Saturday, July 29, 2006
'Authentically Liberal' warriors
GTT. Here's something to chew on.
--ER
How Democrats Can Defeat Terrorism and Win Elections
By Richard Holbrooke
in Foreign Affairs
Among the chattering classes, it has recently become commonplace to say that the Democrats are weak on national security. In the 1990s, when domestic issues dominated the public consciousness, polls showed little difference between the two parties on foreign policy. But after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there was a huge change. Until this spring, every poll taken in the past five years had indicated that the American public trusted Republicans -- seemingly any Republican -- more than Democrats on national security. "Foreign affairs assertiveness now almost completely distinguishes Republican-oriented voters from Democratic-oriented voters," a comprehensive report from the Pew Research Center stated in 2005. "Attitudes relating to religion and social issues are not nearly as important in determining party affiliation."
Given the actual record of the two parties since 1993, the Republicans' advantage is richly ironic.
Read all about it in this review of:
The Good Fight: Why Liberals -- and Only Liberals -- Can Win the War on Terror and Make America Great Again. BY PETER BEINART. HarperCollins, 2006, 304 pp. $25.95.
and
Politics Lost: How American Democracy Was Trivialized by People Who Think You're Stupid. BY JOE KLEIN. Doubleday, 2006, 272 pp. $23.95.
--ER
How Democrats Can Defeat Terrorism and Win Elections
By Richard Holbrooke
in Foreign Affairs
Among the chattering classes, it has recently become commonplace to say that the Democrats are weak on national security. In the 1990s, when domestic issues dominated the public consciousness, polls showed little difference between the two parties on foreign policy. But after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there was a huge change. Until this spring, every poll taken in the past five years had indicated that the American public trusted Republicans -- seemingly any Republican -- more than Democrats on national security. "Foreign affairs assertiveness now almost completely distinguishes Republican-oriented voters from Democratic-oriented voters," a comprehensive report from the Pew Research Center stated in 2005. "Attitudes relating to religion and social issues are not nearly as important in determining party affiliation."
Given the actual record of the two parties since 1993, the Republicans' advantage is richly ironic.
Read all about it in this review of:
The Good Fight: Why Liberals -- and Only Liberals -- Can Win the War on Terror and Make America Great Again. BY PETER BEINART. HarperCollins, 2006, 304 pp. $25.95.
and
Politics Lost: How American Democracy Was Trivialized by People Who Think You're Stupid. BY JOE KLEIN. Doubleday, 2006, 272 pp. $23.95.
Comments:
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GTT, well I drove from one side of Texas to the tother today (panhandle that is) as well, gettin from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
As for the points in the blog premise, I don't think the "past is prologue" is worthy of the needs we have at this time. Nor do I think that a worn out commentator has any special insight into what politics is today.
Those in power have always thought the masses to be dumb and stupid and sought to keep them that way with bread and circuses.
But things cycle and turn, and there are too many different things affecting this turning that have not been here before. The plethora of new things makes seeing the way much more difficult.
While I was gone, my State House District elected an openly gay man to be our next Representative. Why or how is a mystery. But we did. The first ever in Oklahoma history.
I'm beginning to consider that the political activity this November may be more of a Bull Ride than an election. Hold on to your hats and get the clowns and barrels out, we may need them.
As for the points in the blog premise, I don't think the "past is prologue" is worthy of the needs we have at this time. Nor do I think that a worn out commentator has any special insight into what politics is today.
Those in power have always thought the masses to be dumb and stupid and sought to keep them that way with bread and circuses.
But things cycle and turn, and there are too many different things affecting this turning that have not been here before. The plethora of new things makes seeing the way much more difficult.
While I was gone, my State House District elected an openly gay man to be our next Representative. Why or how is a mystery. But we did. The first ever in Oklahoma history.
I'm beginning to consider that the political activity this November may be more of a Bull Ride than an election. Hold on to your hats and get the clowns and barrels out, we may need them.
# posted by 
: 1:00 AM
: 1:00 AM 
But, reality check: You want to throw out the whole lot of them and start over. 1., that ain't gonna happen. 2., we *need* some institutional and historical memory in Congress! They're not all idiots.
Nah, I don't want to throw the whole lot of them out. About 40% maybe (on both sides of the isle).
Get rid of the greedy and wholey owned subsideraries of corporate and special interest groups right and left. Give the Dem's just enough to get control of the House and maybe Senate, but not enough that they can ram stuff through with out the other side making nice with them.
We have so many new things impinging on our future now.
China as an economic and miltary power world wide.
Gobal warming (regardless of cause) and its world wide effects on energy, transportation and agriculture.
The rise of South America in gobal affairs.
A world wide work force not tied to national boundaries.
20 million extra people in the U.S. illegally.
The general distruction of Africa by weather , aids, and war.
The second world wide Islamic expansion and its future conflict with China.( All the Chinese army has to do is walk to Islam world)
The loss of Europe as an economic and political force in the world.
These are just a few of the "next" set of problems. The current crew on either side doesn't have a clue as to what is coming or needs to be done about it.
The next turning will be about 540 degrees.
May you live in interesting times.
Post a Comment
Get rid of the greedy and wholey owned subsideraries of corporate and special interest groups right and left. Give the Dem's just enough to get control of the House and maybe Senate, but not enough that they can ram stuff through with out the other side making nice with them.
We have so many new things impinging on our future now.
China as an economic and miltary power world wide.
Gobal warming (regardless of cause) and its world wide effects on energy, transportation and agriculture.
The rise of South America in gobal affairs.
A world wide work force not tied to national boundaries.
20 million extra people in the U.S. illegally.
The general distruction of Africa by weather , aids, and war.
The second world wide Islamic expansion and its future conflict with China.( All the Chinese army has to do is walk to Islam world)
The loss of Europe as an economic and political force in the world.
These are just a few of the "next" set of problems. The current crew on either side doesn't have a clue as to what is coming or needs to be done about it.
The next turning will be about 540 degrees.
May you live in interesting times.
# posted by : 10:33 PM
: 10:33 PM << Home
