Posted on 10/11/2004 12:27:07 PM PDT by Fedora
Agreed!
It is very obvious that the MSM has ignored Kerry's old commy roots for decades to enable him to become a power player for the rats.
Thanks for the bump.
Thanks for posting that and fixing the footnotes!
The treason that these people simply got away with is just mind boggling
John and Mike, please have a look at this exhaustive research.
Again, John and Mike, a few personal campaign observations:
As you know, John, I decided after the first debate to spend a good part of the next few weeks doing all that I can to educate people regarding the Kerry/Edwards ticket. I spent similar time back in April (almost exactly six months ago) talking about Pat Toomey to a few local civic and community groups, and going door-to-door during the month or so before the April primary election. My heart is less passionately into stumping for Bush than it was for Toomey (mainly because there is a vast difference in the caliber of their conservatism), but the evil represented by the prospect of a Kerry victory makes up for the passion disparity.
In working for Toomey back in April I realized that (1) it is the door-to-door, one-on-one communication that seems to have the most impact, (2) people are very receptive to someone who shows up at their door in a non-aggressive, non-threatening, common sense manner, and (3) most people are not very well informed about either the issues or the candidates. They seem to have latched onto superficial, oft-repeated, soundbite (mis)information, but they are willing to listen.
So, after the debacle that was the first debate, I decided to give it one more try and spend much of my free time between that debate and November 2nd returning to the same neighborhoods I visited back in April. I don’t believe most voters -- here in Pennsylvania, or anywhere else for that matter -- comprehend just how critical this election is, and I will rest better at night knowing I at least did what I could to see to it that Kerry/Edwards do not win Pennsylvania’s twenty-one possibly pivotal electoral votes.
So far I have probably knocked on about 150 doors, and hope to be able to reach 300-400 more by November 2nd. Once again, I am gratified by the number of people who are willing to open their homes to a stranger, and who are open minded and eager to learn things of which they may not be aware.
One of countless examples of what I have run into in the past couple of weeks:
Just tonight, I visited with an elderly couple who have apparently been indoctrinated by material they have received from AARP. I had been under the misconception that people in their age range (late seventies to early eighties) would be immovable in their conservative viewpoint, as members of ‘the greatest generation’. But apparently they, too, can be influenced by the barrage of leftist propaganda spewed forth by supposedly unbiased, senior-friendly organizations.
I bring along with me my copy of ‘Unfit for Command’, as well as dozens of articles/commentaries I have excerpted from Federalist Patriot, National Review, Human Events, American Spectator, Kerry’s ‘The New Soldier’, etc. Most, if not all, of what is contained in those excerpts is completely foreign to most of the people with whom I speak. Tonight, the elderly gentleman was amazed by many of the facts about Kerry’s past that we discussed. And, when I left, he gave me a hug, and said that he was ‘horrified’ (his word) by the many skeletons in Kerry’s closet, and the fact that so few news outlets are taking it upon themselves to bring them to light.
As it was during the Toomey campaign, while I am uplifted by the average person’s willingness to listen and comprehend (and by the number who seem to be swayed toward voting Republican after listening and questioning), it is still very disturbing to be personal witness to the number of voters who had intended (and I’m sure some still do intend) to vote based on superficial perceptions resulting from snippets of campaign advertising, much of which is distorted or out and out fabrication. For every one voter whose door is approached by a Republican hoping to inform them, I am sure there are a thousand who will enter the voting booth in three weeks never having been ‘set straight’. It’s beyond disheartening.
So, while I return home every night uplifted by the fact that people are very one-on-one receptive, the ‘bigger picture’ is pretty grim.
And, even if we pull this election out of the fire, it’s discouraging to look much beyond 2004. With each succeeding year, the American populace becomes less informed and more special-interest oriented. Combining the ongoing illegal alien problem (whose solution is nowhere in sight) with the ‘education’ that our children are receiving in our public schools (placing less emphasis on our proud heritage, and civics in general, every year – focusing instead on phony, leftist multicultural philosophies), and the Marxist influence in virtually every institution of higher education, exactly what kind of optimistic view can we embrace of the intelligence/knowledge/allegiance of the new (both alien and youth) voters coming down the pike? Where is there a reason to believe that future disingenuous, un-American, anti-liberty candidates and programs of the Kerry ilk will be held accountable by a citizenry that is even more apathetic, disinterested, special-interest-oriented, or leftist-indoctrinated than today’s voters?
Patriotism requires allegiance, education, strength, endurance, courage, resolve, and action. But it does not require the wearing of rose-colored glasses. Until our leadership addresses the illegal alien problem, until the number of voters who feed at the government socialist welfare/entitlement trough (as forewarned by deTocqueville) can be dramatically reduced, and until we determine to educate our children as to their proud heritage and the dangers posed by relinquishing it, election results will continue to fall in favor of powerful liars who can voice the biggest promises to the host of least informed minds.
I believe we are fighting a losing battle. But, unless and until the battle is lost, we are called to continue to do our part to keep the enemies (both foreign and domestic) at bay. To do any less would hold us just as accountable as those passive, 'sideline Americans' who choose not to be a part of the crusade to reclaim this republic from the scoundrels who call themselves leaders, but who bear no allegiance to our Founders and their vision.
I’ve had to stop discussing politics with some of my friends, sensing that they are made uncomfortable by my continued pessimism. And I understand that. So I leave politics aside when in their company, and we invariably enjoy our time together. I figure it’s better to temporarily shelve my political opinions altogether than to don rose-colored glasses and verbalize an optimism that I don’t honestly embrace. Can’t pretend to feelings I don’t have, and never did look good in pink anyway. :)
~ joanie
Thanks much for the encouraging reply! As you talk with people, I'd be interested to know if any particular piece of information proves useful for making the case against Kerry. I'm considering doing some shorter pieces emphasizing the most relevant pieces of information.
Not because I'm afraid of talking to strangers, but I imagine that I just wouldn't know what to say. It sounds like have prepared yourself, so that would help a lot.
In my mind, I could find hundreds of things to tell people against Kerry, but the hard part for me would be finding good things to say about President Bush. There are only two that I can think of.
His conduct of the war on terror (a very important positive which trumps a lot of negatives), and
The tax cuts he pushed through
I'm interested in how you handle it when someone asks about the massive budget deficit, the new entitlement programs, his support for the UN, and his leaving our borders open, etc.
If you have the time, you should find a copy of Richard Miniter's new book Shadow War. It documents what the administration has been doing "secretly" in the WoT.
Among all of the people with whom I have spoken so far, of those who intend to vote, I would say about sixty percent were already planning to vote for Bush (I am doing a lot of walking in the northern part of Lancaster County, which is generally very conservative, although not as much as the southeastern part of the county).
I try not to waste too much time talking to 'members of the choir', but have had a few good conversations that center on our mutual disappointments with the Bush administration (his liberal spending on entitlement programs -- and his creation of brand new ones, such as his prescription drug plan, his continued unconstitutional support of the Department of Education -- and his creation of the brand new, mediocrity-enhancing, bureaucracy-inflating No Child Left Behind Act, his refusal to address the deadly illegal alien problem, his weak support of the Second Amendment, his refusal to openly recognize the UN (and other global organizations) for the liberty cancers that they are, his increase in support of Planned Parenthood ...). But I only talk about such things with people who, like me, first express the opinion that they believe that the war on terror trumps all of those issues, and who will be voting Republican no matter what, as a result.
(I also offer them my personal hope that, should Bush be re-elected, his dangerous tendency to lean more left than any self-respecting Constitutionalist would might abate during a second term, since his lame duck status would presumably lessen his pandering to his media/legislative/judicial critics.)
Oddly enough, very few (maybe two percent) of those who were not planning to vote at all, or who were planning to vote for Kerry, even bring up the disappointments I mentioned above. More often than not, instead of expressing concerns of the type I feel, they will express disappointment in the same subject, but along completely diametrical lines.
An example: This past Saturday I was talking with a young couple who expressed concern about the fact that Bush isn't doing enough to provide healthcare for all Americans. I started my response by asking, 'Why do you believe that to be the responsibility of the federal government?' That simple question opened up about a forty-five minute conversation in which I was able to explain to them the loss of individual freedom and personal responsibility that invariably accompanies the federal government trespassing into unconstitutional power territory – not to mention the lesser fact that the government never accomplishes anything less expensively, or more efficiently, than private enterprise would. When I left their home, I wasn't entirely sure how they would be voting (although I had a pleasant suspicion), but I believe that a seed had been planted regarding the government's usurpation of Constitutional powers that were intended to remain with the people. They were very respectful, and extremely interested in what appeared to be a 'new' incite (for them) into the corruption of the political process.
This is the kind of thing that discourages me the most. So many of those with whom I talk (especially those who had intended – and some still do – to vote for Kerry/Edwards) believe that the government should be doing more for them (especially in the areas of healthcare, education, and regulation). They do not realize that all three aspects of a society are eroded -- sometimes beyond actual effectiveness -- by any kind of federal government intervention. And that, secondarily, individual liberties ... and the ability to keep the fruits of our own labors ... suffer massively as well.
To those who few are sitting on the fence for very logical, well-informed reasons, I simply agree with them about the dangers to our republic of the above-mentioned weaknesses in Bush's leadership, yet I tell them that I believe all of those issues can eventually be set back on the right track – but not if we show weakness or equivocation in the face of terrorism. There has never been a more deadly, or all-encompassing threat to our liberties, and our very existence. The voters’ opinion regarding which leader would best face the terrorist threat must supercede all other considerations. I sometimes have difficulty opening eyes to the conservative point of view on many issues, but so far have never had an argument on this one.
I also agree with you that Miniter's book would be a great resource to cite -- probably better than all of the ones I have been bringing with me. I ordered it from amazon.com last week, after hearing him interviewed on EIB, but it has not yet arrived. I do, however, bring up (without written corroboration yet, I'm afraid :) the small handful of the excellent 'secret' WoT accomplishments of which I am already aware, from having heard those couple of Miniter interviews.
(No response necessary, John. And thanks for the excellent comments, as always. Just wanted to assure you that I, too, have the same Bush reservations and am trying to prepare for others' voicing of them.)
~ joanie
P.S. I just proofread this before posting. Decided to leave the initial 'just a short response' comment in, for the sake of comic relief. :)
I wish you two could lipsink for Bush in tonight's debate. He could move his mouth and you could provide the arguments. ;)
Thanks, but Joanie is the one with the talent here. I'm just an old jade trying to keep up.
What a masterful piece of research... Great Work!
A long but worthwhile read, IMO.
Then again, I think that I hear a book in process ... something along the lines of, let us say, that you did, sort of, return to college. Tell that story, about a brave young woman who ventures into the fray.
I think that you'd be amazed, how many young people would like such a novel, that would support them in the contest.
I wish I had such a novel by Joanie F., when I was in college, as well as headed there. Something that, through the telling of the story, shows a kid how to debate and deliberate and how and where to get information other than in the liberal media of from comrade fuzzy thinker up there at the board.
My mother, the librarian and keeper of the Dewey Decimal system, always warned me about you "Bookmarers." I wish I could tell my mom on you!!! (grin)
This is worthy of a "documentary!" An actually legitimate one! (as opposed to Moore's POS)
Thanks for the encouraging feedback! A documentary is a good idea--maybe a short commercial summing up the key facts from the table to the background of some clips of the antiwar groups mentioned, say from the VMC 1969 protests, from Dewey Canyon III, and from Jane Fonda's Vietnam trip, which could be shown with a split-screen of the Senate testimony where Kerry talks about his Paris trip, or something to that effect.
Moore, who was raised a Catholic, admitted that his upbringing provided him with a strong sense of social justice. Inspired by the peace-movement priests Daniel and Philip Berrigan, Moore briefly attended a seminary at age 14. Later, he became an Eagle Scout, and for his Eagle Scout project, he produced a slide show of the worst polluters in Davison. At Davison High School, he starred on the school's debate team, participated in student government, and created a controversial school play which satirized the behavior of people well known in the community. Moore was hardly all seriousness, though, and he was voted class clown.
He's been trained from childhood to be the traitor he is.
There is quite a network of bishops who trace their origins to the Archdiocese of Detroit. Cardinal Dearden , who served as Archbishop of Detroit from 1958 to 1980, is widely acknowledged as the architect of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, of which he was the first president in the early 1970s. Dearden groomed priests for ordination to the rank of bishop who were well-known as extremists before they were named bishop. And some of Dearden's men who formerly maintained a low profile have since come into their own.
The most well-known of Dearden's progeny in the hierarchy is Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, who for at least 30 years has been traveling on the fringe of many leftist movements. He gave much support to the Communist regime in Nicaragua, and most recently has been on the lecture circuit promoting homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.
Two additional Dearden descendants are worthy of note in their dissent from Catholic teaching and support of others who dissent. They are Bishop Joseph Imesch, of Joliet, Illinois and Kenneth Untener, of Saginaw, Michigan.
I highlight Gumbleton because as part of a group called Pax Christi he was Ramsey Clark's ally in the campaign against the Iraq oil embargo. I imagine his roots trace back to Berrigan's organization, and that he's linked to Moore.
I've always been a strong believer in "guilt by association!" I even taught it to my two sons... "You lie down with dogs... You come up with fleas!"
I learned it well from an inmate in the California Medical Facility (CA state prison) where I worked briefly in my early days in CA. He, like everyone else in there, claimed to be innocent of any crime and told me that some of his buddies came by and picked him up in what he thought was a new car one of them had purchased... of course it was stolen.
Then I went up to the prison records office and took a look at his "rap sheet" that if it had been printed on continuous form computer paper on single spaced format would have reached across the 50 foot room!!!
Guilt by association is not "fair," but it's deadly accurate much more often than not. Which proves that "fairness" is a fallacy of Liberalism, as in Hitlery Clinton's commencement speech... "Earth could be fair." The world of a "President Kerry" would be made of the same crappola.
I only worked in that CA correctional facility for a little over a year, but that's where I earned my PHD in human nature and became attuned to subtle flaws in human character. There are glaring flaws in Senator Kerry's character and in spite of the slavish media's efforts to conceal them... they come shining right through like a beacon!
The man is dangerous and exhibits many tendancies of the criminal mind, as does his side-kick. Damn... two crooked lawyers in the White House of America... I sure hope NOT!!!
The only thing worse, would be two crooked "Liberation Theology" clerics!!! Michael Moore is just a pathetic pissant with malicious mischief constantly on his leftist pea brain!!!
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