The over all integrity of a nation will most immediately and powerfully be impacted by the models presented by its political parties.
That modeling ought to be a natural attention-grabber.
That modeling ought to present a public affirmation of concern for good of the country rather than political opportunism as the height of its most significant values - or the depth of its apathetic depravity.
One of the greatest roles of national leadership is that of modeling the country’s core values which are supposedly our ideas worthy of mention.
When those models fail, the beacon on the hill deteriorates into nothing more than the search light at the gate of a prison compound the encloses crooks and captives. It is merely a beacon driven by fear and self-interest; the lie that the greatest country in the world will not exploit the world for its own profit and security.
The entire notion of our American republic with representative government is that of citizens who do have a voice ... and use it.
... a voice its leadership must take seriously
... that American elected leadership in all parties is the last place the world should see lies, deception and preferential treatment.
This current leadership crop will without a doubt be recorded and remembered as possibly the least efficient in modern history. Worse, these leaders will be regarded as absolutely the most incompetent despite posing as wise ones who act from a real understanding of how a nation is made great.
Currently, one party's silly partisan justifications for refusing to act openly and accountably on behalf of the people by affirming an extremely qualified cabinet-level nomination insults Americans and abuses the American dream.
These prominent party politicians demonstrate a limited depth of intellect that seems stuck at the Junior High level. Such is nothing more than a denigration of national integrity in the name of political self interest.
It is because of leaders like these that the idea of checks and balances and citizen ability to override leadership irresponsibility was put in place.
Such is not an obscure constitutional point. It is a vital constitutional principle upon which hang circumstances of much greater national well-being than the apathy that lets crooks and liars stay in place.
Let us hope that enough Americans in each state will take action to clean house in the next election by deciding who has broken trust, who is unworthy of the affirmation of re-election.
McCain Admits Republicans Put Grudges Ahead of National Security in Hagel Filibuster
If it weren't so tragic it would be funny to see McCain's crocodile tears and wounded feelings for Dubya as an excuse for keeping the best man for the job on the sideline.
Yesterday John McCain cried to Fox News that Hagel has said mean things about George W Bush and people don't forget that:
"To be honest with you Neil, it goes back to there is a lot of ill will towards Senator Hagel because when he was a Republican, he attacked President Bush mercilessly.Here's hoping Arizonans will wake up and not forget Senator Politics-Ahead-Of-Country.
At one point said he was the worst President since Herbert Hoover.
Said the surge was the worst blunder since the Vietnam War which is nonsense. And was very anti his own party and people. People don't forget that."
