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July 12, 2004 That is the question that often arises when I read something I don't agree with here at Useless Knowledge. In this case, Max Burns has written a piece entitled: Republicans: Slipping Hold of Power In this case, I’ve (obviously) decided: Fisk! Here we go... If Republicans have ever approved of anything Democrats have done, they have been good at keeping silent about it. It is as if, in the entire history of the Democratic Party, nothing good has ever had the donkey stamp on it. I must hand it to Republicans: they tow the partisan line unlike anyone else.Ditto to the Democrats. They can't find anything good to say about the Right even when Republicans (whether it's Reagan or Bush) have decreased the tax burden on hard- working Americans. I guess that's the nature of politics these days...but it goes both ways. Petty, partisan Republicans have become bitter and snappy as they cling to the Senate and White House. They attack John Kerry’s supposed “lack of values” while President Bush declares it is “not an issue” when the Vice President of the United States of America hurls profanities on the floor of the Senate. Of course, good luck trying to scold Cheney for that.Let's set the record straight. Both Bush and Cheney have used foul language in public places. Bush said something rather nasty about Adam Clymer. Cheney, likewise, said something pretty bad to/about Leahy. Now, let's compare that to what Mr. Kerry has said. Kerry has used the F-word in an interview with Rolling Stone and called one of his Secret Service agents a "Son-of-a-Bitch". In both cases of Republican profanity, the comment was either meant for a private audience (Bush leaned over to Cheney) or was at least directly at a defensible A-hole (Leahy really is a jerk...in my humble opinion). Furthermore, the profanity was directed at/in reference to, in the former case, a reporter and a Senator, in the latter. In both cases, I hand down the ruling of poor judgment. Now for Kerry. He referred to the actions of the sitting President of the United States, the Leader of the Free World and the Most Powerful Man on the Planet as F-ed up. Worse than directly telling a Senator 'what to do'? You be the judge. Whatever you happen to think about Kerry and the repeated use of the F-word in a setting designed to be publicized, you've got to admit that the low of the low has to be acting in any why aside from utter respect and gratitude towards your personal Secret Service agent. Here's a guy who has sworn an oath to give his life in the process of protecting John F. Kerry's own life...and Kerry proceeds to call him a Son of a Bitch?! And...in a place where it could be overheard. And...for the grievous transgression of, what was it again, oh yeah...for allegedly causing him to fall while snowboarding. Poor baby. I hope he didn't muss his hair while allegedly being knocked over by the guy who will gladly take a bullet for your sorry ass. All right, moving on... They snipe at John Edwards, billing him as John Kerry’s second choice. They would do well do remember that, by the popular vote, George W. Bush was America’s second choice. No, they don’t remember that.First off, Edwards may very well have been Kerry's second choice. Prove to me otherwise. Secondly, I remember quite well that Gore got more of the popular vote than did Bush...I just don't care. For the record, here in America we elect the President based on the Electoral College vote total, not the Popular vote. Right or wrong them's the rules. If you don't like it, tough tacos buddy. Republicans would be wise to remember wars are won just as much with soft power – just as this month’s Foreign Affairs reports in a banner story – as blunt strength. The Cold War was won with just as much soft power as hard power, and while the War on Terror is different, it creates an even more important need for soft power, the art of persuasion.Ummm...the Cold War was not won with "soft power." The Cold War was won by building bigger WMDs and more of them than the Russians. If megaton nuclear devices is "soft power" then I'm at a loss as to what would qualify as "hard power." Well, we’re the superpower, and no one’s going to say we’re doing it wrong. But there will be a time when the United States needs a favor – publicly or not – and all of the “freedom fries” in the world will not turn our former good friends back to our side. Republicans must and will realize that they are not the only party, and their actions are not without consequence."No one's going to say we're doing it wrong." Huh? Where have you been? France, Germany, Russia. 'nough said. "The United States needs a favor...will not turn our former good friends back to our side." Reality check, the French have never been on our side. And don't start throwing the American Revolution at me. The French helped us to slight the British and they barely made it in time to do a damn thing anyway (with the exception of some help from Lafayette...but he was buddies with Jefferson and was actually on the right side of history). "Republicans must and will realize that they are not the only party, and their actions are not without consequence." We know our actions have consequences. Remember the Liberations of Afghanistan and Iraq? Action --> Consequence. Seems simple enough to me. "Republicans would be wise to realize that. More and more Americans are." Yeah, more and more Americans sure are, as evidenced by the absolute flat-line of the Kerry poll numbers even after getting Edwards on board. I hope you've enjoyed my attempt to answer this particular bit of fact-twisting and I look forward to future fun with Liberal-reasoning. ------------ About the author: Tom is a conservative medical student in liberal New England who probably spends too much time paying attention to politics and never lacks topics for friendly discussions. Check out his blog MuD&PHuD. Email Thomas Carroll: mudphud11@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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