The Politics of War
Posted on:: August 10th, 2003
Eric Norlin warns Democrats that opposing the war is a losing political issue. Could be. But reminding Americans that we were systematically lied into it and that our President is a phony hero — I hope he goes campaigning with Ahnuld in California — and that the President’s backers are getting rich while our soldiers are dying may not be such a losing strategy.
Meanwhile, Michael O’Connor Clarke recommends a Flash on the Bush Administration’s actual policies towards the men and women it’s placed into battle…
Categories: Uncategorized dw
Who cares if opposing BushCo’s policy of endless unilateral preemptive war is a “winning strategy” or not? These cautious, conservative careerists of the DNC are a true cancer on the body of progressive politics in the USA. When the truth is told, the people can decide. Democrat aspirants must be truthful first and foremost.
David says:
“But reminding Americans that we were systematically lied into it and that our President is a phony hero — I hope he goes campaigning with Ahnuld in California — and that the President’s backers are getting rich while our soldiers are dying may not be such a losing strategy.”
This is exactly the wrong strategy. These statements lack balance. The read like hate propaganda. It is compartmentalized thinking: “My side is all white, there side is all black.” It lacks a serious examination of the situation and fails to present a realistic alternative.
At it’s core is the statement that Bush is a politician who manipulated the media to accomplish his agenga while giving preference to his supporters. This is a null statement. It would be true of Bush, Clinton, Bush, Regean, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, ….
The implication is that the new guy will transcend politics. This demonstrates a serious lack on judgement.
So, as a strategy, demonstrating hatred and poor judgement will likely fail.
As Heiddegger said, definining yourself in terms of “they” is inauthentic. It amounts to idle chatter and gossip. Start defining yourself by what you stand for, how you analyse the world, the strategy you would follow and the approach you would take to governing. Be authentic.
That may work – if your ideas are good enough on their own merit.
The way you frame the debate is as disgusting as the way conservatives are framing the gay marriage debate.
At least, that’s one guys opinion.
Paul
I share some of Paul’s skepticism. I think almost all the Democrats in Congress (Byrd being a rare exception) were rather complicit in the process. Their defense may be:
* we were being lied to also (yeah, but it was so obvious to anyone with half a brain – compare the democrats to the British opposition)
* we were being loyal to the President (that’s not your damn job)
* we were being loyal to the military (again, not your job, esp before they stepped on that soil)
* we were scared of losing our jobs (and campaign $) (a tough call, but not a great position to fight from)