Election years can bring both good and bad news to Americans' attention,
and the 2004 election was no exception. The bad news was that the policies
and mistakes of the Bush administration contributed to a negative political
climate. The good news was that most Americans worked hard to rise above
the negativity and concentrate on the issues confronting America. Despite
the bad news, Americans remained united in their hope that good news was
on the way.
Americans received bad news when Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, and others representing
the Bush administration declared political warfare on people who sought
to debate the Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act. |
"Be
very cautious not to seek political advantage by making incendiary
suggestions" (Dick Cheney qtd. (1) 5/24/2002). |
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It seemed
ridiculous, and it didn't seem to make our country more secure, but we still
took the debate seriously. Then the news got worse during the 2004 election
when Cheney himself made incendiary suggestions. |
"...[I]f
we make the wrong choice then the danger is that we'll get hit again
and we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint
of the United States" (Dick Cheney qtd. (2) 9/8/2004). |
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He not only contradicted the argument he previously made, he made our
debate about national security and terrorism seem like a political charade.
Cheney and the Bush administration were wrong to threaten their political
enemies and attempt to keep them silent, monitored, and harassed using
policies, statements, and legislation. But through statements and actions
such as Cheney's, they ended up destroying their position and making the
whole national security debate seem like nothing more than a political
ploy. Even those of us who dare to disagree with the administration's
original position take the debate seriously. So, I don't mind saying that
I do not think Dick Cheney is a terrorist simply because he made an incendiary
suggestion. And although I wouldn't accuse him of threatening our national
security based on his comment, taking our nation through this charade
did not seem to help our national security. The good news is that it allows
Americans to look more critically at the Bush administration, and concentrate
on making America more secure instead of more afraid.
Right now, I think most Americans are more concerned about the possibility
of terrorists acquiring assault weapons than they are about the words
of Dick Cheney or the Bush administration. But why would Bush and Cheney
cave into terrorists and imply that democracy cannot stand up to terrorism?
After such a serious blunder by the Bush administration, America's enemies
could perceive Bush as being irresponsible with our national security.
Despite the bad news, American's remain ready to debate, and united in
their hope that good news is on the way.
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Notes:
(1) http://www.cnn.com/ 2002/LAW/05/columns/fl.dean.cheney.5.24/index.html
(2) New York Times. National Edition. Newspaper. September 8, 2004.
p. A19. New York, NY. |
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