To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
This Isn't Going to Be Pretty
Imagine my dismay when I read this opinion piece, and the first thing I thought of was "and this is why women shouldn't be President". Yikes. I mean, I'd love for Condi to run for VP or something (she's too quiet on some social issues for me to be comfortable with just putting her in charge... ya know?) but, with very few exceptions, women are far too emotional to hold that kind of power.
Let's look at some of what Ms. Marcus had to say, and you'll see what I mean. I won't even go over the over-used, oft-refuted liberal talking points (mostly about the Iraq war... do we really have to explain AGAIN???). We'll go over the other... stuff...
Introspection? During war? There is time for that... later... much later.
Consensus? You do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, NOT because a majority of uninformed (or, worse yet, misinformed) sheep tell you via a poll that it's the right thing to do.
Self-doubt? A leader loses his ability to lead if those he commands sense his doubt... in himself... his direction... his vision. There is a saying- Sever the ignorant doubt in your heart with the sword of self-knowledge.
During a time of peace, you might... MIGHT... be able to make a case for the need for more "feminine" characteristics in a leader. Personally, I NEVER want a President who doubts his (or her) vision or ability. I want a President who is forceful... commanding... manly.
Let's look at some of what Ms. Marcus had to say, and you'll see what I mean. I won't even go over the over-used, oft-refuted liberal talking points (mostly about the Iraq war... do we really have to explain AGAIN???). We'll go over the other... stuff...
- The administration's manliness doesn't stop at the water's edge. Pushing another round of tax cuts in 2003, Vice President Cheney sounded like a warrior claiming tribute after victory in battle: "We won the midterms. This is our due," Cheney reportedly said. (uh... hon... they won based on those tax cuts... WE WANTED THEM.-B)
- After the 2004 election, Bush exuded the blustering self-assurance of a president who had political capital to spend -- or thought he did -- and wasn't going to think twice before plunking down the whole pile on Social Security. (and more's the pity that privatization didn't get a fair hearing-B)
- And the administration's claim of almost unfettered executive power is the ultimate in manliness: how manly to conclude that Congress gave the go-ahead to ignore a law without it ever saying so; how even manlier to argue that your inherent authority as commander in chief would permit you to brush aside those bothersome congressional gnats if they tried to stop eavesdropping without a warrant. (it was legal... they didn't ignore a law... Congress was briefed... and so on... -B)
- What this country could use is a little less manliness -- and a little more of what you would describe as womanly qualities: restraint, introspection, a desire for consensus, maybe even a touch of self-doubt.
Introspection? During war? There is time for that... later... much later.
Consensus? You do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, NOT because a majority of uninformed (or, worse yet, misinformed) sheep tell you via a poll that it's the right thing to do.
Self-doubt? A leader loses his ability to lead if those he commands sense his doubt... in himself... his direction... his vision. There is a saying- Sever the ignorant doubt in your heart with the sword of self-knowledge.
During a time of peace, you might... MIGHT... be able to make a case for the need for more "feminine" characteristics in a leader. Personally, I NEVER want a President who doubts his (or her) vision or ability. I want a President who is forceful... commanding... manly.
