That’s Some Bull

You know an awful lot of energy and time has been put into vilifying S.C. Representative Joe Wilson for his “You lie!” outburst during the president’s most recent prime-time camera grab. Let me make clear right off that I know Wilson was mostly wrong about that particular issue because the healthcare/health insurance reform bill does touch on the requirement for participants to be legal or documented, but it is vague in it’s guidelines. As is many parts of this issue that has gotten twisted and confused and seems to have lost the spirit of the idea, which was, in case you forgot, to make available to everyone basic health care..
Now many people think Wilson was wrong for his outburst, but I don’t. Even though he was wrong on topic, I loved the passion. Besides, there are many more reasons to hate Joe Wilson. Look up his stance on the Confederate flag debate in his state
That is something we have been missing for a very long time in our politics.
Think back over our history and ask yourself this question; wouldn’t it have been helpful if every now and then somebody stood up and cried Bull at a president or two? Think of decisions made throughout our brief history like going to war on the Asian Continent, South East and South West, and admitting Texas into the Union. If somebody had made a fuss, maybe just maybe things around here would be a bit different and lots of folks would still be alive.
George Washington, our first president, made a point of the fact that the office wasn’t a monarch or above anyone else and should be questioned about his decisions. Yet somehow, we have developed some type of collective reverence for the job that belies the fact that the office is a job someone is hired to do.
Our middle management folks in the house and senate need to call Bull when it’s obvious.
Have you ever watched any political coverage from Europe? Many folks in our government like to say how much more enlightened they are, well sometimes it gets so rowdy and loud in the British Parliament that the Prime Minister can’t even be heard. Somebody crying Bull would be tame for them.
We like to think ourselves refined and dignified in the fact that our politicians only criticize the president to inquisitive reporters, but we would be better served by our elected officials if they started to question the president’s (that’s any president) choices to his or her face. Let’s hold them accountable more often than every four years and start holding them accountable every single day. Who knows if they actually have to justify their decisions, maybe they will take the time to form them better instead of shooting from the hip on the campaign trail and then not being able to deliver on a deadline.
FYI just for fun, a poll conducted by Rasmussen, Monday, Sept. 14 shows that 34 percent of the nation's voters strongly approve of the way that Mr. Obama is performing his role as president. 37 percent strongly disapprove. What worries me is why the remaining 29 percent don’t care. That’s Bull.