One of the Republicans’ key talking points on the war is that Democrats “sound like bin Laden” or that Democrats make the “same arguments that the terrorists make.” That is, they claim Democrats make the same points as Osama bin Laden or Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, when these men warn that the U.S. that it is fighting a losing battle, or that the war in Iraq is an unjust war, or that George W. Bush is a liar.
Putting aside for a moment the patently outrageous absurdity of these claims - Republicans don’t seem to understand that Democrats never threaten mass murder or talk of a new worldwide caliphate - it is astonishing to see a major political party in the United States of America so willingly naïve, wide-eyed, awestruck and enthralled by the murderous propaganda of a bunch of lying hypocrites. It has never occurred to them the possibility that fools like bin Laden or al-Zarqawi may not actually be telling them the truth.
Some of these Republicans flocked to the polls when they thought - gasp! - that bin Laden was for John Kerry. It never occurred to them that perhaps the lying murderers might, I don’t know, have an ulterior motive. It never crossed their minds that maybe, just maybe, they wanted Bush to win but knew that an endorsement of Bush might hurt his chances - so they appeared to be for Kerry. It never occurs to these extremist Republicans - it should be made clear that this does not apply to all of them - the possibility that they have been outsmarted by a ridiculous assortment of losers, frauds and thieves.
Call the GOP - or the naïve part of it - the Party of Chumps. They actually believe in the terrorists! They believe their absurd claims - that there is a chance their fantasies of Islamic domination will someday come true, that the United States will worship at their feet. They believe that their fellow Americans, the Democrats, are somehow in alignment with these goals. They believe that the Democrats share the same scripts as the terrorists - this was almost word-for-word the argument made when the last bin Laden tape popped up, once again demonstrating the absence among the right-wing base of any element of reasoned discourse.
On second thought, this inability to discern between truth, fantasy and treason isn’t so hard to believe. This is the same group that bought hook, line and sinker into the idiotic imposter called Curveball, drowning under his silly assertions about weapons of mass destruction (and his own resume) without so much as a peep of intellectual curiosity concerning the legitimacy of his claims.
This is the same group who fawned at the feet of Ahmed Chalabi, who claimed American soldiers would be met in Iraq with roses and perfume, only to find themselves duped by their own stooge.
This is the same group that believes in the pompous lies of right-wing radio hosts, who think Democrats and gays and liberals are the real enemies.
This is the same group who believes in a president who claims that opposing an attorney general nominee who refuses to define waterboarding as torture is akin to allying with terrorists.
This is the same group who is anti-science, anti-empirical, and anti-intellectual. It’s little wonder that their willingness to suspend disbelief would lead them astray in a complicated world that requires some measure of nuance and reason.
This tendency to believe in one’s enemies would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic and dangerous. They have elevated a psychotic band of murderers into the realm of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin, much to the eternal pleasure of, yes, Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In fact, if it weren’t such vile propaganda, one would be tempted to point out which party has in fact most strengthened, given comfort to, and yes, allied itself with the goals of the terrorists. They’ve turned a serious battle against evildoers into an endless worldwide struggle that divides the most powerful country in the world. Guess who that helps the most?
Guy Reel is an assistant professor of mass communication at Winthrop University. He can be reached at reelg@winthrop.edu
“Ignorance is Strength”
It is a founding principle of NeoCon, I mean, IngSoc.
I say when these nutcases flap their mouths about Democrats and our nefarious plots, we should use DERISIVE LAUGHTER! So many of their pronouncements are patently absurd so they deserve to be laughed at - DERISIVELY!!! Statements like Dana Perino’s there are positive health benefits of global warming since “many people die from cold-related deaths every winter.” Good grief!
This article is standard “inside the box” thinking. The whole perspective is limited to the single claim that Republicans are terrible. Gee, how helpful. If the R’s are such chumps, one wonders why they’ve been in power for so long — and why, even when not in power, their agenda has been close to 100% successful. Bill Clinton enacted a good bit of Newt Gingrich’s agenda, and Hillary will be continuing Bush Jr’s. The Nancy Pelosi Congress has been no different than the Denny Hastert model.
In the 2nd para, there’s a phrase “…it is astonishing to see a major political party in the United States of America so willingly naïve, wide-eyed, awestruck and enthralled by the murderous propaganda of a bunch of lying hypocrites…”
- One can’t tell if this refers to the Republicans being enthralled by bin Laden, or the Democrats being enthralled by the Republicans!
George W. Bush is a liar.
and then there’s the other party of chumps, who leave it to others to protest when two elections are brazenly stolen from them; who continuously marginalize the best among them (remember jesse jackson’s attempt to reform the party from within? larry agran’s? and now kucinich’s?); whose mandate for change was “off the table” as soon as they assumed their majority positions in congress?
what to call it? bichumpisanship?
The Republicans could not remain in power so long and enact so much of their agenda if the Democratic Party was still alive.
Ron Paul and Kucinich should break away and run as independents. This would split both parties and we would see with interest who can pirate the most votes from their peers. One of them just might win.
There is only one political party in America and that is the Uncle Buck Party. It is made up of all the politicians in D.C., the lobbyists and Corporate America. Together, they own and operate the country. It’s still the government of “we the people” since they passed the law to give corporations the status of people. Very clever, and good for business.
Hoa binh
“bichumpisanship”
YES! Particularly today’s star chumps, Schumer and Fienstein.
But RichM, you missed the basic point, Not just the “Rs are terrible”, but that they are so gullible that they believe impossible things, that they are easily conned, in this case, NeoConned. And that con job is what’s got US going down the tubes.
Not only do they believe the Bush/Cheney/Rove/FUXnews stream of bullsh!t, they take selected bits of statements by angry cavemen as prophetic.
(Of course, many of these same people were softened up by a lifetime of being TheoConned, conditioned to believe Preachers no matter what crap dribbles out of their mouths)
IWHUNT330: Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich are already running for the presidency, so there’s no need to run as Independents. They wouldn’t even get on the ballot in most states as Independents.
I do not believe the Republicans are a party of “chumps.” I believe the leading supporters of Republican thought are busy making a lot (lot)of money, planning to keep all of it, and that they only got enough votes before 9/11 to put their policitians in office by cooking the anti-abortion, anti-gay stew in American churches. Now they have “security” to run on.
Liberals, progressives, and moderates are the chumps if they do not take proper advantage to regain control of the United States in 2008, when it needs to be done. If that is done at all, by the way, it will be done via Democrats, because liberals, progressives and moderates have no other vehicle to ride on.
Kucinich is not a reformer. He’s just sensible. The suggestion that sensibility in politics would be a reform is sad, but I guess its true. Gravel on the other hand is a reformer, although maybe not quite as sensible in that he looks crazy, but he still uses the process of logic (he’s sensible enough to be MAD).
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the republicans hold at least senate if not the whole congress under Clinton? Power is in the law makers, which does not include the president(according to the constitution anyways) which is why, thankfully, Clinton never got the line item veto.
Mike Gravel wants to add the citizens into the category of law makers. www.ni4d.us/
Now that brings up the question if whether or not the citizens are sensible. I think direct involvement the National Initiative would make them realize the consequences of stupidity and we’d return to sane governance.
Republican voters may be chumps for the nationial party. There is also another political party dazzled and outmaneuvered by the nasty liars. I believe their name begins with a D. What could that be now? Hmm …
I think that seriousprofessor has nailed it nicely! No need to go into detail on how fatuously the Dems let themselves be tarred by GOP smear brushes. Considering the way they cave in to Republican bullying, the Dems may well be the party that is “soft on” terrorism (or insert other appropriate term here: communism, crime, you know the list). On the other hand, as Guy Reel almost (but not quite) points out, there is clear evidence that the terrorists were cheering on the sidelines for the GOP. They said so themselves. The gist of their take on recent American elections was that “Bush sends us more recruits.”
And look at Pakistan. The party of chumps supported the dictator Musharaff and now Pakistan (a nuclear power) is exploding in violence. The party of chumps gave us a Mideast policy that has brought ruin to American interests. And the chumps keep lapping up the right wing rhetoric that helps justify these ruinous policies. Really, America deserves to get bitch-slapped by reality.
At 1:03 PM Hazmat says “…when two elections are brazenly stolen from them…”
No, they were stolen from US!
Daniel David says of the Democratic Party “…progressives, liberals and moderates have no other vehicle to ride on.”
That vehicle heeps breaking down, is frequently stuck in reverse, runs into the ditch and often runs over those who question it’s direction.
I think it’s time for a new car, perhaps a bright Green one!
We gotta love Daniel David. He does pitch a pretty good game but he keeps on throwing the hanging curveball and we keep knocking it out of the park. Stay with us DD. You’re an inspiration to us all!
The Republican elite, inlcuding the right-wing media machine, hardly believe their own guff, as proven by Cal Thomas’ smug comment about the ‘white trash’ audience belonging to Fox News.
Those lower on the ladder — the ones who buy into Rush Limbaugh, Billo, Ann Coulter, and the whole ‘alternative reality’ bunch on the far right — are Authoritarian Followers in the grip of a demented delusion. They desperately need Big Daddy to tell them what to do and what to think, and Big Daddy has let them down, which makes them even crazier. Worse, they live in a comic book world of good-and-evil fantasy. (Read here for more:
http://www.liberaltopia.org/?p=771 )
Unfortunately, these people are unreachable by logic or reason; fortunately, they are a small minority, no more than 20 percent of adults, and most Americans think they’re nuts.
This time around they are disheartened as their various Father Figures have sprouted feet of clay, especially the Christopublican faithful. Many of them may be too disillusioned to even show up to vote on Election Day 2008. On the other side, the anti-Republican vote is shaping up to be huge, possibly larger than the landslide that swept FDR into office in 1932.
Classic conservative Ron Paul just collected $4.2 million in campaign contributions, a single-day GOP record, besting Romney’s largely self-financed campaign, and even the Gipper himself.
Outside of Washington, Kucinich’s message and call for Cheney’s impeachment resonates with many voters.
The coming election may be more interesting, and good for the progressive future of our country, than most of us imagine.
The real chumps are us, the voters.
We, over and over, have put our votes to the beauty queens/kings. They are the ones who received their campaign war chests from corporations. Vote for them and you vote for corporate interests only.
Vote for candidates that ONLY take contributions from WE the People. Listen to their ideas, that their supporters, ask for. They seem to be issues that will aid the people and not the corporate status quo.
Vote for your selfish needs, the needs of the people, that democracy was created by our founders.
Vote to help you and your loved ones.
Don’t vote for the beauty kings and queens.
If you want to see an honest presidential candidacy, go to FaceBook and check out the site “A Million Strong for Cavey.” This person pledges to nominate Al Gore or Bill Moyers for Vice President once he is elected, then resign after 90 days in office. Find out more, and write him in.
“If that is done at all, by the way, it will be done via Democrats, because liberals, progressives and moderates have no other vehicle to ride on.”
I’m walking, chump!
Thanks, McDee,
I do hope to stay around and keep pitching balls for the CD sluggers to “hit out of the park” as you say.
By the way, is our new Green car on order, stuck in the dealer-prep area, being washed? What? We haven’t seen it yet. Was there trouble getting it financed?
Daniel David___Don`t let these naysayers get to you. Even though most of us are disappointed with the Dems, you keep reminding people that we have to work with the possible, and not waste time and cause division with the impossible. It is better to use our heads to get change, instead of emotion. Stay with it, common sense wins out in the end. Some of these dreams that are mentioned would be nice, but have no chance of success in this round.
The theo-neocons and the Salafis are ethically interchangeable: both favor widespread violence, including against civilians, to advance their political and religious agendas. Sadly it is true that most Democrats are also like them, given their complicity in the Bush agenda. How is it that advocacy for peace, diplomacy and coexistence sounds like bin Laden? This is yet another right wing smear, akin to that which portrayed the decorated, wounded veteran John Kerry as a coward and fraud and elevated the draft-dodging, National Guard-deserting George W. Bush to a brave warrior, strutting around an aircraft carrier in a flight suit with a padded crotch.
Send it to Sheehan! (I got dibs on that).
I also got dibs on ‘neo-pros’, or the new progressives. Any use or account of these phrases without consent of adults is strictly hibited.
“By the way, is our new Green car on order, stuck in the dealer-prep area, being washed? What? We haven’t seen it yet. Was there trouble getting it financed?”
OK, the metaphor became tired the minute it was posted. The Green Party HAS been here. “Progressives” refuse to step out of their comfort zone. Have you read the Green Platform? What action by the Democrats have come close to even one of these planks? What other evidence do you need that the Democratic Party is not even faking what they used to fake?
You’re expecting different results from the same procedure. You want to see a third party win before you’ll get on board. How do you expect that to happen? Fairy dust? Wishful thinking?
Even the golden boy of this board, Kucinich has folded like a cheap tent when the party purseholders put the screws to him.
It’s going to take more than voting Green. It’s going to take getting out there and getting other people to do the same. That’s money, time & commitment.
sbedasso…Time, money and committment indeed. Progress comes about when politics are overtaken by movements.
The Anti-Slavery movement brought the Republican Party into existence because the Dems and the Whigs refused to deal with the issue of Slavery.The Populists arose due to the plight of the farmers and the Progressives and Socialists gave a voice to the Labor Movement.
There is so much discontent in these pages because the nominal “opposition” party simply refuses to address the overwhelming and dangerous problems of the day.
Daniel David…I appreciate your comments,really. Our basic disagreement refers back to what sbedasso wrote about. There is only So Much time, committment and money. I think that those resources could best be used to build a 3rd, Progressive, party (like the Greens). You think they could best be used reforming, or taking over, the Democrats.
I believe parties change when pressured from OUTSIDE. Or else they disappear, and deserve to.
And yes, the big Green car has had trouble with the financing and I can’t yet make it run on good intentions!
Peace
Of course the Repugs are chumps. I was a chump, raised a chump by Silent Majoritarian chumps. We are a nation of rubes & suckers, born to be taken, mainly by our own flags & fireworks and violent sentimentalism.
Jeff Farias just last night described Papa Bush pulling out an old favorite, tearing up over an apocryphal anecdote about an Iraqi soldier fearfully surrendering during Gulf Murder I being reassured by American soldiers, “We won’t hurt you — we’re Americans”. Sixteen years ago, this was my epiphany, when I realized what the core political establishment credo was — bomb people into pulp & sniffle patriotically at the deep goodness expressed by American munitions. “Kill the pig, cut its throat, spill its blood” — the chant of the murdreous boys in “Lord of the Flies” — is the real beat of the American heart.
The chumpishness is merely a way of dissembling the bathos of butchery which is our only common heritage.
“Even the golden boy of this board, Kucinich has folded like a cheap tent when the party purseholders put the screws to him.”
Sbedasso, can you be more specific? Kucinich just defied his party leadership to bring an impeachment bill against Cheney to the floor of the House; how is this, or any other action he’s taken, folding to the party purseholders?
I’m with you RSJ and Daniel David, iammyself stole my line, I’ll walk thank you very much. But, hey! You just keep on keepin on….your consistency, if nothing else, is rather amazing. Not sure how you do it. Still, I wish you would address my remarks about the Dems responsibility for the fascist slide of the Supreme Court. I am getting the sense that you would rather run around posting your usual fare than step up to the plate and address this one. Seems to me to be a key point as to why many of us don’t feel the Dems want to make a real difference when the chips are down.
Kernel Mind telling me which round these nice ideas might work in? Nevermind, common sense is what moves us forward, not people who actually want to vote for their hopes and dreams. Golly Gee!!! Wonder what would happen if everybody voted their hopes and dreams???? Do you think either Dems or Repubs would still be running stuff. I didn’t think so, but I guess we have to save that one for another round at some unforeseeable time in the future. Maybe our grandkids or great grandkids will see that magical round…. it’s enough to make me weep.
Daniel David, I’m still waiting for you to address my direct question to you about the Dems complicity in creating the scarey SCOTUS of the present and the future. ANd just another thought on that subject. Surely with all the discontent in the country, Dems will maintain enough seats to fillibuster those boogeyman nominees that a Rethug might put forth. Guess then we’d really see if they care about the people and the Constitution. I refuse to vote my worst fear ever again. I will not be subject to the tyranny of limitation in any choice I make.
iammyself:
Exactly.
I’m riding my bike. I ain’t buying what they’re sellin, and I find that far more important than anything I could possibly do “within the system”, including voting.
As far as all the people claiming to have full knowledge of what’s “possible” and not… a few of us don’t even need to argue. We simply demonstrate the faults in your position every day.
Good luck with your cars and such. My bike never fails to start.