Posted on 10/20/2006 7:05:29 AM PDT by Interesting Times
Dispirited conservatives and Republicans rightfully appalled at the Cunningham, Abramoff, and Foley scandals should remember history as they contemplate not voting in the 2006 elections because of disillusionment.
In early 1973, the Dow approached new highs in a booming economy. In the 1972 election, the new left was rejected in almost every state. The Paris Peace Treaty was concluded with North Vietnam memorializing its pledge not to interfere militarily in the affairs of South Vietnam. The nation was prosperous and at peace.
Worst President
Within a short time, the mainstream media were able to dismember and destroy the Nixon Administration, using as their sword the Watergate affair. In the congressional elections of 1974, Republican candidates were pounded, losing 48 House seats and five Senate seats.
Until the 1990s, the so-called “Watergate Babies” (i.e. left-wing Democrats) ruled Congress. As its first act after the 1974 election, the new Congress cut off all aid to South Vietnam. Within a short period of time, this led to Communist conquest of all of Indochina, the massacre of at least 4 million of our friends in the killing fields of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, and the displacement of millions of “boat people.”
In 1976, the left wing captured the White House with the worst President of modern times—Jimmy Carter. By 1979, the U.S. economy was in shambles with 12% inflation, 11% unemployment, and vast deficits. Our military was reduced to a shadow. With even our embassy officials held hostage in Tehran, the United States became a powerless joke to the world. It may be fairly said that but for Ronald Reagan the days of our democracy might well have been numbered by the consequences of the 1974 election.
It is not clear why the voters of 1974 thought it wise or just to indirectly cause the destruction of millions of allies in Southeast Asia because of the cover-up of a minor burglary at the Watergate. They certainly did not know that by their votes they would punish themselves severely, leaving, by the end of the Carter years, a U.S. economy that was a burned-out hulk and a nation that was humiliated.
I wonder whether history will repeat itself this year. Despite mainstream media distortion, the economy is in its strongest condition since the Reagan years with low unemployment and inflation rates and diminishing fiscal deficits. We have recovered from the implosion of the Clinton Internet bubble and the shock of Sept. 11, 2001. We have crippled al Qaeda, assembled an international coalition to deal with North Korea and made reasonable progress in defeating at least the foreign insurgency in Iraq. We have seen no terrorist attack on our heartland in more than five years.
Despite the second-guessing by Democrats who have no military experience and by a few veterans who question the Iraq policy, an overwhelming majority of active-duty personnel support the Bush policies and the Republican administration. For example, in 2004, an Army Times poll of active-duty military personnel showed less than 15% voting for Kerry and more than 80% voting for Bush. Despite the token military veterans trotted out by the Democratic Party as Trojan horses in Republican areas, it is clear that a large majority of veterans and active-duty personnel reject the “cut-and-run” policies of the fringe element now in control of the Democratic Party.
In the spring of 1975, I watched in horror our refusal to aid our South Vietnamese friends and their collapse. I watched our friends die by the millions in the gulags of Cambodia and Laos and in frenzied attempts to escape on the high seas, and I remembered my friends, who died in Vietnam, and whose sacrifice was so casually discarded by the “Watergate Babies.” I lost faith in the United States for many years.
I wonder now if we are so blind and ignorant of history to actually allow a new crop of “Watergate Babies” to install clearly unfit leaders such as Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.), John Conyers (D.-Mich.), and impeached Alcee Hastings (D.-Fla.) as the guiding force in our nation. Considering that a Democratic win could mean the rise of John Murtha (D.-Pa.) from Abscam to majority leader, and Hastings from impeached federal judge to House Intelligence chairman, it is no exaggeration to say both parties have bad actors. The distinction is that the Democrats promote them and the Republicans fire them.
Finally, I wonder if voters (like those in 1974) are going to actually vote for the betrayal of our Iraqi and Afghan allies and the sacrifices of our troops. I wonder if our Iraq War veterans will watch the mass execution or flight of those who fought with them and believed in us. If so, history teaches us that in the end we will suffer terribly ourselves. This is particularly true here, where we face adversaries who have said they will not stop at the waters’ edge but have already reached across the ocean to destroy our nation’s largest buildings and thousands of our people.
Still setting the record straight ping...
Ditto on the article.
Don't let the Demlibs get back in power.
BTTT
Excellent.
Is this John O'Neill of Swift Boat Fame? WAY TO GO!!!!
outstanding article........
I think the media is shooting their wad too early on this one.
They are giving people an opportunity to get pissed off, distressed, depressed, and then remorseful.
When we hit the stage of remorse BEFORE the election, it allows us to recognize the huge mistake that is made by not voting, and organize and VOTE.
My entire family is voting this election and it will be a straight CONSERVATIVE ticket...ya, thats right..Arnie has to pull his own weight.... but we are VOTING for sure.
YES..this is good, and contrary to the MSM, and even some "conservative" talk show hosts..
THIS is what President Bush was talking about, when he told Stephy the other night that it "could" be like Vietnam.
He was meaning the run up to the elections that CAUSED the defeat of America in Vietnam.
O'Neill needs to get out more....ON TV!
PING
ing
Great perspective on why we should all get out and vote and what the stakes are.
Always good to hear from the excellent John O'Neil. I am counting the days until I can VOTE for REPUBLICANS. I literally can hardly wait for election day.
Often they have not exhibited these characteristics until they get in power. Congress has way too much money to dole out ever to be without corruption.
They could clean up most of it, but then their millionaire lifestyle would get curtailed.
Up until last week, I was just a couch potato living my life and trying to run a business.
But I could not live with us failing and letting this evil go unfaced. That brave soldiers are giving their lives, families have given their children and I was spending time being angry at Mike DeWine and such. I just can't live with the US Citizenry deciding to give the likes of Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid or Sharrod Brown or Victoria Wulsin the opportunity to support even by accident of ignorance the unadulterated evil that is growing in the Middle East and around the world.
But, its not enough to say I can't live with it. We must act. Now I am just one citizen, an ant. What can I do? I went and found my Congressman's campaign and volunteered. I looked at my streets and said there aren't enough signs. I have started going to Churches where I personally fear to tread but have instead found loving Christians who have momentarily forgotten everything important to them and who will and who won't help them live in peace and raise kids with gods grace in them.
This is the BATTLE OF BEDFORD FALLS. We are all George and Georgette Baileys and the war depends on us getting off of our butts and reminding folks who think helping the enemy will do some good. Volunteer, just one day of your time in the next two weeks.
Me, too.
I think in Texas, early voting starts next Monday!!
One just has to see the demise of the print media, the liberal talk media, and the evening news to see that we are seeking information elsewhere.
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