More Repbulican Propaganda

[marist89]

This was written in the Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington paper) on Wed. Oct. 6, 2004. It was written by Mathew Manweller who is a Central Washington University political science professor.

The title of the article was "Election determines fate of nation."

"In that this will be my last column before the
presidential election there will be no sarcasm, no attempts at witty repartee.

The topic is too serious, and the stakes are too high.

This November we will vote in the only election during our lifetime that will truly matter. Because America is at a once-in-a-generation crosroads, more than an election hangs in the balance.

Down one path lies retreat, abdication and a reign of ambivalence. Down the other lies a nation that is aware of its past and accepts the daunting obligation its future demands. If we choose poorly, the consequences will echo through the next 50 years of history.

If we, in a spasm of frustration, turn out the current occupant of the White House, the message to the world and ourselves will be twofold.

First, we will reject the notion that America can do big things. Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and stood upon the moon, we will announce to the world that bringing democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us. But more significantly, we will signal to future presidents that as voters, we are unwilling to tackle difficult challenges, preferring caution to boldness, embracing the
mediocrity that has characterized other civilizations.

The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to future presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions.

America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history regardless of the costs or appeal. If we turn away from that legacy, we turn away from who we are. Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the lesson of Somalia was well learned. In Somalia we showed terrorists that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can defeat them in the newsroom. They learned that a wounded America can become a defeated America.

Twenty-four-hour news stations and daily tracing polls will do the heavy lifting, turning a cut into a fatal blow. Except that Iraq is Somalia times 10.

The election of John Kerry will serve notice to every terrorist in every cave that the soft underbelly of American power is the timidity of American voters. Terrorists will know that a steady stream of grizzly photos for CNN is all you need to break the will of the American people. Our own self-doubt will take it from there.

Bin Laden will recognize that he can topple any American administration without setting foot on the homeland

It is said that America's WW II generation is its
'greatest generation.' But my greatest fear is that it will become known as America's 'last generation'. Born in the bleakness of the Great Depression and hardened in the fire of WW II, they may be the last American generation that understands the meaning of duty, honor and sacrifice.

It is difficult to admit, but I know these terms are spoken with only hollow detachment by many (but not all) in my generation. Too many citizens today mistake 'living in America' as 'being an American'. But America has always been more of an idea than a place. When you sign on, you do more than buy real estate. You accept a set of values and responsibilities.

This November, my generation, which has been absent too long, must grasp the obligation that comes with being an American, or fade into the oblivion they may deserve. I believe that 100 years from now historians will look back at the election of 2004 and see it as the decisive election of our century.

Depending on the outcome, they will describe it as the moment America joined the ranks of ordinary nations; or they will describe it as the moment the prodigal sons and daughters of the greatest generation accepted their burden as caretakers of the City on the Hill."

[marist89]

[gandolf989]

IT is one man's opinion. One man's slanted opinion. I won't change anything, nor should it. Bush's record, or lack there of, should speak for itself.

[Mr.Hanky]

Well written and spot on!
and it is certainly NOT one man's opinion, that will be evident next week.

[DaPi]

A fine piece of "anyone who isn't with me, is against me" logic.

As I read it I was strongly reminded of one of Hitler's referenda. His logic was: "I stand for a strong Germany", so the question on the ballot was "Do you want a strong Germany?". Allowing him to interpret the 99% vote for a strong Germany, as a vote for him.

But then, I'm only on the side lines.
BTW did you see the results of a poll among the Swiss (definitely not a left wing sample!): 78% Kerry, 6.5% Bush.

[Mr.Hanky]

Oh please...are we comparing Bush to Hitler now?

[slimdave]

Originally posted by Mr.Hanky
Oh please...are we comparing Bush to Hitler now?

God forbid ... aside from all the obvious differences, Hitler fought for his country during the First World War - you could say that he had more balls than GWB! Heh heh heh.

[Mr.Hanky]

DAVE!! A sense of humor!?

Now I am confused. You get some last night?

[slimdave]

Originally posted by Mr.Hanky
DAVE!! A sense of humor!?

Now I am confused. You get some last night?

I just cut out the dry british wit for the occasion, so that "Johnny Colonist" would recognise it.

[Alchemy]

"I just cut out the dry british wit for the occasion, so that "Johnny Colonist" would recognise it."

ROFLMAO.....See, ease really one of us.

Good one man...ROFLMAO!