Expressing Outrage

Sure he's on a rant, but when intelligent and well-spoken people like Publius start ranting, it is worth taking note. Where there is smoke, there may be fire:

I have gone through many "last straws" over the past couple of years, but this may be the last of the emergency set of last straws. It's actually sad in a way. I too got swept up in the post-9/11 feelings of unity and purpose. Thinking of the firemen who charged the buildings and sacrificed their lives for something higher, I reflected on whether I should be doing something other than law. I think everyone did. Everyone wanted to come together and stop terrorism, and make America and the world better. But this President - who has neither knowledge, curiosity, experience, nor judgment - pissed that away because he was too damned ignorant to realize the once-in-a-century opportunity History had given him. He robbed us of our national unity. I'm 27, but I doubt I'll ever live to see the same degree of unity. And now look where we are - now I don't even believe my own government when they tell me of terror warnings... Nothing - I believe nothing more they say. Ever.

Food for thought. I have trouble getting myself quite that worked up, but I can't deny recurrent inklings of outrage. I guess I still value even-handedness, and try to avoid ranting on this site. I just don't project anger or outrage particularly strongly in my writing. Whether that is because I'm not as angry or outraged, or because I moderate myself in my blogging, I'm not sure. I certainly do feel some constraint from my present and future employment, and thus am usually quite conscious and cautious before posting each entry.

Perhaps I'm just being overly cautious in worrying that simple disagreements with the administration would ever threaten my career. But maybe not:

Active duty military members may not:

-- Speak before a partisan political gathering of any kind for promoting a partisan political party or candidate.

-- Participate in any radio, television or other program or group discussion as an advocate of a partisan political party or candidate.

-- Make campaign contributions directly to a partisan political candidate.

I won't be active duty for another year and a half, at least, so these restrictions don't squarely apply to me right now (though they do counsel for discretion). But once I go active, expect a lot less political talk. It's not even clear to me whether I'll be able to keep the archives of this site publicly available (such as my discussion of who I voted for in the Democratic primary). Anyone know? After all, here's how one JAG officer has summed it up:

A good rule of thumb is that any public or outward involvement in or support of partisan political activity by soldiers is likely prohibited.

Serious stuff.