1964 Redux: I wonder how the weather is in Costa Rica?

[theoldwolf]

I remember clearly the horrifying moment in 1963 when I learned that Kennedy had been assassinated. I was in a taxi, coming home from school in Connecticut for Thanksgiving vacation. I remember just as clearly my mother's saying the following year, "If Goldwater wins the election, we're moving to Switzerland."

It's almost to that point again.

Recent news, at least according to the spinners:

1. Perry out, endorses Newt Gingrich.
   
2. 100 tea party leaders to endorse Newt Gingrich.
   
3. Newt Gingrich claims ex-wife's revelations are "old news."
   
4. Iowa caucus results were actually a toss-up.
   
5. Newt actually leading in South Carolina's polls.
   
6. Newt says, "If I win South Carolina, I'm the Nom."

Hqiz. The thought of Newt Gingrich in the Oval Office is enough to make me eye retirement in a lovely Latin American paradise where my pension would be enough to live on. I mean, it truly, really terrifies me.

I'm not saying Mitt Romney is the perfect alternative here, even though I support him at the moment. I'd rather see Ron Paul in office, but he's not perfect either, and I don't feel in my heart of hearts that he has a viable shot. But Newt Gingrich scares the hell out of me.

This is the man who told young Republicans, "I think one of the great problems we have in the Republican Party is that we don't encourage you to be nasty." And by the silken breast of Mogg's mother, this man is the poster boy for nasty. To quote Don Monkerud, "True to his word, Newt Gingrich and a group of his right-wing cronies reshaped the Republican Party, gained control of Congress in 1994, and pursued a mean-spirited extremist agenda aimed at issues like eliminating Federal nutrition standards for public school meals and stymieing a meat inspection system designed to protect the public from deadly E. coli bacteria. He led the Republicans in attacking Medicare and Medicaid and attempted to overturn clean air, clean water, and all environmental regulation. He denounced the Environmental Protection Agency as the '"Gestapo," drastically cut taxes for billionaires, and refused to raise the minimum wage to $5.25 an hour." This is not a man who will work to build a world that works for everyone, with no one left out. In the past, I've always been willing to say that I may not have voted for the man but I respect the office. For Newt Gingrich, I'd be willing to make an exception.

Looking at history, it would be jejune of me to think that the political leaders of my country should be held to a higher moral standard than those they govern, but I do it anyway. It's what I expect. We're all flawed, but I want those who sit at that desk in that office to walk a higher road than the rest of us, because in any organization, attitude starts at the top. I'm not blaming Gingrich for being divorced, it can happen to any one. Me included. And, there is a right way and a wrong way to end a relationship. You do not carry on an affair while you're married, you do not bring your girlfriend into your wife's bedroom, and you do not propose before your divorce is final. This guy has all the morals of the chicken crap I just scraped off my feet after going out to gather the eggs. It makes me shudder.

The scariest part is that there are fellow members of my country out there willing to throw money at this guy. The only conceivable reason is that if he were elected, they would stand to benefit in some way. A passage in the Book of Mormon relates, "Now those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people." And that about sizes it up.

I'm tired of being run by other people's money. It's nothing new... it's the way of the world. But it's time for a change. So as much as I'd like to turn my back on our stinking, corrupt political system and live a life of peaceful hermitage, my country deserves more. Which is why I support the movement to Occupy the Courts, and change the constitution of our nation to declare unequivocally that money is not speech, and corporations are not people.

All across our nation, on January 21st, 2012, people will be gathering at courthouses - including the Supreme Court - to voice support for this concept. I'm behind them. If I'm not at the courthouse in Salt Lake, it will only be because I'm not feeling well right now, but if I can be, I will be there. As a country, we deserve much more than leaders who are elected by virtue of the moneyed corporations with very specific agendas for legislation. We the people are not happy, we the people are speaking, and those who walk the halls of power had better be listening.

Comments

[tarinfirepelt.livejournal.com]

This is not a man who will work to build a world that works for everyone, with no one left out.

I totally disagree. By not kowtowing to special interest legislation (Which is not benefitting everyone by definition) and making broad covering bills, he IS working for worlds that work for everyone.

change the constitution of our nation to declare unequivocally that money is not speech, and corporations are not people.

I can not disagree with you any more strongly here. The solution is not to limit speech. The solution is to watch you politicians like a hawk, and if they are corruptly influenced by this form of speech, vote them out of office. NEVER limit the speech of the whole because of the misdeeds of the few. Particularly when the solution is already there.



Gosh it sounds like I am a Gingritch supporter. I am not. I am just offering my pragmatic view when I have to hold my nose and pull the lever again. My vote is still pretty simple. Anyone but Obama.

The primaries will be decided by the time the New Mexico Primary comes around so its all a moot point for me. >:( Gotta vote the locals and knock our democratic federal senator out of office though to get Reed out of the way.

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

I, on the other hand, sound somewhat like a liberal, which I'm not. But I'm firmly convinced that something must be done to limit the power of corporations in the political process, because they are not the people who invest in them. They are run by boards of directors and executives who profit massively and obscenely from the people whom they exploit, and contribute massively to candidates who can be bought and influenced to legislate on their behalf. This is not government by the people, it's government by capital, and is not what our constitution guarantees. Removing corporate influence in politics is in no way limiting speech, which is guaranteed to individuals only. The decision guaranteeing corporate personhood was an abortion, funded by and purchased by the corporate world.

[tarinfirepelt.livejournal.com]

I still think the solution is in throwing out the politicians, but I am in complete agreement in the fact that big money is corrupting the process. As are all the other lobby groups.

On a seperate note. Did you see Newt tear the CNN moderator a new ass-hole in the debate? About time someone stood up to those jackals.

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

He pretty much owned the whole debate with that one move. If I were a politician, God forbid, I'd probably come back with something like, "Well, Mr. Rohner, I talked to your parole officer yesterday and he told me that you've started beating your wife again. Would you care to comment on that?"

Asshats all around.