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 5 of 37)
61. Emma, you must agree that the term parasite was a POOR choice. And one can argue that a baby is not the definition of 'autonomous' really either. I guess that is why people go to jail when they leave their newborn baby in the local park.
It is hard to be objective when you are busy taking care of your little parasite who brings you so much joy.
Anyway, many people are parasites unfortunately..likes the ones you mentioned.
Shannie at 2:16PM on Jan 30th 2008
62. Clif... you must be Me talking about my party.. which is what by the way? Anyway, you didn't answer my question.
Shannie at 2:20PM on Jan 30th 2008
63. Ted Kennedy is the devil and Dick Cheney is his spawn. Well there you go!
Were does that leave the rest of us who would love to elect a competent honest politician, but where do you find them - and do they make such a creature?
TJ at 2:22PM on Jan 30th 2008
64. Just having fun at Madonna's expense...please tell her I'm sorry.
Anyway, I would hope we as a country (not political parties or beliefs) could work out a solution for the population increase.
Shannie at 2:23PM on Jan 30th 2008
65. When a fetus dies in utero, it is called a "missed abortion" (missed ab). The problem with inducing a woman at 7 months is that her cervix in not ready for delivery (the pressure of the fetus late in pregnancy helps "prepare" the cervix. So, often, a woman will have to wait until 36 weeks or more before being induced to deliver the dead fetus.
Rarely, the doctor will do a c-section.
Linda at 2:37PM on Jan 30th 2008
66. Get off yourself, Shannie. You "pro-life" people need to mind your own business. You have no rights concerning my reproductional capabilities, and I have none concerning yours.
the fetus could not live without the mother, uses her blood stream and nutrients to exist and grow.
A baby can be held or fed by anyone. Not really parasitic, just helpless.
Linda at 2:41PM on Jan 30th 2008
67. Linda.. I did not make any point regarding legislating morality... don't put words in my mouth.
And don't forget about in-vitro fertilization.. any woman may be a host for the fertilized egg (it is helpless and will die without one).
Shannie at 2:45PM on Jan 30th 2008
68. Alan,
Do you know what percentage of abortions are performed to protect the life of the mother? We can argue politics and morality all day long, but the fact is the majority of abortions are done for non-medical reasons. People drone on and on about rape and incest as well. 1% of abortions are performed following rape, .5% for incest, and 1-2% to save the mothers life. This means that approximately 96.5 to 97.5 percent are performed because of societal or personal issues. If you are a proponent of abortion then fine, that's you're right.. but the most often used argument I hear is based on a misunderstanding or complete disregard for the truth (i.e. a lie).
Zero7827 at 2:47PM on Jan 30th 2008
69. 57. Emma, you must agree that the term parasite was a POOR choice
xxx
It was an accurate description. The alternative is 'commensal' and that doesn't apply. In a commensal relationship both speicies benefit, like termites and intestinal fauna.
Shannie, if all babies were brought to term based on data I saw on a medical news report last week, that would result in a 25% increase in our population. I have heard no plan from any republican to address this social pressure if Roe v. Wade were overturned.
It is impossible to impose social conservatism without advancing socialism.
You are going to have to prosecute all pregnant scofflaws, presumably for murder 1 if your definitions of life are legislated.
When you make an arbitrary shift in mores via law, you are going to have to increase enforcement and punishment. As a conservative, you know this, since your own dogma expressly states that as the purpose of government.
And you will have to address the increase of population and the needs of the new baby boom you would create. What's your plan? Raise taxes? How would you enforce abortion mandates?
So what's going to happen to those new babies you want to be born? Do you have any idea at all what you'd unleash on society?
You want to create a social revolution and make the consequenses someone else's problem? No soap. That would be both stupid and evil, and most of us have enjoyed as much of that as we can stand these past seven years.
Clif Kuplen at 2:46PM on Jan 30th 2008
70. And don't forget about in-vitro fertilization.. any woman may be a host for the fertilized egg (it is helpless and will die without one).
______________________
And any fetus attached to the host will still be a parasite by definition. Biologically, the fetus is a parasite, no matter how you put it. There is no getting around that one.
emma at 2:50PM on Jan 30th 2008
71. Any fetus, regardless of how it got in utero, is a parasite to the host. Period. That's just simple biology of mammals.
If you don't attach a lot of emotion and angst to abortions, they are pretty matter-of-fact.
About a half a million women are estimated to have a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) every year in the US.
If a woman is dying to have a baby, it's a big deal to her. That is totally understandable.
If a woman does not want to have a baby, then she has options to deal with the situation.
So what's the beef?
Linda at 2:51PM on Jan 30th 2008
72. DD you mutt all you have to do is go back over the Bush administration and see the long line of RepubliCon felons and perverts that have been broomed out or are doing time. Not to mention the RepubliCon business types the FBI will be arresting soon for the banking crisis. DD is like most Reepukes. He cares so much about the unborn but has no problem letting them stave to death or drop bombs on them when after they are born. A true Christian................
Larry at 3:52PM on Jan 30th 2008
73. Anyway, I would hope we as a country (not political parties or beliefs) could work out a solution for the population increase.
____________________
About 5 years ago, I had a very, very strong desire to have a second child. I decided against it, because I felt it was socially irresponsible.
I firmly stand by that decision.
It is unrealistic to think that we can just "work out" a solution for increasing population when resource exhaustion is staring us in the face.
Given the conditions of our planet, I cannot find it in me to respect those who have three or four kids and decide to just have another one. Don't even get me started on the families that have more than a dozen kids!
Some would argue that it's not an issue, as long as those families have the financial means to support their continued desire to breed like rabbits. This is nonsense. Overpopulation is a global problem and has NOTHING to do with money.
Only people who live within the constraints of their tiny bubbles are blind to the consequences of their actions in the big picture.
The only solution is prevention (as so often the case). DD talks about altruism all the time...well, here's your chance!
(oh, and whoever had a bunch of kids twenty years ago, don't be offended-I realize the problem wasn't as obvious then as it is now!)
emma at 3:10PM on Jan 30th 2008
74. emma,
What if you had been pregnant already? Would you consider an abortionthe socially responsible thing to do?
bigTuna at 3:19PM on Jan 30th 2008
75. Anyway, I would hope we as a country (not political parties or beliefs) could work out a solution for the population increase.
Shannie at 2:23PM on Jan 30th 2008
xxx
that's the exact folly of this administration and what happened with the Iraq war. They think for the moment.
I haven't seen cheney leading any choruses of kumbaya with the liberated iraqis yet.
No freakin' way. You put forward a solution to the crisis you'd create first.
That's the problem with fuzzy thinking conservatism, just like this pretense that the right wing isn't thick with hollywood types and fellow travelers.
You are ME - no, I'm not. I'm not interested in blue sky generalities being imposed on society to support your faith.
Clif Kuplen at 3:23PM on Jan 30th 2008