Honesty...Is Such A Lonely Word...

This may sound rather naïve, but I’m sick and tired of politicians who DON’T answer the question posed them. We’ve all become apathetic and/or accepting of the Tilt-a-Whirl-type spin put on anything and everything by politicians, that we just shrug our shoulders now and accept it and try to discern a granule of truth from the sandy beach of the politician’s rhetoric (remember in Ancient Greece when ‘rhetoric’ was a cool word?).

I like and support John Edwards, as I’ve said before, but even with thorough reading of both CNN and his own website, I find myself disappointed at times with the lack of detail and the general, sweeping, positive "solutions" to the country's problems. One thing that has made Wesley Clark likeable to me recently (too little too late, I guess!) has been his willingness to give DETAILS about his policies, his beliefs, how he would do/change things (though his policy on Israel sucks). To say “Oh, the health care situation is in crisis! We need to provide all children with health care,” is to me, akin to saying, “War is bad. We should have world peace.” No shit. Now, can you tell me HOW you’re going to accomplish the task of world peace? *splutter splutter splutter long, drawn-out, slightly-related tangent*

One thing I’ve noticed about “hard-biting” (is that the right term?) reporters is that they DO ask tough questions, but they almost NEVER follow through. So, as the politician begins spinning his dreidel of dissembling, the reporter simply waits patiently for the lengthy answer (a la the long, torturous interview with George W. Bush this weekend by Tim Russert. SIGH), and then simply proceeds to the next question. Have some frickin’ balls. Make someone answer! Politicians think that an answer that isn’t completely neutral as to be a 50% shade of grey, will lose voters, confidence, etc. Maybe they’re right. I personally would have a whole lot more respect for someone who actually made a statement that could be interpreted as a definitive answer and not something ambiguous. I still feel sympathy for Dean’s energetic speech which freaked so many people out (to me, at most, it was amusing, but nothing to eliminate him for).

Of all people in the world, politicians should be the ones to be the most honest. Yes, I know how absolutely naïve that statement is, since the beginning of time they’re probably hasn’t been one. And all I can seem to do about it is rant here in my blog and watch carefully for any politician who seems to tell the “most” truths (rah rah to Edwards for talking about the “Two Americas!!!”). I’m so sad to see the country in such bad shape at the moment, and though I am scared (shit scared) for Bush to get re-elected, I don’t feel entirely comfortable with any Democrat (especially Kerry) who may take over as well. It’s hard to feel confidence in someone you feel you can’t trust. How was Clinton, a man you KNEW you couldn’t totally trust, able to inspire so much confidence in himself? I’ll think about it.

Vote for John Edwards! Bush sucks. Kerry is disappointing.