editorial: "Kerry's Fatal Conceit"

www.IowaPresidentialWatch.com ^ | 3/18/2004 | IPWGOP

[IPWGOP]

John Kerry’s fatal conceit

analysis by Roger Wm. Hughes

Fredrich A. Hayek wrote a book titled “The Fatal Conceit” that is multi-layered in its many messages and lessons. However, the book reduces the flaws of socialism to one major fatal conceit that an individual or a group of individuals can know everything. This, of course, is necessary for social planning and therefore for socialism to be successful.

Senator John Kerry’s fatal conceit is that he believes his service in Vietnam equates to our blind trust in his ability to protect America.

Howard Dean on NBC’s Meet the Press stated the Presidential election will be about jobs, "after all either I or Kerry would protect America and fight the War on Terrorism."

This conceit leads them to believe that because there is a War on Terrorism, America will trust just anyone to handle it.

Coinciding with Kerry’s conceit that his service in Vietnam equates to blind trust in his ability to protect America is the other false premise -- that Iraq is the wrong war at the wrong time and the wrong place and we are failing.

In short, Kerry’s argument is, “lets get on with the issues of jobs, healthcare and education.” After all, Kerry’s fatal conceit concludes, he can fight the War on Terrorism as well as Bush -- if not better.

CAN HE?

For a moment, let us forego Kerry’s past record of voting to decimate our national defense and C.I.A. Let us instead examine the key component of the Democrats’ proposal to fix the Bush problem by "Internationalizing the War."

Kerry has referenced our current coalition partners as the “bribed and coerced.” However, the two key players Kerry is really saying are lacking from our coalition are France and Germany.

Robert Kagan writes in “Of paradise and power: America and Europe in the new world order” that France and Germany have an alliance and a desire to "limit’ America’s power. Kagan also writes that the conflict in Iraq was greater than France, Germany and Russia’s financial interest in continuing to make money from the Saddam Hussein regime. It was also about the fact that America has provided an unparalleled level of security to "Old Europe" – so much so that they have come to believe we can all just ‘sit down and talk it out.’ In short, they do not subscribe to Bismarck’s "real politics." … that is, if people are shooting at you, you should do something about it.

The other thing that is enormously disturbing about Kerry’s position is that it is reminiscent of the two erroneous foreign policy assumptions of the Clinton administration. One was that the long history of geopolitical conflict had come to an end. The second was that international politics would center around globalization and environmental issues, déjà vu.

Will America buy into this viewpoint on how America should defend itself?

Polls indicate the answer is no. This, despite Kerry’s attempts to show that he would be a better defender of America by attacking Bush for not taking care of veterans and cutting their benefits -- something that is not altogether true.

The truth is, Bush’s taking on Saddam Hussein has made America safer and stronger. It enforced several U.N. resolutions that weren’t being enforced -- one of the real reasons for going into Iraq. It has changed the dynamics of power in the region and is achieving results from Libya, Yemen, Iran and Syria. Democracy in Iraq will be devastating to our enemies. The Democrats’ position that Israel and Palestine must be solved first has been proven to be equally wrong, but our success in Iraq will also help gain progress with the Israel/ Palestine problem.

So, the question is: why would America elect someone who has voted against funding for 24 critical weapon systems, wants to give greater influence to France and Germany whose goal is to curtail our power, voted to cut funding for the C.I.A., thinks we should have waited for the United Nations and criticizes our current coalition members and allies as being coerced or bribed?

[Roger Hughes is the chairman of Iowa Presidential Watch PAC
website: www.iowapresidentialwatch.com
email Roger Hughes: sixstrategies@wmtel.net ]

[EQAndyBuzz]

"So, the question is: why would America elect someone who has voted against funding for 24 critical weapon systems, wants to give greater influence to France and Germany whose goal is to curtail our power, voted to cut funding for the C.I.A., thinks we should have waited for the United Nations and criticizes our current coalition members and allies as being coerced or bribed?"

Because they have been told by the Socialists trying to overthrow the administration to hate Bush.

To my fellow Freepers, I have decided that the word Liberal is to be replaced by the word Socialist from this point forward. It is a change I am making and encourage others to follow suit. Try it for a day or two. Then see how you feel.

[smiley]

....Liberals = Socialists..Yep, that fits!

[brownsfan]

...word Liberal is to be replaced by the word Socialist from this point forward

left, liberal, socialist - all the same.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Hayek bump !

[MrB]

I have adopted the "style" of never referring to the (vernacular) "liberal" without the use of sarcastic quotation marks (even to the point of using my fingers in speech).

My preferred term is Leftist, because the left will try to pull the exact definition of Socialism on you - gov't controlling the means of production - when they know that we're referring to their collectivist/redistributionist aspects.

If necessary, and you want to really pi$$ off a leftist, explain that a liberal believes in the individual as the highest rights bearer, above the state and society, and in Constitutionally limited government, and individual private property as the primary individual right.
Further, the "liberals" of today are nothing but collectivist fascists (that's the trigger word) that want to impose their "values" (make sure to mock that too) on the rest of us.

[lilylangtree]

Socialist = Liberal = Leftist = Elitist = DemoncRAT

Yep, that fits!

[iopscusa]

Socialist=Demorats=lying snakes

[Mr. K]

Kerry server 4 WHOLE MONTHS in Viet Nam, in that time he got two medals and 3 purple hearts (without missing a day of work) What were his injurioes? paper cuts? Did he rack up 3 purple hearts as fast as possible to get sent home? That makes him a coward not a hero in my book.

Plus he got OFF THE BOAT (by his own admission) People on boats have STRICT ORDERS to NEVER LEAVE THE BOAT!!! As soon as you do you make the boat defenseless. they cannot shoot to the shore if you are there, they cannot retreat and leave you there, they become a sitting target.

[binger]

[shield]

He looks really weird. There is something unnatural looking in/on his face. Makeup maybe. Geezzz, almost looks like .... better not say it. Anyway, he is sooo unnatural looking. You compare him to Bush, you can't. Bush looks so healthy. This guy looks really weird.

[Mr. Mojo]

In short, Kerry’s argument is, “lets get on with the issues of jobs, healthcare and education.”

Clinton had eight long years to deal with "jobs, healthcare, and education" and didn't do squat. But for some reason it still remains the Rat mantra. .....along with "the environment," of course.

[AFPhys]

My preferred term is Leftist, because the left will try to pull the exact definition of Socialism on you - gov't controlling the means of production - when they know that we're referring to their collectivist/redistributionist aspects.

If necessary, and you want to really pi$$ off a leftist, explain that a liberal believes in the individual as the highest rights bearer, above the state and society, and in Constitutionally limited government, and individual private property as the primary individual right. Further, the "liberals" of today are nothing but collectivist fascists (that's the trigger word) that want to impose their "values" (make sure to mock that too) on the rest of us.

Well stated, and worth repeating.

[richardtavor]

I am currently reading the book "The French Betrayal of America" by Kenneth Timmerman. It is a real eye opener for someone looking for the duplicity of the Germans/French/Russians (in other words, 'Old Europe').

[maica]

I agree with you - the classical definition of Liberal should not be wasted on today's collectivist fascists.

I routinely use "Leftist," but may start to use their favorite word "progressive." Not enough Americans are aware that the members of "progressive" cauci and PACs are virtual socialists.

Maybe we should cal them Democratic Socialists on honor of their close and increasing affinity with European socialists.

[RISU]

To me, Mr. Kerry looks like a silver spoon conglomeration of special privilege, mixed up personal values, poor potty training, and absolute lack of meaningful life expereince.

I keep wondering how long the American people are going to go for junk like this in their "leaders". (Clinton comes to mind.) As far as I am concerned the Democratic Party is totally bankrupt. The party chairman glomed off with huge bucks in the "Global Crossing" fisco, apparently, (my father lost all of his investment in that) and now, guess what, Global Crossing is back in business, and re-listed, and the original stiockholders were totally screwed out of the money they gave that company to get going.

Kerry goes to Vietnam in a very "safe" job, Navy river patrol on the big river and off-shore, spends four months "in country", winds up with a silver star, and three purple hearts, becoming eligibal for early return to the sttes. And he has no "limp".

But what a wonderful pre-calculated "political" credential, eh? Yale, they don't teach truth telling even if they do let you play in windowless "secret society" rooms with old skulls and bones. What horseshit is that?

By way of contrast, from my two tours in Nam I have a silver star, and three purple hearts - and the last time hit it was 29 holes and a colostomy bag, and then back to the USA on a strecher, all the way. It took God's own luck to get back from two tours for me.

http://vietcongarena.gamesclan.it/intervista%20pg%201.htm

Who you know makes a difference at "war" don't it?

I am almost "done" with this kind of false flag crap. We need a better country to live in. The way we pick "leaders" sucks.

[Enduring Freedom]

Democrats=Socialists=Terrorists

Each despises a free America and vows its destruction.

[IPWGOP]

Well said, sir. I'm with ya!!

[radiohead]

Liberals = Socialists..Yep, that fits!

Works for me. That's how I've been thinking of my 'liberal' associates for some time now.

[reformedliberal]

They are Tranzis: transnational leftists.

Fascist is also accurate, as in "My way or die". I can usually shut them up saying that, especially if I act it out w/their own typical angst by slapping the table as hard as I can when I say it.

It gets their attention. (The first step)