Partisans

Partisan. A strong, often uncritical supporter of a party, cause or person. Usually associated with partisan politics. As a result, partisan imparts a negative image, one which is not entirely undeserved. I often find myself becoming partisan in my judgements opinion of George Bush, wanting to deny him success, even if that success is good for America (or the people his policies put at risk), in order to deny him a second term. Partisan passions are insidious and unruly. They do not contribute to meaningful political dialogue. With a little thought, I can temper my partisanship and remember that (as much as I do not want to admit or even say it) George W. Bush is president of the United States, however questionable his accession to office. For better or worse, this nation is in his hands and those of his advisors. For America’s and the world’s sake I wish them success.
Partisan. A member of an armed group fighting secretly against an occupying power. A Resistance fighter. This partisan is a more positive image, replete with scenes of plucky civilians confronting and confounding superior forces. Our own Revolution began with partisan thinkers and fighters. These partisans produced the Declaration of Independence, one of Western Civilization’s great documents. It clearly and unequivocally states that "all men are created equal." That is an idea worthy of this nation, worthy of uncritical support. I am a partisan for an America that has not forgotten the lofty ideals of its founders.
By that criterion, I am right to criticize Bush and his administration. He has done little to improve the nation in three and a half years. His foreign policies have shattered America’s credibility, wasting lives and dollars. Irresponsible tax cuts have ballooned the deficit, putting America’s economy further at risk to foreign investors. This administration has no plan to lessen America’s dependence on foreign energy other than to tap the limited supplies (about six year’s worth) in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The environment is increasingly at risk from a variety of Bush policies, from higher pollutant levels to allowing damaging extractive practices on public lands. The administration supports anti-consumer, pro-corporate initiatives such as media consolidation, blanket liability protections for pharmaceutical companies and other businesses. Bush refuses to acknowledge ideas that are not consistent with his own; economic and scientific expertise is welcome only if when it supports his beliefs. His social policies preclude entire groups of Americans from ever achieving the equality stated in the Declaration. If my criticism of the Bush Administration makes me a partisan, it does so because I believe in an ideal that does not fit into the Bush Cartel’s world view. They may use the same language but their meaning and application are far more limited.
My criticism notwithstanding, I recognize that George Bush performed well in the days and weeks following the 9-11 attacks. He rallied the nation. He forcefully asserted America’s right to defend itself against attack. And he assembled an international coalition to attack al-Quaeda and its Taliban supporters in Afghanistan. I credit his success to a combination of cynical ambition and good acting. Nevertheless, he did what the job required at the time. And he and his collaborators have cynically played the 9-11 card ever since. My own interpretation of administration policy since 9-11 is that the Bush Cartel decided that they could use the terrorism scare the American people into re-electing Bush, cementing the victory they only secured by court order in 2000. It would be so simple. A knockout punch to the Taliban and al-Quaeda in Afghanistan, a quick invasion to create a fledgling democracy in Iraq and a never ending Global War on Terror that would make Bush a "war president" who of necessity of should not, cannot be questioned. Bing. Bam. Boom.
These grand ideas ran aground on reality. The US only pushed al-Quaeda out of Kabul; it continues to operate along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Meanwhile, Afghanistan is still divided into militia fiefdoms without the strong central government necessary to maintain the nation’s security. Us action against terrorist groups as been limited. The US knows little after almost three years about al-Quaeda’s command and control systems that would help in disrupting it terrorist cells around the world. Iraq is now shooting war that actually introduced foreign fighters into that country and compromised US ability to improve Iraqi living conditions after years of dictatorship, war and sanctions. The war has seriously strained the US military, limiting its ability to protect American interests in the rest of the world. Much of the world no longer believes what America says. Our ability to serve as an honest broker among nations is severely lessened. If we weren’t so rich and powerful, many nations would have little to do with us.
But none of this matters to the Bush Cartel. They continue on, firm in their faith, ignoring the terrible reality of their policies, unable to recognize the fundamental policy errors that have placed so many Americans and Iraqis in peril. If this judgement makes me a partisan, I accept the designation with honor.