I didn't entend on turning this blog into a play by play of the stupidist controversy in the history of the universe, but I gotta say I do think people's reactions to this issue are important.
The whole thing has become mind-blowingly depressing for quite a few reasons, but Howard Dean's cowardice was a pretty serious punch in the gut.
It's mainly for that reason that I wanted to spotlight Al Franken's
response to the issue:
Franken said conservative opposition to the mosque is “one of the most disgraceful things that I’ve heard.”
“I don’t know how many of you have been to New York, but if a building is two blocks away from anything, you can’t see it. It’s a community center. They’re going to have a gym. They’re going to have point guards. Muslim point guards,” Franken said, to laughter and applause.
“They (Republicans) do this every two years. They try to find a wedge issue, and they try to work it.”
Fucking brilliant.
Dean's idiocy highlights a bigger issue about the role of cult figures in politics.
Howard Dean's canditacy was at the heart of how I got intrested in politics and he's someone I respect and admire tremedously. I was absolutely gutted watching returns the night of "the scream" (with RB, in my dorm room I might add), and still think he could have run a far better campagin against Bush in the general than Kerry did. The debate where he courageously questioned our support of Israel was one of the first times I truly felt the need to put my full support behind a politician rather than simply a party or an idea. I've supported a decent amount of cantidates via canvasing, donations and otherwise, but it's hard to think of someone not named Donna Edwards that I've been more passionate about than Howard Dean.
And here's the thing, he really couldn't be more wrong about the mosque. It's not even close. There's no nuance, there's no defending his position. He is 100% wrong.
That wasn't that hard, was it? Do I
hate Howard Dean now? Does this mean that I should have supported Kerry in the primary or that I wanted Bush to win?
I know the examples don't fit perfectly, but stuff like this is why I get so frustrated with people who flip their shit and act like you should be canvassing for Romney in 2012 if you criticize the way Obama has run his administration.
Theses people aren't your best friend, and they will without a doubt disappoint you. I still remember calling Donna Edwards' office the day after she voted for the no strings attached bailout. It's not always fun, but it's not the end of the world either.
There are very simple rules on dealing with politicians: When they do something you like, support them. When they do something you don't like, don't support them or oppose them.
Easy rules to live by and it makes things a hell of a lot less complicated then debating what various politicians feel "in their hearts" or "what they would have done" during ideal circumstances.