This video, in the matter of minutes quickly summarizes why McCain is not the right choice for President in the year of 2008. McCain’s disregard for economics, and lack of knowledge of economics is even more disturbing. How can the next president of the United States regard quite possibly the most important issue facing Americans (their economy) as a small matter? Such incompetency, and neglect for the common people’s need is a defining aspect of the current state of the Republican party. One needs only to point at the Bush tax cuts for the rich and wealthy, and the growing poverty of the average person. Choosing Republican will only further the economic and social divide between the rich and poor, the haves and the have-nots. If McCain is your choice for president, I’d advise you to voluntarily check in at a mental asylum.
John McCain attended the Naval Academy at Annapolis at a time where calculators were the size of desks. Now of course age isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it could sometimes equate to wisdom and a great amount of experience. In the case of McCain, a POW during the second biggest failed US War (Vietnam)…apparently did not learn from those mistakes and actively supported the US invasion of Iraq. He supports sending more troops to Iraq (more blank checks to contractors too) and wants to stay in Iraq for the next hundred years too (in unarmored Humvee apparently). Experience is only good if you actually learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat them…apparently John McCain either has horrible judgement or truly, the experience that he often touts is non-existent. McCain probably was accepted at the Naval Academy due to his fathers power and money…and then he basically barely passed for the majority of the time. This is all the Republicans can do? The only positive note about the man is he probably is slightly smarter than Bush…which means pretty much nothing.
It has come to my attention (thanks to an article in Slate by Hitchens), that John McCain actually stated something praiseworthy, and one must never become too one sided, so in effort to highlight the similarities between my rivals, I present this blog to you.
Now, I am hardly a McCain supporter, in fact I probably only agree with him on a handful of issues (if that). However, on May 15th, John McCain made a largely unknown, and now rarely discussed proposal in a speech discussing the future of American political discourse. McCain actually came out in support of the British style of questioning (grilling) the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, usually to address criticisms and recent policy changes. If my history is correct, this is the first Republican in American history to ever publicly support the British method of “Question time.”
During the Civil War, a similar proposal was made to Abraham Lincoln. The request was to come to Capitol Hill and face intense questioning due to his suspending of Habeus Corpus, but, no deal. Walter Mondale actually supported this notion, but he turned out to be a lame duck nominee. Bill Clinton actually attempted to propose this idea but his “people” shot it down immediately and convinced him otherwise. Now I doubt that McCain would even attempt to actually see such a proposal through, but that is beside the point. The question is larger than any one politician, but rather a question that could be the solution in possibly creating transparency in government, a frequently stated goal of the likely next President, Barack Obama.
Imagine, watching the constant barrage of unedited, unadulterated, straight questions to Alberto Gonzalez. Instead of relying on subpoena’s and waiting weeks to get some answers out of him, on which he can rehearse prior to…the ability to completely expose his incompetency and the fraudulent members of our government. Imagine the chance to grill George Bush on his offenses against the constitution, international law, and even common sense. Since Richard Nixon’s presidency every single President has shown a gross distaste for law, and a growing desire to concentrate more power in the executive office. This of course must be stopped.
Currently, we have about 81 percent of America who disagrees with Bush, yet, ask yourself, how many times has he actually been really questioned publicly? How many times do we get the chance to put the tough questions to Mr. Bush? How many times has he been forced to listen to the greivences of 81 percent of America who disagrees with him? Could Bush even last in such an interrogation? I would assume he wouldn’t make it past 5 minutes with the kind of questioning that faces the British prime minister and other elected and appointed officials within the British parliament and government. The House of Commons is truly the standard for which we should measure a proper and effective government style. Of course it isn’t perfect, but its much closer to perfection and efficiency than the current US Congress. Corruption will always exist, but that isn’t a good argument against the attempt to end it. We will probably never end corruption, but as long as we keep fighting the “good fight,” we will be heading towards the ideals on which this great country was built on - the Enlightenment based US Constitution.
One of the greatest triumphs of the American Revolution was the abolishment of Monarchy. Unlike most of Europe which still has some sort of figurehead monarch living, America has no such history. Quite the opposite rather. We have a history of opposing such despots. One of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson stated that if a government violates its people, it is the duty of the people to overthrow such a government. While anarchism is simply unrealistic and idealistic, there is however, rational ways to force change in your own government. In this 2008 Democratic Primaries, we have the ability to overthrow the emerging concept of dynastic rule in the Presidency position. Since 1981, either a Bush or Clinton has been in the White House. If we allow Hilary to win the election, that will make it either 32 or 36 years straight of two families in one of the two most powerful positions in the American Government.
What America needs is change. and regardless of cliche-esque usage of that term by the Obama campaign, it is true. America does need change, it needs opposition to this slippery slope of dynastic rule. What we need is someone who has not been immersed in the corruption to Washington DC, but a fresh face. Someone who will at the very least attempt to expose and reform the rampant corruption in Washington. Hilary’s current positions are quite similar to that of Bill Clinton when he ran for President. Let us remember what happened what he actually did (not just promised) once in office. The “Defense of Marriage Act”, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, the further annihilation of health care, opposition to social welfare…in short; total abandonment of the Left.
Hilary Clinton once even said, “there is no Left in American Politics.” This is only partially true. There is no Left in the Neo-Conservative White House that has emerged since the fraudulent and corrupt Richard Nixon. The Clinton’s have abandoned the Left, and it is time that the Left should abandon them. While it is true Obama is not the ideal candidate, we must work with the current situation to push change through the doors of the White House.
Therefore, a vote for Hilary is a vote for the status quo. A vote for Obama is heading in the right direction America, Left.
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