:: Life on Planet Dan-E ::

:: Thursday, November 04, 2004 ::

:: Four More Years Pt. II ::

I can understand the bitterness expressed by some Democrats I know over the election results but what I can't understand is their desire for the President to fail. Really? It's one thing to spew hyperbole when you're angry but is the collapse of the Administration in anyone's best interest? I never once voted for Clinton but as long as he was in office, he's my President and a fellow resident of the United States and never once did I want him to fail. (I just never got that vibe.) Sometimes, I don't understand Americans.

For that matter, I'm never more ashamed of our country than when national elections are being held. From the perspective of some of the foreign students in my school, our level of apathy and ignorance is appalling and I couldn't disagree. There isn't anything wrong with the Electoral process, per se. It's the way candidates run that makes me want to vomit. It's a throwback to high school popularity contests where the absolute worst thing a candidate can do is - get this - look bad on TV.

This was never more apparent than in 1992 during the Quayle/Gore/Stockdale Vice Presidential debates. The media lambasted VP nominee James Stockdale after that for simply saying he needed to turn up his hearing aid. Given the utter lack of civility during the debate, it's a wonder that anyone with normal hearing was able to comprehend anything. But let's ignore that and pick on the old fart with the earpiece. Let's also ignore the fact the guy was a decorated (two Purple Hearts, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Distinguished Service Medals, four Silver Star Medals, and the Congressional Medal of Honor) war hero in Vietnam. He was one of the first ones in and the last ones out in a conflict that our past two Presidents were too chickenshit to sully their hands with. Let's also forget that he's a published author and highly respected Professor at Stanford University. Forget that he was the Vice Presidential nominee, a backup position - something he was grossly overqualified for - that's little more than a glorified advisor that could probably be held by some idiot picked out of the Sox lineup. Let's ignore all that and focus on his most heinous sin: he looked bad on TV.

If anyone has any right to be bitter it's Howard Dean. One Democrat I would have voted for without hesitation because he's the one Democrat that actually might be looking out for the little guy. He had a plan; he not only pointed out what was wrong but offered solutions, he didn't vacillate wildly on issues, and he spoke with an almost unpolished candor that expressed his genuine desire for a better America. And what was his downfall? That yell. I admit, I laughed when he became fodder for late night monologues but when it became the subject of derision on CNN, MSNBC, and local news, my heart sank. I mean geez, even Kerry was mocked for being too stodgy. Yeah? When the hell did charisma become a job requirement?

There's nothing wrong with our electoral process. The fault lies with the majority of the voters out there who continue to sleepwalk through the process and go with the tide of popularity instead of the guy with substance. It almost seems like Americans would rather vote for the guy that lets them bitch about politics than the guy that might elevate the office to something more respected than, say, lawyers or gay porn stars. To the few out there who also try to vote with substance, well, I suppose it could be worse.

ANYWAY, rant over, I'm getting off the soapbox. Here's to four more years. I need a drink.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:50 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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