Posted by
Donald L. Meyer on Thursday, November 06, 2008 12:00:00 AM
REPUBLICAN PREDICAMENT
Dear Honked-off, Disappointed, Perturbed and Vexed FELLOW-Republicans;
I voted for McCain, not Obama. Despite the fact that McCain (in my opinion) was not necessarily the best possible Conservative candidate to have been nominated, I simply could not endorse Obama's socialist agenda. Obama not only lacks qualifying experience, but his "policies" and "solutions" are devoid of logic, knowledge and substance. His naïve approach and attitude of "diplomacy" regarding terrorist nations scare me. It's instructive to note also that not only his supporters and the Democratic Party, but the mainstream media persist in referring to President-elect Obama as "African/American" while touting that his election as President affirms his platform of ending racial "divisiveness". How can the public at large be so obtuse?!
The election is over--decisively so. Like it or not, he's been chosen by an overwhelming majority of not only the populace, but the electorate. Protest, rant, rave, fume, foment and even reminisce about "the good-old-days" of Reagan as we might (and certainly have just cause to do so!) Obama is going to be our next President. He was elected primarily because most voters blame the incumbent party for whatever they're convinced are the problems, crises, faults, failures and shortcomings of our nation's present situation, and that he can (and/or will) do a better job as President than any of the other candidates. Period.
As of November 5, 2002 (in midterm elections) Republicans had not only their party's President in office, but had won control of both houses of congress, claimed a majority of governors' races and even the assurance of a Republican President should both Bush AND Cheney (God forbid) be somehow incapacitated. Our National Defense was second to none, our foreign policy strong, the stock market improving, Bush's cabinet staffed with ultra-qualified specialists. Even the so-called "Religious Right" was firmly in support of our President and his agenda, and Bush's nominations of Supreme Court Justices--though VERY vehemently opposed by the liberals in one ridiculously protracted delay after another--eventually prevailed, though as yet not 100% conservative. In short, there couldn't have been a much more lopsided conservative government advantage.
So what happened? They [the Republicans] blew it, that's what!
The powers-that-be (both domestically and abroad) gullibly bought into Bush' misinformed (and/or misguided) WMD "intelligence" [rather, lack of it], lies and deception. Taxpayers' funding was channeled into a war that had more to do with finishing G.H. Bush's job (eradicating Saddam) and investing in Iraq's infrastructure, welfare, economy, programs, services, government stability, security and national tranquility instead of our own (of the people, by the people and FOR the people--the USA's!). Now distracted by this Iraq "priority", Bush and his constituents passively allowed a near collapse of the U.S. economy: nearly unprecedented mortgage foreclosures; dangerously volatile stock market instability; impending (if not extant) recession; continued dependence on foreign oil; disintegration and devaluation of 401k portfolios; bank and investment institution failures; increasing unemployment; exportation of American jobs; the devaluation of U.S.Currency abroad; mass-transit budget crises; failing housing, automobile and virtually all other U.S.manufacturing industries.
The preceding paragraph is, of course, ridiculously simplistic, unsophisticated, and grossly ignorant; it does, however reflect the mindset of those who voted for Obama. Unfortunately, the complexity of politics--at least to the degree to which SOME who read this are both cognizant and articulate--eludes (for the most part) the understanding and aptitude of the average "Joe (and Jane) Lunchbox" voter. This is precisely why the survival of our system of government--not a "Democracy", but a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC of the people, by the people and for the people--simply MUST be responsive and responsible, FIRST to its citizens: the ones whose vote determines who leads.
Republicans now have four years to regroup and strategize for the next Presidential election--two years to regain a legislative majority (unless I miscalculate). Short of mass impeachment, there is no other venue of reconstruction or revision. Vexation and wrath are about as curative as prune juice in a diarrhrea epidemic, and as pragmatic as overdeveloped mammary glands on a pathologically enraged male bovine.
Both your effectiveness and my attentiveness to you, my dearly, beloved conservative talk-show “blow-hard” windbags, are indirectly proportional to the elevated pitch of your verbal fury. You'd be much more convincing if you'd tone down your empty threats, mud-slinging and “Oh-woe-unto-us” hand-wringing and concentrate instead on educating your listening audience as to how (and to whom) concerns may be addressed. Anger isn't the answer; action is.
Best wishes,
Donald L. Meyer
P.S. No, I am NOT, as Rush Limbaugh would say, a "seminar-" or "talking-point" android caller!