Every week, often several times a week, we learn of additional ways the Bush Administration has abused its power or displayed incompetence. I just now read about efforts to squelch scientific evidence about climate change (old news, actually), which is why, in this absolutely crucial time for the world, we’ve gone eight years with zero leadership from the US in combating global warming. Absolutely outrageous.

Scott McClellan’s allegatons are exactly what I suspected was true of the Bush Administration. A weak, out of touch President surrounded by strong-willed ideologues. Eight years, and they’ve accomplished virtually nothing positive.

I realize that when I criticize Bush, people think I’m being unpatriotic. That a person who truly loves the USA will support its President. (Why don’t we talk about supporting Congress, which the Founders created as an equal entity?)

It’s because I’m patriotic that I’m angered by what George Bush has done to my country. I love this country, always have. To see one man ascend to the presidency, surround himself with ideologues, drag us into a voluntary war, scorch our reputation in the world, thumb his nose at Congressional oversight, trample on civil rights, govern in a flagrantly divisive way…on and on…well, this rightly upsets me. And it should upset you.

I wouldn’t stand idly by as a new pastor shattered my church’s ministry and our reputation in the neighborhood. Nor will I stand in line and salute when George Bush does that to my country. Why is this so hard to understand?

Rush Limbaugh is far from my favorite person. He’s just a loud-mouth, totally partisan, highly divisive show-boater. The world would be a better place without him. And he obviously has little respect for American democracy. He encourages Republicans to play games with the process by crossing over and voting for Hillary, just to keep the Democratic primary going. It probably cost Obama the Indiana primary.

Why does Rush have so little respect for the right to vote? Why does he encourage people to use their vote as a prank? I view the vote as a great privilege? Isn’t that what we preach around the world? People die for the sake of their vote, for goodness sakes!

Rush thinks it’s a big hoot. I can’t imagine playing childish games with my vote. And yet, untold mindless hordes worship Rush’s utterings, and actually voted against their true conscience. Is this what we want to teach the world, and our own children, about democracy?

How did Americans become so flippant about their vote?

After a beautiful day yesterday, cold weather blew in this morning. It warmed up somewhat in the afternoon, but a chill remained in the air.

Hillary blew into town this morning for a rally.

Barack was in town last week. No, I didn’t go hear him. I do have a dilemma, though. I like John McCain. However, the issues I care most about right now are not Republican issues. They include:

• Instituting a national health care plan. I believe it’s scandalous to have 47 million people without any medical insurance, when nearly all other industrialized nations provide universal health care for their citizens. Too many people live on the brink of financial ruin, or just neglect their health out of financial necessity. Shouldn’t happen in 2008 USA.
• Getting out of Iraq. It’s a matter of national security for me. Our military is so depleted equipment-wise and over-stretchd, that we couldn’t handle a new crisis that might arise (something NOT of our own choosing, like Iraq was). Get out wisely, but do get out and restore the military.
• Combatting global warming. This is a very real threat to our planet. It’s true, Rush.
• Relief for the poor. Republicans tend to cut stuff that Jesus cares deeply about. The gap between poor and rich always widens under Republicans.

So, who will I vote for? Vote for McCain, and see none of my own priorities cared for? Or vote for Obama, who is terribly inexperienced but sure talks swell? Right now, it’s probably the latter. But November is a long way away.

A new national survey of 2000 doctors showed that 59% favored a national health insurance program, up from 49% in 2002. Said one doctor, “As doctors, we find that our patients suffer because of increasing deductibles, co-payments, and restrictions on patient care. More and more, physicians are turning to national health insurance as a solution to this problem.”