You know what I have been most annoyed with during this whole "New President" thing?  No, it's not that my man lost.  No, it's not the ridiculously high pedestal our new, largely unproven, President has been placed on. 

 

It's the fact that, now, people are talking about how proud they are to be Americans.

 

Look...I don't like Bush, either.  I agree, he made some bad decisions that made us look bad.

 

But, let's look at reality, here.

 

We are still the most diverse nation in the world.  We have people of every single race, religious, ethnicity, political affiliation, and heritage.  We have Catholics and Protestants, Muslims and Jews, and people who have no religion.  We have intellectuals and ignoramuses.  We have Kirby Silver Surfer fans and Mobius Silver Surfer fans.  Elvis and the Beatles. 

 

In 2006, Americans gave over $295 billion to charitable organizations, a number higher than the GDP of Norway. 

 

We may not agree with the policies of one President, but it's the policies of many great ones (Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Reagan) that have made us great.  One bad apple doesn't destroy the greatness nor the Pride of a nation. 

 

Why do people feel like they couldn’t fly their American flags a year ago, but they can fly one, now?  Often, during the Bush administration, I would hear people say, "Descent is Patriotic."  I agree with this statement, 100%.  In fact, it's another reason we should all be proud to be Americans.  Why, then, do you disagree, but refuse to be proud of your country?  Why can't you disagree and still be proud of your country? 

 

I wasn't a Clinton fan.  I still loved my country.  I didn't vote for Obama and I am very skeptical about what he's going to do as President.  I still love my country.  I am, frankly, baffled that people are so enamored by President Obama without much to go off of but good speeches.  I am annoyed that, because they didn't like Bush, people decided to rebel against all Republicans whether they deserved it or not.  I still love my country.   

 

During the Bush administration, people would always say, "He's not my President."  I would respond, "Then, who is your President?" to which the answer was almost always something to do with stolen elections. 

 

Obama is my President.  This is my country.  I love my country.  I am proud of my country.  I am no less proud than I was on Jan 19.  I am no less proud than I was in 2004 or 2000.  I am always proud to be an American and I will not be jumping off this bandwagon, no matter who is President.  To those who are, once again or for the first time, proud to be Americans.  Welcome aboard.  I hope you stay here.  Patriotism isn't a baseball team.   

So, President Bush is almost out of office.

 

On the radio, this morning, they were talking about his legacy and asking what people think it will be.  What will Bush be most remembered for.

 

To me...I think it will be the war in Iraq.  Many people think the War on Terror, which to them would include Iraq.  I don't think it will be so inclusive.  I think the Bush Legacy will 100% be the war in Iraq.  How he took us in under incorrect pretenses and how we were there during almost his entire run as President.

 

Will this be a good or bad legacy?  I think this depends on what Iraq looks like when all is said and done.  If Iraq maintains a stable democracy, I think history will look favorably upon President Bush.  If Iraq once again falls into chaos and the US has to maintain a "peacekeeping" presence for many more years into the future, I think he will be looked at a lot like President Johnson. 

 

Personally...my view of the Bush legacy is different.  I see him as a selfish President who acted in a manner consistant with maintaining power.  In his final press conference, he said that it's not his style to avoid controversy to please certain people.  How about this, Mr. President.  Avoid controvery when the majority of the people who you govern think you are doing the wrong thing.  How about, when your electorate wants you to focus our money and our troops on finding the guy that successfully attacked us, how about listening instead of diverting attention to the guy that tried to take out your daddy. 

 

How about you remember that Republicanism doesn't mean "Moral Majority"ism.  It doesn't mean you rebel against everything that isn't "Judeo/Christian."  Just because a majority of the Founding Fathers were Christian men does not mean that they "founded the country on Judeo/Christian values."  They founded the country on values of Freedom and Liberty.  Freedom to worship, or not worship, as one sees fit.  Republicanism means to me, that as long as you are not infringing upon the freedoms of another, you are free to do as you see fit.  This includes loving a member of the opposite sex.  This includes disagreeing with the President, even in a time of war, without being called unpatriotic.  And, our freedoms also include the right to not be spied on by our own country without due process. 

 

So...my personal view of George W. Bush's legacy is one of extreme disappointment.  I think we are worse off than we were 8 and even 4 years ago.  I think it's Bush's fault, not McCain's, that Republicans got trounced in this past election.  And, I think it's Bush's fault that we are heading down such a Socialistic path, right now. 

 

Goodbye, Mr. President.  I hope you stay below the radar in your retirement.  I hope we can bring ourselves back to where we should be in the world.

So...I'm not from Illinois which means I don't really give 2 craps about what goes on there.  But, I have been ridiculously intrigued by this whole soon-to-be impeached governor appoints Senator story going on there.

 

First of all...in my always humble opinion, Blagojevich is an ass who is using this appointment as a parting shot against the bow of all the people who are about to kick him out of office while distracting the people of Illinois and the US from his problems.  He deserves to be kicked out and forced to find a job making license plates.

 

The person who really interests me in this story isn't Blagojevich.  It's Roland Burris. 

 

A (very liberal, leaning on Socialist) friend said to me last week, "He's a good man and we shouldn't be attacking him in this whole thing.  He'll be a good Senator."

 

Here's how I respond to this.  I think it's irresponsible for the governor to appoint someone when he's accused of selling the Senate seat.  But, we all know that.  We all accept that he's an idiot and needs to go.  Everyone has said that he shouldn't make the Senate appointment, but he did anyway.  What did we expect?  That he would go quietly into the night?  Yeah right. 

 

What I find even more irresponsible, even arrogant, is the fact that, knowing what Blagojevich is accused of, Burris is accepting the nomination. 

 

Look...I know nothing about this guy.  Zero.  Maybe he is a great guy.  But, what he should have done was say, "Thanks, Mr. Jack Ass governor, but I am going to decline your nomination and wait for your replacement to make one."  That would have been the honorable and respectful thing to do. 

 

But...he accepted the nomination.  Stupid.  I don't like it.  But, it's Illinois, so what do I care, really?

 

Here's where I start to care and where I really begin to hope this appointment is sidetracked.  Led by Bobby Rush, US Congressman from Illinois, these people have 100% pulled the race card out of their deck in order to get this guy into the Senate.  Let me give you some examples of quotes during the media blitz that has ensued:

 

"I would ask you to not hang or lynch the appointee," - Congressman and former Black Panter, Bobby Rush.

 

"There are no African-Americans in the Senate, and I don't think that anyone, any U.S. Senator who is sitting right now would want to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated in the U.S. Senate."  - Also Rep. Rush.

 

“It’s interesting that all those who are viable are white women and the ones who are unacceptable are black men,” Prince Riley, a Burris consultant.

 

One more:  at church, no less, Congressman Rush calls the US Senate, the "last bastion of plantation politics."

 

Wonderful.  The country elects its first black President.  People all over are saying this is a clear sign that we are moving beyond the politics of race.  Then, we have this classy move. 

 

Here's my prediction.  Burris will make it into the Senate.  Because, despite all their talk, the Dems won't have the cajones to actually block his appointment.  The Burris camp is screaming Racism so loudly that the Dems will be forced to give in rather than appear "racist," when, really, in my opinion, it's the Burris people who are being racist, right now. 

 

Unless, of course, President-Elect Obama steps up and becomes a little more vocal about this.  He's the new party leader.  He had a few thoughts before Burris was appointed about  how he didn't think Blago should be appointing anyone.  But, I haven't heard anything since.  Did I miss it?  Where is our fearless leader in all this?

 

Anyway...anytime I complain about how messed up Washington politics are, all I have to do is think of Illinois.