Politics As Usual

So far, I’ve kept politics pretty much out of this blog, which is kinda surprising considering I am hugely political. I grew up in a “blue” state and now live in a “red” state, so I’m out of step with my the majority of my neighbors … so I turn to my group of liberal friends across the country whenever I need to get something off my chest. The Bible Belt is NOT the place for someone like Miss Monique!

I did not vote for George W. Bush. I voted for John Kerry and yes, it was more of a vote against W. I didn’t believe all of the Swift Boat Veterans for Freedom BS and I think that W. is going to go down in history as one of the most dangerous presidents to civil liberties (and no, I’m not a member of the ACLU).

Although I hold Bill Clinton’s personal indiscretions to be distasteful, I do not think they impacted his job performance. He is able to relate to those of other cultures and in other countries, which is a skill W. is sorely lacking. While we may be the only “superpower” left, we are not the only people in the world … and I think the world’s shock at the conditions of the Hurricane Katrina survivors is very telling. Some think it’s our “reward” for invading Iraq. Others are horrified at the class divide which exists in this country. Yes, those people should have left New Orleans when they were told. I sure as hell would have gotten out. But what if I didn’t have my parents to turn to? What if I earned minimum wage and a plane ticket would be a week’s wages or more? My financial situation is tenuous enough at times and I make a decent income.

You know, I was really hoping W. would have stepped up to the plate with the hurricane … I can’t help but think that Bill Clinton would have at least been a lot closer to those poor people than a helicopter. If W. had walked among the survivors, used “I” statements instead of “we,” had actually opened up his emotions and spoke from the heart, I would have cried along with him. But he just said platitudes, things like “we’re gonna help you” and “help is on the way.” I have (way too much) access to food and water and that would sound like BS to me. I can imagine how it would sound if you were literally starving. The man should have said, “I don’t know what happened, but I am going to make damn sure you have food and water today” — and meant it. This country is so divided and so much in need of healing and he just doesn’t see it.

I think the Constitution of the United States is one of the greatest documents ever written. But damn, I wish we didn’t have that amendment limiting presidential terms. Bring back, Bill, I say. If you think I’m crazy, who did W. ask for help? His daddy and Bill Clinton.

Oh yeah, to top it all off, William Rehnquist died, and W. gets to appoint ANOTHER justice PLUS the chief justice! Talk about dumb luck.

It was apparent the Rehnquist was a very ill man and there were many calls for him to step down, but he didn’t and I respect that. My grandmother lived with Parkinson’s for nearly 40 years so I am well aware there are some diseases that affect the body, but not the mind and spirit.

Thus ends my liberal rant for the day … but tomorrow IS Labor Day and I am from Detroit, so we’ll see what comes up then. ; )