Ok, I have two issues in political news right now that have been bugging me (that's an understatement) and I need to get them off my chest. I know my opinions might seem predictable and partisan, but I do not drink the Koolaide here. The moment I first heard the facts of these news items it caused a visceral reaction in me, you can just ask my husband.
First up is the John Edwards campaign. There is something seriously WRONG there. Elizabeth Edwards was told last week that her breast cancer had metasticized and spread to her bones, and that it was now treatable but incurable. John and Elizabeth made the decision right there in the hospital, immediately after being told she likely doesn't have many years left to live, that they would continue John's campaign for President. I'm sorry, WHAT?
I understand that she doesn't want to be the woman that kept John from being President...but guess what honey, Hillary and Barak have got that covered already. I understand he wants to do whatever his wife wants him to do, but they have two very small children to think about. It's one thing to need someplace to direct your positive energy, something to keep working at and keep your mind off of dying. But running for President is not like any other job. They won't be home for months, if not years. Maybe it occurs to them that they won't win the primary anyway and their race will be over in just a few months. But that is precious time. John Edwards is not acting responsibly as the husband, father, and leader of his household. He's got his priorities mixed up and it's just one more reason he shouldn't be President.
Next issue up, the Attorney General Gonzalez fiasco. I call it a fiasco not because anybody in the white house or justice department did anything wrong, but because congress is creating a circus wasting MY taxdollars trying to get back at George Bush. I cannot believe this thing hasn't gone away yet. There's NOTHING THERE for them to investigate. The President can hire and fire whoever he wants of these US Attorneys. They weren't doing the job their bosses wanted them to do, so they got dismissed. Geez. This supposed contradictory email about some stupid meeting the AG MIGHT have been in about this subject? Well I guess we'll see what he says but I'd hardly call that a smoking gun. This whole matter just pisses me the f*** off. We have a war to fight, and a lot more important things to do than spending time trying to smear the President. He's done enough screwing up on his own, time to move on.
Oh yeah, and I keep hearing people say "Why won't Rove testify in congress under oath? Hundreds of Americans are proud to tell the truth under oath in court every day." Speaking as one who HAS been grilled under oath in court before...court and congress are not even REMOTELY the same. In court you have a lawyer to defend you and object to things and you only have to answer questions directly relevant to the case. In congress you are questioned by TONS of people and not defended and they can ask you anything they want. It's a night and day situation.
Whew...maybe I can stop thinking about this stuff for awhile now.
Posts
12 comments:
I wanted to comment on the Edwards thing. I understand what you are saying, but I have to disagree.
I think he is being very responsible by respecting his wifes wishes and making this decision together. Are the Edwards supposed to curl up in the corner and wait for her to die? No. At this point, she can't be cured, but with treatment and proper care she can live 3, 5, 7 years more (or beyond, we don't know what could happen in those years). And she wants to do that in a "normal" way, which for her and her family is pursuing the White House.
If I were in her position, I would do the same thing. I would want to keep living my life as actively and the best I knew how. You might make a different decision... but don't judge her for doing what she needs to do to live the rest of her years to the fullest.
My biggest problem with the Edwards thing is the snap decision. In the same conversation as they were given the prognosis, which is an average of three more years, Edwards asked the doctor if she would physically be able to stay on the campaign trail with her. There was no sleeping on it, there was no praying about it, there was no letting it sink in. Of course they aren't supposed to curl up and die, I would want to live my life as actively as possible too...but not at the expense of my children's memories of their last few years with their mom. I have a good friend who received a very similar diagnosis as Elizabeth a few years ago, and she has been very active, working and taking up cycling in 100 mile races to raise money. But she has no kids, and it's not the same as campaigning for President, which is brutal. John and Elizabeth's obligation is to those kids first and foremost.
What irritates me about the Edwards decision is how unimportant campaigning is RIGHT NOW, even if both John and Elizabeth were 100 percent committed to his becoming President. I don't think his chances would be hurt at all if he announced that he were scaling back his appearances to make time for his family. In fact, that move might actually help his chances during an unreasonably long and expensive campaign season.
i agree with the US attorney's thing. it's just hullaballoo.
but, i think the cancer-Edwards thing is more challenging. different families respond differently to different situations. one of my clients was in a similar position as edwards--and his family decided that it would be better for him to continue his work, which would include a lot of time away from home, because it's important to them that 'life goes onward as we intended.' it worked well for the family as a whole, because the death to them became a part of life. it was hard, but it was the right path for them.
so, it's really hard to judge all of the factors being weighed by edwards, what they're doing and why, how they're doing it and so on. it may absolutely be the right thing for his family--and we can't know.
sure, you and i might evaluate things differently, but that doesnt' mean that other options aren't equally valid.
at some point, i actually have to pack! :D
"He's done enough screwing up on his own, time to move on."
I agree with your assessment on the President.
No comment on the Quebec provincial election?
As for your comment to meegs, was it really a snap decision? They would have had time to think out the scenarios as they were waiting for her test results, perhaps weeks worth of soul searching.
also, it's very likely that it went down that they'd discussed a number of things before that particular appointment.
they may have already discussed, prayed, etc about what they had hoped for, what they thought was best--and had decided to campaign if she could handle it and not do it if she couldn't.
they didn't know, prior to the diagnosis what she could or could not handle, what the process would be. they did know that she had a serious condition. they didn't know if she could handle campaigning or not.
for me, it's no issue.
notice i'm still not packing.
jenifer, you have to pack for two months...get moving. Of course, I'm quite certain this involves a lot less stuff for you than it would for me.
I did not consider that perhaps they discussed the issue ahead of the appointment because in the interview with Katie Couric yesterday I didn't hear them say anything about that. It sounded very snap, the way it was recounted. I still think it's a mistake considering those kids. I know the feeling of wishing you could have spent more time with a parent before they died.
While in many areas different perspectives and values are equally valid, I disagree with the general principle that truth is relative, right and wrong are not absolute, and all values are always equally valid.
Oh and running42K? I KNEW you would highlight that line. Quebec had an election?
Hm....since you and I disagree politically, pretty much...I'll just say that while the Edwards did not make the decision I would make, it was their decision to make, and not mine.
I agree with your assessment that Hillary and Obama will take care of the race for John Edwards. But I do think he and Elizabeth made the right decision--the right decision for them and their family. I've gone back and forth on this a little bit, but I think about what I would want if JP and I were in their position.
I think I would want him to continue. If it's something that he's been dreaming of and working toward for years, I wouldn't want to get in the way of that. Because when the damn disease finally killed me, he would be out a wife AND his life's dream and would always be left wondering, "What if?"
Of course, JP completely disagrees with me!
Congress/senate is attempting to trap Rove and Gonzalez into saying something under oath so they can then bring charges against them. This is biggest non-issue. It makes me sick to think that instaed of actually ending the war, or spending time on real domestic issues that they are wasting time with this. We as american should be screaming for them to do something other than investigate.
John Edwards should realize that he is a Non-contender for a white house bid and spend time with his family.
you are more than 100% correct on the Edwards thing. It is selfish and lacking the outlook that their children should come first--above dad's desire to be prez and mom's desire to be "strong." Why is everyone so afraid to "judge" what is best and instead saying, "it depends on the family and the situation." Children do best with a mom and dad, present and active in their lives. period. Running for prez is a huge job and a distraction from rearing children. Can children handle it? yes, can they handle it and their mom dying, no. Will they regret this decision, I don't know. Will their children regret it? yes. Every young child wants more time with their parents. I say, adults need to get over themselves and focus on thier children.
It's called moral relativity. That's why it's unique for "their situation". And that type of thinking (If I think it's OK than is must be OK), is what is degrading our society.
Post a Comment