Living the Partisan Life

You know, I love politics, but not when politics means baseless bickering and cowarding behind "party identities". It is for the election races, ballot casting, and passionate belief in the US of A that I live. And while I do understand that people, being the social beings they are, will migrate towards a herd (party) that mostly closely aligns with their own belief system I do not necessarily believe it is for the best of the world. Lost in the compromises of hard line politics are any qualities of humanity. We forget that people are alive and fleshy just like us and instead treat them as mere vessels for ideals and issues.

integrity, hard work, and respect are lost in the shuffle of battles between pro-life/choice, taxation, the death penalty, and war. These things are important but so are sound judgment. What I find especially frustrating is that the single branch of the government intended to be left free of this bullshit turns into nothing more than escalated and hyped mega-election without any of the formal niceties. I wouldn't for a moment believe that appointing a supreme court justice should be done on a whim. In fact, a one way ticket to a cushy seat complete with a gavel able to come down on the world and change it should not be a ticket offered freely but it should be one awarded to someone qualified to make consistently sound judgments based on facts presented through the case in front of them.

I scoff at the idea of senators posing inane questions like "how would you rule on this case or that one or how about the other one?" Gee golly whiz Mr. Senator, "How would you vote on this agricultural bill if this pesticide manufacturer wasn't your most generous campaign contributor?" Our fate and our constitution lay precariously in the hands of the people who probably don't have our interests at heart when they accept that big fat check. Why must we dilute another branch of government with this insanity?

As far as I can tell (and I can tell pretty far)John G. Roberts Jr. is a respected gentleman who is equipped with a brilliant legal mind...so why, the morning after his nomination was submitted by El Presidente Bush did the media jump all over him like free samples at the grocery store? Why did they have try to destroy him? I haven't the slightest clue besides their blood thirst and boredom. I'm glad to learn via Fox News (haha) that "[He] is a credible nominee, and not one that - as far as we know now - has a record that in any sense could be described as extremist," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Bush had "made a wise choice." But then again, even as a registered Republican Senators Lieberman and Nelson have been two of my favorites so perhaps their endorsement is not the best representation of the extreme leftist mentality I had in mind.

Roberts wilreceiveve little flack from the Senate as his character and brilliance have been discussed ad nauseum. I think he represents a balanced and fair sort of perspective that I'd like for a president to someday embody. And while we patiently await such a man or woman we might learn a lesson ourselves that perhaps partisan politics are inefficient and petty.