Outrage Over Blagojevich? Really?

Alright, what he did was bad. It was really bad. His attempt to sell the empty senate seat Obama left behind was an incredibly corrupt act. The arrogance and disregard for ethical behavior he displayed was so ridiculous it borders on farce. The nation has responded appropriately, calls for his resignation, steps towards impeachment if he refuses to resign, a quickly organized investigation, and widespread public outrage. Now that's all well and good, but when I sit back and think about it, it seems incredibly absurd. It's a lot like desperately scrambling to treat a paper cut, after you have just been repeatedly shot. All this concern over little old Rod Blagojevich while Bush, Cheney, and his cronies still sit in the White House.

Where is this kind of mass outrage and media coverage over just one of the things that Bush has done, let alone his entire presidency? Sure, we had a few occasions where people paid attention for a few days, but never did we have a huge public outcry to condemn or remove Bush or Cheney for their actions. But now the country seems to be up in arms about Blagojevich's misdeeds, and for what, because he tried to sell a senate seat? I agree, that is no small thing, but the ramifications of it were not that severe. To put it simply, no one died. The same thing, however, cannot be said for the actions of Bush and Cheney.

The war in Iraq, a war started on lies straight from their mouths, has claimed the lives of about 4,131 American men and women, that is 1,380 MORE than those who died in the 9/11 attacks. I would like to emphasize here that, despite the efforts of the Bush legacy team to rewrite history, it was a war begun on lies, not faulty intelligence. Make no mistake; this administration deliberately and intentionally corrupted the intelligence that we did have because they were determined to start this war. Shouldn't there by much more outrage, infinitely more, about those responsible for the deaths of our young men and women? Americans died, thousands of them, and the blood is on the hands of this administration, and yet people seem more bored or tired of Bush than they are infuriated.

Doesn't just the war justify impeachment proceedings? Doesn't just the war justify serious calls for resignation, from both sides of the isle? This administration lied; they lied to and misled congress and the country, all to start a war that they had no business starting. They lied because they knew that we didn't want to send out brothers and sisters to death for no good reason, so they didn't even give us the option to consider it in the public discourse, instead they sold us lies, and they carried themselves more like crooked used-car salesmen then leaders of the nation. Except that the car they sold us exploded, killing thousands. If the blood of thousands doesn't justify their removal from power, then I don't understand how anyone can justify removing Blagojevich from power.

The Iraq War does not stand as the sole reason for the impeachment, and imprisonment, of Bush/Cheney and their lackeys, but even without mentioning the dozens and dozens of other incidents of scandal, corruption, and abuses of power; there is more than enough reason to be tremendously outraged and call for their removal, and yet somehow it isn't really happening in a widespread way. There was tremendous public anger over Blagojevich, over Clinton, and over Nixon, but Bush, whose crimes are greater than all three of those combined, has somehow evaded justice better than any of them. The sad fact of it all is that the nation will most likely continue to treat the Blagojevich scrape, and ignore the blood gushing from all of the wounds left by Bush. In the grand absurdity of it all, we will execute the thief and let the murderer go free.

Comments

[MThomasNC]

I agree. Blagojevich actions are unacceptable, but I believe the outrage is that he spoke in plain language what he wanted. Whereas other politicans speak in code behind closed doors. When you contribute major funds to a campaign or when you do something for the candidate and he/she wins - then you are chosen as ambassor to France, etc - what is that. It's a political payoff for your contributions. That is the business of politics. Blagojevich is being crucified because he opened his big mouth to give voice to what happens behind closed doors.
Yes, Bush/Cheney deeds were/are much worst than Blagojevich. He gets 24/7 news coverage for several weeks, but Bush/Cheney despicable deeds get one news coverage. People have died in an unjust war. Our resources are being squaddled and stolen. MSM did not and will not report the abuses, the lies, the deaths manifested and done by Bushco. It's a sad day for MSM. They have become a joke.

[Organic-Guy]

They criminals in the white house are being let go because the ones who might do the prosecuting are just as guilty and they don't want anyone to find out just how vast a conspiracy the last eight years have been.

From the genocide of Katrina-removing poor people from coastal ands by natural forces so the rich could steal it, the war in Iraq, the fleecing of the treasury, the manipulation of oil prices-up to rip off as much money as possible before the stock market crash and closing of detroit and then down just before leaving to take away any incentive for a green economy, and the crashing of the real estate market to make people homeless and dependent and unable to fight against the tyranny of our fascist government, the democrats and republicans all have blood on their hands and they just want it all to go away with Bush when he gets on Marine One, one last time in January.

[hchriste]

Bush Chenney news is old news, no one is interested anymore. Gone and forgotten and they sell no newspapers or CNN ads. Even the Gov is old news but it is the only news the media has to cover.

[ldennard]

I coundn't agree more. I feel like we are all living in some sort of weird twilight zone. Were is the outrage, we had more uproar from a marital indiscretion by Clinton. It doesn't make any sense. I for one will be very disappointed as a democrat of democratic leaders if they don't do anything about the crimes of Cheney/Bush. I put Cheney first as I truly believe he is the mastermind behind everything.

[Shaddup]

Corporate media.

[FlyingDutchman]

Well, let's see. The corporate media acted as enablers for the Bush white house for nearly eight years--so, having a Democrat to pile on suits their needs admirably. They can ignore the blood on Bush's hands, and on their own by making sure the Blago story (and Rick Warrengate) stay in the headlines until Dubya slinks out of the excecutive mansion. Nuff said?

[jeffpickens]

Maybe since I'm a native of Jersey City, and have been following Jersey politics most of my life, where we have learned to live with just a bit of corruption in our beloved politicians, I just don't see this Blago thing as such a big deal, not with all the death and destruction still going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those responsible continuing to be unrepentant and not held accountable. Maybe the citizens of Illinois see it differently. The Repubs are seizing this as a diversion from all the damage they have done over the past eight years and attempting to taint Obama before he takes office.

Then there is that pesky matter of presumption of innocence, and the state has a process, where they can impeach him, prosecute, or both.

I hate to sound like a Republican, but let's let the state decide.

[benjaminblue]

Maybe the difference is this: the Illinois governor committed, essentially, just one serious offense. The Bush/Cheney cabal has committed hundreds, if not thousands, of offenses.

Before the public could concentrate on and comprehend one wrongdoing by this foul administration, there was another, and another, and another. With one illegal act overshadowed by another, day after day, what resulted was fatigue and confusion; people tried to keep current with the newest/latest scandal and forgot about all the others.

But when the Bush "legacy" is viewed in its totality, retrospectively, even the least informed among us will be able to see the long thread of misdeeds and -- just maybe -- there will be a public clamor for some accountability. And maybe -- just maybe -- Congress will finally take responsibility for doing its job, investigating and incarcerating the criminals who have destroyed this nation.

[LeftRight]

Do you really want to know why they are focusing on Blago instead of bush/cheney?? Because they are REPUBLICANS, whereas Obama and Blago are DEMOCRATS!