Burned Up and Burned Out by Politics

President Bush almost killed me. It's true, and I have the scars to prove it -- multiple scars that are part of the public record -- you saw them in magazines and on my show, and you can see them on my blog frequently -- no twelve year wait required.

It was 2000, and the Republican National Convention was on television. The whole affair felt something like a home invasion, with a chronically smirking and arrogant George W. Bush as ringleader. Not wishing to be robbed of my optimism and hope at the time -- or to tumble into depression and despair -- I shut off the TV and decided to go fishing.

I needed gear, so I went to the store and bought a few things, including a knife, which I used to cut the price tags off of the fishing poles.

Now, I could have stabbed myself 100 times in the hand and not managed to do the damage I did with that one poke to the inside of my middle finger. I went all out, though, and got everything -- skin, ligaments, tendons, nerves. Maximum impact, including a particularly nasty staph infection that almost left me dead.

That's my personal war story from the demoralizing Bush years, and probably a minor one, considering the 935 documented lies told by the Bush administration that thrust us into an unjust war, killing thousands of Iraqi civilians and nearly 4000 Americans. One near-death experience probably pales in comparison to the $9 trillion dollar debt heaped upon the collective back of America, or the gross war profiteering by corporate friends of Cheney and Bush, or even the $10 billion dollar third-quarter profit Exxon recently reported.

Still, it hurt like hell, and the scars and swelling are there as a reminder. I was right to feel repulsed by Bush. Nearly everything his administration has done or stood for in the years since has been tainted by lies and corruption.

I've stuck mostly to newspapers and internet news sites since Bush took office. It's less painful to read Bush's stumbling, dishonest commentary in print than it is to see it live and in color -- with all that cocky, cowboy arrogance -- the kind that declared "Mission Accomplished" in 2003 knowing full well that the "mission" was based on lies, and that the "accomplishment" would leave American troops in Iraq for years to come cleaning up the mess.

It's a new season, with an election on the horizon, but like many others I have felt burned up and burned out by politics. While I've never tripped over to the apathetic side, I have been leery of politicians in general, particularly those who claim they have what it takes to clean up the catastrophic mess that will be Bush's enduring legacy, and America's decades-long burden. I just don't want to be stabbed again, literally or figuratively.

Tentatively, I've begun to watch politics on television again, For the most part, outside of some very unfortunate and unnecessary mudslinging, I find the Democratic candidates surprisingly easy on the eyes. When they break away from the sick political disease of backbiting, their optimistic messages of real change, relief, and hope resonate more clearly.

Hillary Clinton is not light on political experience or plans. Her deep knowledge, assured confidence, and personal strength shines through her speeches. While some would deride her for her background, few can argue that it hasn't been substantial enough, or encompassing enough, to qualify her for the presidency, which is an argument that has been used against her chief opponent, Barack Obama.

Obama is invigorating. A silken-tongued master of hope-filled speech, an eloquent narrator of the American dream. "Yes we can," he says, and the cheering crowd, inspired, rises to its feet. His background is more eclectic, and his roots more exotic than Clinton's, but only two of his eleven years in politics were in the U.S. Senate. Is it enough? His proponents say it is, and even call his relative inexperience an asset -- there's no politics as usual if you take out the usual kind of politicians.

It's still early yet, but so far I find both candidates believable. They are different, with a different mix of talents to bring to the political table, but they both seem to have the passion, plans, drive, and intelligence I want in my next president.

Could a Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton ticket be our future? I hope so. I think America would benefit from the strengths of either individual, but if those strengths were combined, we might just have the Democratic powerhouse the country needs to turn itself around, and back into peace, prosperity and opportunity.

May they both release the desire to receive for oneself alone -- and save the world together.

www.rosie.com

Comments

[efranklin]

Rosie, how can you, as a mouthpiece for the gay and lesbian community, back the Clinton tag-team that signed one of the most bigoted anti-gay pieces of legislation ever: the Defense of Marriage Act? The irony is as thick as phone book.

[newmexicogold]

I respect your honesty regarding being burned-out with poitics. On the edge of the next general election lies a topic few are willing to discuss: what do we do with Bush/Chene­y/Wolfowit­z/Rumpsfel­d after they leave office? Should they be allowed to fade into public life? Or should they be held accountable for their actions? Are they protected by US laws? Can or should these laws be changed? Can they be held financially accountable as well? Most politicians earn more money after leaving office. I'd like to see Bush/Cheney at a freeway offramp holding up hand lettered signs, 'will work for food.'

[meokie]

Yeah BayBee, welcome back!

[nellie]

Welcome back to the political arena, Rosie. I still advise you steer clear of television news. Stay with us here on the internet&m­dash;where truth is respected and eventually gets passed around. Thanks for your post.

[nellie]

Welcome back to the rink, Rosie. I still advise you stay away from television news. It's designed to steer us away from the real issues, and no matter how much presence of mind we have, it gets to all of us eventually.

Stay with us here on the internet. Where truth is respected and eventually gets passed around. Thanks for your post.

[usedtowander]

Two years as a Senator is just not enough experience. Especially, since he started running for President pretty much the day he started.

Winning the election is not enough. Having someone in office that can actually get things done is also important. If Democrats win the election and nothing can be changed - as with the current congress, than what is gained?

[researcher]

hey keep this going bush sr then clinton twice then bush jr twice then clinton then jeb then chelsea then the bush twins.

and who are the dumbest voters on earth. guess.

in a republic the leaders are only a reflection of the voters. easier to blame the leaders then look in a mirror.

we americans in our hearts are imperialists and many are war mongers. ike warned us but no one listened.

systems and structures influence behaviour. simply unchecked capitalism in action.

[YMCA]

To Hillary supporters: She's a strong candidate, and probably would make a good President; but she will lose when all of the Conservatives go to town on her and all of the independents go and vote for McCain.
Obama may not be your candidate of choice, but his policies only differ slightly from Clinton's. If the Democrats want to win. They MUST, MUST elect Obama.
Please admit this to yourselves.

[eshalom]

The sexism and misogyny continue full force as the media goes all out to bring Hillary Clinton down.

Professsor Lois Dubin of Smith College, Mass. has written a letter to MSNBC responding to David Shuster's offensive comment regarding Chelsea Clinton. Professor Dubin doesn't take sides between Obama and Clinton, but she has strong words for the media's continuous blatant sexist and misogynist attacks on Hillary Clinton. To read more, go here:

http://katalusis.blogspot.com/2008/02/msnbcs-schuster-ignites-latest-media.html

[internationaldropout]

Except as a parent following my children's media obsessions, I am not media-struck. I think it irresponsible to follow Hollywood types. They are specialists in the creation of fiction; which is a comforting respite, not the goal.
However, I think there is no longer a place for me in the hostility toward older females that I see in the media and in personal posts--all you have to do is look on this thread. The unwanted Reagan years were less painful than the utter horror created starting with Bush's 9/12/01 speech. He has legitimized hate and sadly, Obama's supporters don't even see that they are the inheritors of it through their older woman bashing.
At age 53 and with bad health, I am running out of time and money. It is demoralizing to see our children leaping on a bandwagon to put elders down as soon as possible. I am still working, will not have a retirement even when I finish putting my kids through college, and am having discussions with my peers about where a woman of a certain age can immigrate to have peace from vitriolic anti-womanism. I have paid taxes at my husband's rate my whole married life (30 years), which is nicely tied up in his retirement funds, his family's trust funds, and his single possessor bank accounts. As for those of you that support Obama, I say this: the proof is in the pudding. I don't know how Michelle feels now about giving up her job but I guarantee her how she'll feel when's she my age. Like thrown out leftovers, because that is how this society treats older women. Hillary may have put up with a raw deal, but she has made gravy out of it, and there is nothing wrong with that.
It just goes to show, that you can look like the establishment (nice house, natural blonde hair, career and three kids) and feel utterly, utterly alienated from the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic slot that others have placed you in. Thanks, Rosie, for putting it into words.

[wilhelmR]

AS I see it the NYT and the Establishment will MAKE SURE Hillary will win the Primaries: As a first time voter and energized by Obama IF Hillary wins the Primary due to her DIRTY tactics as well as Bill's and her supporters I will NOT vote in the general elections. I will expect Obama to be Governor somewhere and will run again as an outsider in 4 or 8 years. By then I will vote.

[shamba]

Rosie, do you know that Hillary CLinton does not support full repeal of the Defence of Marriage Act? Obama does. Hillary Clinton voted to authorize the War in Iraq and has no qualms about continuing her war posturing toward Iran. Hillary Clinton has no qualms about lying or distorting Obama's 100% positive record on women's reproductive freedoms. The Clinton campaign has had no qualms about using race to divide the electorate and have been dismissive of Obama's black support as insignificant (like Jesse Jackson's in 1980 and 1984). Rosie, get smart. It is time to choose a candidate so that we have one by the time the convention convenes in Denver. Get behind Obama already -- eh?

[Magee]

Hi Rosie,
Love to hear from you. I was so mad when you left The View and that awful person remained. Thanks for your even-handed approach to the Democratic candidates. I think both are great, especially when compared to McCain. As to your point about a dream ticket, it doesn't seem likely. I do think Hillary would be more amenable to a joint ticket with her in either spot than would Obama. He has built much of his campaign on maligning her "character," a difficult position to explain away if he tried to team with her.

[TheOtherMaven]

To date no woman has ever yet gotten through a political door without a black man getting there first to open it for her. I see no reason to think that trend won't continue. It may be dismaying and discouraging, but that's how it's been and that's how I'm betting.

[gclum]

Hi Rosie, great to hear from you.

I for one will vote for whomever is the Dem nominee. Either one will be better for our country than another republican.

Times, they are a changin.