This First Rant was Generated by an Article in Vanity Fair on the Bush Administration

Deborah's Inaugural Rant: May 27, 2003.

As a proud American, who is loyal to her core, I am at a loss to explain the current leadership of my country. Better yet, I am at a loss to understand why others do not see the inherent danger, and I believe evil, associated with the current administration. Before you pounce on me, call me un-American, a traitor, weak-in-the-knees liberal, and have the IRS commence its yearly audits, let me give you some background on me, so perhaps you can understand the perspective from which the view I will put forth emanates.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, (Culver City, to be exact) I am one of three girls. Raised by a mother who could only be called Democratic to the core, and a father, crew cut still intact, who is a proud member of the NRA, and a self-described "Goldwater Republican," political dialogues have been a part of my family's character since I was just a wee pod in my mother's womb. I have been raised to think for myself, which I do, and to call it like I see it. Currently, the view is not very pleasant. My parents are still married, after almost 46 years, and my father is a retired nuclear physicist and former local city councilman/mayor (they rotated the seat). My mother, through retired from her special education teaching job, still teaches ESL once a week at the local junior college because it gives her hope and pleasure. If you met my folks, you would shake their hand and know that they are "good people."

I am a reform Jew, who has been Bat Mitzvahed, confirmed, and even taught religious school for a couple of years, and who is at the age of 39, is quite a skeptic of organized religion. In my humble opinion, organized religion as a general institution has caused more damage, death and pain than any other in the history of man has.  I mean let's face it, there is one basic story with three different endings – (we will leave out Buddhism and the Eastern religions because to my knowledge, there have not been many wars instigated in the name of these religions – I could be wrong). Can we stop killing each other over who has the right ending to the same basic story? You could (and I have) made an argument for the proposition that organized religion is a tool of the devil – get one story, three separate but related twists, and let the mayhem begin. I have no problem with religion, and am glad when folks find comfort in faith. My problem arises when this very personal decision and belief system becomes something public. Believe what you want, just do not tell me how to, and we will all be fine.

Just so you also know, I do not agree with all of the Israeli policies, and, if raised under the conditions of most young Palestinians, would probably be ready to riot myself. Then again, if I kept seeing my friends, family and co-workers being blown up by bombs housed on the bodies of children, I would also get pretty damn angry. I blame both sides for this fiasco, as well as the Middle Eastern rulers who had no need for the Palestinian, or saw the need for a Palestinian state, until it suited their political needs. Now, it is much easier for the Arab countries to blame the Jews (and the Americans) for everything wrong than deal with their own sham governments, poverty and failed policies.

I am a taxpaying honest attorney (I swear, there are a few of us out there) who loathes litigation because it is counter-intuitive – getting paid to prolong a problem just does not make sense to me. Luckily, I have found a job working as a lawyer for a major corporate entity where I actually get paid to solve and prevent problems. I consider myself pretty lucky on that front. I donate a decent amount of time and money to charity each year, but should give more, and vote on issues rather than parties (would have voted for either McCain or Riordin, but was not given the opportunity to do so). I vote in all major elections but must admit that I did not vote in the local community college election, and did vote for Bill Clinton twice. Given the choice between Bill Clinton or George Bush, I would vote for Clinton again in a heartbeat. OK – now that you have all know where I am coming from, so you can prepare your insults and retorts accordingly. Now, let me explain why I believe the current administration is not only dangerous, but also evil.

We live in a multicultural society and world. And, as much as we would like everyone to be just like us, it is impossible, because there are too many of "us" out there. George Bush, who based upon our election rules won the Electoral College – does not seem to grasp this concept. By the way, I understand the importance of the Electoral College – it enables small states to have a voice in electing our leader. In that way, it is like the Senate, where even large states only have the same amount of votes as small states. It is intended to protect the rights of states (which I will get to in a moment). The fact that George Bush did not win the popular vote does not invalidate his Presidency – he did that all by himself when he would not let the votes be counted in Florida – he probably would have still won the state, he just created the appearance of being chosen rather than elected by pulling in the US Supreme Court to opine on a state’s rights issues.

Oh, now for a digression – why is it that this administration is for less government, unless it involves protecting or advocating a religious, social or cultural belief it holds dear. I guess "states rights" only counts on matters of gun control and education, but the current administration believes that states do not have the right to make policy on such things as medical marijuana, the right to die, the right to choose, university admission practices . . . For some reason, those issues clearly require federal intervention . . . hypocrites. Just be honest, and say that your religious beliefs require that you stop the states from exercising their own free will on matters you believe are spiritual, moral, or ethical in nature. Now, let us all pray. Oh wait, to which God? Allah, Jesus, Money, corporate donors – oh I forgot, we are not supposed to ask those questions – obviously it is Jesus, and I, like so many others, will be going to hell for failing to accept him as my personal savior. Just wondering, does the fact that I tipped well a man named Jesus who washed my car help save my wretched soul? Nah, didn’t think so.

How is it that we have a President who believes he is on a mission from God, and uses the power of his office to further act against all of the "evil-doers" and no one bothers to even blink or question his administration’s motives?  Isn’t his blanket us vs. them attitude ("you are either with us, or your are with the evil-doers") a short stone's throw away from calling all westerners "Infidels?" Depending on your faith and perspective, evil is as evil does. According to those warped Muslims who smashed themselves, their victims and so many hopes and dreams into the WTC – they were, in their minds, doing God’s work. Do I agree with what they were doing, of course not. But in a less forthright, but far more brutal way, isn’t George Bush doing the same thing? He is using the force of his office and the power of the US military to act, based, I believe, on his personal religious beliefs. In the process, he has destroyed, killed and maimed innocent bystanders by the thousands.  As for Iraq - Do I think we should have attacked Iraq? No, not based upon the information provided by the Bush Administration. Do I think that he was going to attack come hell or high water based on a personal vendetta? Yes. Do I believe that a man who holds the fate of the world in his hands should be above such petty pursuits – Absolutely.  

Who the hell is he to tell another country’s leader to get out of town or we are a coming in?  It is not like he is the local Sheriff or something. If someone had said that to us, would we oblige – hell no. But, I guess moral authority does grow out of the barrel of a gun. Or more precisely, laser-guided cruise missile, smart bombs, and the MOAB.  Mr. Bush, Mr. President, if you insist - WHERE ARE THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION?  Of course, I mean the ones supposedly stockpiled by the tons in Iraq by Saddam Hussein, not those fired at Iraq people by our own forces.  Where is the proof that Iraq was a clear and present danger justifying the force exercised?  Where is the justification for your pre-emptive strike against a sovereign nation that has all but re-written the rules of war?  Moreover, how come we can protect Iraq's oil wells, but do not have the forethought to provide civilian protection in the cities after all institutions of the government we dismantled are destroyed.  How come this campaign was about liberating the Iraqis from an evil dictator only after it became clear that your weapons'  hunt became a no-show. I guess now we have to go after every non-democratically elected leader in the free and not-so-free world.  Let me be clear, Saddam Hussein is an evil, terrible, man, who should have been removed from power - by his own people.  And, if that is the case, when do we go to every other country whose people are oppressed by their leadership –  Oh, I forgot, those countries do not have vast oil reserves.  If we begin this mission of freeing the oppressed from their oppressors, perhaps we should start here in the US. Let’s look at our underclass and see how we rank.

Hmmm – we are losing jobs by the thousands, manufacturing is being sold offshore to pad the pockets of corporate America, we have a crumbling infrastructure and public education system that is in ruins. The cure, school vouchers – we will walk away from the promise of public education and leave all those but the lucky behind. You are right George; there is no reason for racial preferences, or even considering race as a factor when admitting someone into college or the workforce. The playing field is even enough for those wealthy enough to afford a decent education. And the others, well, they just must be lazy, not trying hard enough, or both. Well, send your kid to a public school that lacks necessary funding, where toilets do not work and forty kids are in a class, and have the child stay there for his or her entire education, and then tell me that there is an even playing field. Tell me what kind of vision for the future we are giving our own children. We are institutionalizing racism and class stratification and our leadership does not even see it or, worse, if it does see, does not seem to care. I dare you, send your kid to a public inner city school and see how well you do with all of the compassionate conservatism out there. Johnny can’t read, must be his fault, because Lord knows, we would not let the system fail Johnny. The system failed Johnny years ago, and we are too embarrassed to admit it.

Oh, while we are at it, let’s take a white, ultra-conservative religious zealot who could not beat a dead man for the Missouri senate and make him Attorney General. And now, we can suspend our constitution to root out those evil doers, whose only crime is having an Arab last name, face or association. Damn, Senator McCarthy must have some shit-kicking grin on his face right now down there in hell.

Crime, as long as it stays away from your neck of the woods, who cares who is killing who?  Doesn’t anyone care about the genocide taking place in our inner cities? Doesn’t anyone understand that the brains it takes to run an effective drug trade is not really much different from that needed to run a major company? When are we going to provide vision to those who currently have none Or, is it the dirty little secret that you would prefer that they all kill each other (as I believe Churchill said of the Germans and the Russians) so that it doesn’t become your problem. I guess Jesus will take care of everyone in the end.

Wow, the above sounds like we have an oppressed people here in the good old USA. Who the hell could be responsible for all of this? A despot? A tyrant? A dictator? Well, probably the two-party system, apathy and corporate fund-raising practices, but that is for another rant. When are we going to go in to take out its leadership? Isn't that what we now do? Umm, Mr. Bush, will you please resign so that we can have consistent foreign and domestic policies? No, then at least admit that you have no real policies, just a commitment to Jesus and his teachings. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is not something I want in my President. I might buy a car from you, or even let you do plumbing on my house – but I do not trust you, or your circle of power with the most powerful military in history . . . now that would be crazy. I won’t event start on the federal prosecutors that would have been hired to investigate Clinton if his administration had done what the Bush Administration has, and apparently, shall continue to do. Can we all say Halliburton, Enron, energy plan, secret meetings, conflicts of interest, documents withheld, mixing church and state?    Oh wait, we are talking substance, quick, look over there, there is an evil doer out there somewhere, we better just change the topic and quick.  

No, all Clinton did was let his penis get in the way of his policies and his achievements. And for that, I can forgive him. I seem to recall some pretty good economic times - but I guess the welfare of the American public pales in comparison to the penis patrol. (BTW – do you know that technically he did "not have sexual relations with that Intern, Monica Lewinsky" - because sexual relations is defined as intercourse in the dictionary? Not that it really matters – he may not have outright lied, but he did mislead the American public). No, give me a man with personal failings anytime, over someone who believes he is on a mission from God. A regular old human being understands that the world is not perfect, and that it is full of flawed, failed individuals who need help. Clinton domestically did not forget that this nation has been built on the backs of its people, not corporate donors, built foreign consensus, understands that disagreement is democratic and that it is our fundamental right and obligation as Americans to question our government and its leaders, appreciates the intricacies of individual situations, sees force as a last resort, and can withstand the ever fierce questioning of that beacon of fear, Helen Thomas. I don’t think I would buy a used car from Bill Clinton, but he could have my vote. George Bush, I think you are most likely a decent man, but a very dangerous President, who is being led down a very dangerous path by those who surround you. As president, you are a dangerous man. I hope this country and the world survives your administration.