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Feb 28, 2004 The complexities of the issues we face this campaign season are incredible. Yet, to a few, a person’s military service or how much weight was given to moot intelligence issue remains above the fold. As Americans, we are, intelligent but we continue to be duped by the mainstream press. We know the truth, the history and the answer, yet we're letting the press and the candidates of the season run unrestrained. Some candidates during over the past few weeks have shown a total disregard for the truth. So emboldened, they have moved beyond insulting our intelligence, they have reached beyond the tone of disrespect. By showing such ill-mannered contempt for the Presidency, they disrespect each and every one of us including themselves. Such hysterical diatribes only serve one purpose, to inflame the electorate, confuse the issues and send the wrong message to the world. Starting with a hunting party of nine, it has been open season for the Democratic Party hopefuls on anyone who moves in the current administration. Headlines and sound bites proclaim, Bush Lied, Bush Deceived, and A War Made in Texas! It’s a simple rule, say it enough times and someone will believe it. Forget that it’s a lie or even a disrespectful, knowing the administration would not respond, the vigor at which they attack The President is disgraceful! Giving it a voice, disregarding the facts, beyond contempt. The world listens to sound bites and reads print that sells. Your job is too report, verify and respect the reader’s intelligence. In 92' it was "the economy stupid!" In 96' there was no fight. But in 2000, after a Supreme Court decision, America woke up with a President who promised a compassionate conservatism and the legacy of being a uniter. All that changed on 9.11, and so have the issues? To better understand the difficulty, prioritize these issues by importance. National Security Health Care Gun Control Pentagon Spending Environment National Parks Oil Exploration Terrorist Organizations The United Nations Iraq The Middle East Confused yet? The weight of these issues is beyond imagination. They connect better than the lyrics from that childhood song, the knee bones connected to the... But, they have an order of importance and the future of America if not the world depends on how the administration answers the question. Face it, the squeaky wheel gets the most attention and within this list, a squeak could set off an avalanche of problems. Problems so large, they have far-reaching implications. Those implications have possibilities of devastating effects. These were the issues of the 1992 Campaign Season. President George W.H. Bush, the incumbent who had lead us to victory in the Gulf War as the economy was starting to recover mostly due to Reaganomics (aka: Voodoo Economics). Complacency and a misspoken promise of no more taxes caused President Bush to lose the Presidency. Governor William "Bill" Clinton from Hot Springs, Arkansas was the one time aide for mentor, Senator William Fulbright. A Rhodes scholar who dodged the draft, was accused of infidelity and was embroiled in the S&L investigation of a development called Whitewater had become President Elect. As for the issues, President Clinton chose Health Care as the most important issue of the campaign and placed it in the able hands of First Lady Hillary Clinton. President Clinton focused on campaign promises. Most of us missed the importance of the issue, still do, but with the announcement of a don't ask, don't tell policy on gays in the military the new President was off on what promised to be a memorable watch filled with intrigue and deception. Over the next 8 years, the issues of Campaign 92 remained important, a squeaky wheel getting some attention while other issues grew in importance causing an already slippery sloop to get slicker. Following the bombing of the World Trade Center, the Clinton Administration answered by promising prompt action but instead chose to limit the power and communications of the FBI and CIA. Clinton was the consummate politician, he rode the healing economy he inherited from 12 years of Reaganomics and did little to affect the balance. Following reelection, Clinton stayed his course, ducked and weaved distractions from White-water to Élan Gonzales. The President spent two years denying and defending himself against impeachment. Even his Vice President distanced himself from the President when the world learned Clinton had lied under oath and he admitted it. Then on September 11, 2002 a squeaky wheel changed the world, a terrorist organization, al Qaeda performed a Hollywood style attack on the World Trade Center as the world watched in horror. Less than two years prior, that wheel was squeaking when Saudi Arabia offered the imprisoned Bin Laden to President Clinton. He refused, instead using all available oil to sooth the squeaky wheels of impeachment. That as they say is history, Bin Laden cited the moral decay promoted by Hollywood and the inability of the American people to punish a President who lied under oath and defiled the Oval Office as reasons for the attack. One wonders what affect removing President Clinton by impeachment would have had on terrorist and the way the worldviews us. As we approach the 2004 Presidential Elections, we find ourselves with familiar issues staring at us. I've heard all the hysterical claims of lies and the manipulations of the current administration. Consider the source, the former First Lady now Senator Clinton once said about the impeachment that it was the work of a "vast right wing conspiracy". Respectfully, it was not. It was the effect of lying under oath and disrespecting his office by lying to the American people. Seeking personal pleasures in the Oval Office is what bought the proceedings to light his disrespect for the office brought the impeachment. Now, following a too close to call election that eventually went to the right, the left promised revenge. It was no conspiracy, it was not blatant and it was never vile. It was, the result of a nation split right down the middle. On September 11th, following the assault on America, the world sighed a sigh of relief, men from the right and the left agreed, George W. Bush would stand firm and take terrorism to the task, he was the right man for a tough job. Stand firm he has, "you're either with us or against us", he made it clear. He stood strong against the United Nations, and let the French, Germans and Russians expose themselves for who they are. He took on two nations, Iraq and Afghanistan whose nationally trained terrorists have threatened the entire world. With the Grandfather of Terror imprisoned and the terrorist mastermind Bin Laden on the run, Mr. Bush has made the world a little safer, but the fight against terrorist has only begun. He is a wartime President who remains focused and firm, he will not cut and run. Now is not the time for the left to seek revenge for Bill Clinton or Al Gore. Now is the time to remember, George W. Bush is the right man for the job, even being reelected, he'll have little time to lead us to a place where we can sleep easy. The world has changed following the terrorist attacks on this nation. The rules for anyone who seeks the Office of President of the United States have changed too! You can have stains on the fabric of your life, but don't lie and don't try to lob stains on your opponent, the world is watching and you better hope they fear you as much as they do President Bush. Remember, fear breeds respect and as fair-minded Americans, "you're either with us or against us!" Now is the time for the mainstream media to expose every candidate, movie star or self- serving billionaire who will say anything, to avenge the left! Hold both sides, right and left accountable for what they say. Clinton got a pass. He was guilty as charged and yet his need for a legacy so strong, he opposes or openly questions the decisions of a wartime President. President Bush’s choices of issues were made long before he took office. Remember, Clinton still has 2 horses in the race, his legacy and the possibility of rewriting his Presidential history by offering American's a first, First Mate. We need a show of respect for a President who has taken the job of cleaning up the mess left by the former tenant seriously. It's time to show this President respect, he earned it! While we’re at it, returning respect of the Oval Office should be easy. The next person who speaks ill of the President, stop them. No need to argue, just change the subject but please, stop them. It is rumored that over a million protesters will descend on New York for the Republican National Convention, groups with names like Anarchists World Fair, Radical Teachers, Time's Up, World War III, Arts-in-Action, and Not in Our Name. If you know them or support them ask them to state their opposition but don’t get personal. Agree or disagree that’s the right of every American. This President is a young man, a good man and he has lead this country right or wrong with his heart. Re-elected or rejected, your voice is loudest in the voting booth. This is a President who has already earned a legacy of greatness. Encourage people to vote with respect and respect the vote. Tell the media, tell your candidates, tell your friends. Stop disgracing the Presidency. Vote your choice, but demand respect for the office of The President of the United States of America. It’s a tough job, one with the weight of the world waiting every morning. A hard job, a thankless job, yet a job that deserves nothing less than a voice of respect from around the world. For me, the choice is simple, because we have no choice... America remains the target of madmen, and President Bush remains, the right man for the job! It’s a good feeling, respecting the President of the United States. Trusting him to do the right thing. Any fair-minded person would feel that way. Show the world they can trust us to do the right thing, but the right thing starts with respect! ------------ About the author: Jeff D. Riley is a second generation Italian American who lives in Texas. Riley lived with his grandparents who taught the value of a loving family. A member of Actor's Equity since age 16, Riley grew up on stage. After a four year tour in the Navy, Riley co-founded a regional ballet company. Ballroom dancing and writing are his hobbies, his four children his loves. The original Mr. Mom, Jeff has been single parent for nearly 15 years. You can contact him at: Tango6000@hotmail.com ------------ |
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