(crossposted from the frontpage of MyLeftWing)
First, let me admit that I am not very sophisticated politically. But given the state of American politics, I’m not sure that’s anything to hang my head about. What I lack in political sophistication I make up for in moral clarity, and it occurs to me that I might have come out ahead in that trade-off.
(more below the fold...)
My first foray into politics came when I worked as a volunteer on the campaign of a friend of mine whom I had met through an old girlfriend when he ran for high office in the state where we both lived at the time. It was quite an experience, but there came a moment during the campaign when he was asked a question that bore on his support for women’s rights. I wish I remembered what exactly the question was but I don’t. I just remember that those of us there who were his friends were shocked at his answer. And no, I don’t remember what that was either, only that it ran counter to what we all knew to be his enthusiastic support for women’s rights. He had judged it to be the politically wise answer to give in that forum. And he may have been right for he went on to win that race and had a long and successful career in politics – before being convicted of some fairly serious economic crimes.
That was my first personal experience with being disappointed in a promising politician in whom I believed. Now I don’t expect politicians to be any more perfect than anyone else. We are all flawed and even great men have feet of clay. But I do expect someone who would lead us to have a little integrity, and integrity is all about being true to yourself. If you speak out of both side of your mouth, politician or no, you have forfeited your integrity. How are we supposed to know who to vote for if they won’t honestly say what they believe in and have the courage to stand by it?
why don't they
Do what they say, say what they mean
One thing leads to another
~ The Fixx, British rock group
We seem to have come to a point where our politicians are driven by a strange calculus that eschews principle except as a sometimes-useful sound bite. A majority of Senate Democrats felt they had to vote to authorize force in Iraq not because it was the right thing to do but because they so feared how it might look to the electorate if they didn’t, and because of what the Republicans might say. The thinking was that they would ‘appear to be’ weak on national defense – so of course they had no choice.
What strikes me about this is that with thinking like that any old national foolishness can be enthusiastically endorsed if the failure to do so might look bad. It’s all about appearances after all.
It's not a matter of what is true that counts but a matter of what is perceived to be true.
~ Henry Kissinger
It is this sleight-of-hand smoke-and-mirrors version of reality that worries me. It worries me precisely because it is so far removed from reality as perceived by realists - as opposed to politicians.
It is this kind of fog-enshrouded thinking that induces politicians to avoid doing the right thing in the interest of the expedient thing. When only appearances matter all ya gotta do is look good. We don’t dare consider impeaching Bush/Cheney for their savage torture and war crimes because there might be some political fallout. Why wingnuts, ignoramuses, idiots and assholes of all stripes might not like it if we do. To that I say so fucking what?
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.
~ William Penn
Some have suggested that if I cannot accept the harsh and gritty realities of politics then I am just not cut out for the game. Maybe so. On the other hand, maybe it’s not me that needs to change – maybe it’s our politics.
Am I hopelessly naïve? Possibly so...
Some people see things as they are and say why? But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?
~ Robert F. Kennedy
Is integrity from our politicians too much to ask? Is honesty out of the question? Shouldn’t we be able to trust the candidates for whom we vote?
IMHO politicians and political strategists have gotten too clever for their own good.
Cleverness is not wisdom.
~ Euripides
Political strategists advised Kerry not to mention Abu Ghraib during his three nationally televised opportunities to do so – it might piss off the wingnuts – might make us look bad – might lose votes. But by all means call out Cheney’s daughter for being a lesbian – that oughta help.
In other words, ignore the staggeringly relevant truth of the hideous doings at Abu Ghraib, but go ahead and make a petty personal attack on Cheney regarding his daughter’s sexual preference. Now that’s wisdom for ya!
In the end Kerry looked like a petty little snipe instead of the bold and courageous leader he would have appeared to be had he possessed the balls and the wisdom to demand an explanation for Abu Ghraib.
This kind of political strategery and inside-the-beltway thinking is what led Democrats to support Bush on Iraq. Out of fear they allowed themselves to be bullied and stampeded into voting for an authorization they had to know was wrong.
How’s it going to look if we do the right thing? What will the wingnuts say? Ooh how scary!
This kind of misguided thinking is also why Hillary can’t bring herself to admit she was wrong on Iraq. If she changed her mind now, they’ll call her a flip-flopper – and Lord knows there’s nothing worse than being called a flip-flopper by the most ignorant people in America!
But by far the absolute worst example of this hyperbolic mental contortionism is the so-called thinking behind the idea that it would be bad for Democrats to prosecute the Bushies for their outrageous crimes against humanity. Oh it might piss off the wingnuts. It might look like revenge for Clinton’s impeachment. Oh dear me, we couldn’t have that could we?
Since we don’t want to look petty and vengeful, we should overlook the fact that our renegade government has been murdering and torturing people all over the world in the names of the American people. Otherwise they might call us a bunch of meanies.
But it would be a distraction. We need to focus on 2008. As if ANYBODY in their right mind is going to vote for a party that excused and condoned the atrocities and war crimes of the Bush administration.
But it would be a political disaster! The whole world is crying out for justice to be done. But it would be political disaster to give them what they want? To give them what the whole world deserves? Yeah right.
In my view, for whatever it’s worth, people who subscribe to this point of view are either hopelessly deluded and dead wrong – or, as in the case with many politicians I suspect, afraid of what else the investigation and prosecution might reveal. I mean there are plenty of Democrats who have enabled or otherwise been complicit in the misdeeds of the Bush administration. Maybe that’s where this lunacy emanates from.
Some opponents of prosecution argue that the Repubs would never vote to convict or impeach. My view on that is that once the public sees the evidence properly presented, a failure to vote for conviction would be true political suicide. I firmly believe if everyone knew all that these slimy bastards have done that they would demand their heads and those of anyone who dared stand in the way.
The world wants justice. They not only want it, they demand it and they deserve it. It is our duty to give it to them.
If we aren’t smart enough, courageous enough, and righteous enough to give it to them – we will deserve what we get.
If we succeed in bringing these swine to justice, it will be the death knell of the Republican Party. If we fail, the world will curse us, history will disparage us, and the death knell will be our own.
Peace out!
OPOL