May 17, 2007 Issue

The recent debate involving the 10 Republican Party candidates for president showed just how diverse the party has become. The candidates reflected the inclusive nature of the GOP. As long as you are including white, male, CEOs of big businesses.

When the republicans took over the White House gasoline was at $1.46 a gallon. We enjoyed the largest fiscal surplus in our history. And we had yet to be introduced to the affable, lovable, believable Dick Cheney.

Now the party of less taxes and a smaller government has delivered a product that is neither. They have introduced us to a cast of characters that includes Mark Foley, Bernard Kerik, Tom DeLay, Duke Cunningham, Alberto Gonzalez, Jack Abramoff, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, and too many others to name.

On domestic issues and on foreign affairs, every cabinet department under President Bush has malfunctioned. If it was the “Best and the Brightest” that got us into Vietnam; it is the “Worst and the Dumbest” that is keeping us in Iraq.

In airports across this country Americans spend hours in line waiting to have their shoes inspected and their toiletries confiscated. And all of this because of one bungled shoe bomb attempt that fizzled out more than five years ago. Billions of shoes have been studied and passengers held hostage to body searches because of some idiot who activated a smoke bomb in his stinky tennis shoes. The inspections we now endure at airports are not a sign of vigilance toward the terrorists; it is a sign of tremendous stupidity.

In the wake of the flag flying, patriotic fervor of 9-11, this country was sold on a “War Against Terror” Terrorism is a tactic, unfortunately a very effective one. Anyone who thinks a war of this type can be “won,” can also sleep soundly knowing that somewhere there is a tooth fairy.

The war in Iraq has so depleted our armed forces that we are now sending 18-year-old kids into battle and keeping them there. These warriors have less training than we provide to hostesses at our restaurants. Unfortunately, many of those young men who are “volunteering” for military service are doing so as an alternative to going to jail.

War proponents argue that the media “never tells us about the good things going on in Iraq.” That is true. But, what exactly are the good things going on over there?

Vice President Cheney just returned from a visit to Iraq in which he waddled around smartly in his body armor. A headline in our local paper following his visit announced: “Cheney says Iraq is still dangerous.” I’m glad he cleared that up for those of us who haven’t recently had the opportunity to visit the Middle East.

One thing is clear. The cost of the war in Iraq has been catastrophic. The number of armed forces that have been killed or seriously wounded continues to climb. The "collateral" damage that the Iraqi's have suffered is nearing 1 million people. The number of Iraqi's who have fled their country has passed 1 million people.

It is impossible to put a monetary figure on that kind of suffering. The money that has been wasted in Iraq could have provided our country with 1.8 million teachers, 20 million college scholarships, health insurance for 60 million children, or 4 million new houses.

The republican candidates for president invoked Ronald Reagan’s name 19 times during the debate. President Bush was mentioned only once. Now why would that be? Possibly because their leader has not been tremendously illuminating as to the current direction of republican priorities.

When asked which of the candidates did not believe in evolution, three of the elderly men raised their hands. The rather simple question left the other seven looking confused.

If you are one of the roughly 50 percent of Americans who believe that the earth is 6,000 years old, then this is the party for you. If you are one of the 50 percent of Americans who believe that the world will end before this century is over, this is the party for you. If you believe that you can be pro-life and pro-war at the same time, then this is the party for you. If you think the Republican Party can attract women voters, but refuse to allow them to make decisions regarding their own bodies, this party is for you. If you believe a political party can be for lower taxes and then dump billions of dollars in a far away war, put a big R on your chest. If you believe that a party that supposedly represents free enterprise can award no-contract bids to companies like Blackwater and Halliburton and still keep a straight face, this party is for you. If you think global warming is a hoax, this party is for you. If, of all the issues facing us today, you believe that same-sex marriage is a pressing issue, this party is for you.

John Edwards, one of the democratic candidates for president, has given specifics as to his plans for running this country. He will push for universal health care, and in doing so, will raise taxes for anyone making over $200,000 a year. He will get us out of Iraq. He will push to lower our carbon emissions and penalize those who pollute the most. And most importantly, he will travel the world, trying to repair relations with countries that once admired our brand of democracy but now have nothing but contempt for our bullying style of diplomacy.

If you still insist that “The democrats have no plans for this country.” Who cares? They could do a better job of restoring confidence in our domestic and foreign affairs without any plan than the party currently in charge of our country.

More from Charles Morgan