Replies

Libertarians could have made the difference if they had voted for Republicans. Republicans gave libertarians no reason to vote for them. Even the War was not enough. Bush was destined to lose it eventually because he does not fight it. He is too overcome by hearts-and-minds. The war is not about a better life for Iraqis or for anyone else. It is for survival of the West and requires the destruction of the enemy in order to kick down resurgent Islam into the malaise that characterized the last few centuries. Only that way will Islam cease for a time to be an existential threat to us. Bush cannot do the necessary job. I don't think any currently available Republican is up to it.

The Democrats will eventually get the job done. They will dismantle Defense and think they are ending the war by not participating. We will then take some horrific attacks on American cities that will show that the World Trade Center was just a little raid. The Democrats will sic the FBI on the perps and we will get hit again. After a few such attacks the Democrat president will panic and, in that panic and in exasperation that the enemy does not recognize the essential goodness of the Democrats who are dismantling the Evil American Empire, will launch the missiles. The destruction will be far greater than if we had proceeded to do the necessary job in Bush's term, in the ME and in Europe and in America and the Constitution will likely be a casualty but the job will get done.

Republicans gave libertarians no reason to vote for them.

Frankly, Republicans gave REPUBLICANS no reason to vote for them, or very little, certainly not enough to get them to turn out in numbers sufficient for a victory. In my case, I've simply lost the ability to deny the glaring truth that we should not still be in Iraq. This should have been over long before this election. What good is it to control the planet's most powerful military if we lack the conviction to project the force necessary to prevail?

Unfortunately, I see it playing out much as you've described. We will win this clash of civilizations, but only after much more bloodshed. We woke up for a minute after 9-11, but if there's anything Bush should be faulted for, it's for letting us fall back asleep.

If the wacko conspiracy nuts had been right, we would have had another 9-11 a month ago...

Republicans gave libertarians no reason to vote for them.

Frankly, Republicans gave REPUBLICANS no reason to vote for them, or very little, certainly not enough to get them to turn out in numbers sufficient for a victory. In my case, I've simply lost the ability to deny the glaring truth that we should not still be in Iraq. This should have been over long before this election. What good is it to control the planet's most powerful military if we lack the conviction to project the force necessary to prevail?

Unfortunately, I see it playing out much as you've described. We will win this clash of civilizations, but only after much more bloodshed. We woke up for a minute after 9-11, but if there's anything Bush should be faulted for, it's for letting us fall back asleep.

If the wacko conspiracy nuts had been right, we would have had another 9-11 a month ago...

I like your (I think) "optimism?" When I was in the Oval Office with W, Victor Hanson and I tried to re-orient him to some of the things you mention regarding what we are in this for.

BTW, to all: Bush and the GOP should never have given in ONE INCH on WMDs in Iraq. There is enough evidence that at least it's possible they were there, if this were the Dems, there would be no debate. By ceding that point in 2004, we started kicking the props out from under the entire rationale for dealing with any of these tinpot nincompoops.