roachboy

there was an analysis i saw a few years ago of how right discourse was starting to operate--it was during the clinton period, when the machinery was getting up and running.
the tactic that was discussed was projection.
how it works is thatthe right does something and then imputes the same thing to the opposition.
so here is an example: the right shifts pretty hard to a different kind of conservatism, which is quite different from older types--so they accuse the democrats of having shifteed left.
which is absurd.
in the empirical world, the dlc-dominated dmocratic party could not be more centrist. could. not. be. more. centrist.
the right has moved to a space where there is a circuit that connects it to fundamentalist protestant politics. there is a discoursive circuit that links it to aspects of the militia movment (the outrage about wavo and ruby ridge migrated, in almost the same terms, from one space to the other.)
right discourse now uses elements from the john birch society in its enlightened and constructive views on the united nations. a few years ago, john birch ideology was understood as extreme right. now it is more or less maintstream populist republican stuff.

for quite a while now, the democrats have been trying to move to capture moderate republicans alienated by this change.
in doing so, they have alienated more progressive/left elements all over.
in the empirical world, this is pretty well known.
in conservativeland, where things are just a little different, the shifts all happen on the "left".
it is like they have slid down the rabbithole, but without the charming lewis carroll to tell us the story in the form of a book that you can close.

__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

Konichiwaneko

I had more success in my life after I turned off the democratic dogma. I've been happier being a libertarian conservative because I'm not blaming my faults on others.

Changing my political views I can honestly say made my life better. Being a democrat, yes the emotions were exciting, was bordering on lack of logic and rational sometimes and I still see it with my friends. The ideals are great, they sound like they work, and then when it gets to the popular vote it gets torn down.

YOu know what immediately happens after that. The dems blame the people who voted it down for not having "Progressive Thinking" that those peoples are idiots, and the name calling ensue. Not all Dems act that way, but read liberal forums. It's all about others being stupid...how come they can't except the fact that thier message just may have not been excepted, and maybe small steps that don't seem so radical should just be the way.

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Manx

Thank you.

sob

I think it is logically undeniable that Democrats have the desire to confiscate my money and give it to people and organizations they choose.

Can you show me where the framers of the Constitution supported that?

sob

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them.
That is our bottom line."
President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

"Iraq is a long way from USA but, what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"We urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S.Constitution and Laws, to take necessary actions, (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction
programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

"Hussein has .. chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue a pace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, December 5, 2001

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandated of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."
Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998.
We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities.
Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force-- if necessary-- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated
the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do." Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members
It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real ..."
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan.23.2003
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So what were you paying attention to? Why did all of these people seem to miss it?

adam

This is a silly argument. Are you claiming that the all-Republican government is going to stop "confiscating" my money (i.e., taxing me) and giving it to people and organizations they choose?

Get a grip.

Ustwo

I keep hearing this one with missleading statistics about the 'IQ' of the blue and red states. I suppose I should be happy about it, as long as the left thinks we are 'stupid' on the right, it will only make days like Nov 2, 2004 that much easier.

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Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

D Rice

I am sick of hearing about the draft which is total bs

nofnway

Have we counted all of the votes yet?

__________________
"Iron rusts with disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold water freezes. Even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind"
Leonardo Da Vinci

shakran

I don't think the rational members of the left think you're stupid. The irrational members might, but then the irrational members of the right think the left is stupid too, right Ustwo?

At worst, we think you've been tricked into believing in the wrong side.

sob

No, but the Republicans lowered the maximum tax rate from the 90% it was before Reagan came along. You don't have a problem with a 90% tax?

You didn't pick up on Kerry's plan to raise taxes? I guess he didn't ever hear of Walter Mondale.

And believe me, I'm gripping things as tightly as I can. Too many people are after what I've worked a lifetime for.