Effects Impeachment Is Having On Me (19 posts)

6. Broad swipe?
Wed, Feb 3, 1999 - 11:03 AM/EST
McRostie

Jim, I didn't think I did that. As to the southerners, all I suggested was that the bulk of the extreme right in the Republican party seemed to come from the South. I think that is correct although I'll admdit to no proof, only a personal perception.

As to Conservatives, I've complimented Gayle on more than one occasion, and did so in my last post, as being a thinker. Many conserataives do think, often and well. They are, however deficient in their definition of "progress", in the insistence that it is moving in a direction of return to the "good old days".

As to Liberals, i recognized Gayle's "rabid" adjective as being one to be applied to a non-thinker. There are rabid Liberals way out on the lunatic fringe of the Democratic party. I don't find their beliefs particularly attractive either.

So, I guess I'll defend my swipe as being not too broad, but relatively inclusive of both fringe groups in political society.

Regards, McRostie

7. Sorry for the delay
Wed, Feb 3, 1999 - 2:47 PM/EST
JimP

in replying. It has been an interesting 24 hours. I now have one leg propped on a pillow as I type this. Yesterday whan I posted about the swipe above, I was about to leave for the doctor's office. I have been in bed, sleeping mostly, for over 20 hours. I'm now able to sit up and take nourishment, but am not yet able to get around w/o a crutch. I have cellulitis, an infection, in my right leg.

So, maybe I reacted overly strongly in my post yesterday. I apologize.

I am reminded of what I developed after years of living in D.C. The traffic on the Beltway is horrible, and often we would sit there for no known reason. Some folk would come up on the shoulder and exit at the next available exit. I tried it a couple of times, and wound around the back streets until I reached my destination. Invaribly, neighbors who had been in the same traffic jam would arrive within minutes. I finally determined that movement is not necessarily progress. (Ain't you glad I finally got to the point?) Anyway, that's my appelation to what many liberals seem to think is necessary for the nation. A conservative does desire progress, but we want to know that it is not merely movement.

As far as southerners being in the forefront of the conservative movement, I don't think that you can show that with statistics. It is at best anecdotal. We have governors across the nation, and many members of Congress. Now, I WILL admit that there are southerners who seem to be re-fighting the Civil War. One of my Senators, Helms. is of that ilk. The other, Edwards, is a very progressive liberal Democrat. I didn't vote for him, because I thought that there were better candidates. I also did not vote for his Republican opposition, Faircloth. Anywas, Edwards has been selected as one of the Democratic Senators, and only freshman, to depose the witnesses. I am sure he will do well.

I, too, am aware that there are extreme fringes, though I wouldn't use the term lunatic. I think I've said before that we need the extremes to define the middle. We need not agree, and we may need to be more aware of our own centrism's stands, but we definitely do need "to defend unto the death their right" to say their pieces.

I hope this hasn't been too long.

Regards,

Jim

8. Get Well Quick
Wed, Feb 3, 1999 - 4:28 PM/EST
Gayle

Propping legs and clumping around on crutches doesn't sound like much fun. Hope you aren't in a lot of pain and will recover with all speed.

How about if I take over the leg propping part (since it involves sitting) and you take over with the sick 5 year old and sick 8 month old? I know they can teach you all kinds of new and fun ways to use those crutches.

Sounds fair to me.

9. I come with experience
Wed, Feb 3, 1999 - 7:21 PM/EST
JimP

I've been there, done that, though never both simultaneously.

However, I don't have the energy right now. I took what was supposed to be a short nap this afternoon, and it turned into almost four hours.

10. Ohhhhhhhhh,
Wed, Feb 3, 1999 - 11:03 PM/EST
Gayle

you're so lucky. I'd give anything for four hours of sleep in a row.

11. Get well, all of you!
Thu, Feb 4, 1999 - 10:33 AM/EST
McRostie

Jim, I truly hope your recovery is quick. And Gayle, "Ain't kids fun"? Hope they give you some peace and quiet soon.

Since we're about at the end of this 20-day session, I've enjoyed "meeting" both of you.

Regards, McRostie

12. ?:)
Thu, Feb 4, 1999 - 10:59 AM/EST
Gayle

Yep, they certainly are McRostie...if you're one of 'em!

I never paid attention to my age, until this year. Now I tend to feel every one of them PLUS a few. But it's worth it.

The 'meeting of minds' has also been a pleasure for me. Hope we can continue on together.

13. back to the topic...
Thu, Feb 4, 1999 - 12:14 PM/EST
eireann

(i don't have any kids - yet - and i'm feeling pretty good right now, so i can't join in on the last few posts...hope you both are doing better, though...)

anyway, i said a long time ago i would ponder jim's quesiton and come back with my response. it's a little late, but here it is.

my mom is incredibly cynical. and she always SAYS how incredibly cynical she is. in fact, i think even before i knew what the word meant, she was telling me that she didn't want me to turn out to be as cynical as she is. she started out differently - naive, she says, though i would probably call it optimistic, or pretty normal for a little american kid growing up in the 50s. she was 15 when kennedy was shot, though, and she says her idealism went right down the toilet that very morning. she'd worked on his campaign and really believed in him. it was the first time she'd ever gotten involved in politics or felt that politics ever had any relevance to her life. so, to have the very image and reason for all that hope and idealism killed right there before her eyes on TV was a bit hard to take.

unfortuantely, her cynicism rubbed off on me even before this whole impeachment fiasco, but i'm afraid it's having - in a much less noble way - the same type of effect on people of many different categories in this country. and it's really too bad.

i mean, how can we still teach young kids and teenagers today that politics, or the presidency, is truly a "good" profession? will kids reared on presidential jokes, rabidly partisan congresses, larry flynt and ken starr ever even THINK about getting involved in politics? my guess is no, at least not for a long time. instead, i'm afraid we'll get candidates like geoffrey fieger, who just lost a bid for governor in michigan - people who revel in sleaze and tit for tat personal attacks.

so, the effect impeachment is having on me is twofold: nauseau at the current situation, and fear for the future. i guess i've dashed my mom's hope for an idealistic child.

-eireann

14. Cynicism
Thu, Feb 4, 1999 - 2:47 PM/EST
McRostie

eireann .... don't give up on optimism. The world and this country are much better places than they were even in President Kennedy's day.

While we have troubles all over the world, they are relatively minor ones, not on the scale of WWII or the Cold War. Our problems are ones which can be resolved with a reasonable amount of good will on the part of all men and women. And i truly believe that our chances of a reasonable solution are much better today than ever before in history as we are today, better able to solve the economic problems than ever before.

So, keep the faith. I think we'll find honorable men to operate the levers in the machinery of our government in the future, although I'll concede, the past ten to twelve years have made it much more difficult.

Regards, McRostie

15. and what about the other half?
Thu, Feb 4, 1999 - 5:10 PM/EST
eireann

mcrostie-

honorable men, eh? isn't that part of our whole problem here?

there are honorable women, too. i hope that was just a silly error and not a deliberate statement.

-eireann

16. I'm showing my age!
Thu, Feb 4, 1999 - 7:22 PM/EST
McRostie

eiieann .... Sorry About That! I grew up in an era when it was OK tor represent all of humanity as "men". I KNOW BETTER TODAY, REALLY I DO! I fell into old habits and I apologise. IT WAS A SILLY ERROR!

Regards, McRostie

17. To eireann
Thu, Feb 4, 1999 - 8:17 PM/EST
JimP

I'll echo McRostie, don't give up. When there can be such open discussions as we have had; when people have a means of knowing, and understanding a politician's stands; when there are methods of letting those same politicians know where WE stand; then there is room for optimism.

Further, when WE demand campaign reform so that WE are represented, rather than monied interests; then there will be politicians willing to be statesmen, rather tham lemmings following the trail of money to their destruction.

I would not use the term cynical about you. Realist, possibly, but in truth, the word I would use to describe you would be Rational. You think, you consider, and once you have done so, you seem to have the intelligence and fortitude to act appropriately. Would that we all were so cynical.

Regards,

Jim

18. eireann
Sat, Feb 6, 1999 - 3:03 AM/EST
Gayle

My two cents...Never give up on dreams and ideals or the other side wins every time.

19. It is over.
Fri, Feb 12, 1999 - 3:41 PM/EST
JimP

Now that it is finally over, the rest of our lives begin.

I think we have all been affected by this procedure. I think that the future course of the nation has been changed. It will take a long time to see the magnitude, or the direction, of the change.

I appreciate all of you. It has been through your participating, listening, agreeing, disagreeing, discussing, ranting, and even caring that has made these past weeks interesting and informative.

I have had reinforced to me that there are those with whom I disagree that can explain their points of view in ways that cause me to think, and to reconsider. I have adapted some positions to new information, adopted others previously unknown, and kept many. But, it is the opportunity to do so that make life a challenge. Thanks.

Regards,

Jim