Yeah, I'm back.

And I'm peeved. Perturbed. Pissed.

I have this dream that, in the next political cycle, whether it takes five months or five years, both major American parties will no longer be filled walking, talking, squawking stereotypes and self-parodies. I understand that charisma sells, and that people have been convinced that someone they can "relate" to is the best leader to vote for, but what I want, for my side and for that of those I consider the opposition, is some knock-down, drag-out, rigorously and forcefully intellectual discussions helping to form and push forward policy. And I don't just want this occurring behind the scenes. I want this out in the open for all of us to see and judge for ourselves.

I think of it this way. On the right, you've got Sarah Palins. Your folksy individuals who manage to sound like the mom from Bobby's World even though that was a ridiculous voice twenty years ago. (Howie Mandel had hair!) The people being shoved forward because they can "connect" with the people who consider themselves the more down-homey type. Honestly, even if I did agree with more than 0% of what she says, I would be insulted to think they couldn't come up with someone far more impressive. I don't want to feel I'm at the same level as my leaders or, even worse, above them in some capacity. I don't want to feel like my leader is someone who I'd want in my house for a barbeque. I want my leaders to be so goddamn busy trying to push my city/state/country (depending on what office we're talking about) forward that they don't have time for such frivolity. And even if they do have time to blow off some steam, I still want to feel like their mind works so much faster than mine. When I see a leader, I don't want to think "aw, shucks," I only want to think, "wow."

The thing is, none of us know her personally. She could indeed be the sharpest sharp thing in the metaphorical place you keep sharp things. But if it is in fact there in her, it's buried under a whole heaping pile of nonsense, a pile so large that, if I were her, and I had the capability of doing so, I would discard the goofy demeanor and get down to brass tacks immediately. But, maybe that's why she's popular and I have no personal interest in politics.

Anyway. And on your left, you've got your Harry Reids. Oh, Harry. Gotta make those compromises, don't you? Because that's what makes a Senator successful, the amount of compromises he can make per day. I honestly don't know what the man believes about anything anymore. I just think he's tired and wants to do anything he can go to home and sleep without being bothered.

Harry isn't the only reason Healthcare is flagging (there are a lot of reasons for that), but he does remind me of a conversation I had way the hell back in 2004 with a relatively conservative classmate of mine. She told me she didn't really agree with a lot of things that the GOP was doing in 04, but that, at the very least, they got things done. I take issue with this philosophy, of course - if I don't like what's getting done, I'm not going to support a group merely based on success rate - but Harry must make a whole lot of people feel completely justified in feeling the way she did. For god's sakes, man, grow up and push something forward!

What I want, since the GOP isn't going to disappear (though, even with their populist anger, they still have a lot of work to do to regain control of anything), is for the GOP to find some dynamo who is a very obvious and unapologetic brain. I will presumably disagree with most of what he or she puts forward, as their philosophies remain at odds with mine at their core, but I would like to be able to say, "I think you're wrong, but at least you're making a strong, reasoned argument."

And for my folks, my lefties, my southpaws, can we kick some ass? Seriously? Hello? We've done it before. Progressive things happen in America! No, really, they do! I know a lot of us came of age in a time when America was spending most of its time proudly equating gay people with subhuman species on the floor of the Capitol, but, go back to the 60s, and the country has shown it can really make astounding leaps when the right people do the right things.

But it ain't gonna happen when the party's full of Harrys. And, though she has her fans, Sarah's not good for the longterm health of the GOP. And, to be honest, no matter what side you're on, you should want, at the very least, a solid opposition, something against which your can be polished and made brighter. It shouldn't just be about winning, it should be about getting the right things done for the country, and the world (because, let's face it, we do have a large effect on everyone else, for better or worse).

And this is what it comes down to. Too many folks are just looking to that next November date. The media, the politicians themselves, even the viewers, people just want to win that next popularity contest, and all the months in between get pissed away so people can get in better positions for the next battle.

Obviously I want my side, my beliefs, my ideals to win in the long run. I want full equality for all genders (I said "all," not "both"), I want people to stop trying to prevent others from marrying the ones they love, I want everyone to have affordable healthcare, I want a lot of things.

But almost anything is better than this. Because the way things are right now, with these Sarahs and Harrys and Glenns and Keiths and Bachmanns and Liebermans and so on, no one's winning. We're all just losers. And we can do a hell of a lot better.

I hope.

So, yeah, I guess I'm back.

Peace and love,
Justin PBG