Bush Won. The World Lost. So did reason, the poor, gun control, the belief that the truth will out.

The United States will muddle through, as it's muddled through before, because the idea of America, and the system that sustains it, is bigger and braver and more enduring than any single subpar president or collective brain cramp of the populace.

But it's so damn sad anyway. Once again, as Franklin Roosevelt put it, the only thing to fear was fear itself, only this time fear won. Bombast won, the Big Lie won. And of course George W. Bush won, with his staunch certainties in a scary world and his skilled retailing of "moral values" to an increasingly conservative base. Because this is what happened in the U.S. election: with jobs disappearing, deficits running rampant, their kids being killed in Iraq saving the world from nonexistent weapons, Americans rushed to the polls to keep gays from marrying and women from having abortions. The culture war somehow trumped the Iraq war — evidence of an America not only fiercely divided but in deep denial.

The world, by the way, lost. So did reason, the poor, African-Americans, stem-cell research, the air and water, gun control, the cause of basic competence, the belief that the truth will out.

I thought John Kerry would win and I was wrong. I thought so because the majority of Americans told pollsters they didn't like where the nation was headed. The ship of state was steaming straight for an iceberg, the captain too stubborn to change course — but in the end the people were too frightened or too distracted to change captains.

My e-mail to this airhead:
Columnist's words in bold:
Would you like a little more cheese to go with that whine?
Your piece sounds like you swallowed just about every article spewed out the left,
then regurgitated it with a few little personalized parts to avoid plagiarism.

"I thought so because the majority of Americans told pollsters they didn't like where the nation was headed".
That sounds like you only hear the voices that agree with what you want to hear!

"but in the end the people were too frightened or too distracted to change captains".
Thats what so many of the left WANT to think!
That people in this nation are 'frightened'
We hear it all the time. We are 'un-informed' or 'ignorant of the real issues' or 'frightened'

We just love listening to people who write columns tell us why we voted as we did.
And you wonder why so many people consider the left, and it's mouthpieces, as 'arrogant' and 'condescending'.

Now, before you sit & pass judgement on me, consider this:
I served in the military, in several 'conflicts'. Some were of Clinton's making.
I saw, on the ground, what the reasons were for our being there. And, for the most part, agreed with them.
Why is it that when a Democratic President decides to involve our nation in another countries business,
there is so little negative said about it by the 'mainstream media'?
But, heaven forbid, a Republican gets us involved,
and it's always 'another Vietnam' and we will always be in the wrong.

The world, by the way, lost. So did reason, the poor, African-Americans, stem-cell research, the air and water, gun control, the cause of basic competence, the belief that the truth will out.

So one man, President Bush, is the sole cause of the worlds woes?
How are the poor suffering more nowdays?
As far as I can tell, there are still plenty of social institutions providing for the 'always with us' poor.
How did 'African-American's lose more now?
Funny, from what I can see, the black American's either didnt believe Kerry was any different from Bush,
and either didnt vote for Kerry in any record number,
and, some few percentage more voted Republican,
just to see what the right might do by way of 'courting' their vote.

Bah...I wont bother going on anymore.
You spew out the same old baseless, tired arguements and talking points as any other leftist writer whose column I have bothered to read.
Just keep up the same sort of work as this peice,
and keep wondering why the side you favor continues to lose elections.

"The past is prologue" has never been more true than now. I just finished watching several documentaries about the run-up to WWII and the parallels between then and now is astonishing.

World leaders wanted to believe that Hitler would stand by his treaties and his word, just as they so desperately want to believe the word of the terrorists today. The League of Nations opposed intervening in Germany and Japan, just as the UN has opposed any involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. Chamberlain, Stimpson and a host of other "leaders" wanted to turn their backs on the truth, just as so many want to pretend that they know what the truth is today.

And, just as they were horribly wrong nearly 60 years ago, they are wrong today. 60 years ago it was Britain and the United States that led the way to freeing the world, and those two nations are leading the way to freeing the world again.

Canada may join the French and Germans in disagreeing with us, but it only shows how wrong they are. History is repeating itself, and we are its witnesses. If we fail to contain the Muslim threat in Iraq, we will find ourselves forced to fight them on a global scale, just as we did 60 years ago with the Axis nations.

Canada may want to wring its hands over the re-election of President Bush by a landslide, but we Americans are in solid control of our destiny. We aren't going to wait for another 9/11 to occur, we're going to take the battle to the terrorists and kill them before they can kill us. If the Canadians want to provide safe harbor for Islamic terrorists, that's their choice. We don't have to agree on policy. But if their socialist policies cause them to become hostages of the Muslims for whom they feel such compassion, we Americans may not feel moved to rescue them from their own folly.

The liberals can dress up a pig any way they like and call it Catherine Zeta-Jones, but it doesn't make it anything more than a pig in a dress. The terrorists want only one thing - the opportunity to kill as many "non-believers" as they can. And they will take as many opportunities as are given them. In the Netherlands, they are discovering how big the problem is with their Muslim population, and they are re-considering their options. Perhaps Canada and the rest of their socialist alliance will, one day, come to the same fork in the road. It will be interesting to see the choice they make when the choice is life, liberty and freedom or death, tryanny and oppression.

In the meantime, they should save their lectures for themselves. We Americans have spoken - in loud, clear and certain voice.

Deal with it.

Thank you for your refreshing insight into the American way of life and our current state of affairs. Why, if it were not for a select few nations in the world telling the United States citizens how to act, think, or feel, we may have never awoke from our slumber.
Canadians have little basis to grasp the concept of a true free democracy. Your nation, which is currently on full-throttle toward socialism, cannot understand patriotism, because it is abhorred by a majority of your people.

Americans have always understood the meaning of patriotism; some of us may forget at times, but we love and defend our country. Luckily for you, our patriotism spills over to defend Canada as well. And while Canada has certainly allowed Americans to defend your nation for a long running history, we are called “the coalition of idiots” by your Parliament members.

Remember, our nation was born out of a revolution. At that time, only thirty percent of the new Americans supported it. Patriotism is not always a popular choice; it bears great financial expense, loss of life, and modifications of lifestyle. But with these factors considered, it protects our rights, liberties, and freedoms for future generations. Canada has never had to endure the great challenge of defending freedom on its own; America has been there to defend it for you or with you.

While Canucks police the language spoken, ensuring that French has its equal space in every area, America allows freedom of speech, yet promotes a united language. While Canada legislates the amount of “Canadian content” that must be shown on television, America shows the public what they want to see. While Canada considers any display of Bible passages regarding homosexuality to be hate speech, Americans can hold their signs in praise or protest. While Canada has a mere 60,000 troops that have not defended their own country since 1937, American troops are over 1.5 million strong and are out defending and protecting the world every day. While you allow the Canucks to run rampant over the citizens, legislating firearm ownership down to pea-shooters, America’s citizens organized to protect our Constitution’s Second Amendment.

When America sings “give me your tired, your poor”, we mean it. However, I think you fail to realize what we mean. In my country, it means these people have a chance to work, to make a better life, and to earn their own American dream. Just to your south, we have gathered the impression that Canada is singing a different tune. “Give us your traitors, defectors, terrorists, and welfare recipients! Come one, come all who want to live off of the Parliament’s dole and become numb!” I personally like our song better, as it shows for a much more optimistic future.

What I find troubling is Canada’s ability to stand on the sideline and Boo America. I believe you fail to realize how close you are to the nation that came under attack on September 11, 2001. Have you become so complacent that you have no sense of purpose? The trouble with having no sense of purpose is that, sooner or later, you’re left with nothing else to do but mind your neighbor’s business.

We Americans will continue on with our great pride in patriotism, we will do whatever is necessary to promote our freedoms, and protect those who cannot promote freedom on their own. You are always welcome to join us, as you are part of our North American family. We have appreciated what little you have done to help in Afghanistan, despite the negative comments by your Parliament.

Please remember that it isn't always an easy road to do the right thing. Popularity may falter at times and criticism will be directed toward your every decision. But when we are placed under such great scrutiny, we are able to confirm our integrity and convictions. As a result, we can act with confidence, regardless of what the world’s clique may think.

With prayers to God for your awakening,

An American Patriot

I the 1840 time frame the Oregon territory was a point of contention between the US and Britain. In 1844 James Polk (D) ran on the famous platform, "Fifty four forty or fight!"

He was elected, but instead of actually fighting he settled with the British on 49 degrees of latitude as the common border of the US and Canada west of the great lakes. The difference between the two lattitudes - 5 degrees 40 minutes - maps to 340 nautical miles or 391 statute miles. Given that something like 90% of the population of Canada lives within 100 miles of the US border, the "fifty four forty" demand was essentially a demand for all the arable land of Canada. At least over the longitude range to which the demand was applicable . . .

Not terribly surprising that Polk settled for something less than that.

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