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Time to decide who we want to be
Washington Times ^ | 10/01/04 | Wesley Pruden

Posted on 09/30/2004 10:42:38 PM PDT by kattracks

In the cool early light of the morning after, there's a question American voters must ask themselves, a question more important than any posed last night to George W. Bush and John F. Kerry.
    Who are we? Who have we become? What kind of people do we want to be? These are questions for the debate that counts.
    The extrusions of that vile species (erectus porcinus) who murdered 35 of their own children yesterday in the streets of Baghdad in the name of a malignant theology of an eighth-century religion, imagine that we're no tougher, no more resilient, no more courageous than the French, who can never even defend themselves; the Germans, who can't push themselves away from a plate of sausages long enough to recognize peril; or the Spanish, who demonstrated in the aftermath of the Madrid railway bombing that when the going gets tough it's time to cut and run.

[snip]

Smug and vain, John Kerry presents himself as the John Paul Jones of the Mekong, the war hero who fears no foe. Maybe he doesn't. But he can't reconcile himself to the harsh and unforgiving fact that we're at war again, and this time against an enemy more vile, more depraved and more wicked than any America has faced before. Maybe he knows that. Whatever he may think, or feel in the marrow of his bones, he cannot jettison the dead weight of the leftmost elements of his party, either now, when his candidacy falters, or later, in the unlikely event he becomes the 44th president. He must be the cut-and-run candidate, just as he would have to be the cut-and-run president.


(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; debates; napalminthemorning; pruden
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To: Howlin
Thanks for the *ping!*

"WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?"

41 posted on 10/01/2004 2:22:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Howlin
The last paragraph is great:

During the early months of World War II, when many felt the nation's war machine was running on empty and anxiety hovered over the land of the free, Life magazine published a cover photograph of a Japanese officer with a scimitar raised to behead a kneeling American flier with a cut that was no less gruesome for its swiftness. The photograph haunted the nation for weeks. There was sadness and anger, but no rebukes of FDR, no cries of despair, no mocking of American soldiers that they were fighting "the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time." The cruelty of the savagery enraged the grown-ups and fortified the fury that redoubled determination to win the war. We must determine again to show our enemies just who we can be, and passing a "global test" of approval be damned.

42 posted on 10/01/2004 3:11:01 AM PDT by Amelia
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To: Howlin

As a regular reader of Wes Pruden, I can vouch for this column being the best writing he has ever done. It reveals in stark terms that THIS war is for our very existence. Kerry is the wrong candidate at the wrong time and the wrong place to lead us to victory over evil incarnate. This man is blind to anything but his own lust for power. He MUST be defeated.


43 posted on 10/01/2004 3:26:02 AM PDT by Carolinamom (This space reserved for GWB to sit beside me.)
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To: kattracks

Wesley Pruden is pure gold - backed by impenetrable steel.


44 posted on 10/01/2004 4:16:26 AM PDT by txrangerette
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To: kattracks
great article, thanks for posting it. There are so many debate threads but I guess this is the one where I'd like to comment.
I'll pick substance and moral compass over style and emptiness every time.
I think that since Sept. 11 more people feel that way every day.
Our President has done a very good job for 4 years, and it has been extremely tough, just look at how he has aged. He must love this country tremendously to want to do it for 4 more years.
Although I would have loved to see President Bush zing him a few more times, he was presidential, while Kerry stooped to even lower levels.
Moments that stick out - President Bush making a point about Kerry's "global test". How you don't denigrate our allies and call this a wrong war.
And after all his pontificating what stands about the morning after is Kerry who kept using the phrase "I have a plan..."
I think the American people will stick with a president who has kept them safe instead of one who says he has a "plan".
45 posted on 10/01/2004 4:19:06 AM PDT by MomwithHope
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To: kattracks

After watching the sincerity of our beloved President on TV last night I believe more strongly that the future of the civilized world depends upon this good man being re-elected.


46 posted on 10/01/2004 4:24:34 AM PDT by OldFriend (It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given US freedom of the press)
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To: kattracks

bookmarked


47 posted on 10/01/2004 4:34:07 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: bonfire

This morning I am tired, of the election, of the drama, of the television, the pundits who are all acting like GWB is going for an Oscar, who are reveling in Kerry's pretty good poses last nite. this is so very serious that this fog of commentary and polls seems somehow beneath us as a country. the choice is so very clear. I wish the election were today.I am ready for this country to decide if we are indeed prisoners of the product selling coiffed media all grandiose enough to love zinging the man who is leadiing and defending us or if we are worthy of what has been given to us. I feel like GWB. I just want this silliness, this media constructed show, to be over. Lets just vote damnit. If GWB is not elected, we deserve the consequences and those of us who know it, who understand what is at stake, will live to try to recover what we have. I think Bush will win, I have to think we are not a country with a majority of fools and will of the wisps. But I am sick and tired of this election.


48 posted on 10/01/2004 4:42:43 AM PDT by cajungirl (Jammies Up!!)
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To: kattracks
He (Kerry) imagines that an American president, in a world of evil run amok, must demonstrate leadership by submitting the security of Americans to something he calls a "global test," showing the practiced deference that a French poodle might show the rich widow taking him out for a stroll on the avenue.

Pruden has a way with a phrase.

49 posted on 10/01/2004 5:02:15 AM PDT by randita
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To: MomwithHope

Thanks for your comments. I, as well, have not commented on the debate.

I think GWB's best answers came in the first 30 minutes, when most people were watching. Kerry picked ups team and seemed to be strongest during the last 30 minutes, when most people had no doubt drifted off (either to sleep or to some other TV program). Maybe it was because Bush was drained because of visiting the hurricane victims and I know he's not a late night person, but he did seem to ramble and stutter more as the evening went along.

Kerry sounded hoarse and tired at the beginning and nervous.

I also liked Bush's body language. He leaned over the podium, indicating seriousness yet a casual demeanor and seemed to be talking right to you-one on one. He appeared much more connected with what he was saying and animated about it. Kerry stood up stick straight throughout, and seemed emotionally aloof from what he was saying--seemed to be lecturing you like a very boring college professor.

They both used their best talking points in the first 30 minutes. After that, it seemed they just repeated themselves, probably by design.


50 posted on 10/01/2004 5:13:49 AM PDT by randita
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To: Howlin
That quote's good, but I like this one better--

He imagines that an American president, in a world of evil run amok, must demonstrate leadership by submitting the security of Americans to something he calls a "global test," showing the practiced deference that a French poodle might show the rich widow taking him out for a stroll on the avenue.

Pruden is a real word-wizard. Thanks for this ping!

51 posted on 10/01/2004 5:54:57 AM PDT by MizSterious (First, the journalists, THEN the lawyers.)
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To: Lexinom
Truly, I was "Howlin" inside when he stated "I have never wavered."

Oh, yes, and you had company in that! First we hooted with laughter, then dear hubby and I looked at one another, and both of us felt that chill--a man like this must never, ever sit in the Oval Office again, as another psychopathic liar did for eight long years.

52 posted on 10/01/2004 6:00:52 AM PDT by MizSterious (First, the journalists, THEN the lawyers.)
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To: Brad's Gramma

Chilling. I didn't follow any threads last night because with my migraine, just following the debate was all I could muster. That's a very scarey find. And of course, if (Heaven forbid) Kerry were president, we'd no doubt have to ask "global" permission before we'd dare strike back, even if a school full of children were massacred Beslan style. We simply cannot let this happen!


53 posted on 10/01/2004 6:04:34 AM PDT by MizSterious (First, the journalists, THEN the lawyers.)
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To: MomwithHope
I think the American people will stick with a president who has kept them safe instead of one who says he has a "plan".

Some people have "plans;" others have "plans" plus focus and steely resolve. The President obviously has a "plan," and has been implementing it with focus and steely resolve. In fact, the President has the only plan that can possibly work.

54 posted on 10/01/2004 6:12:02 AM PDT by MizSterious (First, the journalists, THEN the lawyers.)
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To: randita; Howlin

Thanks for the ping, howlin. Wouldn't want to have missed this.

randita:
***Kerry stood up stick straight throughout, and seemed emotionally aloof from what he was saying--seemed to be lecturing you like a very boring college professor.***

If Kerry made any other mistakes in his delivery (rather than his words), it was his smug, obnoxious expression when Dubya was speaking. His smirking smile while taking notes was disgusting. And I guess his trainers forgot to tell him not to show his profile while smiling and smirking. He's unwholesome enough without showing his worst side.

His second mistake was calling Dubya, "THIS president" over and over. I wanted to slap his silly face, and I hope some of the undecided did, too.


55 posted on 10/01/2004 6:25:57 AM PDT by kitkat ( FR: HOME OF THE PAJAMA PEOPLE)
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To: MizSterious

***" showing the practiced deference that a French poodle might show the rich widow taking him out for a stroll on the avenue."***

Needs to be said again, Miz.


56 posted on 10/01/2004 6:28:31 AM PDT by kitkat ( FR: HOME OF THE PAJAMA PEOPLE)
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To: Howlin
Wow!

Thanks, Howlin!

57 posted on 10/01/2004 6:36:05 AM PDT by ohioWfan (BUSH 2004 -Leadership, Integrity, Morality)
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To: MizSterious
I never meant to imply that President Bush didn't/doesn/t have a plan. Sorry if it sounded that way.
I just meant that Kerry's references to "I have a plan" meant absolutely nothing to me.
58 posted on 10/01/2004 6:45:14 AM PDT by MomwithHope
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To: MomwithHope

Oh, no, I didn't think you said that at all! I was commenting on Kerry's implication that the President had no plan--that was what he was implying, and if I'm not mistaken, I think he said it outright a couple of times.


59 posted on 10/01/2004 6:53:37 AM PDT by MizSterious (First, the journalists, THEN the lawyers.)
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To: Howlin

Thanks for the ping


60 posted on 10/01/2004 7:14:06 AM PDT by firewalk
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