I decided that I would start a new feature of the blog for Tuesday, and until I come up with a better name, it is just going to be called Tuesday Talk. I am going to discuss current events and other such musings.
Politics: I have made no bones about the fact that I am no political neophyte. I've been thick into politics since 1992, when I was devouring five newspapers a day to get my hands on every bit of commentary. Unfortunately, I would have to say my interest in politics has reached an all time low during the Bush Presidency mainly because the Democrats have not been able to capitalize on the worst administration in history (yes, Herbert Hoover, you can breathe a sigh of relief in the afterlife...you to Rutherford B. Hayes). Plus, by continuing to follow politics as much as I had in the last decade, I would have had to actually listen to George W. Bush speak, and for that, I would rather shove an ice pick repeatedly into my ear. I have blogged before on how Hillary Clinton is my choice for president in 2008, and you can read that here. I wrote it quite a while ago, but I cannot say that my opinion has changed all that much. However, today I want to talk about the Republican candidates.
Now that Newt Gingrich has decided he will not enter the race and it looks like Michael Bloomberg will not wage his third party battle, the Republican party appears to be stuck with Mitt Romney, Rudy Guiliani, John McCain, and the latecomer, Fred Thompson. Yes, there are other second tier candidates, but I figure if I cannot name them (sorry, Mike Huckabee), then they really do not have a snowballs chance. Focusing on the top four, I am struck with just how terrible they all are. Mitt Romney, in an attempt to court the conservatives, has completely changed his stances on so many topics, that I bet the good people of Massachusetts aren't even sure how he was Governor of that LIBERAL state. John McCain has gone from a political maverick that this Democrat would have voted for against Al Gore in 2000, to a Bush lap dog in a time that most Americans want to put that dog to sleep. Rudy Guiliani is a pretty good Democratic candidate, with his pro-choice stance and support of gay rights. In fact, the evangelicals are threatening to support a third party candidate if he gets the nomination, and Fred Thompson...what to say? He would like you to think that he would be the next Ronald Reagan just because he was an actor, but in reality, he was a terrible Senator, who left the Senate to become the folksy DA on Law & Order. Just yesterday, I was reading how he is now asserting that Saddam Hussein did indeed have WMD, which is why we were right to go into Iraq. Good Grief! Did someone give him the fake intel that Colin Powell presented to the UN? Seriously, Republicans, if this man was your savior, then I contend that you really decided, as a party, that you didn't even want to try to win in 2008, which probably makes sense because that person is going to have to clean up the mess of the last 8 years.
Don't get me started on how cowardly it was for Romney, Guiliani, Thompson, and McCain to not even show up at a debate designed to address the concerns of the African-American population. When you add that to the fact that only McCain committed to a debate on Univision, then you show a party that has pretty much given up on minorities. Heck, even business is fleeing the party. I would have to do some digging, but I cannot think of any political party that has done such a wonderful job at self-immolation. From Bush's arrogance all the way down to the holier-than-thous getting caught in restrooms and with escorts with crystal meth, it would probably make a pretty good political satire. Oh, Anonymous...where art thou now?
Well, I wrote more there than I planned. Here are some quick TV thoughts from Monday:
Chuck: I think I'm almost done with this show. Yes, it is cute. Yes, the actors are good (even Carrie Underwood-alike), but the writing is so atrocious. Plus, you can tell they have very high minded ideas of what they want to do with special effects, but they just do not have the budget to make them work. I don't know. I really do not have a lot of shows on Monday. So, I will probably give it a couple more weeks, but they really need to work harder on making the stories better to keep me around. However, I did appreciate the reference to Lost in one segment.
Heroes: I was very entertained by this episode, and it wasn't just because Milo Ventimiglia was shirtless and wet through most of it. I liked the fact that Mohinder and HRG's plan is in full effect, and it was interesting to note that Vincent had painted pictures of the 9 that doomed to die in this story. When Mama Patrelli got attacked in the interrogation room, the perp was obviously invisible, and we have only been introduced to one character with that power so far. I think that is a red herring though. My one complaint is the overuse of subtitles. I love foreign films, and I do not have any problem reading subtitles. However, it just seems that 3/4 of this show is in subtitles right now, and that is just a bit too much for network television. I know, I'm being a provincial American again, but it is a bit annoying.
3 comments:
Brace for lengthy comment: First, I like Tuesday Talk. Way to go. Comments, thoughts, and responses from a conservative independent: I think you may have convinced me to vote for Hillary. (I know the floor *does* feel a little cold) I say vote because - and I don't want to jinx anything but - I think the only thing Obama has over her right now is cash, and I'm sure she can grab some more between now and the start of the mega spending in the campaign.
I don't believe that my uber important social issues are going to change by whoever is elected president those being right to abortion and gay marriage/rights. This makes voting conservative easier although I've yet to vote for a conservative in the White House. Why not? You've outlined it pretty well here. When I see the Republican runners I think "Send in the Clowns".
Giuliani is a tool and a racist who has no business on the national stage. If L.A. was bombed by foreign forces we wouldn't be looking to vote for Villaraigosa (had to look that up quick). Rudy's been leaning on the attacks far too heavily for my taste. Memories are short, but impressions last. I remember Giuliani's call in impersonation of Judge Ito on a radio program. Not the first time he's been drooling on his foot wedged in his racist maw. What the heck, people?
Mitt strikes me as the next American Puppet for the Neo-Cons. His stance swapping doesn't appeal especially since he's swapping in the wrong direction. I've read some of the website and can't find any actual platform points. I refuse to reward this crap.
Fred Thompson, two words that mean nothing.
McCain would sooner walk barefoot on broken glass than leave any ally staring down the business side of an RPG, and that includes the Iraqi army. I don't see him as Bush's lapdog, and I believe that we need to finish up what that fuckwit started. We had no business entering Iraq, but the unfortunate thing is we are and all that toothpaste won't go back in the tube. To follow the analogy we have a whole lot of teeth to brush. Now if we can just stay out of Iran and keep Russia from flipping us off then we should be able to keep from completely destroying the 21st century in its infancy.
I don't see Iraq as the defining issue of the presidency though. Neither Obama nor Clinton are saying anything about when to withdraw troops. I read that as them being on board to keep Mesopotamia from turning into an all out free for all.
So I've only heard a few people actually speak with substance, I've decided that my votes are going to go to the candidate who articulates a platform rather than use some strange, coded doublespeak that only an uncomprehending voter base understands. That leaves, Ron Paul who I can't vote for because of his clearly expressed views on abortion and gay marriage (I would like to give him a nod for clarity though), Kucinich who I can't vote for because he's a socialist in Democrat's clothing, and Hillary. I totally want a woman to be president! And why not a brilliant politician at that?
Thanks for the invite to ramble.
One of the biggest political victims of W's rise to power is Jeb. I think he would have made a great president simply because it would be nice for a Republican to stand up and tell its party to shut up and start loving on immigrants. I wonder if he'll be able to make a run for the presidency eventually or if the Bush name has been destroyed.
I think Jeb is screwed, and I to thought he would make a much better president than George. However, Barbara got into the picture. So, he should really blame Mom.
That being said. I did not care for the way he handled the Terry Schiavo case. Maybe he is not as pragmatic as, we think.
Thank you for the long posts. I welcome it. :)
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