Bush haters

There seems to be a portion of our citizenary who posses a strong hate for President Bush. I must confess that I don't understand the depth of thier feelings. First, I think it is very immature to base your political decisions on emotions. It is a part of human nature to let your emotions override and/or blur perspective on facts. Anyway, with that in mind, maybe that is why I have such a hard time listening and reading the vile, hate-filled speech of the people who post on democraticunderground.com (really a bunch of socialist) and other sites that I visit to try and understand those whose philosophy's I don't agree with.

I consider myself an independent-thinker (suprise, suprise...everyone thinks that they are an independent thinker) with libertarian leanings. I have never voted for a candidate for president from the major parties. I have voted for candidates of all leanings in local and state elections (except socialist/greens...they are just the athema of everything America is and I can't put them into any office).

I say all of this to show that I don't think I am being partisan or idealogicol when I say I think people need to rein in their feelings for Bush because he is the best person for the job. Yes, he has screwed up (who hasn't). He has not been a great on domestic issues. THere have been flubs in the War on Terror (although, to be intellectually honest here...there are always flubs in war...you lose some battles...make some bad plans...NO ONE would get it perfect everytime). It is also childish to think that America can just pull out of Iraq. Whether you agree or disagree with the Iraq battleground for the War on Terror, you must concede that we have to finish what we started. Quitting because it is getting hard is what adolescents do. Adults complete the work. That is maturity.

I think that people who spew hateful rhetoric about Bush do themselves a disservice because they contamitate their message. It is hard to take someone seriously when thier view is so clearly influenced by thier passions because you can't trust thier analysis or thier position to be fair.

A lot of people think that Bush has taken away thier liberties through Ashcroft and the the Patriot Act. However, I haven't really seen any expansion in government authority in the Patriot Act. I definately haven't heard of any American citizen being prosecuted under the powers of the Patriot Act.

I also hear alot of people say that Bush has the most corrupt adminsitration in history. Once again, where is the proof? And, compared to Harding? I've not heard of him selling a night at the Lincoln Bedroom for campaign donation. What has the administration done that is corrupt? Of course, on some level all politicians are corrupt. They do extend benefits to their friends. But show me an egregious instance of this kind of behaviour by Bush.

Then, you hear he is stupid. I've never understood this one. I am smart and I mispronounce words all the time. It is easy to find errors when someone does as much speaking as he does. SUre it is funny and makes great late-night joke material. But there was a time when seperated mishaps and joke material from serious political discussion.

Anyway, those are few of my gripes. Not that it will change anything...but at least I feel better after Rambling about it....