A great deal has been made of the Democrats' GOTV (get out the vote) program. I was a Democratic organizer and activist for years, and I'm pretty familiar with some of the rigmarole. My thesis is that Kerry's ambiguity is pretty much a wash with Democrats, so their motivation to vote for the candidate is no stronger than in any other year, and probably weaker. In fact, the more hawkish he's compelled to be, in order to match Bush, the less attractive he appears to the Deaniacs. Their motivation comes almost exclusively from their aversion to George Bush.
And, as you get closer to the middle of the partisan spectrum this aversion becomes weaker, and thus the resolve of the marginal voter to brave sturm und drang to vote for Kerry, or to vote at all, grows weak. This is the bane of pure oppositional politics, and it's not even touched upon in the media. It's just hard to inspire people for whom the advantage is diminishing. I haven't heard a single pundit mention this concept. Not one.
Note that if he votes at all, it'll be for a third party, and I suggest that a lot of marginal and undecided voters on the left will either sit it out or adopt this approach and vote for Nader. The more anarchically rebellious will vote for Badnarik.
Well, that's the theory anyway.
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Osama bin Laden lives. He has threatened terrorist attacks on any Red State. Will you make peace with this killer? Your vote makes this decision.
Half of this nation supports our President. Yet, half wish "For Peace in our time." A noble ambition but it did not work for Neville Chamberlain it will not work today. Peace is earned with sacrifice. You cannot negotiate with Osama bin Laden. He must die or be captured.
Give in to Osama bin Laden and some day he may tell you when to rise each day, when to pray, and what you will think. Have the terroristsÂ’ insurgents that kill our soldiers in Iraq threatened our nation on our soil? No, they do not have the men, the material, the strategy, or the funding.
Osama bin Laden evaded our military not because of out sourcing but because he is a superior opponent with the funding and resources to evade the most sophisticated technological fighting force in history. Hitler and Saddam Hussein abused drugs and alcohol. Both were megalomaniacs with psychotic delusions. It took five years to defeat Hitler and over a year to find Saddam. Osama bin Laden does not have these vices and he is not insane. He is just a killer.
This is a World War. It is not Vietnam. We must finish the liberation and restoration of Iraq. Our Military Forces want President Bush to see this through to the end. This is their choice. Will you deny them? Those that have given their life deserve this hard fought peace. And yet what is your reply? Are you on the front line? Your vote must reflect our nations support of winning this War. We cannot and must not change our Commander in Chief.
We should respect the wishes of those that are on the front line. Do the right thing finish and this War. Let those who are fighting and dying have their say. Your vote is your voice.
Posted by: Volunteer State at November 01, 2004 10:47 PM (Z7wSB)
Posted by: greyrooster at November 02, 2004 05:09 AM (CBNGy)
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Incredibly well spoken, Volunteer State.
Rusty, I think it all boils down to the youth. If they come out, Bush is done. If not....
Posted by: Dick at November 02, 2004 06:44 AM (hu9UN)
Posted by: Jane at November 02, 2004 07:19 AM (6krEN)
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Dick:
Why is it not obvious that this post was written by Demosophiast, and not Rusty? I mean, besides noting the fact in two places I even reference and link a post by Rusty and call him "Rusty," so it ought to be obvious that the post wasn't written by the good Doctor. You're scarin' me, man.
As for the youth, where'd you hear that the Democrats have the youth vote sewed up. Polls done by Newsweek, etc., with decent numbers of respondents show the two parties drawing about evenly from 18 to 25 year olds, and some show Republicans leading. John Stewart is Cool, but
Team America is super-cool. I think the Dems have been counting on their draft intimidation factor to scare younger voters into voting for Kerry, but their assumption of youthful ignorance may well backfire. Kids don't like to be lied to. So far the only measure to reinstitute the draft was introduced by Charles Rangel, a Democrat.
Posted by: Demosophist at November 02, 2004 07:26 AM (OtR16)
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Okay, I'll fess up. I didn't pay attention to who wrote the post. I'm still used to Rusty writing here exclusively. My bad.
As far as the youth, I've seen the polls you've quoted but, the grumpy old man in me is still worried about em.
I am old enough to remember the sixties and seventies and this has the same feel but with a lot more coordination.
We'll see this evening.
Posted by: Dick at November 02, 2004 08:07 AM (hu9UN)
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Dick:
No problem. It's sort of new for BRD and I as well, but seems to be working out nicely. About the youth vote, the Dems seem to be counting on it, and perhaps they're right. I just found out that my car is dead, so I'll have to walk to my polling place. Wasn't counting on that, but what the heck.
Posted by: Demosophist at November 02, 2004 08:37 AM (OtR16)
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I'm worried about the "young vote" as well. We need to support the troops and vote Bush back in...why the hell would we want to change leaders in the midst of a war? Yeah, I know, the Demo's will tell you we NEED a change, that Bush has screwed up, blah, blah but the majority of people usually don't vote in someone new in the middle of a war.
Yet, those young uns....I'm ascared!!!!
Posted by: Laura at November 02, 2004 09:09 AM (ptOpl)
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What? How does voting (very reluctantly) for Kerry equate with "making peace" with Osama? Because he said so? Who makes decisions for you, yourself or someone else? Look, one can vote for someone other than Bush and still be determined to give Osama what he so deserves. George Bush's lies got my friend's son killed in Iraq. I won't soon forget that, nor will his family.
If Bush stayed the course on Osama and Afghanistan, there would not be anywhere near the anger level that there is across the USA, and his reelection would be a no brainer.
Posted by: Geoff at November 02, 2004 11:03 AM (ywZa8)
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Geoff it is NOT Bush's fault! The men went over there WILLINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, not that they deserve it, by any means.
Then if you agree with staying in Afghanistan, how do you explain the kidnappings that are going on there?????
Same shit, different country. I say nuke em all.
End of story, end of war.
Posted by: Laura at November 02, 2004 11:10 AM (ptOpl)
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"George Bush's lies got my friend's son killed in Iraq"
Don't even start with this crap!
When that kid raised his right hand and took the oath as an adult of the United States, he knew what could happen the same as I did and millions of others did.
You can shove that statement up your ass. Period end.
Posted by: Dick at November 02, 2004 11:29 AM (hu9UN)
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He knew what could happen? He knew a bunch of lies spewing out of the mouth of the most powerful man on earth would be the catalist for a war? Bullshit. It is you who can shove it.
Posted by: Geoff at November 02, 2004 04:13 PM (ywZa8)
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PS to Laura: Nuke them all! The older I get the more I agree. But if we wait long enough, I think India and pakistan will enable just this to happen, sooner or later.
Posted by: Geoff at November 02, 2004 04:19 PM (ywZa8)
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Geoff, will you be moving out of the country today? If so, I'll help you and your seeing eye dog pack.
Posted by: Dick at November 03, 2004 12:20 PM (hu9UN)
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GEOFF: You defame the memory of a brave young man. Knock it off.
Billy Metzler of Nickelson, Mississippi is coming home this week. He is now 100% disabled. Billy was my sons best friend in highschool. Billy joined the Army after highschool. He was stationed in Germany with his wife and two kids. Billy was sent to Iraq.
He has been in the hospital for 6 months. Had reconstructive surgery on his hips, arms and legs. My son says he has never complained and wants dearly to stay in the Army but cannot due to his physical condition. Billy was manning a roadblock when a truck full of armed terrorists tried to shoot their way thru. He stood his ground. The truck ran over him. He told my son he got three of them before the truck got him. The truck did not get thru. That is the most important thing to him. The truck did not get thru.
Billy doesn't blame Bush. Billy was doing the job he hired on to do. He did his job for his country with honor. America will now care for Billy as he cared for us.
Sorry about your neighbors son but you have no right to bring our brave young men into your politcal agenda. I don't feel sorry for Billy. I'm proud of him.
If you want to talk to him I will give you his grandma's number. That's were he will be staying. Don't cry for people who don't want your tears. Honor him with your support. All Billy wants is to win.
Posted by: greyrooster at November 03, 2004 02:02 PM (CBNGy)
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Greyrooster:
Thanks. That was well, and not easily, said. My uncle, Reg Clizbe, was the topic of a chapter in Ernie Pyle's
Brave Men. He survived, to become part of the Air Force General Staff, and had two fine sons and a beautiful daughter (my "hottest" cousin). One of his sons won an Emmy before he died in 1998. The father, ironically, outlived the son.
Reg died last year, at the age of 90-something, right in the midst of the US invasion of Iraq. I imagine, though I can't prove it, that he died fulfilled. He named his second son after his fallen brother, Garth. I don't know Garth at all, but imagine that he's a fine man.
It literally amazes me when Democrats complain that the casualty rate in Iraq is "unacceptable." Certainly any rate is worse than zero, but casualty rates in most US wars have been above 30% and combat deaths in the range of 15% to 20%. Nearly one out of five die. This is the price that has been paid to put us where we are, and that the wishful thinkers would sooner squander, than pay a price one hundredth of the original.
When the terrorists slyly smile and nod to one another, it's these complainers that they (wrongly) take to be Americans...
Fools.
Posted by: Demosophist at November 03, 2004 07:45 PM (OtR16)
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The libs' argument is that 100,000 + innocent civilians have been killed needlessly for an war that was started illegally, when Bush "illegally invaded" Iraq. They say Iraq was not a direct threat, no WMD were found, Saddam "may" have been a threat to us later, but we don't have proof he would have, and so on.
I am soooo damned tired of this! I don't really think those 100 thous. were casualties as a result of the US soldiers, many of them are suicide bombings and car bombings, and maybe even some were the result of Saddams' doings. I really doubt the numbers are that high.
Saddam was torturing the Iraqi's way before we got there, so why is everyone saying the violence started after we got there? And I do believe Zarqawi always was a part of Al Qaeda. He trained in Afgahnistan under Osama's terrorist camps, and moved to Iraq when we got there (who knows? maybe he was already there).
No one can prove to me that Saddam wouldn't have used WMD against us or that Zarqawi wasn't linked to Al Qaeda before 9/11. I believe it's all related.
Yet, the libs will tell you that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. And if it didn't, there was still no reason for Bush to invade Iraq, there was no evidence they were a threat to us.
Do those libs honestly believe there is a peaceful solution to all this? That we were supposed to sit on our asses and wait for them to strike first?
I thought when I came on this blog that I would be able to debate the issue and relieve some of my anger and frustrations with other Americans who are just as upset as I was. Now, all I'm getting is even MORE angry and upset because there are so many people out there who would rather sympathize with foreigners than our own soldiers that are getting killed or maimed. I just don't get why any red blooded American would not want their country to stand up for itself.
Posted by: Laura at November 06, 2004 07:44 PM (ptOpl)
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