Posted on 02/04/2005 7:06:20 AM PST by JohnHuang2
Edited on 02/04/2005 7:22:06 AM PST by Lead Moderator. [history]
"Iraq's dancing-in-the-streets election gave President Bush a surge of momentum, and [Wednesday] night he made clear that he means to make the most of it," the New York Post's Deborah Orin writes. "Iraq's election shifted the political dynamic in America because of its amazing success, which validated Bush's belief that freedom can trump terror — thus making it easier for him to tackle other big things like Social Security," Miss Orin said. Continues...
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Bush Wins Second Mandate in Iraq; Dems urged to concede
What if they held a bloodbath and nobody came? Truly, Sunday was a milestone, a watershed -- the momentous tipping point we eeeeeeevil twisted globe-marauding warmongers hell-bent on plunging the world into freedom have been waiting for. We'll be telling our grandchildren. What a historic day! I'm talking about the news coverage -- it was fair and balance. For a whole news cycle. Defying insurgent threats, even CNN reporters left their Baghdad hotel rooms for the first time to cover the news. Who could forget the images of long lines of reporters, taking their first step towards factual reporting? Very moving.
As for the elections, the turnout picture was decidedly mixed. Heavy, heavy turnout of voters, dismal turnout of suicide bombers. Even after talk of an energized suicide base. Reports of several suicide and mortar attacks were the only bright spots in an otherwise dismal day for Democrats, most of whom seemed shocked that all Iraqis aren't Mujahadeen Islamofascist head-hackers. Or dufuses who have no rights and love to be oppressed, like all Muslims. (Only terrorist Muslims at Guantanamo have rights.) With predictions of a bloodbath, sporadic violence left little for Kennedy to gloat about. Even worse for Teddy, those video images of joyful Iraqis coming out of packed polling places, jumping up and down in exuberance, holding up purple fingers, clapping their hands, cheering and dancing in the streets. Buncha Bushies.
"We now have our freedom," said one Iraqi man, trying to put a positive spin on the day's events (clearly another Bushbot). "After 35 years, we finally got rid of Saddam and now we can vote for whoever we want."
Two weeks ago, Bush told the Washington Post in an interview that he'd had his "accountability moment, and that's called the 2004 elections." Democrats swiftly denounced the claim and Iraqis swiftly denounced the Democrats by giving Bush a second accountability moment, and that's called the 2005 elections. In Iraq. It marked the Democrats' gazillionth election defeat to Bush.
(One thing's for sure. You won't hear Democrats demanding statehood for Iraq -- 31 red states are enough.)
As for the vote tally and actual turnout, Iraqi election officials estimate over 8 million Iraqis, braving threats of violence and threats of more Kennedy speeches, flocked to the polls, which is 60 percent of Iraq's 14 million registered voters. Oh, sure, there were the usual complaints from the usual cranks about voting problems and long lines outside polling stations in Cuyahoga county, but even in the key 'battleground' Sunni Triangle, turnout may have reached as much as 40 percent -- even without the help of Bush's crack team of Diebold-hackers.
As for international reaction, Bush got lots of kudos, for once. Italy's "II Messaggero" noted Bush "made progress against the threat of terrorism; proved to the world that democracy and freedom can also be created with weapons; but most of all, (Bush) paved the way for America's exit strategy out of Iraq." The Times of London sounded a similar note, observing that "Yesterday's election would not have happened were (Saddam) still in power. It gave cause for celebration in most of Iraq, and should do elsewhere." But not everyone overseas was satisfied. As expected, the French were the lone sourpusses: "No one in the United States should overhype this election," John Kerry told Meet The Press Sunday, his pointy chin scratching the floor of the studio. In his first TV interview since his sweeping November shellacking, which was not supposed to happen, he said Iraq's election, which was not supposed to happen, was just a first step. Just like the June handover, which was not supposed to happen, was a first step, and the writing of an interim Constitution last March was a first step. The foreign policy visionary said the election lacked legitimacy and that he "was all for the election taking place" and that he was not bitter about the results (you look so happy!) and that unless Bush calls or meets with Jacques Chirac and stops this policy of Going-It-Alone with 32 countries, world terrorism will not be solved and "we will not be successful in Iraq," which he said now poses a greater terrorist threat to the U.S. and that the U.S. is safer with the newly elected Iraqi government and Saddam in prison. "I'm glad Saddam Hussein is gone ('I'm wetting my pants with excitement!') and I've said that a hundred times," Kerry noted, then accused Bush of having no plan. (Which means the weekend's election happened by immaculate conception.) Kerry denied any partisanship. (He's just offering advice because of his deep affection for Bush.)
While Kerry was pressing the aide who booked him on Meet The Press to go for a ride with Teddy Kennedy, other Democrats, who predicted no one would turn out to vote or that every voter in Iraq would be killed, dismissed the vote as a total sham; no independent monitoring, no accountability, no standards, threats of violence -- almost like Cook County, Ill. "You have to have people there to verify whether you have enough ballots, whether people who are registered are voting," Rep. Dennis Kucinch said on Crossfire Tuesday (sunny message!). Elections under Saddam weren't perfect, but this is ridiculous. (Dunno who the stupidest Democrat is, but ol' Kucinich must be in the running.)
"Pre-butting" Bush's State of the Union Address they hadn't heard yet, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid, emerging from spider holes after a tough weekend, complained that Bush is losing the war on terrorists and that the only way to win the war is to have an 'Exit Strategy'. (That'll really rattle al-Qaeda!) Wanna kill off the enemy? Just wave an 'Exit Strategy' at 'em. Siege cities and conquer armies in seconds with an 'Exit Strategy'. To win, you need the strength and resolve to wage an 'Exit Strategy'. Not an 'Exit Strategy' to exit terrorists (the Bush Plan), but an 'Exit Strategy' to exit U.S. troops (Pelosi-Reid Plan), because Heaven knows we need those troops moved to real hot-spots like Japan and Germany. "Most of all, we need an exit strategy," said Harry Reid, aka Mr. Charisma.
I've got your 'Exit Strategy' right here -- it's called a one-way plane ticket to France.
So, looking at the big picture, while the New York Times, in another prescient prediction, predicted election day calamity in Iraq, 8 million Iraqis strutted to the nearest polling place, eager to participate in this calamity. And to give the Great Satan a great vote of confidence. All of it thanks to Bush's "failed" Iraq policy. Actually, this makes three "calamities". The first was the election in Afghanistan, the first free elections there since the Paleozoic Era and Teddy was still a virgin. Then, three months later, in mid-January, the Palestinian elections, with the winner promising a crack-down on terror. And then the calamitous elections in Iraq. All three calamities either sponsored by the Great Satan (Afghanistan, Iraq) or by Israel, aka the Not-Quite-So-Great-Satan (the Palestinian vote). Three terrorist breeding grounds turned into democracy breeding grounds, and all this without a plan.
Yep, if Bush keeps this up, he'll plunge the whole world into freedom.
Great job, Mr. President!
Anyway, that's...
My Two Cents...
"JohnHuang2"
Another keeper ~ good job JH2!
"Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid, emerging from spider holes after a tough weekend..."
LOL! Excellent column.
"the first free elections there since the Paleozoic Era and Teddy was still a virgin"
Bwahahaha!
Good line, good essay!
Excellent Post, of course....
bump
Here here!
super bump
Continuing kudos, John. Slicing and dicing the left...
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