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Bush Defies a Nation

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Message Todd Weiler
The headlines read, "Bush Defies Lawmakers Over Iraq". Wrong...Bush did not defy lawmakers; he is defying the American people.
Perhaps we need to look at this from a perspective that every American can relate to.
I recall while growing up in the south a phrase used by mothers at times when their children just would not listen. "do I need to hit you over the head with a frying pan to make you understand?" Now before anyone reading this feels the need to call child protective services, let me simply say that this was over 30 years ago and I never actually saw the act completed; no, instead it was usually followed by a giggle and an abrupt change in the child's attitude. The message of a frustrated mother attempting to use every tool in her arsenal of verbiage prior to the smack on the rear end, usually met with success. Perhaps we, the American public, need to recall these days of our childhood and realize that our spoiled children, our elected leaders, are simply not listening. We sent a message that was very clear on Election Day, yet it seems to have gone unnoticed or has fallen on deaf ears. So what are we to do? What do we have left in our arsenal of verbiage before we go to that next step? And what is that next step?

This week the President, the Vice President, members of the Cabinet, several prominent Republicans and even members of the media denigrated our message on Iraq that was sent on Election Day to be nothing more than "public opinion". Well, I don't think anyone should confuse an unequivocal message and mandate as an opinion.
And like the child that stands in the grocery aisle, arms crossed and stamping of feet while screaming, "I won't mind and you can't make me," the President and Vice President have chosen a similar path. The obvious difference is that in the end, if the child gets his way, no one will die and the fate of a people will not hang in balance...and given a little strong parenting all will turn out just fine. But we are not in a grocery store and we are somewhat hamstrung in the actions that we may take to get our children under control. And unlike the embarrassing scene that may result in the grocery store, if we do not succeed in gaining control of this situation, people will continue to die.

Perhaps like the parent that is near the end of their rope, we could try guilt. So here goes. Mr. Vice President and others that have spent this week trying to make the majority of Americans feel as though we are letting our troops down by not supporting your plans to send more of our youth to Iraq, shame on you. It is not an exercise of democracy to blindly follow without question. It is not an exercise of freedom to back down from the message this country sent on Election Day and how dare you suggest that we are aiding the enemy and not supporting our troops. Shame on you. This is not your country to do with as you will...it is our country.

Is it possible that this shift in strategy, the use of guilt to prompt the desired result might work? Given our recent history, I doubt it. This shift will most likely be no more effective than the so called shift in strategy that the Administration has chosen to follow in direct conflict with the American people. So what is left? The open hand to the rear end might work, but I doubt that the Secret Service will let us all line up for that. Is it time to call for the repudiation of this Administration? Yes, that horrible word, impeachment. It is something to consider. If we do not hold our elected representatives responsible to us, then we can expect and deserve more of the same. We all know that if you don't gain control over the screaming child that refuses to listen, the signal that you send is just a strong and the next time will only be worse. We must gain control of this situation immediately and hold our children...the leaders of this Nation accountable to us. We speak for this country and it is our right to decide the paths that we shall follow.
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Outstanding public relations, oral and written communication skills, and extensive public speaking experience.

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Bush Defies a Nation

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