Falwell". There are a number of issues where I agree with many conservatives; however, there are other issues where I agree with many liberals. I've found myself nodding in agreement with Jesse Jackson on one issue and shaking my head in disagreement on another. Same deal with Jack Kemp, Ralph Nader, Bob Dole, and Bill Clinton. And I don't think anyone would suggest that they have a great deal in common politically. Heck, I'm a semi-libertarian, fiscally conservative, socially liberal, Nader-voting Christian. So go figure. Election days are typically painful for me - I have to add up all the issues and figure out which person I agree with most on my most important priorities, and that has led me to vote Democrat, Republican, and - more than once - "other".
I just hate the tone of so much political discourse these days. I live in California and am so looking forward to election day being over, and we don't have a governor, senator, or representative up for ballot. It's just all these hideous ballot initiatives (and the San Diego mayoral race, but I'm in the 'burbs so I can't vote for that) where people beat the heck out of each other for having an opinion. If you support thus-and-such ballot prop, you're "in bed with big business"; if not you're "in bed with the unions". Who the heck am I in bed with? Well, my wife, actually. And we disagree on loads of political issues without hating each other.
McCain as I remember him from my Arizona days was a hot-head, prone to shooting off his mouth, and very socially conservative.
I somehow doubt, though am not 100% sure, that he has changed much.
simply my humble opinion.
dna - yep, you're probably right.
...BUT, I never understood why being a hot-head and shooting off his mouth is necessarily bad, and the reason I say that is because there is actual substance and integrity behind what he says. there are certain members of the current leadership that are hot-heads that are morons. Also, there are certain members of the current leadership that have so much "cool" and "calm" and they are the ones advocating for torture and planning wars on false pretenses. I'll take hot-headed and honest over slimy and dishonest every day. And geez, since I shoot my mouth off pretty damn frequently, I can't really hold that against him.
As for him being socially conservative, yeah, he is. he's a right-winger, no doubt. I know. I know. I'm just OK with disagreeing with him on some issues because I still think he's the best leader in the country and the man with the most integrity. That's what I want in a president. I want a leader I can trust to do the right thing (and he is less socially conservative than many..meaning that he's not an extremist). Meantime, I'd like congress to stand up and start doing the right thing, which might be far different than McCain's views on some things. So I don't think I've switched parties here. I'm just voting for integrity first for that particular office.
And don't forget, my humble opinion plus a buck fifty-three gets me a medium, cream-only at Dunkin' Donuts. So that's about exactly what my opinion is worth. I'm not saying I know much more than how to order a good cup of joe. And a donut. Mmmmmmmm donuts.
this is all for the cause of a good debate, nothign else (sorry, long, hard day):
" I'll take hot-headed and honest over slimy and dishonest every day."
Yes, but the my point is that he has said some very un-head-of-state things while shooting off his mouth, at least in the past. Frankly having a terrible temper AND being Machiavellian cool are both not the best characteristics for a president.
"I shoot my mouth off pretty damn frequently, I can't really hold that against him."
yes, you can, teo. Being Head-of -State is not being one of us, they should be held to a higher standard. If you were recommending him for one of your classes, or for being one of your colleagues at work, sure, be a bit clement. But running for obstensibly the highest public office of the land simply should not follow the same evaluation.
"I want a leader I can trust to do the right thing (and he is less socially conservative than many..meaning that he's not an extremist)."
I don't trust him as he was involved in one of Arizona's largest slimiest trust scandals ever, this coming from one of the slimiest states around as far as people getting caught with their hands in cookie jars. I feel (and this is a bit incendiary) that to say that he being not as socially conservative as some and that it is OK in these highly politicized times is like stating that Fred Phelps is less socially conservative than Hilter was, so that's alright, let him be. he has a terrible record on many issues that I feel are very pressing and important for the US today.
"s a buck fifty-three gets me a medium, cream-only at Dunkin' Donuts"
I was just discussing tonight with a friend how a particularly famous author just published a rant about how the country was going down the tubes and how the present administration was the cause of it all. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel that the present administration has much good to offer, but how much of our individual lives do we have responsiblity for? I tend to believe all of it. If I don't like politics in the US, I should endeavor to change it. If I don't like the way things are run in my town, then I should keep abreast of developments and try to change that which I see fit to do so. Think Globally, Act Locally really does just mean that. it starts with every individual. not with the president. I voted on Tuesday and was horrified and ashamed that I didn't know what the heck the ballot was offering as for as all those candidate for appelate-whatever-its-called. that ignorance started with me. To believe that a good candidate for president will offer a solution to our problems is to absolve yourself of doing anything about them.
I say all the possible candidates are so tied up in dirty money and big corporations that I couldn't possibly trust any of them with any more than I could toss at them with one hand. the most important part is to get involved, do thorough research and understand what is a better outcome for yourself while living in a heterogenous society at large.
thank you
>>gets of soap-box<<
love that soap-box, dna...well done.
I actually hope that I'm more informed than my self-deprication would suggest. I'm no expert, for sure. But I don't think I have my head in the sand. I think I said some of that stuff because I certainly do not want to add to the din of the blogosphere. Too many angry, close-minded people out there, and I don't want this blog to feel like that.
Of course your statements about holding politicians to a higher standard are true. I've been calling for that forever. In fact, that is precisely why I like McCain, because I think he does meet the standard. Lots of the hot-head stuff came from smear campaigns during primaries of past years. Also, they came from stories of McCain in his younger years, and by the way, anyone would have had a temper if they had gone through some of his experiences...and I don't think that should disqualify him. So that's the context. Of course, these things all have some truth the them, so if he doesn't meet your version of a higher standard, well, I understand that.
I don't know Fred Phelps, but be careful of playing that Hitler card, 'cause it rarely works unless you're actually, you know, talking about Hitler.
I've read a bunch of McCain's books, and to be sure, my opinion of him is shaped by his personal history. I am not an Arizonan, and therefore watch him on a national level rather than a local level. I have a hard time believing he did anything slimey, but he's been a politician for years so I won't say I know. I know politics are complicated and big, and people get busted by association all the time, and I also know that political mistakes hurt people in real ways. So I'm sure he has made mistakes in 30+ years. No doubt.
Now I'm into repeat-myself territory...but I guess I've been paying close attention for about 10 years. Not a terribly long time. But in those 10 years he has been the most forthright, honest, and reasoned politician I can think of. I think his courage is remarkable, and I think he has shown tremendous leadership in trying to change the direction of his own party (he doesn't have tons of right-wing friends...they don't like his moderation and ability to work with democrats). I don't nearly believe in everything he says. But I believe he believes it, and I believe he believes it for the right reasons, and he's willing to listen to others and correct his course if he gets something wrong.
Also, he may have a bad record on some socially conservative issues, but he is, after all, a conservative. I agree that voting local is important, which is why I want my President, for once in 30 years to have integrity. I'd like the local governments to do the right thing and have the president set an example. In the hypothetical, I truly don't forsee McCain standing in the way of a congress that does the right thing on many issues that you and I would agree on. I don't think he would do anything remotely like what we have now.
This is complicated. It's not perfect nor is he, and I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. Not being from Arizona, I have not been burned by him. He has more courage than any democrat...that's for sure...and I think that does count for much. I think it goes towards that higher standard.
I'm gonna get another coffee. Let me get you one...
Fred Phelps is pretty horrible.
sorry to beat a dead horse but I simply can't help it.
If you, teo, can be forgiven for your new acquisition, I should be forgiven for posting this article.
something to chew on:
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