Why I hate talk radio and some things I wanted to comment on
Take this blog for what it's worth. I was listening to talk radio today (something I never do) and was surprised at just how stupid and banal the callers were on the day's hot topics: Bill Clinton's new book and the Iraq war. I just had to respond and the following are presented as my opinions only.
First off, I am still amazed at how many people think Bill Clinton was a great president. He was impeached yet wears it as a badge of honor. The arguments against him are many, not the least of which is that he commited civil crimes and perjury while holding the highest elected office in our country. The talk show callers were all ready to excuse President Clinton's behaviour though because "he only did what many men have wanted to do" - talk about your lame excuses. I wonder if Vince Foster would have agreed?
The second subject - the Iraq war - was mostly a liberal thrashing of President Bush. One of the other things that amazes me is that people want to compare President Bush to Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein. Get over it people. Here is a short list of why these comparisons are invalid in my view.
Hitler was a genocidal maniac intent on taking over Europe, Russia and eventually the rest of the world I'm sure. Hitler's policies resulted in the selective torture and execution of people based on religion and ethnicity. Ask any vetran of World War II whether this comparison of Hitler to Bush is just - you might learn something.
Stalin was a homicidal maniac that hated his own people. As far as I know, everybody living in the Dakotas and Alaska are there by choice - they weren't sent there for not agreeing with the politcal party of the president. Also, I can't think of any Americans that have been killed by the president for their political, ethnic or religious beliefs. The only war President Bush has made is against the sworn enemies of the United States of America.
Saddam Hussein is the current poster child for both genocidal and homicidal maniac in a single package. There is well documented proof that he used weapons of mass destruction (WoMD) against his own countrymen because of religious and ethnic differences. Don't forget the first Gulf War either, when he attempted to use the same WoMD against our allies in Israel and Saudi Arabia. Hussein's own sons had personal torture chambers supported by their father's state and with his knowledge. Last I looked, the President's daughters were guilty of underage drinking - still wrong, but not nearly on the same scale.
I personally think all of this hatred, because hatred is what is behind these comparisons when you think objectively about it, comes from the legacy that Bill Clinton has created. That president's resentment over his impeachment and the fact that his hand picked successor lost the election (no, it wasn't stolen - sorry if you still think that) is the driving force behind the current divisiveness in the US. The Democratic party has followed Clinton's lead and adopted his hatred and attacks on the current administration as gospel. Bill Clinton is making millions of dollars selling his hatred.
I believe that the actions President Bush has taken regarding Iraq were fully justified. Saddam Hussein was openly flouting UN resolutions (and the UN apparently wasn't successful in talking him to death or able to come to consensus on enforcing their own resolutions), had a well documented history of using WoMD and was a known enemy of the United States. The President is sworn to protect the interests and security of Americans. President Bush did his job.
One last thought about Iraq. It is impossible for a government to be removed and replaced overnight. The news agencies know that bad news sells better than good news. Talk to somebody that has served in Iraq and you'll learn about the good things that are happening now: towns having utilities that never existed (can you imagine life without power or plumbing?); schools that have been built and stocked with books and furniture; people receiving real medical care including imunizations. The list goes on and on.
I know President Bush isn't perfect. I am not totally enamored with a president that wears his religion on his sleeve. I don't like how so many of our rights (especially regarding privacy issues) are being eroded, and I don't like his ideas and policies regarding school vouchers. That being said, I admire that he has followed through on many of his stated objectives. President Bush gave fair warning to Iraq of his intentions then he followed through. The governments of Spain and France could learn a lot about leadership and honor just by studying our current president and his administration.
In the US it is time to put aside the hatred and the current wave of partisonship to political parties. I know that is difficult in an election year but there are important issues to address (health care, education, jobs, crime, etc.) and the hatred is only devisive and non-productive. As citizens, we have to demand of our elected officials that they work together in a non-partison way to do what is best for Americans. We can be great as a united country. As divided as the US is now we'll end up like the British and Roman Empires - another footnote in history.
Feel free to agree or disagree, your milage will probably vary. These are just some of my opinions and nothing here will change anybody's mind on the subjects. I just felt like responding in my own little piece of the blogging world and really don't intend to defend or go in-depth on any of these topics in this forum.
Thanks for reading, it is good to be back. 