Where do you get your information??
Ever wonder how reliable your news source is? A couple years back there was a study conducted on news sources and the viewer’s/reader’s knowledge of current events. Very interesting read especially when the report begins to detail cable and network news programming. Ever wonder which viewers have the most distorted perception of current events? Read on….
(Fox News Incorrectly Labled Mark Foley as a Democrat)
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October 11, 2006
The Daily Show Viewer Survey
Click Here for full survey:
October 11, 2006
Detailing Bush's First Term
Written in 2004
As election time nears and many of my friends are undecided, I have taken some time to explain a couple reasons why I feel this country needs a change. I have tried to be as factual as possible to strengthen my arguments and form a persuasive essay. Most of you know I am voting for John Kerry in November; this paper is not to explain why I am voting for Kerry, but rather why I am not voting for Bush. However, unlike the Bush campaign I will not use half truths pounded out by the media, I don’t need too. There are too many factual examples of manipulation and corruption within the present day administration.
As this paper stands I wonder how many of you will take the time to read these viewpoints. I have included many examples but left out even more. I do not discuss Bush’s refusal to involve the Federal Government in the California Energy Crisis due to Enron’s involvement (Ken Lay was Bush’s third largest donor at close to $500,000). I also left out the disappearance of the EPA’s lawsuit against Cintas and the contributions of the Cintas chairman. I did not discus the economic policies of the current administration and how the effects will last until the interest rates begin to rise (right about the time of the elections…interesting). I also fail to write concerning the 2,000,000 jobs lost or transferred over seas within the last four years (He is the only president to lose jobs in the history of the US). I did not take time to detail Bush’s tax cuts even though 50 % of the cuts benefit the wealthiest 1 %. I missed explaining how Bush has taken record surpluses and changed them into record deficits. I did not take the time explaining how Bush rejected bills bolstering homeland security and the nation’s police force. I do not go into Bush’s refusal to allow stem cell research even though the future of human life could be affected. I did not go into many more points of hypocrisy and corruption, or just bad judgment. This election will be about Bush’s leadership regarding 9/11 because there is very little else he can focus on. The world rallied around a leader, but today, that leader does not rally around the world.
2000 Primaries
It is not ironic that the beginning problem to be addressed with Bush is the 2000 primaries. Perhaps this paper on the GOP President would be nonexistent if Bush and his political attack team would have played nice when dealing with their own party. The beginning of the 2000 Primaries saw John McCain, the Arizona Republican Senator, become the frontrunner for his party’s nomination. Winning three of the first seven states[i] sent a message to George W. Bush; this would be race till the end. That’s when Bush’s team went to work on McCain. Using all forms of vile obscenities attacking both McCain’s policies and personal life, Bush with a seemingly unlimited treasure chest, went to work on the presidential candidate. Bush went to great lengths to discredit the maverick senator, even creating a push poll about McCain fathering an illegitimate child.[ii]
The primaries were devastating to McCain with Bush using the media to leverage negative opinions about his opponent. During the South Carolina Republican primary in 2000, rumors were spread by fellow Republican senators about John McCain's mental health as a result of his imprisonment as a POW. McCain immediately quashed those rumors by voluntarily releasing his entire military record, which confirmed no indications of adverse physical or mental conditions.
McCain has always been a viable threat to corporate agenda. His continual call for campaign finance reform, limiting “soft” money donations, would undermine the influence big business maintained within the political arena. McCain is the only Republican vocal enough to attack the tobacco companies (They gave close to nine million between '95-'01 to the Republican Party[iii]) and conservative enough to fight the media sleaze broadcasted by some of Bush’s largest donors. Though “Bush’s silver-spoon fed business career”[iv] yielded many embarrassments, it did teach him the power of corporate money. McCain was a threat to various corporations and Bush and friends were determined to keep him out.
John McCain is one of the last decent politicians. A Vietnam POW, McCain understood better then any politician the great divide that occurs with decisions of such magnitude. McCain retains job approval ratings of 70 percent among independents, and is a favorite of conservative Democrats. His dedication to his constituents and the United States is never questioned. His mere presence in office would discourage any Democratic presidential nomination.
Howard Fineman of Newsweek writes: “His [McCain] media platform is nearly as tall as the president's, and he is using it right now to outflank him on the "corporate responsibility" issue. His speech to the National Press Club and his appearance on "Meet the Press" give him a chance to list the sweeping reforms he favors: truly independent corporate boards, free of personal and financial connections with management; the counting of executive stock options as salary, thus making them subject to income tax; a ban on corporate consulting by accounting firms; an independent federal agency to oversee the accounting industry; a renewed distinction (first written into law after the Depression) between stock brokering and investment banking.”[v] McCain is minimally influenced by corporate hierarchies, a model for Politicians and the opposite of George Bush.
War on Iraq
Over the past year and a half, our nation has been in a state of war. Many questions have been raised questioning the validity of motives, and the shifting position of the Bush administration. It is possible to write endless amounts of analysis on this conflict so focus will be kept on the administration’s justification.
With the war on terror crippling the nation of Afghanistan and Osama Bin Laden hiding like a rodent, Bush’s attention turned to Iraq. Reports of Iraq developing weapons of mass destruction became the headline and the implication of their desire to use it against us. Bush immediately stormed to the UN to demand weapons inspectors to search and destroy Saddam’s WMD program. Hans Blix was sent to the scene to evaluate the situation with his team of UN specialist. Reports continued to file in concerning Iraq’s resistance to the inspectors. Unfortunately, the inspectors own comments contradicted the media’s interpretation.
Bush’s insistence that Iraq was a threat to our nation motivated an appeal to congress seeking authority to use force if Iraq did not cooperate. CNN reports, “In a major victory for the White House, the Senate early Friday voted 77-23 to authorize President Bush to attack Iraq if Saddam Hussein refuses to give up weapons of mass destruction as required by U.N. resolutions.”[vi] Unfortunately, Bush didn’t understand the “if” part of the Senate resolution.
Five months after the resolution was passed, The United States attacked Iraq. The president addressed the nation with these words of support, “Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly -- yet, our purpose is sure. The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder.”[vii] This statement has proven to be the exact opposite of what has occurred. No WMD have been found, friends and allies are non-existent (see “Coalition of the Willing”), and the purpose of the US is less then sure…it has actually changed numerous times.
Since weapons inspectors entered Saddam’s régime, interesting exchanges have taken place. Iraq challenged Bush’s accusations, "If the American administration is interested in inspecting these sites, then they're welcome to come over and have a look for themselves." The White House immediately rejected the offer, saying the matter is up to the United Nations, not Iraq.[viii] However, when the decision to go to war was being debated by the White House, The United Nations was left out. Hans Blix also spoke out about the insistence of going to war, “The invasion of Iraq was planned a long time in advance, and the United States and Britain are not primarily concerned with finding any banned weapons of mass destruction…you ask yourself a lot of questions when you see the things they did to try and demonstrate that the Iraqis had nuclear weapons, like the fake contract with Niger.” Blix continued, “[The war] is a very high price to pay in terms of human lives and the destruction of a country when the threat of weapons proliferation could have been contained by UN inspections.”[ix] The US government was revolted by Blix comments and even went to the extent to tap his phones. When Dr. Blix discovered his, “phone calls were tapped each time he flew into Iraq and his hotel in Baghdad,”[x] he demanded transcripts of his bugged talks to verify that the US would not twist his words. Even, “a former US intelligence officer who saw much of the Iraq material told the ABC that the United States Government treated Dr Blix as though he was in "league with Saddam Hussein".[xi]
Who else has reported that there are no weapons of mass destruction and have resigned due to intelligence breakdowns? David Kay, who led the government's efforts to find evidence of Iraq's illicit weapons programs until he resigned…said the C.I.A. and other agencies failed to recognize that Iraq had all but abandoned its efforts to produce large quantities of chemical or biological weapons after the first Persian Gulf war, in 1991.[xii] Kay also discussed the satellite images as, “crack cocaine for the C.I.A…They could see something from a satellite or other technical intelligence, and then direct the inspectors to go look at it."[xiii]
When decisions were made to attack Iraq, many Americans relied on the voice of Colin Powell, a trusted United States politician. However, the findings of the bipartisan senate intelligence committee released last week paints an extraordinary picture. Days before Powell was to address the UN, dozens of misleading and speculative facts were challenged by the State Department.[xiv] Even after lengthy debates, Powell “ultimately presented material that was in dispute among State Department experts.” Powell’s February 5th speech to the UN was created by the CIA at the request of the White House. This presentation to the UN was, “the Bush administration's most compelling case by one of its most credible spokesmen that a confrontation with Saddam Hussein was necessary…the speech has become a central moment in the lead-up to war.”[xv]
“It turned out that the sourcing was inaccurate and wrong, and in some cases deliberately misleading, and for that I am disappointed and I regret it."
– Colin Powell.[xvi]
It has become a widely accepted fact that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction which has even been acknowledged by Bush. So instead of admitting the many deceptions involved with the preemptive strike, Bush changed the entire justification for the war. Liberation was the word of choice for our commanding leader. One has to ask themselves if Bush tried to start this conflict with liberation in mind, if we would have lost 1000 American and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives. If this war is truly about liberating individuals from wicked governments, one has to ask if Cuba, North Korea, or another dictator-run nation will be next and the price involved.
Half way through the war in Iraq, Bush realized that money was running short and went to the congress for another 87 billion. Many members in the Senate rewrote the bill reversing tax cuts for the rich to pay for the unforeseen costs. Bush, not wanting to reverse the cuts, sent the bill back to the Senate. The bill passed (Republican majority in the Senate) but not without fierce debates from members of the congress. Poor pre and post war planning was costing Americans the lives of their soldiers and their hard earned income. Bush was unwilling to pull money from those benefiting the most from the conflict. Senator Kennedy reminded President Bush, “Many of us have opposed the rush to war. But the Bush Administration cannot have it both ways. It can't be wartime for middle America, and peacetime for the rich.”[xvii]
Collation of the Willing
If there has ever been a more laughable phrase designed to invoke union, it is “The Coalition of the Willing.” Upon pronouncing backing for the US led invasion on Iraq, Bush’s administration comforts the American people with this phrase on a daily basis. After researching exactly who the coalition of the willing is, it is fair to believe we are flying solo.
There are over 47 nations listed as part of the coalition against Iraq. Half of which, 99% of Americans could not find on a map. Of the 47 nations only eleven (wait! Spain backed out…make that ten…) countries have provided troupes. Of those ten nations, only two have provided more then 3,000 troupes, The United States and The United Kingdom.[xviii] The United States also has sent six times the number of soldiers of The United Kingdom. Who really is the Coalition of the Willing? Us.
Dana Milbank of the Washington Post writes, “There must have been shock in Baghdad and awe in Paris last week when the White House announced the news that Palau had joined the "coalition of the willing." Palau, an island group of nearly 20,000 souls in the North Pacific, has much to contribute. It has some of the world's best scuba diving, delectable coconuts and tapioca. One thing Palau cannot contribute, however, is military support: It does not have a military.”[xix] Even Morocco has offered to contribute. Morocco's weekly al Usbu' al-Siyassi claimed that Morocco has offered 2,000 monkeys to help detonate land mines.[xx]
Bush uses manipulative phrases to create the idea that we are not challenging Iraq alone; however, nothing could be further from the truth. We have generated a pre-emptive strike without proper justification. In the course of our rash decision we have alienated various allies. Our president has ventured from post 9-11, where the world was unified fighting terror in Afghanistan, to fighting an enemy who has no proven ties to Al Queda or threatens the United States.
No Child Left Behind
One of the greatest disappointments with the Bush administration is the empty legislation of the enacted No Child Left Behind Act. The passed program was designed to require schools, teachers, students, and parents to achieve more than ever before. Some of the goals included that schools must have a qualified teacher in every classroom within four years. All children must make progress on reading and math achievement every year. All limited English proficient students must make progress on learning the English language and academics every year. Bush campaigned on this promise, to focus on the education of our children. However, when budget decisions were to be discussed, not only did Bush cut funding for schools, he also cut spending for No Child Left Behind. Members of the Senate released this statement in response to the decisions of our President, “There is no room for school reform in a budget that is monopolized by more and more tax breaks for the super-wealthy.”[xxi]
"The president's first education budget after he signed his much-touted No Child Left Behind Act proposed $22.2 billion, a cut of more than $90 million below the previous year and more than $7 billion less than Congress had authorized. They need to change the name of the law to the Quite a Few Children Left Behind Act."[xxii] With college costs rising 20 % in the last three years, Bush’s budget proposed no increases for the Pell grant. Education cannot survive without funding, and the nation cannot survive without education.
Gay Marriage Amendment
Perhaps this amendment should be called the polarizing amendment. In an election year in which each candidate talks about bringing the two Americas together, the Gay Marriage Amendment was designed to do the exact opposite. A tactical strategy designed to alienate his opponents, George Bush pursued support for this amendment in order to gain moderate voters. If Bush was serious about the sanctity of Marriage he would drop his running mate and focus on state courts.
In a heated debate during the 2000 elections with VP candidate Joe Lieberman (who is against gay marriage) Dick Cheney spoke out criticizing such an idea. His view was that the decision should be left up to the states as he appeared sympathetic to gay unions. However, Last month he “said he would support ‘whatever decision’ Bush makes.” Why the apparent flip-flop. Cheney’s daughter, Mary, is an open lesbian. It’s interesting to watch Cheney sell his daughter out for Republican votes.[xxiii]
Why is it impossible for a Gay marriage amendment to pass? Never in the history of the United States has an amendment passed limiting rights of the citizens. In order for the constitution to be altered, thee-quarters of all states have to back it, as well as two-thirds majority in both the house and senate. While some might argue that this is obtainable, it should be remembered that Republicans, not Democrats, are split on the subject. In last week’s Senate vote to move the amendment forward this year, it was blocked due to a few prominent Republican Senators voting against it. Interestingly enough, a few Democratic Senators did not even bother showing up to the voting knowing the split between the GOP party.[xxiv]
The real question that should be asked is: do we really know what banning Gay Marriage does? Does it prohibit Gay couples from adopting children? No, this is already legal and this amendment would not reverse this. Does it prohibit Gay couple from sharing medical benefits? No, most companies have changed the wording on forms from “spouse” to “partner”. Does it stop Gay couples from living together? No. OK, so what then are we fighting about? The benefit that a legal marriage would provide for the gay couple involves transferring assets upon death and taxes. Now you need to ask yourself, is letting less then 1% of the people not marry worth dividing this great nation?
Microsoft, Ashcroft, and Bush
For the past decade the software giant, Microsoft, has been building a small empire. Their operating systems are the standard for 90 % of PC based hardware. They have been observed by the government for many years protecting the competition from crippling monopolistic activity. It is interesting to see the history and the amazing change in total donations over the past decade to political candidates (See Below Chart[xxv]).
In 1998 a civil lawsuit was brought forward against Microsoft challenging its business practices regarding the production of browser software. With the Clinton Administration leading the charge Microsoft was facing stiff penalties, possibly company division, to control their domination of the software industry. Microsoft’s strategy? Give millions of dollars to get their man in office. To the delight of Microsoft, Bush’s Attorney General Nominee John Ashcroft was no stranger to this software giant. Ashcroft’s personal joint committee received tens of thousands of dollars from Microsoft. A watchdog organization, Open Secrets reports, “Microsoft, of course, is hoping the new attorney general drops the justice department’s antitrust suit against the company.”[xxvi]
After the White House became occupied, the first item of business was budget cuts. What was one of the first cuts to be administered? The prosecution team for Microsoft. With no money directed to the lawsuit, Microsoft escaped with a slap on the hand and no federal intervention into their activities.
| Election Cycle | Total Contributions | Contributions from Individuals | Contributions from PACs | Soft Money Contributions (Individuals) | Soft Money Contributions (Organization) |
| 2004 | $1,702,481 | $796,481 | $906,000 | $0 | $0 |
| 2002 | $4,215,698 | $709,253 | $815,201 | $234,057 | $2,457,187 |
| 2000 | $4,624,353 | $1,446,128 | $860,999 | $581,895 | $1,735,331 |
| 1998 | $1,364,821 | $373,005 | $212,000 | $15,000 | $764,816 |
| 1996 | $251,474 | $127,979 | $45,500 | $995 | $77,000 |
| 1994 | $104,702 | $61,961 | $32,741 | $0 | $10,000 |
| 1992 | $59,733 | $38,483 | $21,250 | $0 | $0 |
| 1990 | $3,800 | $1,000 | $2,800 | N/A | N/A |
| TOTAL | $12,327,062 | $3,554,290 | $2,896,491 | $831,947 | $5,044,334 |
Negative Campaigning
Over the course of this election, Vice President Cheney said Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry "has questioned whether the war on terror is really a war at all” and said the senator from Massachusetts “promised to repeal most of the Bush tax cuts within his first 100 days in office.” President Bush's campaign began airing an ad saying Kerry would scrap wiretaps that are needed to hunt terrorists. Bush campaign also charged in a memo sent to reporters and through surrogates that Kerry wants to raise the gasoline tax by 50 cents. Later Kerry was greeted by another Bush ad alleging that Kerry now opposes education changes that he supported in 2001. The charges were all tough, serious -- and wrong, or at least highly misleading. Kerry did not question the war on terrorism, has proposed repealing tax cuts only for those earning more than $200,000, supports wiretaps, has not endorsed a 50-cent gasoline tax increase in 10 years, and continues to support the education changes, albeit with modifications.[xxvii]
History remembers Bush as no stranger using negative ads to destroy his competitor’s credibility. This administration uses such attacks largely to excuse themselves from answering the real questions that need to be resolved. Dana Milbank, a Washington Post columnist, explains, “instead of offering his own agenda, Bush has poured tens of millions dollars into television ads attacking Kerry, a strategy they believe was successful in casting Kerry as a flip-flopper.”[xxviii] Patricia Wilson, a Reuters reporter, comments “the better-financed Bush campaign's $80 million advertising effort to portray him as an irresolute Northeastern liberal who flip-flops on important issues like the Iraq War.”[xxix]
Three-quarters of the ads aired by Bush's campaign have been attacks on Kerry. Bush so far has aired 49,050 negative ads in the top 100 markets, or 75 percent of his advertising. Kerry has run 13,336 negative ads -- or 27 percent of his total.[xxx] “The balance of misleading claims tips to Bush, in part because the Kerry team has been more careful."[xxxi]
Bush’s strategy requires Americans to be gullible constituents. It is time to start asking the harder questions of accomplishments and plans for the next four years. We as citizens of the United States require direction and a governing purpose. Last years humorous State of the Union Address is an excellent example of what these past four years have been like. Beside the blatant distortion of pre-war intelligence, Bush used the phases “I have proposed” or “I have sent to the Congress” throughout the duration of his speech. The past three years Bush continues to “send” but never seems to “pass” his promises to the America. Even if he is able to push his agenda through the Republican Congress, he quickly cuts budgets like No Child Left Behind.
Bush’s Military Service
Recently United States Senator Max Cleland challenged George Bush’s service within the National Guard. Senator Cleland revived the discussion of Bush’s non-service speculation as no documents have been found to show he reported for duty as ordered in Alabama in 1972. Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey also stated, “it's a matter of character that Bush avoided duty overseas by joining the Texas Air National Guard.”[xxxii]
The Washington Post writes, “It was May 27, 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War. Bush was 12 days away from losing his student deferment from the draft at a time when Americans were dying in combat at the rate of 350 a week. The unit Bush wanted to join offered him the chance to fulfill his military commitment at a base in Texas. It was seen as an escape route from Vietnam by many men his age, and usually had a long waiting list.” Through political connections, Bush was able to grab one of four available slots for the year.[xxxiii]
The Bush White House has cut funds for veterans[xxxiv] at the same time they are attacking the patriotism of leaders like Max Cleland.[xxxv] In order to undermine the credibility of Cleland, political allies of the Bush Administration stated, ”Cleland lost three limbs in an accident during a routine noncombatant mission where he was about to drink beer with friends.” Distorting the truth has become an art form for friends of Bush. In reality “Cleland lost two legs and an arm in Vietnam when a grenade accidentally detonated after he and another soldier jumped off a helicopter in a combat zone.”[xxxvi] Interestingly enough, comments like these are what motivated Senator Kerry’s wife to remove herself from the Republican Party.
Contrast these events with Senator Kerry’s: “I signed up for the Navy right out of college – 1966. I had a sense of responsibility to serve -- Lyndon Johnson had asked for more troops and I thought I'd be a part of that. I also very specifically remember not wanting to go to grad school just to avoid serving, I wanted to one day go to grad school on my own terms instead.”[xxxvii]
Instead of flying dangerous missions from Texas to Florida as did Bush, Kerry spent time cruising South Pacific. “I think anyone who has been in combat believes at some point they're not going to make it - there's a moment when you're knocked out or you feel a bullet cut through your flesh - or you spot an ambush.”[xxxviii] Here is a man who voluntarily responded to the government’s need for soldiers yet all we discuss is His protesting of the war. It should be remembered that if anybody has the right to question motives, it should be the man who put his life in jeopardy for the cause.
"Funny, isn't it? When Bill Clinton was running against Republican war veterans in 1992 and 1996, the most important thing to GOP propagandists and politicians was that Clinton didn't fight in Vietnam. Now that Republican candidates who didn't fight in Vietnam face a Democrat who did -- and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts while he was there -- the Republican machine wants to change the subject."[xxxix]
Americans fall into the trap identifying President Bush as the only individual who could wage the war on terror. The destruction of the trade towers and thousands of lives lost continues to pull at my emotions as I read various accounts. After the tragedy of 9-11 incredible bipartisan support was felt throughout the nation. Every complaint against the current administration was forgotten and the President was given a chance to shine. Sometimes I wonder if a president who perhaps had experienced the stresses of war would have been quicker to respond then trying to figure out what happened next in a children's book. Molly Ivins, a savvy Texas political reporter, commented that Bush has no foreign policy experience whatsoever and is completely stymied by the entire perception. Can you imagine if John McCain or Bob Dole were president? What about Max Cleland or John Kerry?
[1] http://www.gwu.edu/~action/primrepsum.html. Arizona, New Hampshire, Michigan
[1] http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Push_poll
[1] http://www.commoncause.org/laundromat/stat/top50.htm
[1] Newsweek. McCain Remains Bush’s Top Nemesis. July 10, 2002.
[1] Ibid.
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/. Senate Approves Iraq War Resolution.
[1] http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-17.html
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/
[1] http://www.truthout.com/docs_03/041203A.shtml. Hans Blix: War Planned 'Long in Advance'
[1] http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1082671.htm. Blix wants transcripts of bugged talks. April 7, 2004.
[1] Ibid
[1] James Risen. Ex-Inspector Says C.I.A. Missed Disarray in Iraqi Arms Program. NY Times. January 26, 2004.
[1] Ibid
[1] Greg Miller. Flaws Cited in Powell's U.N. Speech on Iraq. LA Times. June 15, 2004.
[1] Ibid.
[1] Seattle Times. Powell says his Assertions Were Wrong. May 17, 2004
[1] http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/03/03/2003319D22.html.
[1] http://www.areporter.com/sys-tmpl/thecoalitionofthewilling/. Constantine von Hoffman.
[1] Washington Post. White House Notebook.: Many Are Willing, But Few Are Able. March 25, 2003.
[1] Ibid.
[1] http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/03/03/2003319D22.html.
[1] Ivans, Molly. A Few Words From Our President. February 6, 2003.
[1] Newsweek. Something About Mary. February 23, 2004.
[1] Associated Press. David Espo. Gay Marriage Opponents Pin Hopes on House. July 15, 2004 http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040715/ap_on_go_co/gay_marriage_38
[1] Center for Responsive Politics. Campaign Finance Records. Opensecrets.org
[1] http://www.opensecrets.org/bush/cabinet/cabinet.ashcroft.asp
[1] Milbank, Dana. From Bush, Unprecedented Negativity. May 31, 2004. Washington Post
[1] Balz, Dan. President is Still Mum on Second Term. Washington Post. July 18, 2004
[1] Wilson, Patricia. Kerry Rises from Political Ashes to Face Bush. Reuters. July 18, 2004
[1] The figures were compiled by The Washington Post using data from the Campaign Media Analysis Group of the top 100 U.S. markets. Both campaigns said the figures are accurate.
[1] University of Pennsylvania professor Kathleen Hall Jamieson, an authority on political communication.
[1] http://www.floridatoday.com/news/local/stories/2000/nov/loc110500pols.htm
[1] George Lardner Jr. At Height of Vietnam, Bush Picks Guard. The Washington Post. July 28, 1999.
[1] http://www.kintera.org/AccountTempFiles/cf/%7bE9245FE4-9A2B-43C7-A521-5D6FF2E06E03%7d/bushtroops.htm
[1] http://chuckcurrie.blogs.com/chuck_currie/2004/02/max_cleland_des.html
[1] http://chuckcurrie.blogs.com/chuck_currie/2004/02/max_cleland_des.html
[1] http://www.usmilitarysupport.org. Interview with John Kerry.
[1] Ibid.
[1] E. J. Dionne Jr. Stooping Low to Smear Kerry. Washington Post. April 27, 2004
October 05, 2006
A Moral Dilemma
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; It is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." -FDR
With the 2004 presidential election come and gone, many citizens will tune out the various debates that our lawmakers continue to engage in. Both sides will retire to their blue and red corners of this polarized nation with a sigh of relief, the red for their victory, the blue for their participation in the democratic process. The red will declare that moral values of the voters will continue to hold this country together, while the blue argues this very subject tears this land apart. Both sides are blinded by the hypocrisy of their own parties as they view their prospective leaders as figures of deity.
In retrospect of last month's elections, voters returned President Bush to the White House due to his moral agenda. Depending on the media outlet, the win came through miniscule proportions or a cataclysmic majority. At any rate, President Bush will unveil his outline for the upcoming years and this author is skeptical that those same moral issues the won him the white house will be anywhere near his agenda. Why is this? Americans, as a whole, skate the lines of morality. When America went home for Thanksgiving, Desperate Housewives was the highest rated show (27.2 million viewers). In the back corners of society, pornography is the most lucrative media industry in the country. Divorce rate is an astounding 50%, and is it even possible to track infidelity numbers?
Look at morality amongst our leaders. Bill Clinton tarnished every positive decision made in office by succumbing to moral temptation. Mayor Giuliani will forever be remembered as a hero of 9/11, but his infidelity decisions will forever be on his constituents mind, What about the New Jersey governor who had an extra-marital affair with another man? Two of the largest media personalities, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, have also taken heat for their moral choices. And the list goes on…
Some thoughts on the issues:
Abortion is one topic which stirs strong confrontation between both parties. Republicans look at the argument as right vs. wrong, as Democrats view it as a challenge of government-protected rights. Republicans argue that abortion destroys life while Democrats believe that government-regulated abortion destroys civil liberties. Now Republicans would like to believe that Democrats support this malice practice, while Democrats cry that Republicans are undermining the constitution. The most interesting part of these perspectives is that both sides believe their opponent is closer to the extreme. For instance, a small percentage of Democrats actually support this inhumane practice, while the majority believes this is an issue of government influence. This is why they are labeled pro-choice instead of pro-abortion. Looking from the other side, Democrats try to label Republicans as a majority who want to challenge constitutional rights, when in reality they believe that abortion is an immoral act. Both parties use extreme stances to justify why the opposing party is out of the mainstream, when in reality, their implications only identify small percentages.
Another issue is Gay marriage. Republicans would like to believe that Democrats support gay marriage when polling demonstrates over and over again, that the majority opposes the practice. Again the issue revolves around government's responsibility within personal arenas. Should a gay individual have access to the same privileges as heterosexual citizens of the United States? Democrats group the Republicans as religious zealots who demonstrate little tolerance to diversity. Yet Republicans widely accept diverse groups, and believe that gay marriage should not receive marital benefits due to the lack of family experience. Republicans like to believe that Democrats are morally inept, while Democrats like to believe that Republicans are ignorant.
Perhaps this is where the hypocrisy sets in:
If one was to ask a pro-choice Democrat why they follow such a belief, their response would be to the tune of protecting civil liberties. Ask that same Democrat concerning civil liberties of the embryo, and their response is strained. They will protest time and time again regarding the woman's right, but do not spend an ounce of effort regarding the unborn's rights.
Ask a Republican why they oppose abortion and their response will most likely depict a graphic reconstruction of the inhuman procedure. They also will counter with discussions of morals and ethics regarding the unborn. Ask that same Republican if the government should take responsibility of uninsured toddlers, abused infants, or homeless children and their response will be less then adequate. Republicans will fight tooth and nail to outlaw abortion, but when that child comes into the world, responsibility is waived.
The same hypocrisy can be witnessed in homosexual rights. The Democratic left desires to legalize civil unions or gay marriage. The same individuals will also point to the destruction of the family as one of the challenges of moral America. However, they fail to recognize the connection between the two. The conservative right is equal in their belief that the family unit is being challenged. However, with their fight to deny the rights of marriage to gay couples in full swing, the real destroyer of family is left to expand. Moderate Republicans (the staunch conservatives refuse to tamper with the constitution) seek to outlaw such a union by amending the constitution, yet they do not fight with the same vigor regarding adultery. Who can argue that infidelity is a far greater threat to moral America then gay marriage? Why not petition with the same tenacity toward an amendment outlawing adultery? Seems ridiculous, right? Possibly. But the point could be made.
One of the more fascinating platforms which divides the two parties, can actually be viewed as a contradiction to both. Gun control: government regulation or absence? In following the basic stances on abortion, gay marriage, and personal platforms regarding less government, it is surprising that Democrats are more prone to support gun control. Republicans on the other hand, who so adamantly support government intervention in personal platforms, cry foul when legislation approaches their perception of the second amendment. Democrats might argue that firearms infringe on the constitution's guarantee for life, liberty, and happiness. They also might justify the limiting of arms as a necessary enactment for protecting personal rights. After all, anyone assaulted with a firearm loses their personal liberties. However, it appears contradictory as to when government intervention is appropriate.
Firearms also present a moral dilemma to the conservative right. This past year the assault weapons ban, supported by 70% of Americans and a large percentage of NRA members, expired with little action from the Republican House or the President. On the eve of the expiration over 5,000 police officers from around the country traveled to capital hill to protest the lack of effort from lawmakers. The ban was also backed by every major police organization across the United States, but to no avail. With the power of the NRA lobbyist controlling a major resource, the expiration of the ban brought twenty million dollars of campaign money to various Republican races across the country. The Republican Right refuses to understand moderation in this particular example.
According to the definition, "moral" relates to principles of right and wrong in behavior. As we look though this country with partisan eyes we selectively engage in our own "moral" battles. For the Republican side, the battle revolves around the black and white disregarding the more challenging problems. The Democrats are the exact opposite, focussing on the complex and graying the black and white. Social programs are perfect examples of these accusations. Throughout the 2004 campaign John Kerry spent incredible resources addressing the lack of medical attention in this country for children. Even with good intentions Kerry could not communicate specific details in accomplishing his proposals, or his suggestions seemed fiscally irresponsible. The majority agrees that taking care of the poor is America's moral responsibility, but Kerry's solutions are too complex or expensive, which in turn makes them unreasonable. President Bush, on the other hand, also solidified these accusations by refusing to even present a solution.
What is more interesting about Medicaid and poverty issues is the divide that comes with stated political philosophies. The blue states are labeled as big government and excess spenders of America's tax money. The Republican base also believes that the Democrat's practice of handouts to the poor hinders the motivation of the impoverish. The Democratic base describes the Republican's small government as self-serving. The irony of these two statements is apparent after studying the 2002 census reports. The states with the highest percentage of citizens without healthcare are New Mexico, Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, and Louisiana; all red states. The states with the lowest are New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Iowa; all blue. The states with the highest poverty percentages are Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Alabama; all red. The lowest are New Hampshire, Minnesota, Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey; all blue. Even more interesting, in averaging 10 surveys (see attached) ranging from education, to teenage pregnancies, to crime rates, to federal aid per capita, the top five states are Connecticut, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin; all blue. The bottom of these averages are Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Oklahoma; all red.
What this data implies is the two divides are not catering to their particular needs. It can be assumed (given California and New York alone) that the blue states generate the largest percentage of the federal income tax receipts, with the least per capita need of federal aid. With the difference between the two parties being the theoretical size of government, it is amazing the positioning of the blue and red states. Red states vote for candidates who support smaller government, and blue states vote just the opposite, defying the best economic interests of both.
Throughout this election the war on terror overshadowed the ongoing debate concerning the reform of socialistic programs. Yet the social programs we refuse to address, most directly affect the soldiers keeping our country safe. It is no secret that the largest percentage of military personnel originates from America's poorest communities. Recruiters refuse to enter upscale neighborhoods as such trips would prove unsuccessful. Ask a lawmaker if they have ever been directly affected by welfare or Medicaid and a story might be generated concerning a distant relative. Ask that same representative how many family members or neighbors they know in IRAQ and a distant corner house might be referenced. These policymakers maintain the same moral responsibility to the hidden parts of the United States, and citizens need to push accountability.
As this country tries to tear down the polarizing wall generated through partisan politics, we need to understand that each side has not escaped moral challenges. America will not progress as a divided nation anchored by two extremes. Citizens and lawmakers need to unify and work though social and personal perspectives, and strive for the common good of man, not the slim majority.
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October 05, 2006
Economics Paper from 2004
Perhaps one of my passions (and an intragal part of politics and policy making) is economics. This paper was written three months before the 2004 election.
(First two paragraphs of the article)
Perhaps one of the most partisan debates today is the economics of monetary and fiscal policy. Many administrations in the past have implemented their own beliefs in regards to this subject. In studying various administrations of both parties, I have come to various conclusions:
- The Federal Reserve and the chairman have a greater power of controlling the economy then the president.
- Economic policy is a misguided reason to side with any candidate.
- Each president in the last 100 years has sided with variations of two economic theories, Keynesism and Supply Side.
- National debt and deficits need to be maintained with judgment as both can enable detrimental effects in regards to our money supply.
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October 05, 2006