The Ten Republicans

Ivy,

I am so glad you are having a good day! Thanks for sending me your thoughts on last night's Republican presidential debate. What do I think? Hmm! Well...even a cold day in hell would not cause me to vote for any of the ten. The amount of macho bluster on display last night was truly disturbing. Every time I get some faint sense that perhaps we have evolved as humans I end up experiencing something like the showboating last night and my hopes are dashed.

I mean, come on, "I'll follow him to the gates of hell!" When McCain blurted that little nugget I started laughing. He was so eager to project this tough-guy image he at times sounded like a nervous kid talking to the school assembly for the first time. I actually thought Romney came off the best of the lot -- because he's got good looks, polish, and natural presence -- although he has become such a whore in the service of his ambition that he is perhaps the most dangerous.

The others can almost be dismissed: Giuliani desperately dredging up his 9/11 credentials (What are they exactly? I respect the fact that he was out on the streets appearing to rally people on that dreadful day. Considering that our country's President was nowhere to be seen for many hours, Giuliani's face was a welcome sight. But, beyond that, what exactly are his security credentials other than his million-dollar security consulting contracts once he left office? Remember the egregious examples of police abuse that took place during his tenure as mayor?) to prove that he would be the "Security President"; three candidates who say they don't believe in evolution -- God help us! and yes, I am being ironic; and saying how great overturning Rove v. Wade would be.

I wonder how many of them have paid for their girlfriends or wives or daughters to have abortions? Shouldn't all these guys who crow about the sanctity of a fetus' life, have fourteen or so kids and their wives have had surgery to strengthen their sagging stomach muscles? Our current President doesn't want U.S. funds used for any programs promotiong birth control but his wife has only given birth once, to twins. What's the story there and what about all his girlfriends when he was a wild and crazy guy? (Hah! As if that's ever changed. I give you, as proof, the wild and crazy six-plus years we have had under his so-called leadership!)

Anyway, I think the most telling part of the debate last night was when Tommy Thompson said (I think it was he. Hard to tell behind the uniformity of positions, language, race, gender and color of suits!) employers should have the right to fire gay employees for "Living while gay" (my language for it!). He's been in the news today saying he misheard the question and actually believes gays should be protected from such actions. Fine, I'll take him at his word that he didn't mean to answer as he did.

But, that's not the point. Fact is -- unless I zoned out through it -- I did not hear any of the other candidates chime in to say it was wrong for employers to fire anyone for being gay. They chimed in on most everything else, rarely fully answering the questions they were actually asked.

To me, their collective silence on this issue spoke loudest of all. God help us, indeed!

TC