Think On These Things

Politics, Politicians, and Elections

I believe I have said in a previous post that I am not comfortable with how elections go. Mainly because they spend exorbitantly extravagant amount so money on the campaign, a large percentage of which is simply wasted. Especially the money spent by the losers. But also because of the disgusting backbiting and name-calling that is unfortunately unavoidable.

With one of main issues, the Iraq war, in constant turmoil, the candidates have already started snapping at each other. During speeches, during comments in Congress, and even in childish actions and body language. Since the primaries are months away, when they will cut the field to two candidates, the list of candidates seems to go on forever. I am sure I could not name them all.

The day before yesterday, when General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker spoke to the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, there were five current candidates, four past candidates, and three who had contemplated running on the two panels. Sen. Obama was planning political barbs at Sen. Clinton for his speech in Iowa yesterday. When his turn came to have seven minutes to ask questions, he made a speech in which he got on his campaigning soapbox and even ridiculed President Bush. After he finished his speech Obama "observed that he was left with "very little time to ask questions."" You think? He did ask one question that had already been asked and answered while Obama was planning his speech for Iowa.

Sen. Clinton entered the hearing room, then left, and returned with Petraeus’s entourage to get in on the photo opportunity. When Obama came in, causing cameras to turn in his direction, it was not long before Sen. John Kerry grabbed an empty seat next to him starting a conversation which caused many cameras to flash. Foreign Relations Chairman Joe Biden conspicuously read a newspaper during Obama’s seven minutes to ask questions to show his disdain.

Granted the General and the Ambassador had already spoken to the House and repeated the same speech for the Senate. But you would have thought they would have had some questions. At least they could have been paying attention to the matter at hand and not their own personal agendas. If this is how they are conducting business during an election year and a half (it will not be long before "election year" will be two years - although not officially) how are they going to conduct business as President?

I pray for the members of Congress. But I just can’t help but wonder how these politicians can face the people they will meet on the campaign trail. Telling them what he/she will do for them if he/she is elected. Will they dare to explain to them after the election that their cause was lost because people in Congress were too busy putting together their own political agendas to pay attention in meetings? That their cause was put on hold because it was attached to a bill that would not pass?

I was just wondering.

Peace be with you.

Recent Fund-Raising Flap, Elections, and Politicians

Everyone has heard by now of the people involved in the fund-raising "scandal" involving Hillary Clinton. She and the other senators who received tainted funds are doing the right thing in returning the money or giving it to charity. I am more concerned with how it is being covered in the media. Some of the conservative commentators commented that the fund-raising situation could hurt the Democrats on the campaign trail. As if it would help the Republicans.

I am neither democrat nor republican. I like the opportunity to vote, but I hate elections. Specifically the year before the actual election. A year and a half before the election - when the politicians announce that they are potential candidates - the discussion is about the issues. Not all the issues the voting public wants to hear about are discussed. But a few of the most important issues are debated.

During the first few months of flying around the country campaigning like crazy, the potential candidates begin to verbally spar in the media with one another. Democrats leaping on seeming "dirt" about the Republicans and being repaid in kind. With the media looking for dirt on either one. Then it degrades into a personal, and completely nasty, all out verbal brawl.

Along the way variations of the public’s opinion no longer enters into it. Our opinions carry less and less weight. Everyone is cast into one of two molds - surprise, surprise - Democrat or Republican (and the extremes of both at that). No middle ground is considered. Democrats are still described as hippies and Republicans as "establishment" stuffed shirts. Oh, please! Very nearly everyone in politics and the media skip completely over the majority of citizens resting on various levels firmly ensconced in what is called the middle of the road.

Which is when it would all become laughable if those middle ground citizens could honestly see the humor in the situation. But it is difficult when your opinions are not even considered and - in most cases - ignored. And that is my problem with the reporting of the story about the fund-raising snafu. If there is a question about fund-raising and the subjects are democrats, we - the general public - will not assume that republicans are faultless. Quite the contrary. We question the actions of all politicians. Just because we agree with a certain politician’s stance - as opposed to the other choices - it is not guaranteed that we trust them. We may not even agree with them whole-heartedly. We just think they are the "lesser of the evils."

Why can we not simply obey the second most important commandment, according to Jesus, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves?

Peace be with you.