I have resisted the urge to right a lengthy post excoriating the RNC and the republican party in general for validating the stereotypes directed its way.
But instead I will just say this, if they do not get the idea that Barack the Magic Negro is offensive, then they absolutely deserve their place in political purgatory, and more pointedly can just kiss my shiny black ass, if they think they will ever be getting my vote.
Which is sad, I absolutely wish there was a vibrant intellectually honest conservative party/movement. I think it is necessary to have a robust and legitimate opposition. That way you can have an honest discussion on any subject. Idelogical orthodxy is what we should be afraid of, and those who hide behind it. Not the honest disagreement borne of rigorous intellectual debate.
The republican party as it exists now is not that. It has become a cartoon.
Add to that the absolute acceptance of torture that both parties have sucumbed to, and there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.
The notion that the perfidy of even my home state governor, has taken precedence over the admition, by no less then the Vice President himself, that they conducted torturous acts.
Our own government admits it tortured people?
Or I guess more accurately would be our government engaged in activities that in the past we have prosecuted and exectuted individuals for doing. But what is more chilling then that is, the idea that the executive holds itself above even the Constitution, and the press ignores it?
You have Cheney, expressing both his opinion that the Presidents powers can set aside the Constitution and more disturbing that as long as the President believes he is working in the best interest of the nation then his actions are by definition not illegal.
That instead the press is busy patting itself on its back over this tripe, is illuminating.
I know that my Civics class was many moons ago, but I am pretty sure that the founding fathers intended the Constitution to bind us all and that no man or woman was above it. That the laws that constrain us, constrain us all equally.
Even if you believe that by breaking the law you are saving lives, you are still breaking the law and are subject to its arbitration and punishment.
Absolution is for the next life not this one.
6 comments:
We are funny animals sometimes.
Not to condone the past (or maybe current) events regarding compulsory elocution, but in the vein of the strange realm of Ethics, I think it's interesting that at one moment, killing 10 people to save 100 seems like the best solution, and the very next, we'll see 10 people risk their lives in a freezing river in an attempt to save one person.
The presidential campaign is over. Can we let the politics stop for a while, say 4 years maybe.
Oh Bradley, the "politics" never stop. If the last 8 years was proof of anything it is that we need keep a closer eye on what our government is doing in our name and with our treasure.
As to Andy's comment, I see what you are saying sir, but the difference to me is that torture is never excusable. Not ever. As a country we actively prosecuted people for doing the very things we now advocate. Not only prosecuted but imprisoned members of our own military for those very actions in the past.
Scores of P.O.Ws were found guilty of war crimes at Nuremberg and executed for water-boarding. Yet now it is, some how, different.
Though all the available evidence contradicts the effectiveness of torture, in the day of "24" it is an article of faith that torture "works" in some circles. The expedience and authoritarian control that torture generates has found a sort of validation that it should not have.
I believe Yoda summed it up best about taking the quick and easy route...and were that leads to.
You want to talk politics? Talk about the fact that the Euro is now 10 years old and that holdouts like Sweden and even Britain are re-evaluating their position given its staying power even in this economic downturn. There are now 16 countries using the Euro now and if it stays strong the next year or two I would expect that to double in the next decade. The real question is whether Britain decides to go to the Euro. If they do, I believe even we would (at least) consider the move. It would be a much different world for sure.
That is actually an interesting bit you mention. I had read a bit about it, though recently the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has sucked most of the mental real estate I have up. In the midst of a deepening financial crisis, it is worth considering what the true fallout will be.
As it is now, the dollar is still the framework on which the global markets are pegged to. Any sort of change to that will be at least several years in the making.
Honestly I think the real lesson is not to peg your economy to one horse.
There is something to be said for strength in numbers however. Economics changes with scale. The US currently has 300 million people, Europe has roughly 730 million people (including all european countries not just those already using the Euro). It significantly changes the financial landscape of the whole world. The impact on the japanese yen, the chinese yuan, and the indian rupee would be impossible to predict however I still think it is a good idea.
Speaking of good ideas, if Obama is looking to create jobs, let's go METRIC! Yes it will cost a lot of money however it would create jobs ... and add one more thing for the US car manufactures to change.
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