Fool Me Thrice: A Two-Time Bush Voter's Apology

[SeveneightyWhoa]

Fool Me Thrice: A Two-Time Bush Voter's Apology

November 6 2006
Counterbias.com
by Richard Hinds


“There’s an old saying in Tennessee, I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee, that says, ‘Fool me once, shame on … shame on you. … Fool me, can’t get fooled again.’

"You've got to understand the nature of the regime we're dealing with. This is a man who has delayed, denied, deceived the world. For the sake of liberty and justice for all, the United Nations Security Council must act, must act in way to hold this regime to account, must not be fooled, must be relevant to keep the peace.” --G. W. Bush, 17 September 2002

I write near the conclusion of one United States' bloodiest months in Iraq since 2003, with at least 101 Armed Service men and women killed in the utterly destroyed, once sovereign nation of Iraq.

Bluntly, this is an open letter of apology to the citizens of the Rio Grande Valley, of Texas, of this nation, and all inhabitants of this world with whom I share.

For the record, if my actions, in any way, have assisted or brought forth the tragedy that has befallen this nation, and by default, the rest of the world, I am very sorry, completely, utterly sorry. What did I do that has burdened me so? I voted for George W. Bush. Twice. And I am beside myself.

I do not take to self-flagellation often, yet I feel I have no choice. What else can I do but apologize? When something is as totally and completely off the mark as this administration has been, all I can do is admit that I was wrong for ever supporting Bush, and try to atone.

Continue.. http://www.counterbias.com/795.html

[Skittles]

1. way too little, way too late

I cannot respect anyone who voted for that incompetent piece of SHIT knowing he illegally invaded, bombed, and continues to occupy a country that was of no threat to America. No matter HOW f***ing sorry they are.

[thepurpose]

2. Voted for him twice. And now we are supposed to believe he's seen the light

At any rate there are thousands of dead and wounded whose families in America and Iraq deserve the apology. Or at least the respect of receiving one.

[Skittles]

3. I'm thinking maybe there's something self-serving in these "apologies"

they are telling us it took them SIX YEARS to see through that incompetent piece of garbage? My guess is they are neglecting to say the one thing that happened that personally affected THEM which made them "see the light" but they want their conversion to be so much more profound.

[keopeli]

4. Respectfully, apologies are self-serving at this point, though it seems the author means well

But, by his own admission, hedid vote for him twice. The reality of our current predicament leaves us no time for finger pointing and flagellation. If he's truly seeing the light for the first time now about the excessive abuses of the Bush Administration in ruining many of the pillars of our democracy (such as the electoral system, checks and balances, the bill of rights, slandering our military and veterans, illegal torture and detention in inhuman conditions, breaking numerous laws with reckless disregard, etc) I suggest the best solution is to start educating himself fully on what's really going on. The information is and has been out there for anyone who cares to inform themselves instead of being spoon-fed what to think and believe.



Peace.

[Demit]

5. I find it hard to believe all this has only recently occurred to the author.

He had to have had these revelations in only the past two years, if he voted for Bush twice. He goes down the list pretty well, why it is proper to revile Bush, both the man and his policies. But how could a person who is apparently bright, and educated—he has a master's in psychology—not have had ANY IDEA, any inkling, of the disaster-after-disaster that has been the Bush presidency?

He says, apparently without irony, that "...if you are not appalled by this administration, you have not been paying attention. ..." I can only conclude that he wasn't paying attention for the first four years. Either that or he had another agenda, one that Bush represented and that he benefited by. The religiosity, maybe, or the tax breaks & the soaring stock market. No, I'm not impressed with his conversion. Not one bit. Fuck him and his mea culpa.

[Oak2004]

6. Yes, it might have just happened

People who hold strong (but questionable) beliefs often have doubts about the dogma they have accepted which fester under the surface, and which they suppress until the evidence against their dogma piles up to the point where they can no longer suppress the evidence. At that point they have an epiphany/conversion/what-have-you, and they reject their former views with an argument sometimes of great sophistication, reflecting the fact that they have in fact been doubting, for years.

There has been a big change in public opinion in the last two years. That means many people must have experienced sudden and not-so-sudden political conversions in that time.

Keep in mind that angry people (who feel they have been duped) with guilty feelings (that they have wittingly or unwittingly furthered the cause of a monster) make very dynamic, enthusiastic converts. For such people, it's personal.