It seems as if politicians these days have no integrity, no soul. The political pandering to interest groups never gets old, and promises of government transparencies are being found hard to keep. Voters are regarded as fools for believing messages of change, while elected officials on both sides of the aisle keep posturing to do whatever they can to keep their seats in the Senate and the House.
One GOP senator jumps ship, citing ideological differences with the more conservative elements of the Republican Party. But in a state that is increasingly becoming more Democratic, was it just mere coincidence that Senator Arlen Specter switched affiliation to the Democratic Party with his re-election season coming up?
The man who said that we can, and promised a new wave of transparency in the government, has recently upset his friends to the left when he decided this week to prevent the release of photos from Abu Ghraib. What happened to transparency, Mr. President? Keeping electoral promises isn't so easy now, is it? And now today, the White House confirmed that the US would continue to employ former President Bush's controversial military commission to prosecute detainees in Gitmo. That sure does look like change to me. Yes, we can.
And then there is the first madam speaker of the House of Representative from California. Nancy Pelosi, the vocal critic of the Bush administration, finds herself in a bit of a sticky situation. The madam speaker is adored by those on the left for her outspoken objection to the use of torture during the Bush administration. I sincerely applaud her stance on that. But you see, Ms. Pelosi forgot to mention that in 2003, she, along with other House Intelligence Committee members, were briefed by the CIA on its interrogation methods during the war on terror. Today, she disputed CIA records that listed 40 briefs that the committee received from the intelligence agency in which members of the committee were allegedly told the use of waterboarding during interrogation. A record of 40 briefings in which she was told that the CIA was torturing detainees in 2003, and she waits until 2007 to formally decry the CIA's methods of interrogation. Does Ms. Pelosi really think we're idiotic enough to actually believe her?
So in conclusion, politics is a soul-less world, void of any meaningful convictions and integrity. Flip-flopping around is the norm, and doing anything politically expedient is to be expected. But hey, at least in America, people like me who publicly criticize officials expect to live after wielding such criticisms unlike in other countries. I have that to be thankful for, right?
read more here and here and here and here.
Showing posts with label bush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bush. Show all posts
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Yes We Can
January 20, 2009: the day the United States of America inaugurated its first minority president in its history. While I disagree with some major philosophical/political ideologies, I recognize the significance of this moment. So I decided that given the fact that I'm a hop, skip, and a walk away from downtown Washington D.C., I would be part of history in the making by joining with millions of other Americans in celebrating the new dawn when the office of the presidency is not an exclusively Caucasian office. Despite the impassable crowds, the frigid temperature, and the minor inconveniences and annoyances, I am glad I ventured out into the crowd to witness this momentous occasion.
A quick side note, it is indeed amazing how the son of a Kenyan immigrant who was virtually an unknown junior senatorial candidate from Illinois in 2004 came to hold the ultimate office of leadership in the country. Only in a country like the United States can that even be considered a possibility. It speaks volumes of the maturity of our democratic process in an age when many "democracies" still resort to violence and policies of exclusion to direct their domestic policies. I am proud to be an American citizen. I am even prouder to be a Korean-American. I wonder if it will at all be a possibility of seeing an Asian-American ascend to the highest office of this land. For all intents and purposes, what Pres. Obama has achieved is a milestone for all minority groups, but we have not yet arrived.
Back to the inauguration. Pastor Rick Warren's opening invocation was powerful. I know that liberal and secular commentaries are saying how overly Christian the prayer was, but the dude is a Christian evangelical pastor. What were they expecting from him? But from my vantage point, where I was standing (near the Washington Monument which is about a mile away from where it all happened), his prayer was indeed powerful. Echoes of "amen" and "hallelujah" were heard from around, while tears flowed in the eyes of some other believers. I, too, was moved by the content of his prayer. I especially liked when he prayed, "When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us." Powerful.
Like some other commentaries and analysis I've read and heard, I did not think the inauguration address was all that impressive. Don't misunderstand me. It was a fine piece of writing delivered in typical Obama-style brilliance. But the content in it of itself seemed a little less memorable than previous addresses like the JFKs and the Lincolns and the Reagans. Perhaps Obama's 2004 DNC speech and many of his subsequent speeches have spoiled me to the point where I expect his next speech to top his previous.
I have so many thoughts from the inauguration. Perhaps I shall share them on a post later on. But for now, I leave you with words from his inaugural address that I liked and a few pictures I took. More pictures can be found on my flickr site.
"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny."
"America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
A quick side note, it is indeed amazing how the son of a Kenyan immigrant who was virtually an unknown junior senatorial candidate from Illinois in 2004 came to hold the ultimate office of leadership in the country. Only in a country like the United States can that even be considered a possibility. It speaks volumes of the maturity of our democratic process in an age when many "democracies" still resort to violence and policies of exclusion to direct their domestic policies. I am proud to be an American citizen. I am even prouder to be a Korean-American. I wonder if it will at all be a possibility of seeing an Asian-American ascend to the highest office of this land. For all intents and purposes, what Pres. Obama has achieved is a milestone for all minority groups, but we have not yet arrived.
Back to the inauguration. Pastor Rick Warren's opening invocation was powerful. I know that liberal and secular commentaries are saying how overly Christian the prayer was, but the dude is a Christian evangelical pastor. What were they expecting from him? But from my vantage point, where I was standing (near the Washington Monument which is about a mile away from where it all happened), his prayer was indeed powerful. Echoes of "amen" and "hallelujah" were heard from around, while tears flowed in the eyes of some other believers. I, too, was moved by the content of his prayer. I especially liked when he prayed, "When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us." Powerful.
Like some other commentaries and analysis I've read and heard, I did not think the inauguration address was all that impressive. Don't misunderstand me. It was a fine piece of writing delivered in typical Obama-style brilliance. But the content in it of itself seemed a little less memorable than previous addresses like the JFKs and the Lincolns and the Reagans. Perhaps Obama's 2004 DNC speech and many of his subsequent speeches have spoiled me to the point where I expect his next speech to top his previous.
I have so many thoughts from the inauguration. Perhaps I shall share them on a post later on. But for now, I leave you with words from his inaugural address that I liked and a few pictures I took. More pictures can be found on my flickr site.
"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny."
"America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
Friday, January 16, 2009
End of an Era
Last night, the 43rd President of the United States addressed the people one last time. In a rather short-winded speech, President George W. Bush thanked the people for the honor to have served as president. Immediately following the live telecast, media outlets wasted no time in colorfully commentating on all the negative legacies of President Bush.
It has been eight long years for sure. I supported George W. Bush in 2000. I knew, even back then, that he was not the most eloquent speaker, the most charismatic leader the United States could offer. I wasn't completely sold on his credentials. But I thought he would be the better person for the job than the seemingly smug and condescending Democratic nominee, Vice-President Al Gore. His campaign for compassionate conservatism seemed attractive at the time.
I also supported him in 2004. While his actions immediately following the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 were commendable, he had led the country into an ill-advised war, stirring up the hornet's nest in Iraq. His decision to proudly land on an aircraft carrier with a banner that proclaimed that the mission was over would come back to haunt him. The years following the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom was not what he had envisioned. Thousands of U.S. soldiers returned home in flag-draped caskets, and many more returned physically and psychologically disabled. Yet, I could not get myself to support the Democratic nominee for President, Senator John Kerry. I could not agree with Kerry's domestic policy plans and more importantly, his foreign policy goals. The election of 2004 became the election of the lesser of two evils.
Forgotten in the midst of all the political backlash from his decision to invade Iraq on faulty intelligence is one of President Bush's greatest foreign policy achievement. Former Senator Bill Frist wrote an excellent commentary for CNN today that gave the American people a rather positive view of the outgoing president. President Bush's commitment to fight AIDS in Africa produced the PEPFAR bill in 2003 that committed $15 billion over the next five years. It was more money committed to fighting the disease in Africa than any other presidents before. And it is widely credited by doctors, health officials, and aid workers from across the political spectrum as being highly effective in addressing a critical health need in the world. The commentary also goes on to speak of President Bush's legacy on the fight against malaria in Africa and other domestic health initiatives.
All this being said, the eight years of President Bush's administration is up. There have been many successes and failures. From rising on the ashes of the World Trade Center to flying past New Orleans in the wake of Hurrican Katrina, from passing the bipartisan led No Child Left Behind to deregulation of the financial industry, the past eight years have been eventful to say the least. But he made the hard decisions based on what he knew at the time like President-elect Obama will do when he takes office on Tuesday. Hindsight is 20/20, and knowing what we know about Iraq and Afghanistan, we can blast the President all we want. But what's done is done, and I loved how he quoted Thomas Jefferson last night when he said, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."
On Tuesday, Barack Hussein Obama will take the oath to become the 44th President of the United States of America. It is the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. May God bless America!
It has been eight long years for sure. I supported George W. Bush in 2000. I knew, even back then, that he was not the most eloquent speaker, the most charismatic leader the United States could offer. I wasn't completely sold on his credentials. But I thought he would be the better person for the job than the seemingly smug and condescending Democratic nominee, Vice-President Al Gore. His campaign for compassionate conservatism seemed attractive at the time.
I also supported him in 2004. While his actions immediately following the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 were commendable, he had led the country into an ill-advised war, stirring up the hornet's nest in Iraq. His decision to proudly land on an aircraft carrier with a banner that proclaimed that the mission was over would come back to haunt him. The years following the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom was not what he had envisioned. Thousands of U.S. soldiers returned home in flag-draped caskets, and many more returned physically and psychologically disabled. Yet, I could not get myself to support the Democratic nominee for President, Senator John Kerry. I could not agree with Kerry's domestic policy plans and more importantly, his foreign policy goals. The election of 2004 became the election of the lesser of two evils.
Forgotten in the midst of all the political backlash from his decision to invade Iraq on faulty intelligence is one of President Bush's greatest foreign policy achievement. Former Senator Bill Frist wrote an excellent commentary for CNN today that gave the American people a rather positive view of the outgoing president. President Bush's commitment to fight AIDS in Africa produced the PEPFAR bill in 2003 that committed $15 billion over the next five years. It was more money committed to fighting the disease in Africa than any other presidents before. And it is widely credited by doctors, health officials, and aid workers from across the political spectrum as being highly effective in addressing a critical health need in the world. The commentary also goes on to speak of President Bush's legacy on the fight against malaria in Africa and other domestic health initiatives.
All this being said, the eight years of President Bush's administration is up. There have been many successes and failures. From rising on the ashes of the World Trade Center to flying past New Orleans in the wake of Hurrican Katrina, from passing the bipartisan led No Child Left Behind to deregulation of the financial industry, the past eight years have been eventful to say the least. But he made the hard decisions based on what he knew at the time like President-elect Obama will do when he takes office on Tuesday. Hindsight is 20/20, and knowing what we know about Iraq and Afghanistan, we can blast the President all we want. But what's done is done, and I loved how he quoted Thomas Jefferson last night when he said, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."
On Tuesday, Barack Hussein Obama will take the oath to become the 44th President of the United States of America. It is the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. May God bless America!
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