Saturday, October 28, 2006

A Very Important Election

(The usual disclaimer): This is only my opinion. You don’t have to agree with me. You can stop reading right now, and you won’t hurt my feelings. But, I’m going to talk about what a disaster it has been to have only one party in the majority in every branch of the government. So, pull up a chair or close the door quietly as you leave. Everybody comfy? All right, here goes.

Our government was established with a system of checks and balances. Each branch has its duties, and having more than one political party has provided it with safeguards so that no one group can do irreparable damage. For the last eight years, we have operated under what amounts to a one-party system, and in my view, it has been disastrous. Not only have the Republicans held the majority the House of Representatives, the Senate and the office of President, but they have been able to influence the choice of Supreme Court Judges as well as numerous Federal Judges. Don’t let anyone tell you that more Federal Judges are “liberals”. That may have been so at one time, but no more. Presidents Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II have seen to that. And, there is no such thing as the "Liberal Media", either. Not since the big corporations took over the networks and radio outlets.

Even so, until now, no president has done more real damage to our Constitution than George W. Bush and his minions. If we don’t do something about it, by gaining the majority in at least the House of Representatives, we may never be able to stop what is occurring.

I don’t believe that George W. Bush has the intellect to understand that those around him have been manipulating him. That is the kindest thing I can say about the man. Frankly, I hope I’m right, because if he is fully aware of what he is doing, we, as voters should have been smart enough to see through him. As it is, we should have been able to see through the machinations of those around him, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rove, to name a few.

My feeling is that President Bush thinks he is protecting his family's interests in the Middle East. This may be the way he was talked into this unholy war. He is at best, incompetent and at worst, evil. Since we have to endure his presidency for two more years, at least we should be able to take away some of his power, by taking back the House and Senate, thereby taking back the country.

Then, maybe we can go back to being a government by the people and for the people, instead of by big business and for big business.

11 comments:

Annie said...

what can I add? You said it all so eloquently.

I'm worried about the election. I have no evidence to support the idea but I fear that if it can be rigged, it will be rigged. And I keep hearing about how it can be rigged with those electronic machines.

I look forward to seeing your eventual post of your former house in the Heights.

willi said...

I agree whole heartedly. The leadership of Bush and others in the GOP seems to be towards more power in the executive. This would be by actual rules of governance or by blinding following the leader.

The electorate seems to be polarized about issues that really do not effect the day-to-day i.e. abortion and stem cell research.

I have heard it described as a "theocracy". This is what many of the Islamic Fundamentalist nations are about. So now us American Christians are going to elect our own "theocracy". Bottom line is it will look just like the Islamic Fundamentalist version.

Annie's comment is not uncommon. Those of us who do not agree with the current direction are becoming suspect of the whole thing.

On another note. I was reading an article in the Louisville newspaper about Jesus Camp. Gawilli was more familiar with it and described it as "Hitler Youth". As I read the article I could see why she thought that.

So try an oyster and hope for the best. And vote.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I've voted already. Now will the ads cease? Nope, I get to grind my teeth until Nov 7 or 8 or .....

God won't strike me dead this election either. If you will recall, I asked him to do that if I voted for ONE OF THEM in the next few elections.

Mari Meehan said...

Excellent. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have even one candidate actually say what you have? Here we have a group of fairly like-minded bloggers stating their minds plus the zillions I'm not aware of yet the tone isn't changing. If anything it's getting more vile.

One more time I hope the voters will have smartened up and throw the whole lot out. Will Nov. 8 be a day of glee or a day of dispair?

Joy Des Jardins said...

I've already voted too. It was fast, it was quiet, and I've never had a more determined mindset as to what I needed to do. I pray WE
ALL make a difference. You are so right when you say...this is a very important election...I think...honestly....it's do or die....and I'm not ready to go.

Kell said...

I got my voter registration card this week, so I can officially vote here. I'm getting more and more worried the closer it gets. The Republicans are getting desperate--Bush is trying to scare everyone in his stump speeches of how terrifying it will be if the Democrats win and some of the states are marching out the "same sex marriage" fear to get the moral majority to get out and vote. I think, or at least I'm hoping, that it will backfire on them.

Unknown said...

I am working really, really hard for Claire McCaskil to win here in MO - she would be taking out a Senator that had voted with Bushie 94% of the time over the last four years - it is really a tight race right now - but I will start going door to door tomorrow - somebody keeps stealing my signs out of the yard!!!!!

Betty said...

Annie, I'm working on the blog with the house in it. Sometime this week, I think.

Willi: I'll have to work up my courage before I can try another oyster. Maybe a fried one?

Dogwalkmusings: Maybe I should run for office. On second thought, I'm way too outspoken.

Joy: I'm going to vote this week. And ask a few questions at the polling place.

Kell: Good for you.

Winnie: I'm watching that race, too, and rooting for McCaskil. And, I'm watching the stem cell issue. Wish I could vote in Missouri.

Betty said...

Anonymous: I'm afraid you'll have to suffer for another week. Hopefully, it will be worth it.

Maya's Granny said...

Winnie, have you considered coating your signs with itching powder or some other substance that will leave a foul residue on the hands? And when you remove them wearing oven mitts that you then throw away?

I am voting on the regular day and place because I meet so many of my friends there and then we go out for coffee. Otherwise, I would have gone the absentee route myself.

Unknown said...

I don't care what the weather is like - I am working the polls for the 1st time - as President Clinton says, "It is time for a Blue Revolution!"