February 5, 2008

Super Tuesday...Really, It's SUPER

*Disclaimer: You may not like what you read below. For that I don't apologize. You are more than welcome to disagree with me, that's what makes our country great. It's going to be long. It's going to be intense. It's going to be my therapy session for the next few months. It might take you that long to read it.

***
Okay, so I promised you it was coming. It's been brewing for weeks, months, YEARS, even. Frustration, sadness, anger, disbelief. CRAZY amounts of disbelief. And then some more disbelief thrown on top for good measure.
I'm the first to admit that Bill Clinton made some, shall we say questionable, choices. All right, let's be honest. He made some downright stupid, selfish, testosterone fueled choices. Though, most testosterone fueled choices are stupid, if you really think about it, aren't they? He made it even worse when he lied about it under oath. That was just plain stupid, and probably not at all testosterone fueled. But let's get back to the ORIGINAL sin, as it were. He did some inappropriate sexually related misdeeds, in the Oval Office no less, with that woman.

But, who did he hurt? His wife? YES. His daughter? YES. But the rest of us? We lost some faith in him, maybe. I certainly wanted to slap him upside the head and say "HELLO? What in the hell were you thinking you MORON?" (For those of you who watched "Reba" hear "moron" like she used to say it. "MOE-ron" ish)

But it didn't change my life. It didn't have any bearing on the daily goings-on of the American people. It didn't change the course of America. It didn't cause the deaths of 3,949 (as of today) US Service Men & Women. It did, however, lead to his impeachment. Say What? He lied about who he had "sexual relations" with and what type of "sexual relations" they were and he was IMPEACHED, however our current Commander In Chief LIED about finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which led to our subsequent invasion of Iraq, which has subsequently led to the DEATHS of 3,949 Americans. Yet, we're okay with THAT? They're in the military, "we" say. That's what they sign up for, "we" say. They're defending America against terror, "we" say. Excuse me, but isn't Osama bin Laden, US terror threat #1, hiding somewhere in Pakistan? I believe, and I'm no Geography whiz (Hi Quart!), that Iraq is separated from Pakistan by the entire country of Iran and a tiny little body of water called The Persian Gulf. But, I may be wrong. Oh wait, no I'm not. So, why are the vast majority of deployed US Troops in Iraq and not in Pakistan or Afganistan where TERRORISTS are ACTUALLY operating? Because, light bulb moment here, it's not about terrorism. Well, maybe it is a little bit, but it's NOT REALLY ABOUT TERRORISTS! It's about OIL. It's about Saddam Hussein. It's about making up for his father's "Eff" up from years before. It's turned into being about cleaning up the huge mess we've created. 3,949 Americans killed. 3,949 sons, daughters, husbands, wives, mommies and daddies. BUT, Bill Clinton did get a blow job from Monica Lewinsky. Let's focus on what's really important here people.

"Substitute Bill Clinton for Bush over the past six months. What would TV talking heads be saying today? William Kristol, Sean Hannity and the others would be demanding Clinton's impeachment. They would be screaming that there were no weapons of mass destruction and Clinton knew it. He lied to the U.N., to the American people, and he deliberately and unnecessarily placed American troops in harm's way."
Ed Garvey, The Capital Times(Madison, WI), May 13, 2003

This is the bumper sticker I want for my car. This is what I want to proclaim to the world. THIS is what I feel:


I am proud to be an American. But I'm not proud of what our country stands for right now. I'm not proud of the stance we've taken and I'm not proud of the way the rest of the world views us. I am proud of our troops. For putting themselves in harms way regardless of their mission. For standing up for what America is SUPPOSED to be, regardless of what it has become. For continuing to fight a fight with no end in sight.

****

Okay, moving on from THAT topic. This all came about and was inspired by this post from Motherscribe. It got me riled up, in a good way, because it got me thinking. I voted for Obama. I didn't vote for Hillary and I'm not sure why. I'm someone who thinks, regardless of his personal mistakes, that Bill Clinton left this country in better shape then when he found it. (See here and here) His wife, then, someone who worked by his side during his Presidency, would potentially offer the same benefits, no? When I take those quizzes that tell me who "my" candidate is, she inevitably ends up on top. So, why then, did I vote for Obama? Why not her? Why not stick with the whole "woman power" thing I was so proud of in college? Because this gives me hope. It inspires me. It makes me believe that YES, WE CAN make things better. We can move this country in a new direction. As he says, "YES WE CAN heal this nation. YES WE CAN repair this world." And I believe him. I hadn't seen this video when I voted. If I had, I wouldn't have hesitated the half second that I did, before I put my mark next to his name.

Having said that, I still support Hillary. If Obama doesn't make it, you can bet your ass I'll be on the "Go Hillary" bandwagon (with my fingers crossed that Obama will somehow make it into her Cabinet). And, no JCK, I don't think Wolf Blizter would have asked a male candidate if he thought he'd been naive. I think, unfortunately, that it's another sad example of the "Good Ole Boys Club" being alive and well. She's a woman, Obama's black. Neither of them have anything in common with "Good Ole" GWB. And, as far as I'm concerned, that's what makes them exciting.

***

In other news, and because if I keep typing my brain might actually explode, I'm going to leave you with a few brief thoughts and some links. Oh, and if you don't agree with me and your already annoyed, your blood is really going to start boiling if you keep reading. Just so you know.

  1. It irks me that Conservatives bitch & moan about Liberals wanting to "tell us how to live our lives" while they do their best to outlaw a woman's right to CHOOSE to have an abortion, and feel the need to tell two people of the same sex that they are somehow less capable of entering into a loving, committed relationship. How is THAT something that will cheapen my marriage? And I'm sorry, but I've been around a LOT of gay couples who are a lot more committed and well adjusted than some straight couples I know. I'm just saying.
  2. This both makes me laugh, due to it's absurdity, and makes me want to cry, due to the fact that, well...it's just makes me want to cry. There go those damn Liberals again, shoving sex down our throats and turning women into sex objects. Oh, wait. Is that Fox News? Sorry. Jeez. *This, in no way, serves as an endorsement for Keith Olbermann, who, I admit, is a bit of a douche. But not nearly as big of a douche as Bill O'Reilly.
  3. I can't remember what else I was going to write. Two kids are screaming in my ear and I've been sitting here typing for, let's just say a LONG time.

I'll leave you with this:

"The real differences around the world today are not between Jews and Arabs;Protestants and Catholics; Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The real differences arebetween those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it; betweenthose who look to the future and those who cling to the past; betweenthose who open their arms and those who are determined to clench their fists."

Who said that? Oh, right. It was Bill Clinton.

And if you're still talking to me, I'll have more, not at all politically motivated, riveting things to say later. This time it will be about babies & poop. Hmmm...kinda like what this post has been about if you think about it.

10 comments:

Texasholly said...

Did ya vote? I stopped watching all the TV and stuff surrounding this a long time ago. I am much happier. I know what I believe and it makes a lot of sense to me. I get tired of people telling me what I believe. I get tired of people telling me what they are going to do when elected and then doing nothing. Or worse. I get tired of people telling me stuff that they don't live. I guess it comes down to my view on religion as well...STOP TELLING me! I will watch you (not personally, you!) and then make my own decision based on your life, not your words. Words are cheap. Words are just blah, blah, blah. Live it then we will talk. Did I just get on a soap box on your blog??? You have inspired long-winded responses...hahaha.

Anonymous said...

I'd totally get that bumper-sticker... except I have no car. But I'd still get it!

I'd have more to say, except really, I agree with almost everything and I'm too brain-dead from my day to be witty. So: AMEN. To it all.

Pink Lemonade said...

awesome post!!! my state didn't vote today, but you can best believe Obama will have my vote as well! The link for the video was great, very powerful and motivating. Thanks for sharing it!~

EatPlayLove said...

I am a really stupid registered unaffiliated. Don't ask why. There is not a chance in h-e-double hockey sticks I'd vote republican.

Although i've learned my lesson and I am going to change it to Dem, glad to hear obama got your vote. He would have gotten mine! I beg and hope he will get it in november.

Anonymous said...

Your mother applauds your convcition. I'm proud of you.
You say it, you mean it, and you don't care what anyone thinks.

And the best thing is that your heart is in the right place.

A Mom Two Boys said...

HRH- Did you just call me long winded? :0)

ABMF- I'd totally put it on my car too, except then my husband and I would argue more than usual.

pink lemonade - Thanks for stopping by! Glad you liked the link.

EPL - We'll see what tonight's results bring. It'll definitely be interesting. RE-REGISTER, woman!

Mom-,er Grandmaother - Remember in high school when it probably drove you crazy that I "didn't care what anyone thinks?" Yea. That's awesome.

Jennifer S said...

Brava. Your skills as a mind-reader are amazing, since this is all the stuff that I've been thinking, too. I can't add anything, except that I did vote in our primary today here in AZ. I voted for Clinton, but didn't really decide until a couple of days ago to go with her.

Anonymous said...

From now on, if anyone asks for my opinion re: GWB, Fox News or politics in general, I'll just hand them a copy of this post.

Christy said...

I completely agree. I despise Bush.

Anonymous said...

YES! YES! YES! I'LL HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING! Can we go to dinner? Can I buy you a beer? BECAUSE THIS POST TOTALLY ROCKED MY VERY LOOOOONG DAY!!!!!
...and, like EPL, I am also a stupid unaffiliated and missed my chance yesterday. You can read my grumble about that over at my place. It will be remedied, and I shall atone by being an election day volunteer.
I LOVE THIS POST!