It is, imo, far too often forgotten in all our ranting over the transgressions of this Administration and the GOP in general, how complicit the voting public is in all our political problems.
I hear all the time from people that "politicians are all the same", "they're all full of it" and "it doesn't matter which of the a-holes running I vote for". This is generally coming form people who voted for the wrong people in the past, and can't believe that their dumb votes didn't actually produce brilliant results. So many in this country make their votes selfishly, because they're too lazy to actually find out what or who they're voting for, or because they decide to believe the pol who tells them there is a simple solution to a complex problem. Again, they can't understand why this doesn't all work out to generate a Utopian society. So, naturally, it must be the fault of "all politiicans" and there is nothing they could have done to prevent it.
Sorry for that rant. But it comes to mind with the news that there will be a new Osama Bin Laden tape released on the anniversary of 9-11. On Hardball tonight, there was the usual discussion of how the mention of "Bin Laden" or "terrorism" helps the Republicans. Even the Democratic pundits didn't disagree with this.
Of course, back in October 2004, Bin Laden released another tape. This is widely credited with helping Bush to re-election. The very sight of OBL caused people to get scared and to vote for Bush. This is what brings my rant to mind.
What a great idea, voters! The mention of Bin Laden or terrorism makes you want more Bush? How clever. The stupidity of so many of our citizens and how it has screwed this country can never be overstated.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who ignored warnings and allowed 9/11 to happen.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who's reaction to the attacks was to sit in a puddle of his own urine and wait to hear how My Pet Goat was going to end.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who couldn't be bothered to actually try to catch Bin Laden.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who has created even more terrorists than existed before 9-11.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who saw 9-11 as an opportunity to win elections and funnel money to his freinds at Haliburton.
Yes, by all means, vote for a man who decided to ignore the 9-11 Commission recommendations to improve our security.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who has broken our military, which is so obviously crucial in the protection of our country.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who used 9-11 as an excuse to throw out our Constitution and spy on average Americans, torture prisoners (many of whom had done nothing wrong) and throw out Habeus Corpus.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who de-stablized the most dangerous region on Earth.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who ridiculed the idea of fighting terrorism by use of law enforcemnt, the only thing that has ever had any success against it.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who fractured all our alliances with countries that would help us fight terrorism.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who made Iran even more powerful.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who allowed Al Qaeda to recover and thrive in Afghanistan and sprout up in Iraq.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man let's his people out undercover CIA operatvies working on the spread of WMDs.
Yes, by all means, vote for the man who Bin Laden is essentially campaigning for.
Way to go, America! You'll show him! Way to fight terrorists!