Editorial :
If the flip-flops fit
The Bush campaign attacks John Kerry, calling him a flip-flopper,
because, as they say, he changes his mind daily. But these
allegations are without merit. If anyone is a serial flip-flopper
it's one George Bush.
While the families of the 9/11 tragedies were calling for some sort of
investigation George Bush fought to keep such a commission from being
created. He didn't want any investigation into the events of that
day because his own failings might be exposed. While the
commission did not point the finger at either the Bush, or Clinton,
administration. It did find serious holes in intelligent
gathering, and the execution of security procedures. It found
that there were warning lights going off everywhere, warning of a huge
attack on U.S. soil, using planes as weapons. But Bush did not
want to have this come to light, because his administration did little
in the months leading up to 9/11. Only after the families voiced
their disgust at the foot dragging did Bush acquiesce and back the
creation of a 9/11 commission.
Homeland security is now a big issue since the attacks. The idea
of a Homeland security post was in the works in congress before
9/11. Bush opposed the creation of such a post to his cabinet,
but then after the attacks backed the creation of said cabinet
post. Yet, even as he backed it, he still fought to keep the
powers of the homeland security post limited.
Bush claimed to back environmental laws that would keep green house
gases from polluting our air, and heating up the atmosphere. Yet,
he has cut more of these laws than any other president. He has
turned the clock back to an era in which few environmental laws were
around to keep polluters from spewing toxic elements into our
air. He has refused to mandate U.S. companies comply with the
pollution standards set in the Kyoto accord. Every other
industrialized nation has signed on to lower emissions of greenhouse
gases, except the United States.
Bush has called his actions decisive, and unwavering. But his
actions speak louder than his words. He has given nearly a half
dozen reasons for the war in Iraq, each superimposed over the other,
when the previous excuse is found to be invalid, or inadequate.
Now, while his own Secretary of State Collin Powel tells us that things
are getting worse in Iraq, Bush continues to put a rosy smell to the
shit pile that Iraq has turned into. When there were no WMDs
found, then the excuse was that Saddam had to go. Now that he is
gone, Iraq is the frontline on the war on terror. Never are the
true motives, oil, ever spoken about. Because there are countries
in that region that are more volatile than Iraq was. Iran has a
nuclear program, that they claim is only for creating power.
North Korea is said to have developed nuclear weapons. These two
countries are ultimately more dangerous than Iraq ever was. They
actually possess the ability to create nuclear weapons, while Iraq,
under the eye of U.N. inspectors, had little opportunity to have
nuclear, and biological, weapons programs. How the focus went
from Osama Bin Ladin to Saddam Hussein is one of wonderment. How
the hunt for the direct cause of the 9/11 attacks is nearly forgotten,
while the attack on someone, as despicable as they might be, had no
direct connection with those attacks is beyond me.
For all of you who think that Kerry's record shows that he flip flops
on ideology, think again. It is one George Bush that does not
think things over and change his mind. No, he never changes his
mind, not even when evidence shows his actions might be the wrong way
to go. By saying one thing, then doing another Bush is nothing
but a hypocrite. I guess that's better than being someone who
thinks things out, and with new information, honestly changes their
mind.
George Bush reminds me of that quote by Santayana, "A fanatic is one
who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim." I rather
have a so-called flip flopper in office than a fanatic.
