Happy Memorial Day

Style over substance...

Let's put aside all of the policy differences between the Bush Administration and those who want to see it go (myself included). Let's take the "War on Terror," the war in Iraq, the prisoner abuse scandal, the massive tax cuts, the ban on stem cell research- and every other controversial act this administration has taken- off the table.

Rather than substance, let's take a look at style. After all, it's President Bush's "leadership" that is offered by many of his supporters as his biggest strength. So let's look at his leadership- his style- over his substance.

It's a fact that President Bush has given fewer press conferences than any other president in modern times. He hates being subjected to scrutiny and having questions asked of him. He is not good at spontaneous discussion and debate, and only reluctantly puts himself in a position where he is forced to respond to questions.

It doesn't take a linguist or a behavioral analyst to determine, after watching the president for more than a few seconds, that he's not comfortable communicating in front of crowds. Anecdotal evidence from people who've met the president suggests that he's got a warm and chummy personality, but the style he puts forth in front of the American people is one of awkward uncomfortablenessabilityitude.

President Bush speaks in front of the American people only when it's absolutely politically necessary, and when such occasions arise, is far more likely to read a prepared speech (poorly) than give extemporaneous remarks.

In the context of the presidency, I would think a strong leader would be defined as someone who is a powerful and convincing communicator- even if the messages he is communicating are controversial. And that's precisely the situation we're faced with now- an administration that has dived headfirst into some seriously controversial behavior, both at home and abroad.

Unfortunately, our president is not an effective communicator. It would be one thing if President Bush were able to stand up and loudly and clearly explain his policies- being an articulate leader would inspire loud opposition from his foes.

Instead, we're faced with a president who cannot effectively communicate, and who as a result has deadened the cries of his enemies. Bush is like an army who will not fight, and by hiding as he does, makes his enemies look like cowardly opportunists for attacking during those brief moments when he shows himself.

Bush is certainly a leader, for he is leading our country to places it could not have been taken easily. But we are not being lead by a competent leader. On this Memorial Day, I think it's important to say that the most patriotic thing we can do as Americans is to admit that our emperor has no clothes. This schmuck has got to go.

PS:

I dropped by the Memorial Day celebration in Chappaqua, New York this morning, and I was impressed to see Senator Hillary Clinton in attendance. After the inspirational speeches by veterans and local leaders, when the crowd was dissipating, I approached the senator and told her that as a young American, I'm frightened about the course our country is on. I implored her to use her own leadership to help steer us back in the proper direction. It was a brief moment of contact, and one that I wish I'd had more time to prepare for. But in those few moments that we had together, I honestly felt that we shared a moment between a citizen and a leader. I am not an earnest supporter of Senator Clinton's, though I do think she's an admirable politician who has our state and country's best interests at heart.

It was inspirational to see such a person up close on this complicated day, where we have been placed in the uncomfortable position of having to acknowledge the worthy sacrifices of Americans past and present while at the same time feeling strongly that the current Commander in Chief is adding unnecessarily to the lists of names that will be read in Memorial Days to come.

Hey, Laurie!

Thanks for checking this out.

An inspirational speech by a decent American...

...whose name is Al Gore. Check it out. Amazing stuff. Where was this Al Gore four years ago?

These kinds of remarks are what I want to hear coming from our leaders- I would be so proud of a government that speaks this way.

John Kerry- I think you've found your speechwriter.

Time to get political

The past few weeks have seen the most wonderful events of my life. I am now married and on my way into the future, armed with plentiful love and support from family, friends, and my wonderful wife. The present has been a time of exciting change; I am now on the road to the future of my family, and it is the idea of the future that has motivated me to get political.

This year's presidential election is going to be the single most important defining moment of American history we as a country have ever faced. We are confronted with the most grave problem of our existence (with the possible exception of the Civil War)- a president, and an administration, that are destroying the country.

George W. Bush embodies the worst qualities that much of the world fears are defining the United States of America as a whole: arrogance and ignorance, planted on a foundation of incompetence. Worse, he has surrounded himself with advisors whose view of America's role in the world- and the policies that should be enacted at home- is self-destructive and un-American. Worse, he and his administration have presided over some of the most critical events in the history of the country, and have had the unusual opportunity to enact their destructive policies in a rapid-fire manner with little opposition.

The presidency of George W. Bush and the events of the world have collided in a perfect storm that has created the potential to destroy the United States as we know it.

We are on the wrong track, and it is simply not possible to correct our course with the current leadership, which is both unwilling and unable to do so. The only option we are faced with is our heralded freedom to voice our control as citizens over our government and vote Bush out of office.

A defeat for George W. Bush this November is the only possible way to change the people and policies that have misguided our country. But beyond the practical issue of who is running our country, this November's election provides us with the opportunity to show ourselves, the world, and the history books what we think about the America that has existed under George W. Bush's "leadership." Getting rid of Bush would confirm that America is truly the land of hope, freedom, fairness, and partnership that we all so deeply believe it is. We would be showing a national strength of character that would demonstrate to Americans, the world, and historians for ages to come that America is truly a country guided by the earned and determined pride of good and fair people. A vote that rejects the abhorrent weaknesses of the Bush Administration would serve to remind mankind of the ultimate strength of our country.

A vote that allows the Bush Administration to continue running our country would be an acceptance that America has fundamentally changed into a country that no American in his or her right mind would be proud to call home.