timestamp: 2005.08.31 @ 22:51 UTC
sent by the unrepentant curmudgeon
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Credibility is a two-edged sword
David Anderson, at
- In Search of Utopia
, has written a post titled “Finaly the American Public starts to wake up…” (sic).
Despite my ultimate disgust at what I see elsewhere in blogworld, and while I respect David Anderson in his desire to have open and reasonable discussion, and in some agreement with the general thrust of his points, I must object to some of the things he has asserted in his post.
Listing his assertions and my responses in order:
* We were attacked and thousands died on 9/11 because this administration failed to pay attention to warning signs.
From what I have observed, both of the evidence available to the Bush administration at the time along with the likely reaction of any reasonably constituted Gore administration, I feel it is safe to say that in neither scenario is it a reasonable expectation that the attacks of 9/11 would have been anticipated, despite the warning signs that indeed even *I* saw before the attacks.
* They failed to capture the man responsible for 9/11 in Afghanistan.
Aside from noting how difficult a task this was, I will indeed agree that the Bush administration “took their eye off the ball” in their apparent eagerness to make sure they had the resources to attack Iraq.
* Our Energy policy has resulted in American’s being gouged at the Gas Pump, while Oil Companies and the Saudis make record profits on oil revenue.
Given that the energy policy did not change substantially until 2005 when Congress finally passed what was termed an “Energy Bill”, it is difficult to lay the inadequacies of the past years at the feet of the Bush administration, although I will freely admit the energy policies that will result from the newly passed law will be far, far worse rather than better than the former policies.
*Cronyism has led to companies like Haliburton war profiteering to obscene new levels.
I cannot speak to Halliburton, but I do believe that the Bush administration has prized loyalty far, far above competence.
*The American public was led into an unnecessary and illegal war in Iraq that has led to tens of thousands of deaths, many more wounded and a country now ravaged by virtual civil war.
“Illegal”? No more “illegal” than the first Gulf War. The fault for this lies with Congress, and no where else.
*The country is more divided than ever, and the President who promised to be a “uniter instead of a divider,” has instead pushed a Right Wing Agenda and Nominees to important post that have led to further division. (Think anti Gay).
Yes, this administration has not only reneged on the promises of being “a uniter, not a divider”, but has actively tried to suppress dissent with the government itself.
*The administration has practiced bully tactics unprecedented since the Nixon Years, with CIA agents being outed and dissenters being smeared on a regular basis.
See the comment above, accompanied with the recess appointment of John Bolton to the position of permanent ambassador to the United Nations.
So…
There are some points in contention, but overall, yes, there is a pattern that is becoming obvious to even the most casual observer.
However, the left-wing should be very wary of hyperbole, because it can cause them to lose any credibility they might gain from the pattern noted above.
Credibility is a fragile thing, to be nurtured, not taken for granted.
Technorati Tags: left wing, left wing weblogs, left-wing, left-wing politics, left-wing weblogs, politics, left wing politics
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