I just finished watching "The American President" movie and I couldn't help but think of the ongoing debates and upcoming election. There are two parts of this movie that really strike me as awesome portrayals of what we really need in a President.
The first is the part of the movie where the president (Michael Douglas) gives the order to attack Libya. During the meeting while he and his staff are waiting for the results of the attack, one of the staff members tells him that he's just done something very presidential. The President simply responds that innocent people are going to be killed because of his actions and he's done one of the most unpresidential things he's ever done. That simply means that war is not always the answerc.
The second part that I find awesome is the speech he gives at the end of the movie. I'll post it below so you can read and make up your own mind if you agree or not. You may or may not agree, but read the conviction and call to action hidden within the speech. It's something you don't see in our present politicians . . . . any of them. And, we desperately need that.
"President Shepherd: Yes, he will. Good morning. [Members of the White House Press Corps begin to rise] It's alright. Please keep your seats. Good morning.
For the last couple of months, Senator Rumson has suggested that being President of this country was, to a certain extent, about character. And although I've not been willing to engage in his attacks on me, I have been here three years and three days, and I can tell you without hesitation: Being President of this country is entirely about character.
For the record, yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU, but the more important question is "Why aren't you, Bob?" Now this is an organization whose sole purpose is to defend the Bill of Rights, so it naturally begs the question, why would a senator, his party's most powerful spokesman and a candidate for President, choose to reject upholding the constitution? Now if you can answer that question, folks, then you're smarter than I am, because I didn't understand it until a few hours ago.
America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.
Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.
I've known Bob Rumson for years. And I've been operating under the assumption that the reason Bob devotes so much time and energy to shouting at the rain was that he simply didn't get it. Well, I was wrong. Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it!
We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle age, middle class, middle income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family, and American values and character, and you wave an old photo of the President's girlfriend and you scream about patriotism. You tell them she's to blame for their lot in life. And you go on television and you call her a whore.
Sydney Ellen Wade has done nothing to you, Bob. She has done nothing but put herself through school, represent the interests of public school teachers, and lobby for the safety of our natural resources. You want a character debate, Bob? You better stick with me, 'cause Sydney Ellen Wade is way out of your league.
I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer. And I lost the other 'cause I was so busy keeping my job, I forgot to do my job. Well, that ends right now.
Tomorrow morning the White House is sending a bill to Congress for it's consideration. It's White House Resolution 455, an energy bill requiring a twenty percent reduction of the emission of fossil fuels over the next ten years. It is by far the most aggressive stride ever taken in the fight to reverse the effects of global warming. The other piece of legislation is the crime bill. As of today, it no longer exists. I'm throwing it out. I'm throwing it out and writing a law that makes sense. You cannot address crime prevention without getting rid of assault weapons and hand guns. I consider them a threat to national security, and I will go door to door if I have to, but I'm gonna convince Americans that I'm right, and I'm gonna get the guns.
We've got serious problems, and we need serious people. And if you want to talk about character, Bob, you'd better come at me with more than a burning flag and a membership card. If you want to talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This a time for serious people, Bob, and your fifteen minutes are up."
Make up your mind America. Vote with knowledge not party lines or kinship in mind. Vote for your beliefs.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
New Year, New Post (Blog)
Well, it's 2012 and there's apparently a lot of things we have to think about and deal with this year. First, there's politics. Once again, our degenerative political system rears it's ugly head to show us stupidity all on a new level.
The first thing I think is funny/stupid about it is listening to all of the candidates, especially the Republicans this year. The Democrats will obviously stay behind Obama in a feeble at showing unity; but, the Republicans are where the fun will be this year. First, we get watch the now 8 candidates berate one another over the next few months. They'll throw mud at one another and point out one another's weakness, faults, sins, and whatever else they can dig up. All in the end to make a miraculous change of heart at the end when one of them finally slides out into the main spot. Then everyone will talk about how great that person is and we all should vote for him/her.
I just think that's hilarious. And it shows how our political system has slid down a long hill of slime into a 2 party system to where everyone is really out for themselves. (Let's forget about the Libertarians and any other new found party. We all know they don't stand a chance against the two power houses of the Dems and Repubs.)
It all leaves me standing confused in November really choosing from the lesser of two evils. People say get out there and vote. Make a difference. But do we really? Does the individual voter have a voice? Do they make a difference individually? I think not.
The way our political system has evolved it's all about the money. Who has the most money to get their name out to the masses, how great they are, what promises they never plan to do but they think people want to hear, and how terrible the other candidate really is. But let's face it. We all have sins. So, why point out the other guys so much? Do what you actually say you're going to do during your campaign when you get in office.
That brings up the second point. Regardless of who wins, Congress will work against them. Each member will vote according to what they can get out of it. Congress has become the ultimate Economic utopia on Earth. Economics has been twisted to mean money, but if you learn the true meaning of economics, it comes down to one thing: choices. And Congress uses, or dare I say plays, a dangerous game theory experiment to make choices to get what they ultimately want in the end.
If they need to get a bill, act, legislation, etc. passed, then they make deals with other members for their votes. They trade their choices based on what's more important to them. If you want to understand what I'm talking about watch the 60 minutes episode from a few weeks ago that demonstrated how members of Congress are getting rich from the insider information they get from lobyist and their rich "friends".
I appears to me that Congress no more has the people's best interest at heart than they do what type of toilet paper is in the bathrooms. The 60 minutes episode also talks about how many of them are meager business people yet leave Congress millionaires. And they have their own set of rules, retirement, and tax programs.
So, that leaves me with a conundrum come November. I'll definitely be watching the debates and primaries closely to see what my choices are, but I don't think anything major will happen in our Political system until something major happens like what happened to Wall Street and our financial system the past few years.
Of course, that seems to have come full circle and now we're back to cWall Street and businesses, especially large public companies, easing back to their old ways. Thus restarting the cycle.
But, if you believe in the Mayans and other predictors and soothsayers of the past, we don't have to worry about it come December. After all, that's the end of time.
All I can say is good luck this year America. I can only imagine the mess other countries are in since we are the greatest country on Earth and look at all of our problems. But do get out and vote, but PLEASE, make educated votes. Research the candidates. Do your homework and vote for the candidate you truly believe in to be the best. Don't be one of the stupidest voters I can think of and vote straight ticket down a party line. It may be one party, but it's made up of different people. And remember, they'll be in Washington making those choices and trades. Just make sure you hedge your bets that who you vote for will make the choices and trades you would.
The first thing I think is funny/stupid about it is listening to all of the candidates, especially the Republicans this year. The Democrats will obviously stay behind Obama in a feeble at showing unity; but, the Republicans are where the fun will be this year. First, we get watch the now 8 candidates berate one another over the next few months. They'll throw mud at one another and point out one another's weakness, faults, sins, and whatever else they can dig up. All in the end to make a miraculous change of heart at the end when one of them finally slides out into the main spot. Then everyone will talk about how great that person is and we all should vote for him/her.
I just think that's hilarious. And it shows how our political system has slid down a long hill of slime into a 2 party system to where everyone is really out for themselves. (Let's forget about the Libertarians and any other new found party. We all know they don't stand a chance against the two power houses of the Dems and Repubs.)
It all leaves me standing confused in November really choosing from the lesser of two evils. People say get out there and vote. Make a difference. But do we really? Does the individual voter have a voice? Do they make a difference individually? I think not.
The way our political system has evolved it's all about the money. Who has the most money to get their name out to the masses, how great they are, what promises they never plan to do but they think people want to hear, and how terrible the other candidate really is. But let's face it. We all have sins. So, why point out the other guys so much? Do what you actually say you're going to do during your campaign when you get in office.
That brings up the second point. Regardless of who wins, Congress will work against them. Each member will vote according to what they can get out of it. Congress has become the ultimate Economic utopia on Earth. Economics has been twisted to mean money, but if you learn the true meaning of economics, it comes down to one thing: choices. And Congress uses, or dare I say plays, a dangerous game theory experiment to make choices to get what they ultimately want in the end.
If they need to get a bill, act, legislation, etc. passed, then they make deals with other members for their votes. They trade their choices based on what's more important to them. If you want to understand what I'm talking about watch the 60 minutes episode from a few weeks ago that demonstrated how members of Congress are getting rich from the insider information they get from lobyist and their rich "friends".
I appears to me that Congress no more has the people's best interest at heart than they do what type of toilet paper is in the bathrooms. The 60 minutes episode also talks about how many of them are meager business people yet leave Congress millionaires. And they have their own set of rules, retirement, and tax programs.
So, that leaves me with a conundrum come November. I'll definitely be watching the debates and primaries closely to see what my choices are, but I don't think anything major will happen in our Political system until something major happens like what happened to Wall Street and our financial system the past few years.
Of course, that seems to have come full circle and now we're back to cWall Street and businesses, especially large public companies, easing back to their old ways. Thus restarting the cycle.
But, if you believe in the Mayans and other predictors and soothsayers of the past, we don't have to worry about it come December. After all, that's the end of time.
All I can say is good luck this year America. I can only imagine the mess other countries are in since we are the greatest country on Earth and look at all of our problems. But do get out and vote, but PLEASE, make educated votes. Research the candidates. Do your homework and vote for the candidate you truly believe in to be the best. Don't be one of the stupidest voters I can think of and vote straight ticket down a party line. It may be one party, but it's made up of different people. And remember, they'll be in Washington making those choices and trades. Just make sure you hedge your bets that who you vote for will make the choices and trades you would.
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