The ORI Project: Continuing an old Feb 11, 2003 thread

Continuing an old Feb 11, 2003 thread

Posted by Creek on 10/16/2007, 1:47 am

(This was originally posted on page 2 in response to "bonnie" who was reponding to an old post of mine dated 2/11/03).
Hi, bonnie. Thanks for writing.
You may have noticed that I posted that little rant about a month before we invaded Iraq. I was hoping against all hope that someone would prevail in heading off the inevitable and unwarranted attack. But, alas, they didn't. And, as a result, we have lost more Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan than we did on 9-11.
I am looking forward to a new administration and a new direction for the country. It serves no purpose at this stage to bash Bush or his Iraq policy. We who insisted all along that it was a decision we would live to regret have been vindicated. Just about everyone (whether they care to admit it in so many words or not) now realizes that WE were right and that we should have been listened to.
But that's water under the bridge.
I am ready for a kinder, more civilized America. While my first pick for President continues to be Joe Biden, I realize that he is not likely to be elected. So I am ready to go with Hillary. One of the reasons, frankly, is Bill. He is a terrific diplomat and is liked around the world. A couple of weeks ago he said in an interview that if Hillary is elected he would love to play some sort of role going around the world and working to repair the damage the Republicans have done to our nation's image and reputation. And that, to me, should be our number one priority.
We need to convince the other countries, friend and foe alike, that we are NOT a nation of redneck bullies and warmongers. As I have said many times, we can wave flags and boast of our greatness all day long. But we will only be a truly great nation when the rest of the world says we are. We will be the shining city on the hill we think we are when and only when people around the world--from Europe to Africa to Asia to Latin America--begin to look up to us and idolize us for our unequalled compassion, wisdom and rational leadership--and not just for our bluejeans and movies.
Bill clinton would be the best ambassador I can think of. But the real place to start is here at home. Those moderates who are over here with me (slightly left of center) need desperately to get tough on all those Hannities, Limbaughs and Coulters who use their bully pulpits to preach hate and intolerance to their weak-livered and gullible admirers. I know, moderate progressives hate being mean-spirited and confrontational as a rule. But we have got to stand up and make ourselves heard. We must get a bit tougher...or the right will walk right over us.
Again, bonnie, thanks for your input. Let's just hope Bush and his neocon buddies don't decide to move on to the next phase of their Axis of Evil thing (Iran) before we have the chance to kick them out there.