Quote:
Originally posted by bilmore
This bothers me on a fairly deep level, and I'm not quite sure I can define it well. I had the same sort of feeling watching NOW defend - hell, lionize - Clinton as the rape and harassment allegations were all coming out.
It bothers me because, on the one hand, I can understand it.
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But what do we, as a society, give up when we make such a choice? I understand that there's no perfect leader - but how far down are we willing to draw the line of acceptability in order to fight for our positions?
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It doesn't lead to admiration of what we've become.
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It bothers me on a fairly deep level too, and I'm the one who said it and (I think) believe it.
I am not pleased by the lowering of standards for our political leaders and the cynicism and hypocrisy that is such a part of our political lives on both sides of the aisle. I used to be far more idealistic than I am today -- and had planned as a kid on a life of public service (prosecutor/politician). I now know that I could never stomach a politician's life.
I think part of the problem may be that everything is all out war now. In the past decade, the country has realigned so that the two major political parties more nearly mirror the socioeconomic and cultural divides in this country than ever before. (Witness the not-so-gradual demise of Conservative Dems and Liberal Repubs.)
This makes one more likely (on a party level) to demonize the opposition and defend your leaders just because of who is against them. Also, so long as your leaders are effective, makes you willing to lower your standards. Desparate times, etc.
I'm not happy about it. Like I've said on here (I think) I was such a damn fool that Gary Hart was one of my heros -- until it all fell apart. I saw the movie Primary Colors as a wrenching indictment of our win at all costs political system.
I could easily vote for John McCain or Colin Powell (maybe even Giuliani), in part because I want to believe again. What are the chances that they could be nominated? Not good.
Al Gore was a decent, honorable man with a fine record of service to his country (as was Bob Dole for that matter). What happened to them? That stuff doesn't matter much anymore.
S_A_M
