With all of the fuss being made about Bush’s WMD joke, another quip slipped beneath the media’s radar. Ann Richards, the most overrated former governor in the history of Texas, made a name for herself at the 1988 Democratic National convention with her remark that George H.W. Bush was born 'with a silver foot in his mouth." Now at the Democratic unity rally for Kerry she turns her wit on her fellow Democrats:
"[The Republicans] drove us into each other's arms," former Texas Gov. Ann Richards said. "We are so united that, before their wives got wind of it, Joe Lieberman and Al Sharpton were on their way to San Francisco to get a marriage license."
The funniest thing about the joke is that she doesn’t even realize how ridiculous her party has become.
Ann Richards has always been an odd one, but gee...
Neither party has a monopoly on ridiculousness. In terms of fiscal responsibility, the republicans used to make sense. All that is out the window now, unfortunately. In terms of social issues, the democrats seem more rational and broad-minded. Republicans are too concerned with the morals of others and blind to their own immorality. Generalizations, of course, but generally true.
Not quite. Republicans believe in morality, and most of us recognize our own shortcomings. It is the Democrats who celebrate immorality as "lifestyle choices" that demand support on the public dole.
Your observations about fiscal restraint among the Republican leadership is, unfortunately, spot-on. I've been very disappointed.
Kevin:
I think it's less that Democrats "celebrate immorality as 'lifestyle choices,'" and more that Democrats (in general) and Republicans (in general) define morality quite differently. I tend to define morality most often in terms of who's hurt by something. By that definition, Enron is far more immoral than two guys tying the knot. Spurious wars in oil-rich middle-eastern countries sold on false pretenses and costing hundreds of American lives (and many more non-American lives) is infinitely more immoral than the suggestion that maybe we ought not to be supporting Ten Commandments displays on the taxpayer dime.
Above should read "Starting spurious wars ... is infinitely ... " Sorry for the pronoun confusion.
As usual, you make my point for me, tg.
You would say that the adulterer whose spouse never knows of his adultery isn't committing an act of immorality. After all, who was hurt, if the spouse never finds out? Would you really say that a deed isn't immoral unless there is quantifiable damage to a victim? How about rigging the ballot box, to ensure a candidate's election? How about drug distribution, given that the victim would surely have just found another source? Prostitution, for the same reason?
I would agree on Enron. We have laws that will make their illegal AND immoral act punishable by very long prison sentences. But I think you stand on a slippery slope to measure immorality by who or how many might be victimized.
I find it interesting that you comment on how ridiculous the Democratic Party has become. The Dems have their problems, mainly defining their nature, conflicted by their liberal and giving roots in a world that's increasingly playing to the "I want mine first" Republican mantra. But anyone who remembers the GOP as the party of smaller, less intrusive government should be mortified by the Bush Administration. The only place government is getting smaller is in the areas that actually serve the people: education, social programs, etc. The No Child Left Behind is an unfunded mandate that's crippling education. In those areas that serve the Right's social agenda, and America's corporate agenda, the Bush Administration has said "super size me!" Even our military is suffering, with billions going to weapons systems, instead of raising the quality of life for the soldiers. The Cold War is over: we need more human intel, more fast reaction forces, more mobility, better soldiers. As we've seen in Iraq, our best and brightest among the soldiering clan can be much better paid as corporate mercenaries than in serving our country. And in a Republican world, why should they not go where the money is? With deficits at an all time high and social progams headed for the dustbin, we can't afford four more years of a Republican and Religious Rightist regime. To hell with Bush and his $300 tax cut: put a decent leadership in and I'll give you an extra $300 to fix this broken wheeled government.