My mom, who lives in Mumbai, India, has trouble understanding American politics. Recently she asked me to give her a brief summary of what's going on.
I explained, "There are two parties in American politics. There is a stupid party and there is an evil party."
In an attempt to put my own cards on the table, I confessed, "I am a proud member of the stupid party."
Then I added, "Sometimes, American politicians do things that are both stupid and evil. Those things we call bipartisanship."
I was kidding, of course, but the humor arises out of the element of truth in this description. Consider the charge of stupidity. Would the Republican Party be in the confused state it is now if Bush had appointed a vice president who was electable and actually sought the nomination?
I'm not saying Bush shouldn't have appointed Cheney the first time around. Cheney inspires irrational and paranoid loathing on the left--he's Darth Vader for the Michael Moore set--and this alone was good reason to keep him reasonably close to the Oval Office, not to mention the nuclear arsenal.
But when Bush ran for re-election, he should have sent Cheney packing. Then the GOP would have an heir apparent who would have an inside track to the nomination and who could claim up-close experience in the responsibilities of governance. If Bush had done this, he would have shown both foresight and concern about the future of the GOP.
Now let's turn to the evil party. What other term is appropriate to describe a party where Ted Kennedy's endorsement is actually counted as a positive? This is the moral equivalent of Republican candidates rushing to make campaign commercials with Larry Craig. Notice how the moral scoundrels in the GOP are typically hounded out while the moral scoundrels in the Democratic party generally continue to enjoy their prestige and good standing.
Any party with a sense of decency would ignore and marginalize Ted Kennedy. Besides, what constituency does this man represent? Is it really that important to lock in the votes of dissolute, philandering seniors who still go down to Florida for Spring break?
So here's the situation. Kennedy offers his blessings to Obama and offers to say some black masses for him. Meanwhile, Hillary's camp claims that Obama turned away while Hillary was shaking Kennedy's hand because she is a woman.
Given the irrelevance of gender to this situation, the Hillary team's reaction is downright comic. Yet the shrews at the National Organization for Women are echoing the cries of sexism from the Hillary camp. All that remains is for Obama to counter with the race card and accuse Hillary of making such charges because he is black.
As the election gets closer, I'll try to give my mom a more detailed account of the issues at stake. But I think I've given her enough to keep her informed, and entertained, at least through the primaries.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 37)
16. Brian - #4 - if the Republican party thinks abortion is the equivalent of "death" why don't they call it murder? Not one elected Republican calls it such. Even your precious George Bush allows for abortion in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother.
Sorry, Brian, conservatives cannot have it both ways. Saying it is murder then allowing it. I don't hear any current GOP candidates threatening to compltely outlaw abortion nor call for the jailing of women who get them? WHY?
We all know the answer to that one - they would be voted out in droves. Which is more important to the GOP? Outlawing abortion or keeping their power?
Gee, I wonder....
David S. at 10:36AM on Jan 30th 2008
17. alan,7. #4 - brian - So any Christian who believes that abortion is not murder is not a Christian?"
i would not go that far,but i would say any christian who thinks abortion is no murder is not informed, does not understand and is wrong. as to whether they believe in God and jesus his son is a matter of faith.
What is your feeling on partial birth abortions to save a mother's life, especially when the embryo would also die?
to save a mothers life absolutly. i believe in the bible the mothers life is put above that of the unborn in terms of endangerment.
When does life start? under what circumstances is it permissible to terminate it prematurely? What actions must be taken to support life to avoid premature termination?
science in the medical community have disagreed on when life begins. technically it begins at conception. i do not think there is any doubt about that, though lots of people want to wrangle over that who want to murder the un-born. we should just call abortion what it is,it is murder. but that is too ugly a word for the democrats. they did not want the pictures because on the senate floor because they knew it was gruesome and they also knew the pictures bear out the fact that the babt is in fact human and is in fact a baby. its pure evil and the democrats support it. i would not vote democratic on moral issues alone
brian at 10:47AM on Jan 30th 2008
18. Simple brian met a huckster
Reading on a blog
Said simple brian to the huckster
Can i be your dog?
Of course, simple brian could only respond in monosyllabic prejudiced generalities, which were in complete agreement with the huckster, whom we found out today, to my utter shock, is not motherless.
brian, when you call the democrats the party of death, and talk about abortion to make your point, when thousands are dying in the republican war in Iraq; you show how simple and truly pathetic you are.
DOPE!!!
America's Most Gangsta at 10:58AM on Jan 30th 2008
19. brian says, "science in the medical community have disagreed on when life begins. technically it begins at conception." (#17)
So, the scientific community, by your own statement, disagrees on when life begins; however, an insurance salesman with no scientific background goes on to say "technically" it begins at conception. brian, that is what we call an unsupported opinion. It is your OPINION life starts at conception. Please don't confuse opinion with fact and then try to force everyone else to believe what you believe. That's what Hitler did, and you can see how that worked out.
K at 11:01AM on Jan 30th 2008
20. "Any party that promotes baby murdering or sodomy is clearly as evil as the Nazis." geocentre
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PROMOTING sodomy? No. Promoting civil and personal rights? You betcha. Sodomy between 2 adults is THEIR BUSINESS. Not yours.
Baby murdering? No way. Democrats are interested in looking out for babies, especially that they are fed and receive health care. (unlike the uncaring GOP).
I want you to repeat after me:
A baby is not a fetus.
A baby is a human that has been born.
A fetus is a parasite that depends on its host to survive. If one is lucky, the host goes on to give birth to a baby.
If the host feels the need to terminate the pregnancy, so be it. THAT is not your call either.
Abortions have been occuring as long as homo sapiens figured out how to end a pregnancy.
Now that it is legal, lives are SAVED because of safer procedures.
And guess who was president when abortions became legal in our country? Nixon.
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MEANWHILE, another idiotic blog from DD. His blogs sound like they are written by teenagers, not adults. The only 'stupid' I see on this blog is DD. And maybe a few others.
Linda at 11:04AM on Jan 30th 2008
21. brian - thanks for the feedback. I do appreciate knowing more than can be put in a short post.
I am interested in your views on what is appropriate technology that can, should, or must be used to assist survival from fertilization on. What should the mother and society do to minimize the risks of miscarriage?
Do your views extend beyond birth or childhood to when people are able to make their own choices?
If so, can I presume your views on the sanctity of life include opposition to the death penalty, good preventative medical care and health education to all, including illegal aliens? Doing everything we can to prevent war and the subsequent loss of life on both sides?
Do you have any views on what can be done and what should be done to extend the end stages of life?
Would you vote Republican if (and that is a big "if") it can be reasonably shown that Republican support of big business results in lowered standards for food and industrial safety, placing lives at greater risk?
alan at 11:05AM on Jan 30th 2008
22. # 20 - Linda - Let's take the high road and presume that anything so outrageous must be satire. I got flamed once for my poor attempt at it.
alan at 11:07AM on Jan 30th 2008
23. The very fact that you say Dinesh that the Bush Presidency requires an HEIR....makes me fear for the state of our government. Moreso than I already had.
Our government is broken. It's not of the people, by the people, for the people anymore. It's "Us vs. Them" and "Them" ISN'T terrorism or another country. It's the Government vs. the citizens. Right now, the citizens are being controlled and told what to think. And it's a sad, sad shame that there aren't enough people who realize that who can do something about it.
Strados at 11:18AM on Jan 30th 2008
24. gangster,
do the math 30 million babies aborted and 3000 lives in iraq. perhaps you have the math problem friend.
brian at 11:19AM on Jan 30th 2008
25. k
then try to force everyone
k here is an absurdity. i said i think life begins at conception. i think more people than not agree with that. how do you go from that to trying to "force" everyone. does that mean everything you say is trying to "force" something or is that just for christians. is the devil in your head K?
brian at 11:24AM on Jan 30th 2008
26. Considering that the human body contains about 100 trillion bacterial cells compared to only about 10 trillion human cells, I oppose the use of bacteriocidal antibiotics. Let's stop the murder of our tiny brothers and sisters! I will oppose ANY and ALL legislation that promotes the use of sanitizers. In the name of all that's good and moral, stop the killing!
emma at 11:27AM on Jan 30th 2008
27. It seems there are people out there who are afraid of the slippery slope that if we condone abortion women will get themselves pregnant the second Saturday of every even month so they can go to abortion parties. BTW I'm having an impregnation party at my house on Feb 9.
Mokele-Mobembe at 11:27AM on Jan 30th 2008
28. brian - so 3000 is OK or is Wrong, Wrong? Not that I can come close to agreeing with your numbers. Let's both check our sources.
alan at 11:27AM on Jan 30th 2008
29. Mokele, will JC (aka Jim Caviezel) be at that party?
emma at 11:30AM on Jan 30th 2008
30. hey dopey, I'm not your friend.
I see your math is worse than your english.
And then, in the eyes of god, 3000 (your number.....not at all accurate) is ok then??
Ok, let's agree to disagree, and we'll just call it the lesser of two evils, hmm??
America's Most Gangsta at 11:33AM on Jan 30th 2008