Send in the left fielder

I just read this article on HuffPost, and it made me think of the recent wingnut article (I forget exactly where I saw it mentioned) that accuses "the Left" of simply only wanting to target Bush, and not fight terrorism. Read in a certain light, this article could make you think that it's only "out to get Bush" (as if most guys would think this was a bad thing--the getting bush part, that is).

Hmm. Well, I am not "the Left" or any approximation, thereof. I don't think I'm too conservative, mainly because of having a mother who taught in public education her whole career. I believe strongly in the role and ability of government to do things on a scale that individuals and smaller organizations simply cannot. Educating Americans falls under that category, for me, though we are blowing this social contract big time. NCLB is leaving us all behind. But, regardless of my leanings, I am simply a centrist American, with some of all philosophies rattling around my brain.

I want America to defend itself against terrorism and the terrorists. Vigorously. But the war in Iraq was never about terrorists. It was about oil and Bush's desire to do what daddy did not. The real threat was never Saddam Hussein, in fact, he was a stabilizing influence in the region, though we really didn't like him, at all. He held the hornet's nest in check. With brutal and autocratic methods, but held it he did. Now all we have is chaos and a civil war. There's NO winning that one, folks.

I want America to defend itself against terrorism and the terrorists. But, wasting our time and precious human resources in Iraq only takes away from the real war. It adds nothing, and puts us deeper and deeper in debt. In the words of Magwah: "Bush was the father of that," and as such, he must be held accountable and taken to task. He doesn't get it; never did.

Let's start moving troops out of Iraq so we can begin replenishing our army for the long fight ahead. Let's also stop ignoring our Constitution and the warrantless wiretapping of ordinary Americans. There is no excuse, however carefully worded, for breaking the law so blatantly. Bush must be held accountable for these errors.

But it's not just about getting Bush out. It's about making management changes as a prelude to moving forward in the right direction, and correcting the mistakes of the previous administration. Cheney has retained a lawyer. Rove has such a poor reputation that he couldn't get elected for dogcatcher, as they say. Let's clean house and put someone in office who can start making a real difference. Let's get Osama, and clean the terrorist houses. Let's start doing things not just if they make political sense, but if they make sense for America. I believe firmly that if you do the right thing in leading America, it doesn't matter what party you belong to, they will continue voting you into office. In some respects it's a bad thing we have presidential term limits, because among other things, it would have all but prevented GWBush from being elected the first time.

No, I swear it's not just about getting Bush. We need to make some changes around here, and at the top seems like the best place to start. Then let's work on following the rule of law and regaining some of the respect and admiration of the rest of the world by being the "good guys", again.