We're supposed to have hope for our shining city on the hill, right? After reading Ian's post about impending surprizes and the squeek that never materialized, I wondered why Kerry's aid and comfort to the VC hasn't ever surfaced as a major ad campaign or political revelation. Looking up the Freeper's take on Kerry's Vietnam Vets Against the War (VVAW) meeting with the VC revealed this 10/13 article in the NY Sun. Jack mentions it, but what I really want to know is why it hasn't been brought up (does knocking at an executive order open others to scruitiny? and if so, hasn't our postmodern political age gone beyond caring about the near past as sacred?), and whether this signals some sort of partisan detente in the pissing contest that's widened the noxious stream of pee to a “yellow“ sea of biblical proportions. Who'll be the one to part it? Not Kerry, for sure, because he's ensured four more years of partisan attacks via his own poor “plan“ of empty promises not even Clinton would've tried to make good on. I believe Kerry's rhetoric of capitulation within his own party (the “most likely to be electable” high school-esque epithet) is representative of his own personal style. Clinton, at least, took polls to wag his dog. Kerry, too, says enough to ensure that “his“ foreign policy will be exactly the same as what anyone could imagine that Bush's would be. These next four years are for strength of purpose, not for seeking of glory nor swerving due to an unsteady hand.
What we don't have for the next four years:
- Money for the military due to deficits
- Money for tax cuts due to deficits
- An exit plan for Iraq that insures either stability in the region or propagation of democracy
- A military with people to execute a long view
- Cabinet members that are sticking around (Powell, Rice, Ridge, Thompson and Rumsfeld are probably leaving; Kerry's potential cabinet reads like Fantasy Football... fwiw, my Fantasy Cabinet would have Powell stick around and move into Rumsfeld's position after Rumsfeld's gracious exit in 2006 and then current UN Ambassador Danforth into State. A Rumsfeld/McCain swap would be interesting, too. Underutilization of a military commander, Powell, in a State role is one of my biggest disappointments with the Bush administration.)
The 2008 presidency is the US's time (and term) for healing and reconciliation -- we've just got to get through the next four years by slowly ratcheting down our internal rhetoric and showing a more unified front to the rest of the world, our “allies” (Old and New) included.
... and almost immedately: voter's remorse. feels bad having voted for some of the democrats on the list, primarily because they're dividers not uniters and very partisan. i'd rather have viable third party candidates, not just caracatures. in particular, as per that link, i matsunakaed when i should've kinseyed. at least that would've said “third party“ rather than anti-musgrave/anti-caracature. alas. i can only hope the loveland people get it right and elect squassabia.