Persnickety Political Punditry
A Campaign Special Report
BY BRIAN MCCORMACK
A political junkie always gets fired up during election years. This year, however, didn’t seem to have the same sense of urgency I felt in 2008. Bush, Cheney, and the other domestic despots are out of office. A sensible, effective leader had taken the reigns, ending the wars we waged on what the late Dr. Hunter Thompson dubbed “pygmy” countries. The economy has made a slow, but steady comeback. Gay and lesbian men and women can serve proudly, openly, in the military. Millions of more Americans have access to health care. The Arab Spring blossomed like a desert flower, ruthless ruler Quaddafi has been deposed, and thanks to a well-coordinated military effort and reliable intelligence, Osama bin Laden; America’s public enemy No. 1, became fish food after his bloated carcass was dumped at an undisclosed, oceanic grave.
Yes, it seemed America was once again on the right path, and to think, it took an Indonesian, Muslim, Socialist to guide us. All is well on the Western Front. Or so I had desperately believed.
But, just when you thought it was safe to return to the ballot box, a torrential downpour of freedom restricting legislation was introduced. I am talking about the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), specifically; with a dishonorable mention to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA).
I raised hell when the Bush Administration and Congress passed the vile Patriot Act, and though I supported Obama, he is not immune to my criticism when it comes to stripping our liberties from us.
Obama didn’t write the NDAA bill, and that’s an important distinction to make. The Republican Congress presented this travesty, but Obama failed to veto it, instead signing it into action. SOPA and PIPA (both of which will choke the freedom out of the internet) are on hold – for
now – but like the first financial bailout (under Bush), it will probably be passed when America is distracted with other issues. We raise our voices, the pols back off, our colective ADD sets in, and the bill gets passed at the midnight hour while an unsuspecting America sleeps. But I digress.
My point is, I am not 100% behind Obama anymore. He has done some amazing things, even in the face of an obstructionist Congress, but now it seems he is negating that progress by falling into the same spiderweb of deception his predecessor did.
Benjamin Franklin, every one’s favorite swinging founding father once said: “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little safety deserve neither and will lose both.”
Some say he was quoting Thomas Jefferson, but the point remains. Obama was elected to reverse the trend of the dismantling of America, and no matter how much trepidation he had while signing the NDAA, or how well-intentioned he may have been (it is presented as a safeguard against terrorism), I am uneasy at the thought of a warrantless group of military jack boots having free reign to arrest, imprison, and hold indefinitely; any American citizen deemed a threat to the government. I have yet to see these abuses take place, but the potential exists, and until Americans start suicide bombing their own cities, this law is just wonton disregard for the very freedoms Americans enjoy.
So if Obama is now a threat (I mean a real threat, not a Fox News manufactured threat), and is treading in dangerous waters with our Bill of Rights, what is the alternative? Who else is electable?
That, my readers, is where it gets even scarier. We are all used to piss-poor presidential possibilities, but this year may take the cake. I won’t get into Bachmann, Perry, or Cain, the Three Stooges who thankfully are no longer endangering our species by dropping out of the race. There is plenty to say about the remaining, soulless miscreants who are seeking the golden ticket to the top of the political food chain.
Here is your disclaimer: I am a liberal dude. I have voted Democrat or Third Party since I was old enough to pull the lever, so I may be a little hard on the candidates the Republicans have paraded in front of us, masquerading as more suitable candidates than the incumbent. But I am also a realist, and an Independent voter to boot. No straight ticket crap from me, I just vote according to my interests.
The front runner, though on shaky ground, is Mitt Romney. Romney is a fairly moderate Republican. He implemented a form of universal health care in the state of Massachusetts while governor, flying in the face of all his conservative counterparts. But the problem is, he is so out of touch with the middle class and poor, it is almost painful when he tries to relate. He has distanced himself from his own legislation in Mass. for fear of it being to progressive. I would take this flip-flopping, free-market marvel over his stiffest competition anyday though.
Which brings me to the next Republican Wunderkind: Newt Gingrich. (Mitt, Newt? Were these Republiparents hippies?) Gingrich is special kind of weasel. He will happily take credit for the balanced budget he oversaw as former Speaker of the House, but refuses to admit that they
fought Clinton tooth and nail to override his “liberal” policies which resulted in the first national budget surplus since the previous century.
If you are a family values/Christian/morality- based voter, a vote for Newt is a vote for promiscuity. He has had three wives, each younger than the previous, and was ostracized from his own political party for being a boob. Fun fact: when his second wife was battling cancer, Newt was canoodling with his young staffer, who he eventually married. How’s that for the sanctity of marriage?
In a close third, and gaining ground, is Rick Santorum. Santorum’s hateful views could make Anton LaVey flush with envy. He says rape is simply a trial “God” bestows upon woman, and suggests that gays are cursed because of their lacivious antics. Unless you belong the Westboro Baptist Church, this red state wet dream is pretty extreme. I never thought I would root for Gingrich over anyone, but there is a first time for everything. Santorum is that bad.
Finally we have the anomaly that is Ron Paul. The bastard of the Republican party who gets no respect, and even less airtime during the nationally televised debates. he strikes fear in the hearts of fellow Republicans with his refusal to tow the party line, and he makes the
Democrats cringe with his adeptness at swaying independent/liberal voters from their base.
I want to support Dr. Paul, the lone voice, the ballsy minority, the former gynecologist who refuses to take a government salary or pension, cash from lobbyists, or shit from anyone. So what’s the problem? Why aren’t people behind Ron Paul? Why is he constantly marginalized by the mainstream media.
The easy answer is: He doesn’t share mainstream views. The nuanced answer is: Sometimes he comes across as batshit crazy. What hurts my opinion of him, is his continued relationship with the John Birch Society, which is about on par with neo-nazi fascism as far as politics are concerned, and sometimes as overtly racist.
Paul has also let down minority voters by speaking ill of the Civil Rights Act, and by promoting (along with his son, Rand), the right for private businesses to basically reenact Jim Crow laws. He has great ideas, but what kind of meaningful change can we expect when his own party is staunchly against him and his ideologies? They won’t play ball with Obama on anything, and Paul woud be no different.
So if you vote, and damn it, I hope you do – even if it’s for someone I disagree with, at least research the candidate you are backing. Look at records, voting and otherwise. And no, one kooky idea or transgression should not stop you from supporting a candidate. But sometimes, a duck is a duck. And if none of these challengers can legitimately make this nation a better place than the incumbent, then toss aside your vitriol for the other team and do what is best for the country.
Whatever that might be. Quack
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