Giles: Politics Is Getting Politicized

Excuse Me, Elected Officials, Exactly Whom Do You Work For?

(CBS)  How well is our political system working these days? Not surprisingly, Sunday Morning contributor Nancy Giles has an opinion on that.

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It's official: Politics have become politicized. How else can anyone explain that the will of the people is being ignored by our elected representatives?

A Washington Post poll says 67% of Americans would not approve the additional $190 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A USA Today/Gallup poll shows that more than half of Americans think the war in Iraq is getting worse; and 60% of us think the war itself was a mistake.

But the war goes on, our brave troops continue to be wounded and killed, and it's costing billions more than the country can afford.

And despite the 81% of us who are in favor of expanding "S-CHIP," providing health insurance to 10 million kids who don't qualify for Medicaid, and the three-quarters of us who would be willing to pay more taxes to make that happen, this program was vetoed by President Bush, and Thursday the House fell thirteen votes short of overriding his veto.

I don't get it. The people have spoken, and the elected officials are ignoring us! Don't they work for us?

Can't we fire them, right now?

I know this is simplistic, but couldn't we take a teeny bit of that, oh, 10 billion bucks a month that's going God knows where in Iraq and make sure more American kids have health coverage?

Will somebody look at the books, like the fake president's accountant did in the movie "Dave"? His plain ol' accountant-guy logic pointed out ways to cut the fat and get money where it was actually needed. Why can't life imitate art?

And I'm still offended that the major Republican presidential candidates didn't show at last month's presidential forum with a panel comprised of journalists of color. But at least some of the candidates showed up. Univision, the Spanish-language network had to cancel its forum due to lack of interest.

Now even if blacks don't usually vote Republican, Hispanics do, and what about the white people that might just be offended by Republicans blowing off the black and Hispanic vote? I wonder if that pointing and smiling at the end of their other debates is them going, "Hey! A black person! A Hispanic! Shoot! Maybe I should have gone to that debate after all!"

What's a person to do when staying informed with what's going on in the world makes you ill? What pill can I "ask my doctor" for to help me cope with political weariness?

According to the Giles poll, 100% of this one person has had it.

[ho123456]

I work in health care and I an assure you all children are cared for. A lot of lazy people who
refuse to work or people who are in our conutry illegally and do not pay taxes are cared for as well at the tax payers expense. We do not need to expand health care to people making more money than the
majority of workers at the hospital are making. We need to be looking to the abuse of the systems already in place. I have enjoyed CBS Sunday Morning for years and always try to catch the broadcast. This is the second time Nancy Giles has offended
me with her bias political and racist comments. I
turned off the broadcast.

[texrepub]

OneReader. I wrote that she "portrayed", not "said". It was how she presented her dismay. No facts, just disgust that what she wanted was not passed.

[reportright]

This is my first time commenting about a news show. I am very disappointed regarding the comments Nancy Giles presented and how she presented them on the Sunday Morning Show 10/21/07 and CBS news. This is erronous and one sided reporting at it''s best. People are getting very disheatened with biased reports. Tell the whole truth regarding a story. This bill was adding additional money to people earning 80K to a program already in existance. I''d veto it too. Learn to give fair reporting and your ratings will be untouchable, and our citizens will be able to make an intellectual decision based on all the facts. I am considering not watching your show or other news shows any longer. The stations have become the political opinon of the owners of the station. That''s wrong.

[smilebig-2009]

During her rant, Nancy Giles mentioned nothing about the only anti-politician in the bunch who is fighting to cure what ails her frustration with politics: Congressman Ron Paul. The fact that Dr. Paul has delivered over 4,000 babies coulda/woulda/shoulda been a quintessential lead-in to the next show piece about...babies! If CBS Sunday Morning intended to reveal its bias against the only viable Presidential candidate to cure political apathy, it successfully took complete advantage of the opportunity to omit.

[nmninco]

I have just read all the comments posted so far regarding Nancy Giles hateful commentary, and I applaud Fleetingfame, OHPlease01, and Fern7 especially. Joesantana seems to have some problem with expressing himself, and what does the death of his wife and finding that she contributed to the democrats have to do with his changing from a life-long republican to a democrat? Doesn''t he have a mind of his own? (I guess not.)

[nmninco]

I watch Sunday Morning because it is an uplifting fairly intellectual wonderful way to start a Sunday morning. AND IT HAS BEEN FREE OF POLITICS. So when Nancy Giles gets up and spouts off her liberal views, I want to turn off the TV and never watch Sunday Morning again. Why does CBS think it is smart to annoy half of their viewers with this nasty commentary? Let''s get back to the good old Sunday Morning program and get rid of this mean spirited unintellectual bitter liberal who is lowering the standards of a once pleasant non-political experience.

[dmgenet]

People can speak with their vote. Just as strong is the message (snail mail is still the best) that should be sent to every Senator and Representative in Congress. They need to be deluged with mail. If then they don''t see the flood coming then no one can blame them for not building an ark. But dumb is as dumb does.

[jakiblue-2009]

Nancy,

Amen, finally someone has spoken the truth!
My views have not been represented at all. I vote in every election; however, I am not sure why. My views don''t seem to make a difference. I never voted for the war and now we are faced with the plea for more money to fund it. How can money be approved for the war when we cannot even afford to rebuild New Orleans? Why don''t we take care of our own? Oh...perhaps oil is more important?!

[usbrit-2009]

How is it that when somebody left of center starts using similar tactics Shammity and Limpbore it is the start of the decline of humanity. The right wing brats have done far, far more to undermine the basic rights of discourse in this country than anyone in the so called MSM would ever think of doing.

[wildgooseusa]

One thing, I like about you, Nancy of all the times I have watched you,is that you make people think and you get people to write opinions on your topics. To me, you add a little colorful humor to things we need to look at. Keep up the great work and keep us on track!!! Your friend, John at Wild Goose Studio

[ric_splinter]

I Tivo''d Sunday morning, and I expect the irrational far leftest view from CBS, Ms. Giles went straight over the edge this Sunday. First clearly we are not staying in Iraq, we are not making it our 51st state, we will be leaving as soon as possible when the government is stable and people enjoy freedoms like Ms. Giles, like speaking out against the government. If she needs direct her anger try the Iraq government and people to "stand up".
Second the S-Chip was going to be expanded under President Bush''s guidelines, how convenient you neglect to mention this? The Democratic congress wants this to be the first step to socialist medicine and a huge tax increase ... forever? The war will end and so will the spending, government''s track record for entitlement programs go on forever.
Third when Black people stop giving their votes to democrats like lemmings running into the sea, stop and engage the debate with rational ideas for solutions and stop playing the victim card, you might find republicans engaging you.

[miltytwo]

I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FAN OF SUNDAY MORNING FOR 20YRS OR MORE.I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED MOST THE WONDERFUL CONTENTS AND THE EFFORT PUT FORTH TO MAKE IT THE BEST SHOW OF IT KIND EVER.
MILLIONS OF YOUR FANS DO NOT AGREE WITH NANCY''S POLITICAL OPINION AND DONOT WANT TO HEAR IT.
YOU HAVE MUCH TO FINE A SHOW TO ALLOW ANY POLITICAL OPINION.

[elopkin]

Nancy, if everyone jumped off a bridge would you? Governing by poll just means that the decision would be popular, not effective, useful, or good for the country.

http://www.ericlopkin.com/observation.htm

[onereader-2009]

TexRepub said:
"And to portray those opposed to the expansion of the SChip coverage as evil, is immature and not worthy of CBS to offer a venue for such attacks."

I must have missed something. When did she say that those opposed were evil?

[tcevergreen]

REQUEST: Regardless of one''s political perspective, Nancy Giles clearly struck a lot of nerves with this particular segment of hers. I''ve sent the script to a lot of folks and I''ve received a lot of requests to upload the video of her segment. Anyone else like to see a video link? Can someone there at CBS help us out?

[tcevergreen]

REQUEST: Regardless of one''s political perspective, Nancy Giles clearly struck a lot of nerves with this particular segment of hers. I''ve sent the script to a lot of folks and I''ve received a lot of requests to upload the video of her segment. Anyone else like to see a video link? Can someone there at CBS help us out?

[lostein]

Nancy, you are showing your limited knowledge and liberal biases. I notice you make no mention of the Democrat''s boycott of Fox News... I wonder what they are so afraid of? Don''t they want to reach out to the over 60% of Fox viewers who do not identify themselves as Republican? And as for majority...didn''t the majority of Americans NOT want to enter WWII? That no doubt cost millions of lives. At one point I am betting that the majority was not opposed to slavery... should they have gotten their way? And do the majority that wants the US to withdraw from Iraq want it done in haste...with no regard to the consequences? Not the polls I have seen. So, Nancy... you were right. You ARE simplistic.

[rishalinda]

Thank You Nancy for saying what needs to be said!
All this said, what can we now do about these "elected" leaders before they destroy all our rights and our way of life? (Or push us into world war 3!) I belong to several grassroots movements for change and even impeachment plans but so far we are still held hostage by an administration we did not even vote for. What''s going on in America? Are we all drugged or too self absorbed to redress?

[watch23]

Congrats, but what do we do, or what can we do, with the current state of america and it''s governing officials? Chaney now wants to start a conflick with Iran and I''m affraid he''ll get his wish. we need to begin the impeachment process to slow the emporer Bush down. He has already declared that he go to world war three if nessary.

[deepconcern]

Jeeez. Do some of you honestly think Bush and the congress have, and are, acting in the long-term best interest of the United States? Does this include the thousands of votes that are bought by lobbyists from big corporations? And, does it include the terribly wasteful "earmarks" that do little more than pay off political friends? And, I guess a lot of us are confused, but always thought that in a representative government, the elected representatives were obligated to vote the way the majority of the electorate desired. But then, we don''t have either a democratic republic or a democracy. We have an oligarchy - that''s where the elected representatives are out of touch with the desires of the people, and most likely act in their own political interest only.