How Much More Bush Can We Take?

It's no secret that I have no love for the current administration, nor for that overblown, underqualified fratboy at the helm, but this takes the cake. I am so sick of the Machiavellian tactics employed by the Republicans in power that I would love to go to Washington just to vomit on the White House lawn. George W sidestepped the democratic process to appoint John Bolton, a man well known for being about as diplomatic as Roseanne, to be our ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton's appointment has been held up in Congress by most Democrats, and some Republicans, because of his comments in the past disdaining the U.N., and for allegedly being a dick to work for/with. Seems to me that those would be the sorts of things we wouldn't want in one of our chief diplomats. But be that as it may, that's not what has me so incensed. Putting people in jobs for which they are eminently unqualified is a long-standing Washington tradition; a place where back scratching, nepotism, and a non-existent gag reflex are the keys to the kingdom. What I'm sick of is the American people's total willingness to let these assholes do whatever they want with impunity.

It is true that the 'recess appointment' is an important tool for presidents, but usually the appointments are of an emergency nature (i.e. someone died), or for relatively minor positions (i.e. ambassador to Luxembourg). The appointment of John Bolton has been a major bone of contention for quite some time now, and Bush's reasoning, "This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about UN reform," is just more smoke and mirrors. Ever since 911 Bush, Cheny, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft (thank God he's gone), and the rest of the Republican majority have been spewing out meaningless platitudes to justify their 'we know best, so don't you dare question us' policies. And far too many Americans eat this shit up like it's $500 a can Russian caviar.

Technically recess appointments are temporary, but in this case temporary means until January of 2007! I think that this is far more dangerous to the country than whether the president got blown, or a fading pop star showed her nipple at a football game, or a video game that is already loaded with reprehensible depictions of graphic violence suddenly having graphic sex in it. It's time this country woke up and realized that the ruling majority are using irrelevancies to distract us from the real damage they are doing. Real issues, like health care, welfare reform, and reigning in the rampaging excesses of government are hidden in the smoke of abortion, gay marriage, and a war that was started with lies, and is maintained with the blood of our youngest, and poorest citizens. Where is the cry for impeachment? Where is the indignation every time another civil liberty is trampled? Where is the challenge to such false red flags such as 'liberal media', 'war on terror', 'pro life', or that most oxy-moronic of terms 'compassionate conservative'? Maybe someone needs to find a young intern who is willing to take one for the team and get caught in the oval office with Dubya. But then again, the way things are today people will probably just say, 'That poor man works so hard, who could blame him for needing some relief.' I love America, but Americans are pissing me off.

Marius