The reasons politicians can’t work together and make tough decisions are plentiful. Distrust, suspicion and paranoia are a few of the emotions that get in the way of progress.
All of those elements were front and center in Orson Swindle III’s Sunday guest opinion (“Wake Up, America”) in the Brainerd Dispatch.
Swindle states a vote for President Barack Obama would be a vote “to abandon our history, our heritage, our character, our obligations and our future.”
Making his case on the presidential election even more personal he worries about the prospects for his grandchildren if the president is re-elected.
“I consider a vote for Obama an extremely abusive act toward those little girls, one that I will not take lightly,” he wrote.
Wow.
Swindle’s overwrought column was a tour de force of political outrage. My guess is his feelings were sincere and he felt better after he wrote it. The problem is the rest of us have to live and work in the fractious political world that his words help create.
His passion apparently blinds him to self-evident truths as he ignores significant and widespread international contributions that were made by the world’s governments after the 2004 tsunami. On that topic Swindle writes: “We, unlike any other nation have come to the aid of those suffering in natural disasters.”
No matter which presidential candidate wins the Nov. 6 election, the sun will come up the next day. This nation has survived good, bad and mediocre presidents. With its system of checks and balances, those presidents who grasp for more power than they should have, soon feel a push-back from Congress, the Supreme Court and the people.
Also, the dirty little secret presidential candidates never admit to is that, once elected, they’re often the victims of circumstances outside of their control. The lucky ones catch a break on fuel prices, wars, administration scandals. The unlucky ones we call one-term presidents.
Options are often limited on the big decisions a president makes. That’s why, despite significant political differences, there are a host of similarities found in the actions of George W. Bush and Barack Obama in the conduct of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and in the economic recovery from the Recession.
Swindle has served his country as a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer and a prisoner of war. He has every right to voice his opinion. It’s just that his destructive approach does nothing to help the men and women we elect roll up their sleeves and face up to the serious problems before us.
There are plenty of areas where Obama’s policies deserve criticism. The same is true of his opponent. Both candidates demonstrate their desire to be elected is stronger than their desire to be candid with the American public. Still, Obama and Mitt Romney both are eager to implement polices which they feel will help this country and Swindle fails to grant that basic assumption to the president.
Swindle doesn’t just disagree with the president, he demonizes him. And when politicians or commentators demonize their opponent it makes compromise and constructive solutions almost impossible.
Wake up, Orson. There’s much work to do and over-the-top venting doesn’t move us closer to the solutions.
Mike O’Rourke, associate editor, may be reached at 855-5860 or mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com. He may be followed at www.twitter.com/MikeORourkenews.
Comments (56)
Add commentThank U Mr. O'Rourke
I read that article and wondered if it was a paid advertisement for the movie 2016. Hard to read on a Sunday before church, it made me feel slightly nauseous.
Swindle, ironic name, put that same column
in several southern newspapers. I figured Morris Comm. was charging him, since he does work for a super PAC.
Some of the comments under those columns give hope that few believe his hogwash.
If he is concerned about Veterans, Obama is his man.
The other guy forgot we were at war. I guess when you served in Paris, and your sons never served, it isn't a big deal.
Mike, if you hadn't written this, Swindle would have faded into oblivion, at least in Brainerd.
He is getting multiple government pensions, too. Wonder how he feels about that government spending?
Wake up O'Rourke
"Swindle doesn't just disagree with the president, he demonizes him. And when politicians or commentators demonize their opponent it makes compromise and constructive solutions almost impossible."
O'Rourke, isn't that what you are doing to veteran Swindle? Why do you think you need to have the last word, leave him alone. Why don't you criticize your "local liberal think tank" demonizing and inflammatory opinions? Isn't it because you agree with them?
Thank you O'Rourke for showing us you are such a liberal hypocrite.
Thank you Veteran Orson Swindle!
For your selfless heroic service to our country. You are always welcome at my fire.
JJ
Orson is not understating any
Orson is not understating any thing. I too am deeply disturbed by the things that are have finally been revealed about Obama. I had the same feelings about him in the first election. The fact that HE chose not to reveal his past and that it took some brave and intelligent people to investigate him makes me even more suspisious of him now. I know the Liberal Media either did not look beyond their nose or just plain chose not to publish anything that was contrary to his slick orations. I do not believe he has my best interest in his mind or actions. And I too have done my own investigation over the last 4 years. I have never seen any presidential candidate with such a cloud over his head in my life. There are just so many questions about him that need to be answered and even asked. It amazes me that so many people that are supposed to be learned that just got sucked in to his karma. There are politicians that will always say what people want to hear but they are just words. Look at his record. Not only as a senator which was less than impressive but the background that we now are finally starting to hear about him. 2016 was a very revealing venture and I am glad it was told. He also has a wife that is less than patriotic. She pales in the light of any First Lady we have ever had. My last comment is that I to feel like Orson. My tolerance for Obama supporters will be affected. And should BHO gain another 4 years, at the very least I will take solace in the fact that I did what I could (vote) to defeat him.
"Both candidates demonstrate
"Both candidates demonstrate their desire to be elected is stronger than their desire to be candid with the American public"
aint that the truth ....
O'Rourke was simply expressing an opinion
That's still allowed in this country isn't it? Here's another from a combat vet and former republican US Senator.
"Republican Senator, Vietnam Veteran Endorses President Obama"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-pressler/larry-pressler-obama_b_1948...
I sincerely doubt
that Swindle is going to be intimidated by a small-town newspaper editor's opinion. Swindle's piece is what's known as agit-prop (agitation-propaganda), which serves no other purpose than to stir up emotions. But that's the goal, since it makes reasonable dialogue impossible. THAT's intimidating. Check out Swindle's connections to corporate America and the republican party. His rant serves their purposes nicely.
A given fact
It is a given fact that Mike O'Rourke wouldn't make a pimple on a journalists backside. He is disliked by citizens on both sides of the isle. If Morris Communications would only realize, their subscriber numbers would increase drastically by getting rid of O'Rourke, he would be gone instantly. O'Rourke has continually shown his disrespect for our Veterans throughout his career in the Brainerd Lakes area. A well respected Brainerd Lakes area business sponsors many Veterans events throughout the year at his own expense and Mike O'Rourke fails to cover any of them. In one such recent event, I had to personally go over his head (good job Keith) to get coverage of a national veterans event in our area. It is quite obvious that Morris Communications does't read any of their own publications on a regular basis. Keep it up Mike. It's only a matter of time.
Charlie
Me thinks sadie was right. You do have a cast Iron JOCK!!!
BTW I think snow & southie are boycotting because one of their fellow libs was booted off here.
Mike
I did not read the article so, will not comment on the piece.
But, Mike you responded because you are personally irritated at the article and/or you received complaints from readers.
Maybe you should just write your own article with your own thoughts on how you think we should vote for Obama.
Or Romney, if that is your choice. You wrote how you were personally offended, now you should write how it should be done.
to me it is obvious
that most of the people who post on here only want a Fox news sort of newspaper, perhaps that's why most people do not waste their time posting on here
it's why I steer clear of it most of the time
marsbar
I have to respond to your comment. I think this comment section is to toss around facts and ideas.
I myself have been reading the Brainerd paper for 20 years and have read the liberal take on events. AP, Reuters, New York Times, Wash. Post. I realize that Cal Thomas and some others have had articles in this paper, but recently, what a surprise that someone has written articles that have never been in this paper. I don't know where you get Fox
news sort of newspaper, unless you mean an article that shows both sides of the issue. I do not necessarily see that, but again most of the articles are from AP etc. Fox News itself doesn't own any newspapers although its parent company does.
Actually you should read the comments, you may see something that you hadn't seen before .
Oh Earthy
I can almost predict your next sentence..........."some of us have to work"...........LOL
I didn't realize they were gone protesting ... how refreshing
Is this the "occupy" BDD movement?
Are you down with the cause bro? I am.
Hey Tricia
Did you mean "Oh Earthy" or "Oh Snowda" or "Oh Marsbar"????
Cast Iron Jock
Hey OFB and Sadie. Call it like you want but I like to think of it like a Ronald Reagan/Margaret Thatcher type style with a little Jesse Ventura thrown in once in a while. LOL Keep up the good posts.
"The Last Kiss" song by J. Frank Wilson 1960's
Oh Where Oh Where has my snowda gone; the web took her away from me; she's gone with southie and we don't know where; she'll show up soon somewhere".
O'Rourke give us your comments on the movie 2016
O'Rourke, please give us "your" constructive comments on the 2016 movie after you watched it. Please give us lots of your solutions and make sure you are open to political discourse, instead of demonizing others.
Waiting ...
Demonstrated
Mikey, what YOUR column demonstrates is a want to play for a team who's chances came and went (hopefully very soon), that team is still putting some of the last nails in the coffin of our once great republic. BHO being exposed for what he really is should not be so alarming to a "reporter" such as yourself, what...did it shock you? If Mr. Swindle wishes to express his concern about the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., why can't he, it's the same 1st amendment you use to hide your "leftist bent" under. And another thing, I noticed how often you hid the word "demon" in your rebuttal, it was twice, that makes one for you and one the pretender in chief for whom you appear to be running interference for. Unless you used those words to get us to think of Mr. Swindle as the demon in this debate... that didn't work either. And the "progress" you refer to... does that include the loss of our friends in Egypt and all the other places BHO helped kick out stable/Israel friendly governments? Or do you want to discuss the price of gas when BHO took office and what it is now after a long list of bailouts, printing of money, quantitative easing (printing money), digitizing the debt (printing money)? I find your "column" a bit risky for somebody who is already on the hot seat in the small town world of print media.
Wildman 1
Good Job. I like it. 2 green thumbs-up for that one.
Yawn,
more Deerwood communist/backhanded, slander/propaganda from the wannabe soothsayer. Yawn
Propaganda at the movies
One of the substantial majority of reviewers who panned this biased film was Boston's Brett Michael. His comment:
"This unsubstantiated mess isn't much of a movie or a documentary."
We are still waiting for O'Rourke's unbiased 2016 movie review
O'Rourke is an expert at solution based constructive criticism. We are waiting for "the great liberal one" O'Rourke, to show us what the public discourse when criticizing someone who has deceived Americans, and run up the national debt to an almost unsustainable level stealing our children's future looks like.
Waiting Mike ...
PS. Do you ever look at the debt clock and see how much you and your children owe?
Johnny
Did you ever look at history and add up what the Bush multi-trillion tax cut and multi-trillion Iraq War added to the debt?
Barack passed Bush in spending
faster than a speeding bullet, so Rolf calls him Superman!
Orson Swindle is on Speakeasy, O'Rourke "no show"
I just heard Orson Swindle on the Speakeasy. Wow what a gracious and interesting man. Over 6 years with John McCain as a POW! A guy who clearly paid the price for our country, and he is not even bitter about it. I guess Mike O'Rourke was also invited on to defend his opinion criticizing Swindle. O'Rourke would not come on the show. Where is your leadership on civil discourse??
Obviously O'Rourke likes to dish it out, but his fragile ego can't take it when made to defend his own column.
"Wake up" BDD! Lol!
Another review of 2016 nonsense
The film flutters to the ground like so much GOP convention confetti, all assertions, few facts and little substance other than the conspiratorial right wing talking points that are D'Souza's bread and butter.
September 8, 2012
Roger Moore
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Top Critic
Most sane people
won't go on Gangrene's program.
Orson is in the Daily Kos!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/23/1135508/-Orson-Swindle-has-turn...
Another side of the old gent from Georgia.