Western Tribune column 11-25-09 Conservative blog

This column appeared in the Western Tribune on November 25, 2009.

There are no guarantees in politics but by a vote of 60-39 the Senate voted to move the health care bill forward. There are still hurdles to cross, but we are one step closer to controlling skyrocketing insurance costs and increasing access to health care for all Americans.

Shortly after the vote I visited the recently established blog of another Bessemer man who claims to be the voice of conservatives in Bessemer, and noticed there was more of the same old anti-Obama, anti-healthcare reform, anti-American rhetoric as before. With all the problems our country faces – two wars, economy, health care, environment – he has yet to offer any solutions.

This is the way of the current Republican Party. Oh, they may say they have a health reform bill but when one looks at it, one finds that it doesn’t address the problems facing the industry or the people who are served.

The Party of No spends more time in attack mode than problem solving mode.

There is the silly argument that President Obama embarrassed the nation by bowing to the Emperor of Japan, and that no American president has ever stooped so low. But the blog fails to mention Presidents Nixon and Eisenhower. Just because Nixon was a crook is no reason to forget his bow to Chairman Mao. And let’s not forget Eisenhower bowing to the Pope and (gasp) Charles De Gaul, the leader of that socialist European country France!

And the “voice of the conservatives” also lives in fear of the future. “All the religious holidays we celebrate and the freedom we have to speak up about what we believe in are being threatened by the democratic regime lead (sp) by Barak (sp) Hussien (sp) Obama and his czars at the White House,” he writes (without using spell-check).

Easter and Christmas, and to some extent Thanksgiving, are religious holidays. I don’t see them going anywhere, even if some of those around us are celebrating whatever they “wanakkuh,” as the Gap clothing store commercial rhymes.

And while in the Thanksgiving mode, besides being thankful for the leaders in congress who were able to move health care forward, let me say that I am thankful to live in a country where I am free to express my thoughts and opinions, and where those who have only thoughtless opinions can do the same.

Happy Thanksgiving.