Oh, Barack. You're such a nice guy. No matter what anyone thinks, they cannot take that away from you. I so want to be nice and fair, like you've requested.
It was in this spirit of reconciliation that I actually stopped re-visiting an article I had posted two years ago, here on the Huffington Post. The title is not important. Okay, it was 'Why We Let Rush Live.' (Maybe I shouldn't be re-visiting it).
The reason I called it THAT is because it was about the fact that, amongst many things, Rush Limbaugh was freely allowed to use his bully pulpit during the last election to persuade the lunatics of Texas (see, Bush, George W... no, he's on a BOOK tour)... to urge registered Republicans to switch to Democrat during the primary process, to vote for Hillary Clinton. To mess with the process. You know, to actually commit treason, voter fraud? And nobody called him out on it. Don't get me started.
I mean it, Barack. Don't GET me started.
No. Sir. In fact, I was intending to re-post it, in its' entirety, especially after I heard Rush sounding like he was placing blame on Chris Matthews, right after the tragic Arizona shooting (don't ask, sir). But then you had to come out and say your little bit about 'getting along'. Something about discourse. If George Bush weren't on his 'Book' Tour, we could ask him for a witty pithy quote. But alas...
So, I didn't re-submit that post. Per YOUR request, buddy. In fact, it's hard for me to remember what else was in it, at this point... but you're right, President Obama. That's moving backwards. You've asked me to be a patriot (ironically, and what THEIR side doesn't GET, is that I am one). In fact, I'm such a patriot, that I was even on their team, as well, way back in the months of say.. Oct, Nov, Dec... Jan.... of 2001, after the World Trade Center, on the actual team of George Bush. TEAM Bush. Dude? You might remember the fake photo of him flying the fighter plane??? (Even I didn't guess the ranch was a movie set).
I've DIGRESSED, again. Hmm. I'm going to take a very quick look at my piece, just a glance, really, 'cause otherwise that would be really, really bad karma, but now I remember exactly what it was that guy said about you!!! It was a part of a Rush program I had somehow managed to catch, and it was.... Aw, jeez. Look at me. No. If I'm going to follow your command and try to keep the conversation CIVIL, it does no one any good to stir things up. Old things, especially. SO you're right. I won't even mention it here, the thing that got me so riled up. Not me. I can be on Team Fair. I play your game.
But, maybe I'll put just one... aw, gee, just one quote, just so you can imagine I had a good intent, what with my article wondering 'Why We Let Rush Live'. Because that's a pretty strong sentiment. So it would seem unfair to not let you know. Here's part of what Rush said that day -- and it's only a snippet of his conversation, I promise, guy -- "President Obama spoke to the schoolchildren, and he told them to do public service. Now, you know what that means. Community service is one of the baby steps to fascism. President Obama is un-American."
Believe it or not, in the words of the late Sen. Joe McCarthy, 'Sir, there's more.'
So, what do you think about that, President Obama? I mean, you're a fair guy and all. But you play pick-up basketball. You got a streak. I know you gotta hear that crap and say, "Take me on, Limbaugh. Man to man. I'll let you free-throw... SISSY."
Dude, Kumbayah and all, it's got to piss you off. (Maybe Michelle).
Still, that IS old news. But now, there's a new thing that's making me unable to rest at night. One new thing about this Right Vs. The Left (and my new t-shirt reads, "Fox News, yes, I am bi-partisan, you have MADE me that way")... Here's the part that's really bugging me, right now.
I had two immediate thoughts when I heard the first bulletin about this tragedy. The first was, "We still have guns." And my second was, let's see how Fox News apologizes. Barack, if you're still reading, (and dude, I hope you are too busy to be), but Barack, you know I tried. You know I did. We're much the same. We know 'community organizer' is code word for a Guy Who Helped PEOPLE in his community. We're both on Team Obama. In fact, I've heard this very week that Gabby Giffords -- one of our team members -- is worried about the parents of the guy that shot her.
I know we like being fair.
But here's the thing, Mr. President. I watched Fox News all that weekend, as I am wont to do during moments like this. I am curious, ever. And I don't understand. There is no humanity that it takes, to EVER not say, "I made a mistake." Not 'we caused it get your lawyers, none of that crap.' Indeed, for one human being to not run IN FRONT of the camera and say, "Whatever else you may think, in hindsight, clearly I must apologize."
But, Barack? I have yet to hear 'one single person' -- let me say THAT again -- one SINGLE person say they were wrong. No, instead there's spin and all that etc. And we do it, too. But that's wrong (see, I just said it)! You see?? It takes under one second -- probably less than the time it takes to re-load a bullet -- to say 'I regret'.
Funny enough, another piece I wrote around that time was about marching during the GWB administration, and why no one seemed to be. We need a variation on that melody. Unfortunately, we ARE on different sides, (and like I said, their side made me)!! But it's imperative that we protest bullying tones. Say 'no' to all bullies without fear of being sued, or worse.
I was truly horrified to hear that Crazy Pastor (don't want to give him 'e-ink,' but the crazy guy who marches at funerals), I heard he was planning to protest at little Christina Green's service. Then I heard that people were going to unite together -- against him -- to form a human chain.
Isn't that moving?? A wall of humanity. We have a right to be human shields against crappy behavior. I applaud this action.
Now, you do know that there's a crazy little irony, Mr. President, that I am applauding. I used-to-be one of the world's proudest, card-carrying members of the ACLU!! But I say 'used-to-be,' with pride. One of the basic tenets of the ACLU is that we are guaranteed the right to say what we please. Well, if there's only one thing we can all agree on -- and this could be it -- you know that 'old me' would have been front and center of the ACLU line, demanding, though it sickened me, demanding Crazy Pastor Fred's rights.
But the times they are a-changing me, too.
So it is in this spirit of personal growth -- and change and hope, dude -- that I say now to Sarah Palin, to the ACLU membership renewal board, and to anyone else I'm sure I waved my ACLU card at with all that enthusiasm, three simple phrases: "Uh, kids? Oops! I made a mistake!"
Isn't that the American way???
Oh, Barack. President Obama. I know you wouldn't approve of this, my refusing to march for crazy homosexual children-hating Christians. Oddly enough, you and I, we're both very patriotic!! But I have to have off the team, for awhile. Coach, you have to bench me!!