I am usually optimistic

Despite my left leanings and my loathing of this administration, I have generally optimistic. I am not sure why.

When Bush became president, I knew he would be bad, but I thought he would be sort of mildly bad like his father. I thought I had nothing to worry about as a white man from an upper middle class background.

After 9-11, I hoped the administration would handle it well. Initially, I actually thought they did. The war in Afghanistan started well, but they just seemed to ignore the country after a couple months.

I had hoped that as bad as 9-11 was, at least it would bring people together. Shortly after the attacks it seemed everyone from the right wingers to the French were together against the terrorists. Now the country and the world is more divided then ever.

I was optimistic that Bush wouldn’t use 9-11 to push his agenda and question the patriotism of the Democrats. I thought even Bush wouldn’t go that low.

When Bush started talking about Iraq, I hoped his hawkish stance was sort of a “bad cop” routine to get inspectors into Iraq on our terms and finally end the back an forth we were having with Iraq. I thought they actually wanted fewer weapons and more normal (and profitable) relations with Iraq. I really didn’t think war was the actual goal.

As Bush was seeking UN approval, I thought that maybe we might get some international support. I was glad Bush appeared not to want to go in alone. I even hoped he might take other views into account.

When Turkey refused to let the US invade Iraq from their country, I hoped that Bush would be at least delayed from invading.

When the war actually started, no matter how disappointed I was, I hoped that I was wrong. I hoped it would be like the first gulf war and that we would go in relatively unimpeded with minimal casualties. Iraq is putting up more resistance than we were originally told they would in southern Iraq, and the casualties are already mounting.

I am thoroughly against the war, and would pull all the troops out now if I could, but if we have to be there I want us to win. I hope we can do it quickly and decisively and not get bogged down in a long and costly battle. I am still optimistic that could happen, but not so optimistic that I think it is likely.