Posted on 04/14/2005 1:29:19 PM PDT by TomB
I have Republican friends. Really, I do. They may not be the "drop by anytime" sort of friends, but we can definitely have lunch without a fistfight. The Republicans I call friends are straight shooters. Most are fiscally conservative, favor a limited government and beefed-up military, and oppose government social programs.
Most times, we debate, disagree, then move on to more agreeable topics. With straight shooters, there are always agreeable topics.
Former Sen. John Danforth seems like a fire-from-the-hip sort of guy. His recent comments about his party's intervention in the Terri Schiavo case, and its opposition to stem cell research, were refreshingly bold.
"Republicans have transformed our party into the political arm of conservative Christians," Danforth said.
Wow! I've heard a lot of cowboy talk, holy roller babble and frothy freedom cliches from the GOP, but Danforth's comments seemed timely and level-headed. He and I would most likely find agreeable topics to discuss over lunch.
**snip**
I've noticed that comedian Bill Maher has been doing a bit of reaching out himself lately. Several times on his show, "Real Time with Bill Maher," he's encouraged more conservatives to join his audience. Maher's even conceded that his criticism of President George W. Bush's activities in Iraq may have been at least partly wrong.
"Look, on the long-range, big picture of getting the freedom-and-democracy ball rolling in the Middle East, maybe these guys had it right," Maher said on his show Friday.
Sounds to me like Maher's buying into the bait-and-switch rhetoric of the Bush clan. Maybe I would, too, if they were straight shooters. But, before the Iraq invasion, the rallying cry was against an "axis of evil" and "weapons of mass destruction." I don't recall any prewar speeches about delivering democracy to the Middle East.
**snip**
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
Liberals truly think we are stupid.
I have Republican friends. Really, I do"
Stopped reading after this first line, the author is a condescending little snot.
Heh! The libs sure are finding themselves in a difficult position now that it's become obvious that we were right all along about Iraq. They're trying to back up and change directions but they're doing it so clumsily and awkwardly I can't help but laugh.
"The Republicans I call friends are straight shooters. Most are fiscally conservative, favor a limited government and beefed-up military, and oppose government social programs."
So I guess we can assume, based on the Danforth quote, that none of Mr. Brown's friends are Christians, since he seems only to object to conservative Christians??? Apparently, Mr. Brown is not a 'straight shooter'.
"Liberals truly think we are stupid."
Fine, let 'em.
As long as they speak as condescendingly as this, they are exposed for who and what they truly are.
Well .. anyone can deal with democrats who shoot straight - like Zell Miller.
However, most democrats can't shoot straight.
I provided the examples in Glenn Reynold's first update, which were the address to the U.N. General Assembly and the speech noted by PBS Newshour :)
Pretty psyched about that. I'm famous! Woohoo!
Okay, maybe not.
After he printed those, I sent him another email noting Bush making the case for Middle East democracy in his 2002 State of the Union, and also the "Bush Doctrine" of "Bringing Democracy to the Muslims" derided as "preposterous" and "silly" "naivet" by a self-described "foreign correspondent and defense analyst" named Eric Margolis on October 10, 2002. Don't know if he intends to post those though.
Qwinn
On top of the stuff Glenn Reynolds dug up, anyone could find President Bush's pre-war speeches specifically about Iraq.
The libs are like ostriches with their heads in the sand going "la la la, I can't hear you!" If they stopped playing dumb, they'd have to admit that they are the big fat liars.
Why don't these protesters do something intelligent -- and maybe they'd make some converts. One juvenile stunt after another is not convincing argument for their positions -- even if they are the editor of the local newspaper or congressional representative.
Most liberals actually believe in their own superiority.
Liberals don't believe in anything.
There is only fear and loathing for as far as the eye can see. Their only hope is to convince everyone to share in their despair and hopelessness.
As we enforce the just demands of the world, we will also honor the deepest commitments of our country. Unlike Saddam Hussein, we believe the Iraqi people are deserving and capable of human liberty. And when the dictator has departed, they can set an example to all the Middle East of a vital and peaceful and self-governing nation.
The United States, with other countries, will work to advance liberty and peace in that region. Our goal will not be achieved overnight, but it can come over time. The power and appeal of human liberty is felt in every life and every land. And the greatest power of freedom is to overcome hatred and violence, and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of peace.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html
It is entirely possible to be a Christian and also a fiscal conservative who favors limited government except in certain areas like defense. It's not a contradiction.
I recall reading commentary about a year ago which argued that Bush lied about his reasons for attacking Iraq because he offered something like 26 reasons (by that unknown commentator's count). Apparently, the Unknown Commentator thinks that wars are fought for only a few reasons. In truth, the causes of a war are typically myriad, as was the case for invading Iraq.
And, as you observe, bringing democracy to the Middle East was one of those reasons. A reason, I must in truth add, about which I was skeptical (and still am a little, perhaps). But I hope that my skepticism is misplaced.
I do find interesting the Left's inability to distinguish between errors and lies. Clinton lied often. Bush, presiding in more turbulent times, has made errors. The "sophisticated" Left seems to think that perfect knowledge is available and attainable. Perhaps I should have used the adjective sophistical instead of sophisticated....
With respect to WMD, Bush honestly thought that Saddam Hussein was developing them. That he was proven to be mistaken does not make him a liar. Given that opinion was pretty united that Saddam was pursuing WMD, his error becomes even more excusable.
Thank you, I added that to my links page, along with the contents of my post 14.
Many Iraqis can hear me tonight in a translated radio broadcast, and I have a message for them. If we must begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not against you. As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need. We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free. In a free Iraq, there will be no more wars of aggression against your neighbors, no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms. The tyrant will soon be gone. The day of your liberation is near.
Maher's even conceded that his criticism of President George W. Bush's activities in Iraq may have been at least partly wrong.
Bill's already miserable ratings must have dropped even lower, he's desperate for anyone to watch him.
My point was that this author seems to object to conservatives only when they are also Christians.
How can anyone be a Republican and say they're for less spending and small government? When under the last 10 years we have seen spending increases and more government with Republicans in control.
There is a reason why the author can relate to some Republicans. It's because in reality, he and them agree or more things than not. They are just two sides of the same coin. The difference is they use different reasons for getting there.
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