US Presidential Election 2004 IV

Politics International Politics
141

Marshall Wittman, who with William Kristol was an early proponent of National Greatness Conservatism as well as a charter member of the neoconservative movement and who has thrown his support to Kerry, has some excellent suggestions for the President-elect. (Wittman aligned with John McCain rather than W in 2000; his differences with Bush largely centered over whether the threat from terrorism comes from ‘failed’ or ‘rogue’ states as well as nationbuilding tactics)

Wittman thinks the first order of business for whoever is President-elect is to undo the damage to American national unity done by Bush’s 9/12 return to 9/10 politics as usual, and I agree.

The US is unbelievably and bitterly fractured now; I find shocking the various ‘promises’ made (mostly in the undercurrent of American thought) by some on both sides to instigate some form of civil disorder no matter who’s elected (if Bush wins, some Dems have sworn to ‘fill the streets’, a few have even advocated what amounts to a limited civil war; if Kerry wins, some Bushies have advocated basically the same in Missouri, West Virginia, and Arkansas, all of which are uncomfortably located along ancient and still-fractionable national fault lines, imo).

No, I am not kidding. It’s that bad.

I find these arguments in favor of sedition are made even more disturbing due to the credibility of those proposing them, although they currently exist only at the fringes of public debate (thank God).

At any rate, here are Wittman’s comments. They’re directed at Kerry, but of course that doesn’t mean they’ll be implemented (it hardly even necessarily means they’ll be entertained). However, one of the very strong reasons, imo, to support Kerry is that I believe ideas like these are much more likely to be implemented under Kerry than under Bush. I have no doubt that, if Bush wins, then - given his first term - it will be politics as usual, f*** the loyal opposition, and damn the consequences. Kerry is the only candidate who can heal these deep divisions if only because Bush doesn’t/can’t/refuses to see them.

These ideas are excellent, imo, and there’s absolutely no way for them to be enacted under Bush.

From Wittman’s page:

[i]1. Construct a cabinet of national unity. Name Republicans to positions of prominence (and that does not mean HUD or Transportation).

  1. Focus on legislative issues that have bi-partisan support and span the ideological divide such as drug importation, patient
142

So I am working late and I get this anonymous message with an attachment from Republicans Abroad Taiwan. I then got another one from a friend, so this must be making the rounds. It took me a while to figure out what they meant by “start pushing the Guardian off the editorial pages”. Do Democrats also sit around and plot this way?

October 21, 2004
Let us meet this coming Monday, October 24, at the American Club, in the Chicago Room, to discuss, in particular, the following:

  1. The November 3 AmCham election party (with media)

  2. A possible celebration for that evening.

  3. Further media contacts and developments, i.e., to start pushing the Guardian off the editorial pages of the Taipei Times, the Taiwan News, etc.
    Looking forward to seeing you and welcoming you to our meeting next
    Monday, and with kind regards,

    Sincerely yours,

    E. F. Einhorn
    Chairman

143

So, some RINO nobody’s ever heard of joined up with the “New Democrats Online”, and this is important why, exactly??

Sorry, you were saying?

Actually, the “Bushies” are just sitting back and laughing at the dumbass hippies who are threatening to rush out and buy machine guns from the ice cream guys so that they can heroically defend the revolution.

Yeah, I know, those hippies really are pathetic.

Eh. The hippies aren’t really all that credible, although the union goons have shot at and invaded a few Bush campaign offices, oh, and attacked a five year old or two. Fortunately nobody’s gotten seriously injured yet. But a lot of Republicans are gun nuts, and actually know how to shoot. I predict a rather lopsided fight if the union goons actually pull any crap – not that they will, they’re a lot smarter than the hippies.

BWAHAHAHAHA! Man, you have a career ahead of you in net.comedy! Go ahead and quit your day job.

There’s a “loyal” opposition? I thought there were just the Democraps and comsimps, who are basically a disloyal bunch of traitorous scum.

Thank Buddha.

[quote=“flike”]From Wittman’s page:
… bunch of crap deleted …
[/quote]
Cool. Anyone got some nachos?

144

[quote=“Flicka”]So I am working late and I get this anonymous message with an attachment from Republicans Abroad Taiwan. I then got another one from a friend, so this must be making the rounds. It took me a while to figure out what they meant by “start pushing the Guardian off the editorial pages”. Do Democrats also sit around and plot this way?
[/quote]
Hmm? You think that the Democratic “strategy memo” telling everyone to make false accusations of minority-voter intimidation just came out of thin air??

The Republicans are meeting to plan their party, and to talk about how they can chat with the media to get their viewpoint printed.

The Democraps are meeting to discuss how they can spin, sue, intimidate, lie, and otherwise create havoc.

Which group is behaving properly?

145

[quote=“MaPoSquid”][quote=“Flicka”]So I am working late and I get this anonymous message with an attachment from Republicans Abroad Taiwan. I then got another one from a friend, so this must be making the rounds. It took me a while to figure out what they meant by “start pushing the Guardian off the editorial pages”. Do Democrats also sit around and plot this way?
[/quote]
Hmm? You think that the Democratic “strategy memo” telling everyone to make false accusations of minority-voter intimidation just came out of thin air??

The Republicans are meeting to plan their party, and to talk about how they can chat with the media to get their viewpoint printed.

The Democraps are meeting to discuss how they can spin, sue, intimidate, lie, and otherwise create havoc.

Which group is behaving properly?[/quote]

Oh, yes, I can just imagine that Tammy woman and the gang sitting around trying to see how they can spin, sue and intimidate.

No one mailed me the Democrat’s strategy memo, but this hits a little closer to home. They are meeting to plan their party? The AmCham election party is not their party, even if the GOP does win.

146

QED

:laughing:

147

flike,

I disagree with the suggestions from that fellow. Look, whoever wins can fill his cabinet with whoever he wants, and most likely they will be people from his own party. The nation is not fractured. People simply support different political candidates… its a democracy, after all.

148

I predict that the US people will elect… [color=green]
a shrubbery!
[/color]

149

[quote]Kerry was hunting for geese

150

foxnews.com/story/0,2933,136153,00.html

Tigerman:

Your father is a doctor in Pennsylvania. Why don’t you chime in with some of the stuff that is going on in that state that make it nigh impossible for doctors to practice any more because of lawyers like John Kerry.

151

I’m surprized this video of Edwards doing his hair hasn’t been posted.

He likes his hair just right… :laughing: :unamused: What a girlie boy.

152

Run out of issues to discuss have we?

153

Not at all. I just think that if mofangongren can use for his avatar a picture of Bush after he took a spill on his mountain bike, then, who would complain about posting the Edwards hair video.

And c’mon… Edwards does look like a girlie boy in the video, doesn’t he?

Its politics in an election season…

154

I much prefer the footage of Wolfowitz lubin’ up his comb with a great wad of spit and running it through his hair – not once but twice. He then gets some goo onto his fingers and starts tweaking his hair.

Yeah, that’s how a real man does his hair, right Tigerman?

How about the footage of Bush wearing wildly rouged makeup, with lots of people hovering over him putting his every hair into place. Is that how a real man does it?

155

teresa, how much damage can she do to the kerry campaign with her big mouth?

kerry, hunting geese makes vegan treehugger dems squeal and gives the nra great ad material.

forumosa liberals, don’t quote polls you’re going to dismiss later when they show bush ahead. :wink:

156

Hmmmm this could be interesting. All polls show strong Republican trends in the Senate and House. If Kerry is making such an effort to “play soccer” and “hunt geese,” as a president with such a strong republican congress looking at his every move, would he also feel the need to display his “manly strength” by invading Syria and Iran? With the right pressure, he caves. Even the Democrats admit that. They just hate Bush more. But given his personality and his “caving” wouldn’t we be well placed to push him into taking strong action, action that really Bush is no longer capable of taking because of the media and public outcry? There would be silence if Kerry were to attack Syria right? It would be the Nixon going to China, Clinton reforming welfare thing. What do you think the chances are?

157

Are you regretting your vote fred? (I take it you already posted it).

158

this is cute:

miniclip.com/hiphopdebate.htm

159

Excellent artice about Republicans following the Blair Model.

economist.com/world/na/displ … id=3286037

The second reason why the Republicans have more to gain from a victory in November is that they think they can use a second Bush term to turn themselves into America’s de facto ruling party. Grover Norquist, the head of Americans for Tax Reform, may be exaggerating when he says that

160

BB: No just musing.

Chewy, however, has given me several other reasons to hope Bush wins. I am just thinking of taking advantage of what we can get. Bush loses, maybe Syria? Bush wins, marginalizing the Democrat Party? Hmmm perhaps a bit too optimistic? But either way, something for everyone on the Right. hee hee