How Low Can You Go?

MY TURN

Just when you think politics and politicians can’t go any lower, a sink-hole forms and we reach new depths. The sink-hole in this instance is President George Bush’s mouth. In a speech before the Knessett, (the Israeli Parliament), he declared that all democrats who believe in “diplomacy” is appeasing our enemies! He likened Barak Obama, Jimmie Carter, and others to an American senator in 1939 who lamented that he “wished he could have talked to Hitler before the war started”.

I understand that diplomacy is not a word in President Bush’s vocabulary. He would rather strap on the six-guns, then sit at his desk and commit our young men and women to war. Who knows how many lives could have been saved throughout history if leaders had spent more time talking and less time killing.

America was built on diplomacy. We helped whenever anyone needed it, and we fought whenever we were attacked. We did not spend our time looking for possible enemies, and annihilating them first.

Shame on you George Bush for using the fear factor in a speech to a friendly government. You seem to believe that fear generates respect. I taught my child that respect is earned, whether it is in personal relationships or the business world. I believe that goes for governments and countries as well.

Shame on you George Bush for using the world stage to make a national political speech and making the assumption that anyone but a Republican president can lead our nation and maintain our friendship with our long-time ally,
Israel.

Shame on you George Bush for saying that we are better off today than we were four, (or eight) years ago. We have a housing market in ruins, unaffordable health care, $4.00 a gallon gas, and rising food costs. Many of us planning to retire have to re-assess our plans, and work for more years to be able to exist after we finish working.

All presidents wonder what their legacy will be after they leave office. You do not have that worry: You will have a war with its death and injury totals, immigration problems, rising costs, high unemployment, the weakest dollar ever, soaring energy costs with no plans to correct any of these issues, oh, and a 28% approval rating from the very people that elected you. You will not have to think hard at all, your legacy is clear.

So, shame on you George Bush and because of the republican mantra that “you are who you associate with”, shame on the republicans, conservatives, and Reagon Democrats that you represent. That’s my opinion.

Rjp May 15, 2008