Politics Writing Sample (Left Coast)

There is a common old wives' tale (old husbands' tale if you prefer), that if you put a frog in some water and gradually heat the water up, the frog will not notice the gradual change and let itself be boiled to death.

According to extensive Internet research (e.g., reading a web site known as Google Answers), this is not true. Frogs, being sensible, jump out of water as it gradually increases in temperature. However, humans, not being sensible, have been known to boil themselves to death in hot tubs.

This principle is also true for our current involvement with the country of Iraq.

For example, the current administration of the United States asserted that the country of Iraq contained Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Secretary of State addressed the United Nations and showed slides supporting this assertion. A report that the country of Niger was supplying equipment to assist in making nuclear weapons was published. The people of the United States believed these assertions. The national hot tub temperature increased by about five degrees.

The administration asserted that the elements in Iraq were in league with Al Qaida (a group of terrorists). This was not true at the time; however, it is true now. The national hot tub temperature has been increasing by another degree a month.

The administration asserted that the inhabitants of Iraq would greet us with enthusiasm as liberators. The temperature of the national hot tub has been increasing by another degree a month.

Our humane practices of prisoner treatment and interrogation at locations such as Abu Ghraib have also helped win the minds and hearts of the Iraq people. The temperature of the national hot tub has been increasing by yet another degree a month.

The loyalties of the country of Iraq were sharply divided among three groups: the Shia, the Sunni, and the Kurds. Under our leadership and guidance, these groups have learned to work together, to resolve their differences in peaceful and sensible ways, and to develop loyalties to the country of Iraq that supersede their loyalties to their individual groups. The temperature of the national hot tub has been increasing by another degree a month, though more recently it has been increasing by about two degrees a month.

The leader of the administration indicated that he would "stay the course." Recently, however, he has no longer been heard using that statement. The temperature of the national hot tub increased by another degree.

The leader of the administration indicated confidence in the current leadership of Iraq. Leaked memos from the administration indicate otherwise. The temperature of the national hot tub increased by another degree. Leaks do not seem to lower the temperature.

Another leaked memo, from the former secretary of defense, indicated that the policy needed further adjustments. The water in the hot tub seems to be boiling. The frog legs might be done, had not the frogs jumped out, some time ago.

This link includes many allegations probably coming from a biased point of view. Suppose, for the sake of argument and caution, half the information linked on the page is dubious and inaccurate. Therefore, if you are an opponent of the war of the war, your glass is half full. On the other hand, if you are a supporter of the war, your glass is half empty. On the other hand, perhaps everybody's goose is cooked.