It is a Republican week

Most of the news today is, of course, about the Republican convention. While the politicians in Madision Square Garden make a lot of sound bites, others respond to them. Here are some Op-Ed pieces from the New York Times.

Mr. Bush and the Truth about Terror

Here is are two excerpts:-

President Bush was absolutely right when he said it was impossible to win a war against terrorism - it's like announcing we can win a war against violence. Terrorism can only be minimized and controlled, and that can be done only with a worldwide strategy, joined by all of the world's sensible and peaceful nations. We hope that when Mr. Bush accepts his party's nomination for re-election tonight, he makes that argument.

If Mr. Bush is going to speak seriously about terrorism tonight, he also needs to talk about Israel. With its fixation on Iraq, the administration has allowed the situation in Israel to turn into a stalemate in which the Sharon government continues to expand its suicidal West Bank settlements while attempting to keep the Palestinians under control with sheer military force. The West Bank is not just a breeding ground for terrorists; it is the perpetual wound Arabs use to justify supporting and financing violent extremists.

And a couple of quotes about the scripted sound bites... Cutups and Cutthroats

Despite the fact that the economy is cratering, Iraq is teetering, Afghanistan is reverting to warlords, Dick Cheney is glowering at the world, the war on terror has created more acts of terror, Ahmad Chalabi is an accused spy for Iran and the Pentagon has an accused spy for Israel, Republicans felt so good about themselves that when Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was inspired to become a Republican by Richard Nixon, they exploded. When Tricky Dick is a hot applause line, they're feeling cocky.

Republicans know that plunging ahead with a course of action, even if it becomes obvious it's wrong, is an easier political sell than flip-flopping, even if it's right.

Another tongue in cheeck Op-Ed Crowning Prince George


And now for the news, still from the NY Times

Cheney and G.O.P. Mount Vigorous Assault on Kerry

Tactics by the Police Mute the Protestors, and Their Messages

Here is a quote from Kerry: Terrorists Gain From Bush Blunders

``Today, terrorists have secured havens in Iraq that were not there before, and we have been forced to reach accommodation with those who have repeatedly attacked our troops,'' he said. ``Violence has spread in Iraq, Iran has expanded its influence, and extremism has gained momentum.''

And finally, analysis from the Economist Make or Break in Manhattan

The Election Season is Depressing

Well here we are, four years later and with another election upon us. To listen to the rhetoric of both sides is to get sick. It seems that with each presidential election cycle that we live through, the name calling increases and the real issue discussions decrease. If you look at the last few elections you notice that we are getting so extremely polarized that no serious discussions are possible any more. Even the radio stations put on two competing points of view hosted by two pundits strung out on caffiene, challenging each other to insult the other person's candidate in the shortest phrase possible. Stories are twisted so far out of context that you can't look at the elections except as entertainment. Yet the election process is one of the most important acts that we do as citizens, if not the most important.

And here in the US, where a man is innocent until proven guilty, nothing is done to protect the reputation of people? Is it really acceptable to throw out a scandalous statement and watch while the targetted person squirms trying to prove a negative, yet the individual that starts this accusation or rumor is unknown and is not scrutinized at all? The candidates' election machines seem to delight in latching on any rumor and pushing it to the limit then claiming innocence. Is this how their candidate will govern the country?

That, and the electoral college insult. In a day and age when news travels so fast, we are burdened with this archaic system that is a throwback to the slave era. Either we relegate this system to the garbage heap and allow the popular vote to cover the country and in the process engage all the states' populations in the vote, or we focus on the credentials of those in the electoral college and ask them to pick a president through a new process that vets the qualifications of that person carefully. Somehow the idea of an anonymous (totally defocused by the media) electoral college and delegates is offensive especially that we saw the manipulation of it in 2000.

[Just in time, here is an op-ed piece in the NYTimes about the electoral college. Abolish the Electoral College ] TMM 2004-09-01 11:16

It is tiring to see this kind of politics year after year. We are in need of serious reform to our election processes. We need to empower the masses and shut out all the loud voices. Elections are not about bullying or dazzling people to vote one way or the other. They are deliberate processes to choose the soundest leaders for a country. Sound bites and loud rhetoric are not the way to do this for a country that prides itself on being the bastion of freedom and equality in the world. The more we trivialize our election process, the less these ideals apply.

Today's headlines and links

The Economist is telling us that the economy is not really doing as well as it should be. How is that for news? Also the Economist has an international view of the Bush Presidency. Here are the articles.

Poverty in America

The Bush presidency -- Je ne regrette rien

The Economist summarizes the Vietnam politics.

Vietnam and the presidency


Large protests today at the Republican National Convention. (You need to log onto NY Times...create an account if you don't have one...it is free, then come back to this link) By the way, it is a two-page article.

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > Demonstrations: Hundreds Are Arrested as Protests Escalate