That question is this: Have we become a nation of idiots?
A few months ago, I did a piece entitled "Inverted," in which I addresses several key issues of the day in which I see our thinking as upside down as a society. It appears that my piece might have hit home with a few people, but it hasn't had the significant impact that I had truly hoped it might have when I wrote it. I wasn't expecting mountains to be moved, nor rivers to change courses, but perhaps a few minds to be opened to thinking, something that seems to have become a dying art in our modern society. I have determined that one piece alone doesn't have the impact today of something as significant as Martin Luther's 99 Theses; instead, it takes perseverance and persistence and a constant showing of what is going on with things.
Therefore, I have decided that this will become an ongoing feature for Wake Up America. This will be the first of an ongoing series that will discuss the question, "Have we become a nation of idiots?"
General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are preparing for their next round of Congressional testimonies this coming week. There is a lot to report. According to the latest NIE update, the troop surge in Iraq has worked, there is slow but steady progress in the country politically, and Iraqi forces are taking a more active role in their own security.
Petraeus is a career military officer, not a politician, and Crocker is a diplomat. These are not men who are coming to Washington jockeying for position with other lawmakers, opening themselves to the flirtations of lobbyists, or trying to determine how much pork they can bring home for their districts in the form of earmarks. Petraeus is a warrior, Crocker is a peace-broker. Despite the seeming contradictory roles they play, both men actually are working for the same goal in a country that needs their experience and expertise to begin full work in governing itself, with our help as a nation at the outset.
One needs only to look at history to see that our own nation had the help of the French at a time when we were struggling to emerge as a nation of our own right.
There has been no advanced word on what the Petraeus or Crocker reports will say. No one has leaked information, yet, as to what will be discussed at the Congressional testimonies. But Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi seems to think she already knows what will be said, and has gone on the record saying that she doesn't want to hear it.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned Army Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on Thursday not to "put a shine on recent events” in Iraq when they testify before Congress next week.
“I hope we don’t hear any glorification of what happened in Basra,” said Pelosi, referring to a recent military offensive against Shiite militants in the city led by the Iraqi government and supported by U.S. forces.
Although powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed to a ceasefire after six days of fighting, Pelosi wondered why the U.S. was caught off guard by the offensive and questioned how the ceasefire was achieved, saying the terms were "probably dictated from Iran.” “We have to know the real ground truths of what is happening there, not put a shine on events because of a resolution that looks less violent when in fact it has been dictated by al-Sadr, who can grant or withhold that call for violence,” Pelosi said.
So the Speaker of the House has determined that she can warn a United States Army General in command of a theater of operations what not to say? The Speaker of the House is forwarding a message to a United States diplomatic official what not to report upon? Does this not come across as being less than open-minded in preparing for a report on the activities in Iraq, as she should be?
By the way, Petraeus and Crocker will have support when they go in to speak before Congress. Members of Vets for Freedom will be there tomorrow, as well.
From email:
For the past three weeks, the National Heroes Tour took the message of the success in Iraq straight to the American people. From San Antonio to Saint Paul to South Carolina, we engaged crowds large and small, and spoke with over 200 media outlets, reaching over 20 million people through local television and radio.
With just 3% of news coverage in the mainstream media committed to Iraq, we bypassed national media all together, and it worked. Local media outlets were very receptive to "ground truth," and our veterans were able to provide it. Any way you slice it, the National Heroes Tour has been an overwhelming success.
But it's not over yet. Tomorrow we bring our message to Congress, when over 400 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans descend on Capitol Hill for "Vets on the Hill." Our guys will enjoy breakfast with the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Richard Myers, before heading to Capitol Hill for a bi-partisan press conference with two-dozen members of Congress, including Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, and Lindsay Graham.
After the press conference, Vets for Freedom will flood the halls of Congress with a sea of warriors, armed with first-hand experience, facts about the incredible progress in Iraq, and a passion for nothing short of victory, Their stories are "taking points" that no one can refute—and members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, will hear from them.
Our message is simple: Let them win! and listen to General David Petraeus. He was right in September, and has the best pulse on events in Iraq. Congress would be wise to heed his advice.
Commence Movement to Contact,
Pete Hegseth
Executive Director
Vets for Freedom
It is beyond my comprehension how that Nancy Pelosi was selected to be Speaker of the House of Representatives. She has shown time and again over the past two years her lack of ability to actually lead, Congress has accomplished nothing during this term other than to show themselves to be able to behave like pre-schoolers who have been told they have to stay inside for recess; the Senate, under Harry Reid, has done no better. They have whined and complained and griped and moaned about President Bush this and President Bush that, but what have they done? And who keeps sending them back to do the nothing that they do so well?
Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. We, the American people, continue to send people like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to Washington, expecting them to do something for us when they get there. They do nothing. And yet they are reelected over and over and over until they become career politicians like Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, just to name two.
They do nothing.
Insane?
I think so, that's why I very, very rarely vote for any incumbent candidate, unless the other option is worse than what is already in office. My question is, looking around at the likes of Reid, Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry, Murtha, and so on and so forth, is, what kind of idiot does it take to continue to vote for these people?
Phil Bredesen, take note: I didn't vote for your condescending ass either, I knew you'd show your true colors with a second term as Governor of Tennessee.
Bob Corker, take note: we are watching you. You were selected over a popular Democratic opponent because we trusted you AT YOUR WORD that you would go to Washington to do the peoples work. So far, you're doing well. Not great, but doing well. We expect to see leadership out of you; we didn't send you up there to be a follower.
Lamar Alexander, take note: you're on the verge of PISSING your constituency off when you have your staff take the phones off the hooks so that we can't get through on important issues. Unfortunately, no one seems to be willing to take you on in this coming election cycle that you're going to be in, but that could change in a heartbeat if you don't watch yourself and do what you were elected to do.
Each and every one of you from Tennessee is on notice for this business in the House this term. You Democrats who have decided to ignore your home districts and pander to Grammy Nan are going to have to answer for what you've done when you come home at election time. There are those of us who are going to see to that in your districts. You have questions that you will have to answer. Personally, I hope none of you are returned to office.
John Tanner, you especially have a record that flies in the face of the people who live in your district. Nancy Pelosi doesn't represent us in west Tennessee, you do, John, and we're disappointed as hell in you. You know better than to let the values you grew up with be overrun by a left coast liberal.
Shame on you.
Are we idiots? Are we insane to continue to send people who pay lip service to representing us in government back into office over and over?
What do you think?
Have we become a nation of idiots?
Once and Always, an American Fighting Man
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