UPDATED:  JUN 27, 2007 

LOOKING FOR CARNEY PART II
            [By Mickey Walker] 

Click here for LOOKING FOR CARNEY PART 1 

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In Part I, it was 1933, and we left Dad and his fellow hobos in the potato patch near Fayetteville, Texas.  The Great Depression gripped the land.  Carney, the hobo group leader, had taught them a good lesson to carry raw potatoes in their pockets in case of an emergency when food was non-existent.   At 17, Dad said it gave him a feeling of importance to carry such “symbols of solvency,” Carney’s wise counsel that helped him and the hobos get through many hungry nights. 

3.  Be Accountable. 

Carney's group got a job picking cotton on a farm near Sealy, Texas that paid 35 cents per hundred (pounds) and board.  This job lasted only one afternoon because it rained hard that night, soaking the fields.  Dad said that Carney ejected a member of the group who walked behind the others on the way back to town.  The group ostracized the man because he had agreed to buy a pair of kneepads from another hobo, and after using the pads all afternoon, he returned them, saying he had no use for them because it had rained. On the way back to town, Carney spoke of those who would betray their fellow man. I digressed to all the government corruption exposed under the Bush years. Tax cuts for the rich, Duke Cunningham, Jack Abramoff, no-bid Halliburton contracts, the missing Iraq War 9 Billion dollars, all came to mind.  Stealing from the Treasury.  While Bush budgets cut Veterans’ and social programs to the bone.   

“A person who would not stand behind his word deserved the worst because he betrays the trust of others.”  Carney told the group.  Bush told us that the “No Child Left Behind Act” is opening the door of (Education) opportunity to all of America's children.”  But in reality, as of January, 2006 the No Child Left Behind Act has been underfunded By Almost $10 Billion.  Bush told us Iraq had WMD trained on us.  He lied.  And plunged us into war and endless occupation amidst a civil war. 

4. The Gullible World  

Carney told the group that the greatest deceiver of one’s self is YOU.  Carnivals thrive because people like the idea of getting something for nothing, he said. But all the games are rigged. Soon, a person has spent more than the prize is worth. Carney said, "If you never learn anything else in life, beware, and don't bet on another man’s game.”  In good faith, so many Americans trusted Bush whose deplorable approval numbers now approach the teens.   Four years later, almost 3,500 of our soldiers have died, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have perished, more than Saddam Hussein, himself eliminated.   

The Bushites have stolen our future by borrowing against our 8.7 Trillion dollar debt, then redistributing it to America’s billionaires and millionaires in the form of ludicrous tax cuts.  Thanks to Bush, the world hates us now.  He keeps us chained to Iraq, a nation who wants us gone, while Bush’s war corporation cronies rake in Trillions. Congress should emulate Carney, move out in the face of adversity and get us out of Iraq.  Where have the true men like Carney gone, champions who would challenge lies and do something about human suffering?  Bush said, “Money trumps peace.”  Well, does money trump courage, too?  Unlike Bush, Carney knew hard times and cared about his fellow man.  Bush did neither.  He operates in the clouds, aloof from human suffering as when he flew above New Orleans, without empathy then and two years later.       

The future is uncertain.  Many new candidates from all parties present themselves as saviors to the Bush nightmare.  One noted Republican, sometimes Independent, Ron Paul, seems to have grabbed the attention of the people.  Paul’s shtick is to end the War and Occupation in Iraq and to bring our soldiers home, now.  Good Republican.  Dr. Paul is glib and speaks his beliefs with passion, and he seems not to care that his views differ with his hawkish, bogged-down-in-Iraq Republican colleagues.   Ron Paul is the real thing, according to many website blog postings and national polls.  Americans seem to like him, and I can see why they would want a change from the crooked bunch that stinks up the Oval Office today.  But the question is simple, Would Ron Paul pass the Carney test?  “Would Ron Paul give us give us a match or two?”  Perhaps.  But he’s told us how government should not be our caretaker, our safety net.  In fact, he remains silent on the issue of what to do with displaced Americans whose factories have closed and reopened with Neocon tax cut money in China.  He has explained how Americans should not depend on government to provide for them from cradle to grave.  But Paul does not use strong rhetoric about what to do about jobs and companies who will not pay a decent living wage.  Sounds a bit exclusive and dispassionate, doesn’t it?  It sounds right leaning to me, but why be surprised?  He’s a Republican.  Don’t get me wrong, I applaud his stance on getting us out of Iraq and the fact that he never voted to give Bush the right to attack Iraq in the first place.  My bone to pick with him is that Paul seems to discount and sweep under the rug, any discussion of any significant funding for social programs for Americans.  In Republicanese, Paul robotically repeats the party talking point that “Government is not supposed to support a person from the cradle to the grave.”  End of story.  Condescending to Americans with dreams and little money, Paul sounds a bit Country Club.  But look, how is America to educate its masses without government funding?  Will the continued dumbing down of our country through lack of funding for education produce new scientists and scholars or just another red-necked bunch of fellers who don’t believe in evolution or supporting a bunch of liberals who think the gummint owes them a living?  I mean, education, even in small doses, should be able to help cure such moronic thinking, you think?   

If Americans are seeking an honest candidate for president who never voted to attack Iraq and who favors immediate withdrawal, what about Dennis Kucinich?  He’s motivated, rose from the ranks as a common man, and he wants to represent us as our president.  And he favors strong unions and preserving social programs for the people instead of squandering tax dollars on wars and dishonest corporations on the government dole.  I mean, if you want the whole package, why pick Paul who could care less about what happens to the bulk of the American people who need funds for education programs, affordable gasoline to drive to work, affordable healthcare, Medicare and Social Security and empathy when it comes to earning a minimum wage for their families?   Why buy a new car with only 3 wheels and no spare when you can buy one with four?  I think Carney would have liked Kucinich.  Carney might have considered Paul to be a good man, yet one who perhaps, did not believe in helping people in real need all that much.  Paul’s attitude toward government programs seems tight-fingered, more like the store manager’s who, when Carney asked him for some matches, gave him only two.     

Could we be gullible enough to fall for the fluff again?  Will we buy the wrapper again, the pepper men, like the Gipper?  Will TV decide who the next president will be again, or will we look at issues this time?  Will we want a president who will restore our Constitutional rights that Bush trashed, or will we vote for someone who talks tough on terrorists and crime?  Will Gay Rights, stem cell research, abortion, prayer in school, and immigration be significant vote getters in 2008?  Or will the American voter look at hairstyles and headshots on camera?  Should Dennis Kucinich get a makeover?  Will the cadaverous Ron Paul get some makeup support from Hollywood?  I apologize for this silly diversion, but I guess I’m galled at how we select a candidate these days.  Carney could have run on his high principles and character.  He would have demanded as much from whomever he selected as his choice for president, to be sure. And he would have done his homework.  I guess we Americans today just don’t really know how to choose a candidate, perhaps, or we lose track of the pea when the shell game spin begins what with Swift Boat ads on TV that dazzle with pseudo-authenticity bought by money, lots of money.   

Right before he died in 2005 Dad traveled in his mind to the thirties to those dear old friends whose memories he had cherished for over 70 years.  From his bed, Dad fished in the Little River in Milam County, Texas and set trotlines near Huxley on Toledo Bend.  Many old faces he saw in his mind as he smiled to remember them.  Years after Dad had forgotten that now he lived in a nursing home and had no car, one day he announced that he was planning to drive to some of the fond old Texas places of his youth.  Dad’s imagination was working overtime.  But it was all he had. I played along. 

“Drive?”  I asked him.  “Where to, Dad?  Where you goin’?” 

“Looking for Carney.”  He smiled. 

I felt good inside for him.  It sounded like a great adventure.  I wished I could go, too. 

                        CONUNDRUM  

It is the conundrum of those opposed to the Iraqi occupation.  Two polls recently released show collapsing support for the occupation and, the public’s perception of Bush’s conduct of the occupation with it.  

First, the basic numbers.   

CNN’s poll this week reveals a new low for this basic question: 

Do you favor or oppose the U.S. war in Iraq? 

Favor               Oppose            No Opinion

June 22-24, 2007                                  30%                  67%                  3%
May 4-6, 2007                                       34%                  65%                  1%
April 10-12, 2007                                    32%                  66%                  2%
March 9-11, 2007                                   32%                  63%                  4%
January 11, 2007                                   31%                  67%                  2%
December 15-17, 2006                           31%                  67%                  2%            

Newsweek’s poll denotes a low water mark for Bush’s handling of the occupation: 

Second, the American public believes the situation in Iraq is growing worse, not better.  The surge is being adjudged a failure according to CNN’s poll:

Things are going well in Iraq                                            30%
Things are going badly, but getting better                         3%
Things are going badly and staying the same             23%
Things are going badly and getting worse                  42%
Things are going badly, no opinion (better/worse)              1%
No opinion                                                                     1% 

Yet, a majority of Americans are not convinced that pulling all troops out of Iraq is the correct policy decision.  Two polls make the point.  CNN’s poll: 

Which comes closest to your view about what the U.S. should now do about the number of U.S. troops in Iraq -- the U.S. should send more troops to Iraq, The U.S. should keep the number of troops as it is now, the U.S. should withdraw some troops from Iraq, or the U.S. should withdraw all of its troops from Iraq? (ROTATE ORDER) 

June 22-24       Nov. 17-19        Oct. 27-29

2007                 2006                 2006 

Send more troops                      17%                  16%                  15%
Keep same number as now         16%                  21%                  17%
Withdraw some troops                24%                  27%                  28%
Withdraw all troops                    39%                   33%                  34%
No opinion                                 3%                    3%                     6% 

Clearly, 33% of Americans, a distinct minority, want to keep troop levels the same or increase troop levels.  This percentage is roughly equivalent to the 30% of Americans who believe things are going well in Iraq.  

It is the opponents of the war who are divided.  While a growing number of Americans want to withdraw all troops, 39%, 24% want only to withdraw some troops from Iraq.  While that 24% represents a declining percentage; -4% since October, 2006, with a rising percentage who wants to withdraw all troops; +5% since October, 2006, the three essential policy positions are roughly equivalent in strength; 33% stay or surge, 24% withdraw some troops and 39% to leave Iraq.  

Clearly, those opposed to Bush’s occupation have won the national debate on the propriety of America’s involvement in the Iraqi civil war.  Absent some dramatic reversal of fortunes, Bush’s legacy will be the ashes of world opinion following 9/11.

The conundrum for those who believe that the best policy is to leave Iraq is that while that position is gaining strength, its strength is not yet sufficient to compel the political process to make total withdrawal a reality. 

The message for Democrats; keep making the case to exit Iraq.    

                        FREEFALLING 

One new poll released this week; CNN/Opinion Research (“CNN”).  Bush’s approval rating continues its freefall.  TPJ’s monthly average just over 31%, another new low. 

One polling detail catches TPJ’s attention.  In a number of previous polls, Bush’s approval rating would fall while those with “no opinion” would rise more substantially than those who disapprove of Bush’s performance.  TPJ hypothesized that Republicans who no longer “approved” of Bush were reluctant to state actual “disapproval” of the President, therefore, they simply expressed a perhaps more emotionally satisfying “no opinion.”  For example, see the June Pew, Fox, Quinnipiac and Newsweek polls below.  However, Gallup and CNN both record new lows in their polls with disapproval rising and those with “no opinion” at a paltry 3%.  Also note that the disapproval ratings in polls ending after June 10^th have been higher (averaging 65.4%) than those rating during the first part of June (61.66%).   A polling differential of some 4% within this relatively short period is significant.

We sense a shift in the offing; one that spells more grim realities for Bush and Republicans.