I've neglected to bring to light an issue that's been brewing in my mind, but this comment from
Flamingo Jones at The American Street has made it necessary:
So, I really don't make friends with many Republicans anymore. It's almost like I have a litmus test of my own. ... Yes, I know this makes me judgmental. I don't like being that way. But it really seems like it's the only option nowadays. Be picky and judgmental about political compatibility or endure countless miserable conversations with "friends" I never quite trust NOT to stab me in the back and steal my wallet.
I emphasized the last few words because that becomes the basis for my question to the community: in blind lock-step with him no matter how bad his policies are or how many laws he has broken, should the 35%, supporters of Bush today, aside from voting, be ostracized from the political process altogether?
Our country is about to enter a massive period of turmoil and economic strife, and it's clear to even the most remotely rational mind that things are not going very well for this country or its citizens. Only the common-senseless Bush supporters, who worship the ground he and the right wing walks on, all the young college republicans and evangelical nut jobs (most of whom won't even come close to considering joining the Army for Bush), only they are the ones still blindly following this President and is willing to say that everything is fine.
In my honest opinion, I just don't know if these are the kinds of folks that we want representing our democracy in Congress. Some very tough, and painful decisions will have to be made for the sake of our country and its future in the halls of Congress over the next few years. Given that, I'm not saying we should make it illegal for these folks to be able to run for federal office or whatnot, but if they utilize their right to run, should we fully, 100% utilize our right to oppose and do whatever it takes to stop them from being able to win?
I don't feel comfortable asking this, but I gather that a lot of uncomfortable questions will need to be addressed. These are the same folks that repeatedly denounced folks like us as traitors, some even calling for us to be shot and/or quarantined from the general population. These people, like it or not, are not rational. They are fanatically obsessed with the vry things that not only harm this nation and its citizenry, but severely cripple our abilities to compete in a world that is moving on and leaving us far behind. And, if they achieve elected federal office, they will very likely continue that traitorous language and attitude when real honest, rational and intellectual debate will be sorely needed. Somehow, I don't think that our corrupt, crippled government can take much more of this mindless blather that calls itself honest debate today.
What do you guys think?