Is Neutrality Necessarily Good?
Condoleezza Rice has earned my respect with her recent negotiations in the Middle East. Not that I haven't thought her a smart woman and a shrewd political actor in the past, but now I have finally been convinced that she is highly competent and that she has the ability to do what she thinks should be done, with the convictions to back it up.That's not to say I always agree with her convictions, though.
I used to pride myself on a kind of political neutrality. I wanted to look at candidates individually, on their merits, and not simply as a product of their party platforms. I'm still registered with no party affiliation, but I wonder: did Bush sour me on that neutrality? I now tend to view members of his party--nationally prominent ones, at least--with a strong skepticism at the start, and they have to prove their abilities for me to grant them real respect. I'd rather give everybody the benefit of the doubt, though, presuming at first that they deserve the respect due their office--and only revoking it once I've seen them do something stupid, immoral, or incompetently. I think that's still how I view and judge individual Dems. It doesn't seem quite right, though. Partisan bickering, without thought and a willingness to grant the good arguments and abilities of the other side, is no great boon to this (or any) country.
posted by Skay @ 6:31 PM
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