Politics and Culture

Barbara Boxer is not a smart woman. I'm sure she did well on her SATs; I'm just saying that she has difficulty making intelligent or even relevant arguments, as evidenced by what I feel are two of the most incongruous statements ever uttered by a politician. Both just happened to be directed at the same woman, Condoleeza Rice.

Here's a previous example of Boxer illogic vs. Rice from an interesting site called Random Jottings:

Rice answered that this is the way the world works. For example, we did not go into World War II to build a democratic Germany…. Here Boxer interrupted. World War II, she told Rice curtly, has nothing to do with Iraq. Boxer had lost relatives in the Holocaust. No one had to tell her about World War II.

What was her point exactly? Could it have been that:

1. Her vast knowledge of WWII gives her (Boxer's) analysis more authority. If it was, then I would have expected some kind of intelligent reply either agreeing or disagreeing with the analogy.

2. She felt that Rice was calling her dumb. I didn't hear that. Maybe Boxer is sensitive.

3. She's proud of her Jewish heritage and jumped at opportunities to mention it. OK, but why attack Rice? She could have said, I'm familiar with WWII and have been affected personally by the conflict, as my parents were survivors, but I don't think it's an appropriate analogy because...

4. She didn't know how to respond and just wanted Rice to shut up.

If it is indeed 4, logical debate is not Boxer's strong suit.

So, yesterday, Rice again defends Bush's policies in front of Boxer and Boxer says:

“Who pays the price? I’m not going to pay a personal price,” Boxer said. “My kids are too old, and my grandchild is too young.”

Then, to Rice: “You’re not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, with an immediate family.”

OK. Let's look at this. Boxer could be saying:

1. Ms. Rice, I only listen to the opinion of people who have a member of their immediate family deployed in Iraq. If your brother or son were there, I'd agree with your opinion.

2. Ms. Rice, I only listen to the opinion of people who have a member of their immediate family deployed in Iraq. If your brother or son were there, your opinions would have more credibility with me.

3. Ms. Rice, we cannot feel the pain of people outside of our own immediate family. Since one needs to feel pain in order to make decisions, let's go home.

4. Instead of responding directly, I will bring up a totally irrelevant point and see what happens.

I think it's 4. The Asymmetric staff (thanks, honey) can empathize with people who suffer without being directly involved ourselves because we're smart that way. We can be concerned with crime victims, AIDS sufferers, and families in Darfur; not because my uncle's a crime victim in Darfur with AIDS, but because they're people and have a soul and that that means we should care about them. Oh, and we make our decisions based on values, not emotion.

I know a nice boy who'd love to meet you. Then, we can talk.

P.S.

3 things that don't affect Boxer's family:

1. Guantanamo.
2. the minimum wage.
3. public education (I admit I'm assuming).