Politicked Off

Rusty - May 16, 2007

So I was watching the Republican debate last night, not because I really care what the 59 different candidates have to say, but because my friends were there and I wanted to hang out and eat freshly-made gingersnaps. Not only was I again reminded why I no longer identify as a Republican but it’s always a good time to make fun of the freakshow that is American politics. Question avoidance, resume reading, unfunny canned jokes, endless platitudes, faux-indignance, etc. I especially loved watching each candidate retrofit their scripted platforms as answers to unrelated questions. Good stuff.

From what I could tell it seemed to be all the usual conservative talking points, everyone generally agreeing with each other…except Ron Paul. This dude had no chance before this debate started and has even less of a chance now that it’s over. He took the contrary position on almost every topic, you’d think he was a Democrat who wandered into the auditorium and they told him to get on the stage. But one moment stood out above the rest and that was when he was talking about our failed Iraq policy and suggested that those in the Middle East don’t like us because we have been in their lands making trouble for decades. He suggested that that was part of the reason they attacked us on 9/11 (not because they “hate our way of life and hate our freedom”). At that moment Rudy Giuliani interrupted, exasperated, and said that he’s heard a lot of explanations for 9/11 but has never heard that one. Extremely offended at the remark he suggested that Ron Paul retract his statement and apologize (something Ron Paul did not do). After the debate and even today Rudy is still talking about it, flabbergasted that any presidential candidate would hold that position, let alone a Republican.

I have two questions:

1) Is Rudy seriously suggesting that of all he’s heard in the aftermath of 9/11, that he’s never heard the suggestion that our foreign policy was what incited the 9/11 attacks? Really? I mean, I could understand if he hadn’t heard the chocolate bunny explanation or the martian robot explanation, but the failed foreign policy explanation? He’s surely much less informed than I had thought.

2) Do people really believe that they hate us because of our way of life and hate us because of our freedoms? Really? Come on. Any kid on a playground will admit that they hate the bully more than the rich kid.