Well, this should be interesting. I do appreciate the comments by all. Some points well made.
Weasel: I didn't ask what you thought of opinion polls, I asked you what you thought the majority of people in this country felt about continuing the occupation in Iraq. I would submit that if you don't think a democratic government should govern based on the will of the majority of the people, then I'd submit that you (and others) might be in the wrong country. People are elected by a majority to represent their wishes, or they are not elected again. That's a democracy. Or at least, that's what it should be. I understand your point (for once), but I think that's an oversimplification of the situation. Slavery? Wow...I'd like to think our population has grown a little psychologically and legislatively since those days, but I do agree there is an active element in the right wing that still pines for "them days."
As for the defunding vote of the war, you know good and well that the 14 who voted the way they did will be roasted with Swift Boat ads and deemed unpatriotic and weak, but they did step up to the stone wall. Partisan politics? Yeah, there won't be any of that played on those people...Whatever...
As for your end of the conflict analogy, the only conflict we currently have in Iraq are with the people who are motivated against us because we are still there. I believe the last number of Al Qaida members in that country NOW (not then) according to the general in charge of enemy assessments was 500 out of 14,000. You can certainly ask for the end of a conflict that was caused by this administration, can't you? And if you mean this war on terrah thing...again I submit you already turned away strongly from that when you went into Iraq away from Bin Laden and his boys, so I guess the administration cut and ran from that, right?
AR: Maybe some of these politicians do have info the public is not privvy to. I would think that to be the case. I'd submit back in the day that some of these politicians - like all of them - didn't have some of this info when they were asked their opinion on giving this President authority to act in our country's "best interest." Who's best interest has been served in this fiasco? Shareholders, workers, and management from a handful of companies. The administration for paying back supporters. Some Iraqi's who were terrorized by Saddam's soldiers, that have not been terrorized by the new assortment of insurgents and terrorists. And most of those people have gone through terrible and ongoing upheaval in their day to day lives, and trying to live a "normal life." Freedom is hard to measure, in some ways.
You say that many people can't take care of their own life properly. And you think many of our politicians do a better job of THAT? Let's see...do I think my opinion of living life is better than Duke Cunningham's? Of Tom Delay's? Selfishly, yes, I do. I'm comfortable with thinking that. I think my opinions are less calculated and less affected by outside influences. From what I've seen of your posts, I'd say you are, too. Is our opinion important? It should be. And if you are still comfortable giving George Bush (the dictator, remember?) the benefit of the doubt on your best interest, so be it. I'm not, in any way. He blew that a LOOOOOONG time ago. And continues to blow it (the dictator, remember?).
ImFeklhr: I know what you are saying, but specifically, I think this situation is much different than a puppy analogy. This conflict (Iraq) is what, the longest our country has ever been in? Do you think it merits our longest and most expensive war in history? Is it that critical to the war on terror? Really? Maybe you (and you guys) think that, but my question is, do you think the majority of Americans think that? Not just ending bloodshed, but is this in the best interest of our country? People now see the big picture, and not the narrow, scripted picture of the Bush administration. Their opinions have certainly changed, and the good will and support they gave him in the beginning has been blown to shreds, daily. They simply do not deserve our blind trust, and if you guys think they do, for whatever reason, I think you are at least naive, and at worst...(fill in the blank).
But thanks for your thoughts. Supporting your leaders is noble, in some ways, whether they've earned it or not.
