An honest assessment

This is dead on. I was actually thinking about writing something to this effect today, but now I don't have to. Defending principles has to take precedent over defending individual people. It does no one any good to pretend that things are OK if they aren't. Republicans and other right-wingers need to be honest with themselves, and right now seems like a time for some introspection.

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You know, I generally like Bush. I voted for him in 2004 without hesitation. I like his foreign policy -- so much so that I've been willing to overlook a lot of mistakes on the domestic side. I even think his fisheries plan is probably a good idea. But lately I've been wondering, "What's the point?" What's the point of having Bush in the White House? What's the point of voting for Republicans in Congress? If I wanted big government I would have voted for Kerry.

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Since Bush came into office we've had more federal involvement in education, a prescription drug benefit, more money for farm subsidies, more transportation pork, more energy pork -- the list goes on. This is conservatism? Honestly, what are the Dems screaming about? Bush has arguably been government's best friend. This Katrina stuff simply confirms it. Over $50 billion has already been approved. The price tag will probably be around $200 billion. Why? Where is the justification?

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Even on foreign policy I'm starting to really question some of the "folks" at 1600 Penn. Look, I supported Bush on Iraq. Still do. I make no apologies for a war of liberation. But sometimes I wonder what the hell our leaders our thinking. Several months ago Cheney pronounced the insurgents to be in their "last throes." Either he is detached from reality or was lying. Neither scenario is very comforting.

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Iraq is tough. I understand that. I expect the insurgency to take years to fully quell. But is it too much to ask our leaders to level with us. I can handle the fact that things won't be solved overnight, but I can't take outright deception. It makes me wonder what else we don't know, or what else we think we know is actually spin.

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I suddenly find myself remembering why I voted Libertarian in 2000.

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Update: This was sent to me by "vince". And it's true. Throwing a whole bunch of money at the problem isn't leadership, it's desperation. More signs of grumbling here.