To the Editor
I found a wonderful letter to the editor of the New York Times this morning. I couldn't have said it any better. I wonder if Ken has a blog?...
tags: 2006 election / US politicsTo the Editor:
Now that our electorate has finally woken from its stupor, we should ask ourselves why it took six years to recognize the incompetence and demagogy of this administration and the responsibility of the Republican leadership that blindly followed its lead.
The damage done is enormous, in Iraq, in the United States and around the world. Years have been squandered while the critical issues of our time have gone unattended.
How and why were we fooled?
We have a fascination with personalities instead of policy, a desire to be entertained rather than enlightened, and a need to have an enemy to define us and give our lives meaning.
Thankfully, our democracy is still functioning, though we will not see really meaningful progress until we can disconnect the electoral and legislative processes from the flow of corporate cash.
Let’s not forget that the Senate voted to give President Bush authority to start a war in Iraq. Our euphoria should be short-lived, and our vigilance should be redoubled.
Ken Swensen
Pound Ridge, N.Y., Nov. 8, 2006
posted by Cheryl @ 10:06 AM
4 Comments:
I must really be getting old. While remarkably pleased at the outcome of the mid-terms, the proof really is in the pudding and we've not yet even assembled the ingredients. You've a quote from Kierkegaard on your site, forget not the title of one of his greatest works: Sickness unto Death.
Mea culpa, but I can only get so excited about the so-called "wave," as there's so much pent up hostility and partisanship it seems to me that only time, and a lot of it, will bring the Congress to a new level of committment and decency.
On the other hand, the new Democrats who are taking office are considerably more centered than many of their colleagues in the caucus.
And then there's Joe Lieberman. While he'll certainly vote on the Democrats side, at least for the most part, he's going to wield a helluvalot of clout considering the the treatment he received from his colleagues, who should have taken well to heart Tip O'Neill's oft quoted "All politics is local," especially in consideration of what Lieberman had accomplished for his state over his Senate tenure (and notwithstanding his position on the war).
Take care.
Nup, Ive got nothing witty today. So I'll just leave this so you know I was here;-)
Love Yvonne
I'm sorry but I'm an eternal optimist, RfR. I even tried to think things might not turn out so bad when Bush "won" in 2000.
I'm encouraged that this group of rookie Congresspersons are so centrist. Hopefully, they will not engender the wrath of the strident conservatives to the degree that will lead to another wholesale sweep in two years.
Only time will tell but I'm willing to give them a chance.
Awww...thanks for droppin' by, Von!
xoxox
Post a Comment
<< Home