You know, I don't mind honest criticism of anyone, but c'mon fellas, this one is ridiculous. It's not worthy of building a platform around. Discussions on Iraq, immigration, fuel prices, etc., those are things that affect us all. Bush fucked up with a comment? I don't care. So have I, and probably so have many of you. Sometimes I'm not funny, but I don't stop trying. The same people who accepted Clinton's apology for his shenanigans are the ones who now say that they don't accept Bush's apology for what is obviously a stupid but honest mistake. And the same is true when the "other side" screws up. That alone says something about our culture. It seems we look at our political parties more like football teams than as governing bodies.
It's amazing how some of us are ok to look the other way when a POTUS desecrates a good cigar in the oval office, but can't overlook something as trivial as this. It shows how polarized we have become. In the interest of full disclosure, I do align myself with republican ideals and philosophies, and no, I don't think Bush is the best man for the job. I am fully aware that "my side" is not always right and the "other side" is not always wrong. I align myself with philosophies, not people and I will bend when something in my philosophy is obviously not right in a particular situation. I do blame talk radio and the mainstream news media for polarizing this country (both sides.) I hate the idea that we are to the point where people "hate" each other for differing philosophies. No, I don't like the current situation where both sides (Republicans AND Democrats) will grab onto any little non-significant thing, spin it in all sorts of convoluted ways and make it a major rallying point, nor do I like the fact that the media will grab onto anything they can to draw an audience of what seems to be an ever growing polarized culture that can't seem to discuss things without attacking people or each other. These mindless, pointless, non-productive "news stories" that are designed to get a better rating for their network will never fit into the category of "news," and it's why so many of us are beginning to despise the news media. There are no more newscasts in this country. The news is a "product" and it is designed for one purpose only; to draw audience. But what I really hate is how easily people get sucked into it. It's back to the football game. Root for your team and hate the other, no matter how the penalty was drawn.
Like them or hate them, no one can honestly say that Bush, Clinton, Reagan or any other POTUS is an idiot or stupid. They are all intelligent people. Bush is nowhere near as charismatic as Clinton is and sometimes he has trouble finding the right words, but that doesn't make him an idiot. There's a big difference between hating a person's ideals and hating the person. Attack his ideals and policies all you want, but don't try to take a trivial event and use it to support your position.
Remember, a President is not the end-all to decision making in this country and he doesn't have absolute power or set policy all by himself. Our two party system prevents that from happening. That's how it was designed to work.
Originally Posted by WhiteWidow
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