Country First (or, How The Media Loves A Lipsticked Rumsfeld)

Banks are falling and businesses busting, middle-class Americans are losing their homes in droves, while greedy poison comes a tricklin' down!!!

But, "the fundamentals are good!" John McCain said they're good. And he should know, 'cause he was imprisoned 40 years ago in Vietnam. What? Wait a minute - WHAT!?

Moving on:

Last week, former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, encouraged his base to throw their support behind a third-party candidate, and indeed, among the third-party candidates, one will find representation of fundamental issues not being discussed or addressed by the Democrats or the Republicans. So, okay, it's a credible option. That is, if one is willing to dismiss, not only the major parties, but also, perhaps the bigger picture related to this year's catchwords: hope and change. If we look into the eyes of all the little black boys and girls for a sense of a brand new promise; if we imagine our next president as an ambassador representing a shift of American policy to the international community -- then, we have some prioritizing to do.

I am no great fan of the Democratic Party, and have enormous disagreement and concern about many policies advocated in the Democrats' current platform. But there can be no doubt, that in a country of, for, and by the people, the only positive change that can be depended on, is a movement of imagination, aspiration, and will.

I watched both the Republican and Democratic Conventions through the same lens and found the most striking difference between the parties that I have witnessed in my lifetime. It wasn't a lens pointed at the candidates or their attack-dog speakers. It was a lens pointed at the crowd, the delegates, and the ordinary citizens that occupied those two very different halls. At the DNC, I absorbed the intense hope, passion, and readiness to participate in, and sacrifice for our country.

This was in sharp contrast to the Governor of Alaska, who actually poked fun at, indeed mocked, the constitutional rights of the criminally accused in our system, to the thunderous applause of Republican brothers and sisters wearing symbolic hard-hats emblazoned with the slogan "Drill now," and holding signs claiming "country first," like gluttons to fast-food neo-conservativism.

What country is it they're putting first? Is it a country in the service of their children's future or one serving the conceit of a deferred personal identity? The picture of Republicanism in America represented by their convention, seemed more a gathering of self-styled pseudo-cowboys and shallow-eyed Stepford wives, than one of a hearty and loyal opposition. In particular, I found myself taken aback by the instant will to embrace Palin as their new champion. Full disclosure, I've spent a lot of time in Wasilla, Alaska, where she was mayor. I've even seen Wasilla booming. By that, I mean, an afternoon where, with a little effort, one could find three of four people on the streets. It's a beautiful town in a beautiful state. But, it's smaller than my children's pre-school. Since then, she's had a little less than two years in the governorship leading to a boldly received lie about a bridge at this year's convention. Is this really the example of earned and competent leadership that we want to put one heartbeat away from the presidency leading our children's country? Or are we simply enabling Palin (declared by former Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee a "cocky wacko") the hubris of her reckless acceptance of John McCain's wildly irresponsible invitation? When did we start pridefully championing those who win the contest of lottery over those who offer substance, and those whose lifelong cultural and political curiosity has the limitations of a single sparsely populated state?

When will America be ready to rise like a real champion? I'm reminded of Muhammad Ali's legendary "Rope-A-Dope." He took punch after punch, wearing Foreman down with courage and strategy, because the great champion that he is, understood that it's not how many times you get knocked down, but how strongly you get up. This country has to start talking about a new kind of strong; has to have the real courage it takes to fight only when necessary, and to do so, in preservation of civil rights for our countrymen, but if we are to be a world leader, then for humankind as well.

Our republican-led nation did a great disservice to the young soldiers who were sent to fight in Vietnam. They were vilified, and fantastically unsupported upon their return from overseas. In many ways, one's political view of that, or any other war, is irrelevant to the responsibilities we have to our returning troops. Still, supporting troops, like supporting our own children, should not be blind. Indeed, before we can look upon troop actions with a critical eye, we must look upon our own.

Still when a presidential candidate's campaign, incessantly exploits their man's heroic mythology, not withstanding whatever courage one may appoint John McCain, the long unspoken historical context remains worthy of at least brief consideration. Captain John McCain was shot down during Operation Rolling Thunder over Vietnam. From all accounts, he, and many other Americans faced their imprisonment with courage and integrity. An estimated 52,000 Vietnamese civilians - -men, women, and children, were incinerated as a result of Rolling Thunder's bombardment. McCain himself, has acknowledged that his participation was not motivated by patriotism. But, rather, in the pursuit of personal glory. And to what end? Well, to the end that resulted in a national tragedy, a lost war, and throngs of American veterans, ignored by the country, by the very parties and people that sent and kept them there. But despite the vainglorious devastation to both sides in that conflict, an unrepentant John McCain recently voted against veteran's benefits, those supported by his major opponent. This odd dichotomy begs the question: If John McCain, in reflection, offers no support for those that served beside him, nor those who serve today, what has experience provided him? And when a man regarded so highly in heroic terms of military service, confides personal glory as a common motivation to the young Americans who risk their lives, at what point would he acknowledge patriotism as something more considered than the glib hawkishness exulted by the Republican Convention? His choice of Palin is, once again, McCain's vainglorious head rising. It's about "winning," not serving. As Senator Joe Biden said this week, "Don't tell me your values, show me your budget and I'll tell you your values."

McCain values McCain. His blood boils every time his integrity is questioned, as though his five-year imprisonment allows him the arrogant assumption that he may tread on all that followed unquestioned. He was one of the Keating Five for good reason. Indeed McCain had abused his power as a Senator in lobbying for Keating. And it was not until he was tipped off by regulators of the criminal investigation of Lincoln Savings and Loan, that he severed relations with Keating. It was a little late. More than 21,000, mostly elderly investors, had lost their life savings. And, Cindy McCain's bookkeeping was not a thing apart. All the righteous indignation, or prior heroics one wants to advertise, does not change the pattern of self-service by this man of seven houses.

I can't help but reflect on the issues of health and homelessness that our Vietnam veterans faced for decades, just think of the tidal wave of veteran's issues about to return to our shores. John McCain claims the surge as a "victory." Well, it's no victory for the nearly 5,000 American dead. For the hundreds of thousands of civilian dead. It's no victory for the veterans who under this Republican administration, it has already been demonstrated, will not be served upon their return. It's no victory for our country to have a broken and depleted military, a broken and depleted economy, with so much work to be done at home on issues of healthcare, poverty, infrastructure, education, environment, and perhaps, most of all, security. And it's no victory, that in attacking the wrong country, we boosted Al Qaeda recruitment worldwide 300% (as we stop-loss our own.) Finally, it is no victory for our children, reared in an America of such divisive loathing, enormous debt, and tarnished standing.

Despite recent boasts to the contrary, by the Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, (Bush's key bumbler of the Katrina debacle) our country is not safer. It is not safer from without, and it is not safer from within. The divisiveness brought on by the policies of George W. Bush and John McCain has created an emotional civil war. We have to ask ourselves, at what point emotions may even turn to violence here at home.

By and large, the media is going to do what's good for the media. If that means covering the McCain/Palin ticket for fashion, or fraud, assume fashion their more likely target. (While Americans died in the Middle East, Donald Rumsfeld was voted one of People Magazine's sexiest men.) Palin, married to an 8-year secessionist, has as much as admitted that she has no interest whatsoever in any culture but her own. It is that kind of lacking in basic curiosity and the void of insightfulness that comes with it which embodied George Bush's folksy failings.

This is simply the worst ticket in modern times. And the victory for this country begins with a unified refusal to accept, not only the McCain/Palin ticket, but also the static and shallow conscience of the Republican base. If we are to support hope, in a cycle of history that may be its last, then a vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for cowardice. A vote not backed up by demand and participation, is an impotent one. A vote for hope followed by demand and action to realize it -- is an American vote. This November, vote American. Vote imagination. Vote hope. Vote your conscience. Vote for the troops. Vote to make me pay higher taxes. (I owe it to your children and my own.) Vote to put your country first.

Comments

[Grizz]

Sean, you are so right on. The republican party will do or say anything to stay in power. I hope as a nation we are strong enough to stand up and say no more!

[exhale09]

Republican­s...I'm talking to you!

Do you really not see what is happening to your OWN ECONOMIC SECURITY?

You've been HAD. Aren't you ANGRY?! Are you listening.­..really really LISTENING?

For YEARS your Party has insisted on DEREGULATION. For Pete Sakes...ev­en a BASEBALL GAME HAS TO HAVE RULES!

Their answer now "WE have to REGULATE the banking Industry" Well HELLO. That's what Democrats have been saying! John McCain HELPED to GUT the Banking Industry regulations that have allowed this mess to happen! Republicans in Congress have REFUSED to allow ANY oversight for 8 YEARS!

CHANGE COARASE REPUBLICANS. Doing the same thing OVER and OVER again, expecting DIFFERENT results, is tha mark of INSANITY!

[Jjc2006]

Thanks Sean. My respect for you continues to grow. While our choice in the primaries may have been different, our goals are the same. You are a person who is true to your beliefs and more importantly NOT AFRAID to (literally) get your hands dirty, or your reputation skewered, to do the right thing.

If it were up to me, the real culprits would be paying up using really money. If there were a voting "god" who knew all, there would be paying out of pocket triple the rest, all those who voted in the likes of George W and his republican cronies who have been stealing from the poor to give to the rich; who have been sending our young men and women to their deaths and who have been allowing the killing of innocents.
They would pay out of pocket to remind them to THINK before you vote, and to CARE about the common good. GREED is NOT good no matter how much those in charge have been trying say for nearly three decades.

[lorla]

I very rarely print anything to share. I read interesting articles all the time on the internet, and in print.
My brother was voting O, then suddenly, he was going third party.
He got a copy of this, because you have framed it in a way that will hit home with him.

Thank you
BO/JB-08

[dhertzfe]

It has just proved to the people of this country that the office of V-P should be an elected office just like the president.

Let the people decide which combination of the candidates should work together to run this country. This way the V-P office can not be used as a pawn in the elections.

[dhertzfe]

Sen. McCain has just proved to America that the office of V-P should be an elected office just like the president. Let the people decide which combination of the candidates should work together to run this country. This way the V-P office can not be used as a pawn in the elections.

[dhertzfe]

Sen. McCain has just proved to America that the office of VP should be an elected office just like the president. Let the people decide which combination of the candidates should work together to run this country. This way the VP office can not be used as a pawn in the elections.

[dhertzfe]

John McCain has just proved to America that the office of VP should be an elected Office just like president. Let the people decide which combination of the candidates should work together to run the country. This way the office can not be used as a pawn in the elections.

[FW]

USA UBER ALLES

[Rog49Thomas]

Their country is precisely the country where the interests of the haves and the have mores count. And no one else's interests do.

As to voting for credible third parties, that works really well as was demonstrated by the failure of the Weimar parties to unite against the NSDAP.

[66rock]

Sean Penn rocks!

I respect and agree with all you stated here but I have to add one thing.

Sen McCain's judgement and campaign is profoundly affected by the fact that he is impaired and by his sense of entitlement.

Having lived near the McCains and running into him from time to time, 2000-2006, I find the change in his manner and appearance extreme.

It is doubtful that he would complete one term and he doesn't care. And then he gave us Palin. So much for country first. Just my opinion. Thanks.

[anenka]

Thank you Sean...you really expressed what so many of us feel....

[DS1Roger]

Vote to kick ALL of the old bums out of office on BOTH sides.
“There is no native criminal class except Congress,” - Mark Twain
The public does not have an unlimited pocket.
First things first. Clean up the monetary waste! When Congress begins to look at our money as theirs we are all in trouble.
One thing we should know for certain since Obama grew up in the Chicago political system I wonder what kind of graft he has seen? If it's one thing Chicago knows how to do it's pinch the public.
Hell has no fury like a politician denied his graft.

[MNmommy]

Thanks Sean!

Beautifully stated.

[Doogle]

Sean Penn gets it. He's also a billiant actor. I enjoy him when he appears on Bill Maher.

[cblmc]

SEAN -

I'M A SENIOR. WHY IS IT THAT SOMEONE WHO'S RUNNING FOR THE 2ND HIGHEST SPOT IN THE COUNTRY, HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY NEWS SHOWS (i.e.MEET THE PRESS, ETC). IS SHE AFRAID OF ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS? THIS IS A JOB AND FRANKLY, IF YOU'RE AFRAID TO MEET THOSE INTERVIEWERS (AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS DONE SO FAR) YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE.....C­OULD BE LACK OF INTELLIGENCE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. SORRY ....IF YOU WANT THE JOB....YOU NEED TO INTERVIEW. WE'LL BE THE JUDGE OF WHETHER YOU'RE READY.