A Reprieve from Washington (for America)

It is salutary that the projected conclusion of the Democratic nomination contest might reprieve the American electorate from the democratic processes which have consumed it for 16 months, if that reprieve is fleeting only.

Yesterday’s “Stumped” letter in the Washington Post, “Don’t Even Bother to Vote“:

Dear Stumped,

Hillary is an insufferable egomaniac; Obama is a posturing debutante; McCain is midway between senility and intermittent dementia. What is a voter to do?

-No Name Given

Dear No Name,

Ah, yes, we’ve reached the inevitable “in-a-nation-of-300 million” moment in the election cycle.

That is: “In a nation of 300 million people, is this really the best we can come up with for president?”

. . .

So why the creeping “Is This the Best We Can Do?” malaise? It all comes down to process. I don’t think Abraham Lincoln — or Jesus Christ, for that matter (what did Mike Huckabee say about this?) — would look too good after campaigning for the presidency for some 16 months.

Imagine how unimpressive you’d look by now! (In Fred Thompson’s case, it only took the process about a week to shrink him to a “Mini-Me” version of his former self.)

It is the process of American politics, and its cynicism, skepticism and caution (demanding adherence to symbolistic lapel pins, and construing to be the imprimatur of dishonesty and feared democratic abuses, negative associations of retired Presidential candidates’ associates or mis-recollections - intended or not intended - of experiences on foreign airfields) which ground America’s argument for free belief. The American voice is heard clear, and it is heard internationally not only represented by America’s elected leadership. It is heard internationally direct from Americans.

Partisans may object that Americans’ cynicism, skepticism and caution is not balanced in the parties. And, West Virginia’s primary might prove democracy’s inevitable imperfection: Democracy, by definition, protects expression of minority political beliefs and, in West Virginia, nearly universally-rejected political beliefs.

Democracy, however, may not object that Americans have neglected its exercise, or that Americans’ tolerance of its imperfections is exhausted. In the fleeting, only projected, reprieve of the Democratic nomination contest, the simple exercise of our democracy might explain its frustratingly slow progress: It is inherent in the balancing of opposite, freely expressed political beliefs that majority will might fail to condense. That cynicism, skepticism and caution which locks up the resolution of inequities of our society, however, is the exercise which protects the freedom in which societal inequities may be argued and, ultimately, resolved.

The Environmental and Energy Point (Not Made)

Michael Ambramowitz reports in his column, “Saudis Reject Bush’s Call to Increase Oil Output,” in today’s Washington Post:

Saudi Arabia Friday rejected the idea of increasing oil production to help ease soaring gasoline prices, telling President Bush that the kingdom already is meeting its customers’ demand for crude.

The apparent rebuff came as Bush appealed to Saudi King Abdullah to use his country’s vast oil reserves — the world’s largest — to put more oil on the market and reduce the upward pressure on prices. It was the second time this year that Bush has made such a personal appeal to the Saudi monarch.

“What they’re saying to us is . . . Saudi Arabia does not have customers that are making requests for oil that they are not able to satisfy,” said Stephen J. Hadley, Bush’s national security adviser. He told reporters that the Saudis indicated they are willing to put oil on the market in amounts sufficient to meet their customers’ demands.

politico london commentary on the domestic and international economic and political advantage of comprehensive “eco-creative” environmental and energy policy may be reviewed in:

“The Center of Gravity of American Politics: Environmental and Energy Policy“

“The ‘Green Market’ of Tax Deductions“.

It must be clear that America’s current environmental and energy policy introduces the greatest complexity to responsible and effective governing, and it, undoubtedly, is insufficient for government to engage environmental and energy policy as if it were a discrete problem, not controlling other aspects of government (domestic and international).