A Study in Contrast
12/09/2005
Paul Munnis
Even as the Bush Administration is in the eve of a crash and burn political experience, Mr. Bush flew into the Twin Cities and appeared with Rep. Mark Kennedy at a $1000 a plate fundraiser. All this to get Mark Kennedy elected to the Senate.
Kennedy was glad to see Mr. Bush because of the money that he raised for his campaign. His opponent, Amy Klobuchar, was also glad to see Mr. Bush come to town as it is producing for her the kind of publicity that it takes big money to buy.
So, Mr. Bush came, Mr. Bush left, Mr. Kennedy went to the bank and made his deposit, Amy Klobuchar keeps on working to get elected to the seat being vacated by Mark Dayton. Meanwhile, Patty Wetterling smiles and continues to work her campaign confident that people will want a different sort of candidate to fill Mark Dayton’s post, one who is a champion for children and an advocate for their safety.
Both ladies in fact are shown to poll in a way that wins over Kennedy as either can beat him. He needs more than money. Rep. Kennedy is being portrayed as a Bush lap dog and at a time when Mr. Bush’s sun is setting. Mr. Bush’s appearance in the Twin CIties did little to win votes, it was a fund raising event period.
On Iraq, Democrats are beating Mr. Bush’s sword into plowshares as the troops begin to be repatriated and plans are made for bringing home our troops and use those who remain in the mid-east much more effectively as military trainers and embedded advisors.
Following the December 15th election a new government for Iraq will exist and Mr. Bush will be in the country only at the pleasure of the new Iraqi government leaders. If they order the U.S. out, then we must leave, pronto. Not many want the U.S. to be there except as a banker with unlimited funds.
In Afghanistan there is another mess and trying to sort that out will be problematic too.
Appearing on the Twin Cities stage was Senator Norm Coleman, another politician painted as a Bush lap dog, another who is worried about his future in the Senate, yet another neo-con supporter. He is concerned about his election opportunities given the national and state mood towards the GOP and his own voting record as a Bush supporter.
Today ex-president Bill Clinton made more political gain at the International Conference on the Earth’s climate held in Montral than Mr. Bush did in the Twin Cities.
Bill Clinton talked about the job creating opportunity that climate change is creating. He addressed the opportunity to research, develop, and produce green products and the tremendous number of jobs that this will generate worldwide. He spoke about why the biggest insurers in the world are glad to bankroll such development because their industry will be destroyed by property loss if climate change isn’t brought under control and darn soon.
Insurance companies know a crisis when they see one.
Meanwhile in Minneapolis, the GOP sits on stage, with their leader in denial about global warming, unwilling to lift a finger to assist in solving the problems of climate change, and miffed at the straight talk delivered by Mr. Clinton in Montreal. What a study in contrast.
Democrats have little to fear from the underachievers appearing on that stage today in the Twin Cities. Banks will be the main beneficiaries of Mr. Bush’s visit. We Democrats have much to gain from listening carefully to Mr. Clinton’s message and following his lead. Since his retirement, Mr. Clinton has specialized in opportunity for America and has much wisdom to offer to those who will listen.