I HAVE FRIENDS who proudly wear the label of “Conservative.” They wear it like a badge of honor and proudly display it for all to see; I have friends who have (not really) tattooed “Liberal’ on their foreheads; then, there are those who are truly “Independent” and vote for a particular person for elected office taking into consideration the times and issues facing the nation.
I understand the need for difference of political, social, and cultural diversity in thought, deed, and action. I don’t understand the need to worship at the knee of right-wing extremism, or the far-left-wing branch of philosophical think-speak.
Bow down to the the flubber-jawed protestations of Donald Trump? I think not. Be awed at the say-what? jaw-crackings of Joe Biden? May I borrow a sharp knife with which to cut my jugular now, please? Kiss Rudy Giuliani’s ring? Gag me with a spoon! Proclaim Nancy Pelosi Queen of All That’s Good and Holy? May she and Trump advisor Peter Miller be locked together in a room until they plot, plan, and pontificate themselves to death!
Just because something is “right,” doesn’t make it right. Being on the left side of common sense reasoning on every issue should leave one “left” out of expecting anything but ridicule.
I also don’t understand people like Trump and any of his minions knocking on President Biden when it’s in the best interest of all Americans that any current president’s policies succeed in cleaning up the fiscal and ethical mess in which this country is embroiled.
Doesn’t House Speaker Mike Johnson get it? We don’t like him. And, Marjorie Taylor Green? We don’t like her more worser! They are the Not-Nice Twins, Twiddle-Dumb and Twiddle-Hateful. Along that same path, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the Shrill Queen and Sen. Lindsey Graham is the political equivalent of the Tin Man — no brain, spine or guts.
I don’t wish anything bad to happen to any of these folks. I mean, nothing awful-bad, anyway.
If all flip-flopping politicians developed a good case of television light flatulence (where the heat from TV lights produced prodigious amounts of intestinal gas), that would be a good thing.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE need a break from economic, social and political bigotry. We need to believe in our elected officials again.
To do that, people like those mentioned above need to become non-entities. To accomplish that task would mean a vast majority of Americans would have to grow spines and minds, think independently and not parrot social media phrases and memes sent to them by people who either can’t think for themselves or have an apparent political agenda. We’d all have to lose the need to use convenient labels, i.e., conservative, liberal, right-wing, left-wing, Democrat, Republican, etc.
Sadly, that won’t happen. Too many people in our society have forgotten how to think for themselves. It’s just too darn easy to grab the newest catch phrase from an unsolicited Facebook post or “X” posting and run with it.
“Lazy” has become a two-letter word: Us.
Politicians. Liars. All.
Democrat. Republican. Take your pick. All major politicians, and more than a few minor ones, are afflicted with the same malady: BFL. Bald-faced lying.
“My cabinet is made up the best this country has to offer. All are men I trust.”
“I am not a crook.”
“I did not have sex with that woman . . . .”
“Imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction . . . .”
“I have no recollection . . . . “
“I do not recall . . . .”
Top to bottom – Abraham Lincoln, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, George Bush and almost very politician ever testifying under oath about anything – lies, lies and more lies.
You can add Barack Obama and John McCain to the Political Liars Hall of Shame.
The young senator from Illinois, on more than one occasion, said he would accept public funding for his presidential campaign. Then, realizing that he could raise much more money by other means and try and drown the GOPers in greenbacks, declared he would forego public financing.
Obama said one thing, then did another. He lied. (Note: After becoming president he named a former Pentagon lobbyist to a Pentagon job … something he said he would not do. Ever.)
McCain, the late, senator from Arizona, repeatedly has denied assisting a pert, blonde lobbyist in helping secure passage of key legislation desired by her clients. His efforts earned a strongly worded rebuke from a Senate committee chairman. Senators don’t lambast fellow senators for minor flubs.
Donald Trump? There simply is not enough space to enumerate his Mt. Everest of lies.
Joe Biden said, emphatically, on classified documents in his possession, “None of it was highly classified.” Lie.
Where does that leave us come November?
You have a choice of voting for an old liar or a older one. It makes you wish there were other viable choices, right?
With choices like these, it’s no wonder contagious voter apathy stock is soaring.
What in the world happened to America’s political heroes?
Abraham Lincoln. Martin Luther King. John Kennedy. Robert Kennedy. American heroes, all.
Maybe the word is out: Try and be a hero and do something positive and … you die an untimely death.
Woe is us.
George Smith views the world from the back porch Bedspring Ridge, a dogtrot house he built in Sutton, Arkansas on old family land on a spot where his great-grandfather’s house once stood. There he lives and opines with his wife BobbieJean and a rescue dog, “Li’l Dawg.” A former newspaper reporter, editor and publisher, he has a master’s degree in business, is a retired director for a global technology company, has been a business owner, student of government and the behavior of politicians. He has been a college instructor, national motivational speaker, community development and festival development consultant and is a published author.