March 31, 2004
What's at stake in November
Just catching up on some of my blog reading and found a couple items to pass along about what's really at stake in the next presidential election. Lawrence Lessig commented on his "Fear about Kerry" entry that he's concerned that Kerry is reeling off lists of new policy initiatives rather than sticking to what really is at issue in this campaign. He states:
... the passion and anger that bubbled Dean to the top was focused on something much more fundamental: a basic corruption of government. Not corruption in the banana republic sense ? money to politicians. But a corruption of basic integrity. Deception about the war. Obstruction of access to information about influence (e.g., Cheney and the oil companies). Coddling to corporate criminals. (Yea, I know, you?ll whine about that, but it sounds so good). And persistent Nixonian attacks on critics.
This is the basic, apple-pie message that I would bet would win. That we have gone back on basic American values ? or those values we believe we believe. ?Truth, Justice, and the American Way? was not meant to distinguish ?Truth and Justice? from the ?American Way.? And I would think a constant beat reasking the same question ? Who have we become? ? would slowly erode any passion for reelecting this President.
Thanks Lawrence, I couldn't agree more.
And by way of another of my favorite bloggers, The Librarian in Black, I found the very same point being made -- perhaps in a less intellectually sophisticated, but certainly more playful, way:
Dishonest Dubya Lying Action Figure
I still can't believe this guy is our president. Why oh why couldn't we have a president like Jed Bartlet. Is that really too much to ask? Doesn't this country deserve a president that is actually smarter and more reflective than the average citizen. When did being an inarticulate good 'ol boy become a presidential quality?
Posted by Lori at 8:25 AM | Permalink