Does Anyone Still Support Bush? Who? How?
North Star Writers Group
July 21, 2008
By Alan Hurwitz
I spend much of my professional life helping others understand very different perspectives. Groups quite naturally possess distinct ways of seeing, depending on their roles, levels and histories. One of my initial ideas for writing this column was filling this gap in people´s understanding of differences on political and social issues.
These days of political polarization would seem a special opportunity for this challenge. But in trying to bridge this present gap, I´ve reached my limit. I cannot understand, much less explain, how anyone can be supporting our current leadership. They have run this great country into the ground. It couldn´t have been much worse had they been doing it on purpose.
I don´t intend to create a complete compendium of their many failings. But stepping back for perspective on the enormity and comprehensiveness of their failures offers perspective.
Immersion in an Iraq quagmire, through lies, deception and absurd rationales, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries, and agonizing families, a full accounting still pending. And the ultimate scenario can only lead to additional comfort to groups and countries wishing us harm.
Pursuing this war with unimaginable incompetence, actually believing their own rhetoric – greeted as liberators, easy post-Saddam reorganization, our "services" paid through Iraqi oil revenues. Dick Cheney got it right – unfortunately 10 years ago, defending the decision of W´s father not to enter Baghdad.
A runaway decline of our moral leadership regarding standards of civilized behavior – beginning with prisoner torture and other disregard for human life. The president´s pronouncements suggest he never really understood that rules of war were designed for people at war.
An erosion of civil liberties and principles of freedoms that generations have defended with their lives – a de facto repeal of important aspects of the Bill of Rights, through subterfuge, signing statements and arrogant single-handed actions.
A tumbling of our strength and stature in the world – among friends and foes alike, as a result of the above. The "beacon on the hill" has become a target of ridicule, scorn and many more potential attackers from the Middle East and around the world.
Allowing Afghanistan, the real source of the tragic attacks of 9/11, abandoned to its previous oppressors, through a diversion of human and other resources to a Mesopotamian obsession of a few neocon ideologues.
Perhaps the worst response in our history to a serious natural disaster – thousands of people stranded without immediate or long-term support. Did the president even notice? –"You´re doing a heck of a job, Brownie." Did he even know what a good job might look like? We heard later that no one called Michael Brown "Brownie". Maybe the president was actually talking about someone else.
A disdain for scientific inquiry and 20th (much less 21st) Century thinking, keeping us outside the mainstream of civilized countries on climate change and other challenges. The administration discounts Darwin, renders promising advances in stem cells and other medical science impossible within our boundaries, eliminating potential treatments for thousands and a formidable source of economic promise, and censors research findings from their own people´s reports.
Handing the keys of the kingdom to corporate interests. One has to give them credit, especially Cheney, for the transparent manner in which they pulled that off. "Have you no decency, Sir, have you at long last no decency?" Attorney Welch´s question to Sen. Joseph McCarthy rings true again today.
Energy companies are invited to the White House to create energy policy. The oil companies then make record profits. Gas prices maintain the largest growth in history, billions of dollars leave our country daily to feed our oil habit. The only surprise about this juxtaposition is that anyone is surprised at all. "Some people call you the richest people in America; I call you my base." Remember?
The economy in recession, like Iraq, with no exit in sight – a house of cards of corporate profits created on the backs of workers and consumers. The president says it´s a small bump. We looked on while the largest surplus and national well-being in history became the largest deficit in history and unexpected poverty for many.
A standard of doing anything to win, making Richard Nixon look like a boy scout. The last time I studied civics, divulging the identity of a serving CIA agent was considered treason. Up until recent raiding by political cronies, the Justice Department actually deserved its name.
Bush´s would-be Republican successor´s economic advisor calls the victims "a nation of whiners" – apparently not misquoted, but perhaps misspelled – intending to say "a nation of winers". This administration is surely driving people to drink.
I´m sure I´ve left items out, but there is a limit on the length of these columns. How can any American, no matter how conservative, believe this leadership is doing an acceptable job? How can anyone not see this?
Call me an effete Northeastern liberal. I don´t know even one of the supposed 29 percent that still support the president, here in Massachusetts or anywhere else. John McCain carries a huge albatross. Let´s hope the Democrats can take advantage.
2008 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.
I spend much of my professional life helping others understand very different perspectives. Groups quite naturally possess distinct ways of seeing, depending on their roles, levels and histories. One of my initial ideas for writing this column was filling this gap in people´s understanding of differences on political and social issues.
These days of political polarization would seem a special opportunity for this challenge. But in trying to bridge this present gap, I´ve reached my limit. I cannot understand, much less explain, how anyone can be supporting our current leadership. They have run this great country into the ground. It couldn´t have been much worse had they been doing it on purpose.
I don´t intend to create a complete compendium of their many failings. But stepping back for perspective on the enormity and comprehensiveness of their failures offers perspective.
Immersion in an Iraq quagmire, through lies, deception and absurd rationales, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries, and agonizing families, a full accounting still pending. And the ultimate scenario can only lead to additional comfort to groups and countries wishing us harm.
Pursuing this war with unimaginable incompetence, actually believing their own rhetoric – greeted as liberators, easy post-Saddam reorganization, our "services" paid through Iraqi oil revenues. Dick Cheney got it right – unfortunately 10 years ago, defending the decision of W´s father not to enter Baghdad.
A runaway decline of our moral leadership regarding standards of civilized behavior – beginning with prisoner torture and other disregard for human life. The president´s pronouncements suggest he never really understood that rules of war were designed for people at war.
An erosion of civil liberties and principles of freedoms that generations have defended with their lives – a de facto repeal of important aspects of the Bill of Rights, through subterfuge, signing statements and arrogant single-handed actions.
A tumbling of our strength and stature in the world – among friends and foes alike, as a result of the above. The "beacon on the hill" has become a target of ridicule, scorn and many more potential attackers from the Middle East and around the world.
Allowing Afghanistan, the real source of the tragic attacks of 9/11, abandoned to its previous oppressors, through a diversion of human and other resources to a Mesopotamian obsession of a few neocon ideologues.
Perhaps the worst response in our history to a serious natural disaster – thousands of people stranded without immediate or long-term support. Did the president even notice? –"You´re doing a heck of a job, Brownie." Did he even know what a good job might look like? We heard later that no one called Michael Brown "Brownie". Maybe the president was actually talking about someone else.
A disdain for scientific inquiry and 20th (much less 21st) Century thinking, keeping us outside the mainstream of civilized countries on climate change and other challenges. The administration discounts Darwin, renders promising advances in stem cells and other medical science impossible within our boundaries, eliminating potential treatments for thousands and a formidable source of economic promise, and censors research findings from their own people´s reports.
Handing the keys of the kingdom to corporate interests. One has to give them credit, especially Cheney, for the transparent manner in which they pulled that off. "Have you no decency, Sir, have you at long last no decency?" Attorney Welch´s question to Sen. Joseph McCarthy rings true again today.
Energy companies are invited to the White House to create energy policy. The oil companies then make record profits. Gas prices maintain the largest growth in history, billions of dollars leave our country daily to feed our oil habit. The only surprise about this juxtaposition is that anyone is surprised at all. "Some people call you the richest people in America; I call you my base." Remember?
The economy in recession, like Iraq, with no exit in sight – a house of cards of corporate profits created on the backs of workers and consumers. The president says it´s a small bump. We looked on while the largest surplus and national well-being in history became the largest deficit in history and unexpected poverty for many.
A standard of doing anything to win, making Richard Nixon look like a boy scout. The last time I studied civics, divulging the identity of a serving CIA agent was considered treason. Up until recent raiding by political cronies, the Justice Department actually deserved its name.
Bush´s would-be Republican successor´s economic advisor calls the victims "a nation of whiners" – apparently not misquoted, but perhaps misspelled – intending to say "a nation of winers". This administration is surely driving people to drink.
I´m sure I´ve left items out, but there is a limit on the length of these columns. How can any American, no matter how conservative, believe this leadership is doing an acceptable job? How can anyone not see this?
Call me an effete Northeastern liberal. I don´t know even one of the supposed 29 percent that still support the president, here in Massachusetts or anywhere else. John McCain carries a huge albatross. Let´s hope the Democrats can take advantage.
2008 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.
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