A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-19-02

Billie, JohnHuang2 and daisyscarlett | JohnHuang2

[FreeTheHostages]

To stay on John Huang 2's topic for today, which of the potential Democratic candidates do you think has a race issue? I always though Gore definitely was more comfortable around white men. It's pretty clear that Donna Brazille, his campaign manager, is fairly alienated from mainstream Democratic party politics at this point.

[Temple Owl]

Somehow this first went to Diver Dan. Sorry about that. But I repeat:

Good morning Daisy: Ladies. Tell John that he forgot to include the latest Democratic heavyweight--Fast Eddie Rendell. This will keep us awake at night.

[FreeTheHostages]

You ask me "who says" Lee Atwater regretted playing the race card -- at least in the way he did.

The answer is: Lee Atwater. In a death-bed confessional written for Life magazine, Atwater, who died of cancer in 1991, spoke with deep regret of the bitter war he waged against Michael Dukakis, the Democratic nominee. He said:

"In 1988, fighting Dukakis, I said that I 'would strip the bark off the little bastard' and 'make Willie Horton his running mate.' I am sorry for both statements: the "Mostly I am sorry for the way I thought of other people. Like a good general, I had treated everyone who wasn't with me as against me."

Now, in saying we should be careful about the race card, please note I am *not* saying the Republican party does it more often or is more morally culpable for it. As Christopher Hitchens is wont to remind us all (May 21, 1999 interview):

One of the signs I thought that hysteria had set in during the last days of the Clinton impeachment campaign was that so many of his supporters decided to say, "Well, at least he's black. He's the equivalent of an African American." To say, well, if someone is a sexual delinquent in a dysfunctional family, that's sort of what we expect from our duskier brothers... excuse me, I don't want to be caught thinking that, let alone saying it. I don't think it and wouldn't say it. And if it had not been said in defense of someone emotionally liberal, everyone would have known how to denounce that kind of vernacular, I hope. They certainly used to. At least as recently as Willie Horton they did know how to do that. Don't forget, though, that Willie Horton was Al Gore's idea. Al Gore used it against Dukakis in the primaries, long before Mr. Lee Atwater ran with it and made it stick. A thing that all Democrats know but none of them remember.

So there's your evidence. I know of what I speak on this topic.

[Billie]

Good morning, EagleMates. John, so happy to see you back, and love the column today! Daisy, great illustrations! The Campaign buttons are perfect!!!

Thanks for your help this week so I could do some much-needed Christmasing. Anybody want a cookie? :) Anyone need their gifts wrapped for them? WHEW! Mine are done!! Did the last of my shopping yesterday. I hate the crowds - why doesn't everybody else shop early?! LOL!

[Billie]

Happy Anniversary, Salvation!

[MeekOneGOP]

Just for grins (I couldn't resist)......

---

Merry Christmas from
Ming n Meek !

[Mudboy Slim]

"I'm most respectfully doubting the effectiveness of such a strategy."

Yer respectful doubts are respectfully acknowledged, but you are Wrong and WE shall prove it...MUD

[FreeTheHostages]

Peace out, dude!

[Mudboy Slim]

"...which of the potential Democratic candidates do you think has a race issue?"

Terry "The PUNK" McAuliffe, and WE shall prove it...MUD

[jwfiv]

Good morning to our Hostesses.

Good morning to JH2, I think your adoring public in Freeperville is almost as happy that you've remedied your PC troubles as you must be. Thanks for your two cents re: the current state of the Race...gonna be a fun ride.

The Dims are loooooozers.

Dubya's gonna rock, America's gonna roll...and the Dems will just slither back in their hole, disgraced and defeated.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Lee Atwater. In a death-bed confessional written for Life magazine, Atwater, who died of cancer in 1991, spoke with deep regret of the bitter war he waged against Michael Dukakis, the Democratic nominee."

So you've actually listened to Lee Atwater's word on tape, correct?! Who was the reporter responsible for recording these comments by Mr. Atwater? Is said reporter still alive?!

"He [ALLEGEDLY] said:"

"In 1988, fighting Dukakis, I said that I 'would strip the bark off the little bastard' and 'make Willie Horton his running mate.' I am sorry for both statements: the "Mostly I am sorry for the way I thought of other people. Like a good general, I had treated everyone who wasn't with me as against me."

Looks to me like Lee regretted making two statements, and I see no evidence whatsoever that he felt we shouldn't fight this LIE the DemonRAT SCUMBAG BASTARDS have been spewing for 40+ years. The RAT-bastards are the RACISTS, not the spineless dweeb Pubbies!!

"Now, in saying we should be careful about the race card, please note I am *not* saying the Republican party does it more often or is more morally culpable for it. As Christopher Hitchens is wont to remind us all (May 21, 1999 interview):

"One of the signs I thought that hysteria had set in during the last days of the Clinton impeachment campaign was that so many of his supporters decided to say, "Well, at least he's black. He's the equivalent of an African American." To say, well, if someone is a sexual delinquent in a dysfunctional family, that's sort of what we expect from our duskier brothers... excuse me, I don't want to be caught thinking that, let alone saying it. I don't think it and wouldn't say it. And if it had not been said in defense of someone emotionally liberal, everyone would have known how to denounce that kind of vernacular, I hope. They certainly used to. At least as recently as Willie Horton they did know how to do that. Don't forget, though, that Willie Horton was Al Gore's idea. Al Gore used it against Dukakis in the primaries, long before Mr. Lee Atwater ran with it and made it stick. A thing that all Democrats know but none of them remember."

Well said, Mr. Hitchens.

"So there's your evidence. I know of what I speak on this topic."

I'm not inferring you don't, my FRiend...but I'm Caesar's Wife on this topic and I'll go down swingin' with any RAT-bastard--Black or Lib'ralLilyWhite--who wants to take me on in this arena.

FReegards...MUD

[FreeTheHostages]

I'm not saying you're not Caesar's wife, LOL, Mudboy. But you say you agree with Christopher Hitchens' quote above. Well, that's kinda my argument. Remember, the beginning of his paragraph is warning generally against politicians going in this direction.

I think it's in the interest of the Democratic party to try to make the debate between Republicans and Democrats about "race." That's how they intend to keep their vote blocks quiet "sheeples," as you say. I think the Republican party is the solution for much of what ails the African-American community: we provide true liberty, peace and order, and economic opportunity. You and I agree on all that, I know.

So: should the debate be framed in terms of who's more racist? Or should Republicans frame the debate in terms of how our ideals are better for African Americans?

This really is an important question. Of course it depends who the Democratic candidate is and whether they play the race card too. But as John Huang's article points out, we're going to be waiting a long time to find that info out. Meanwhile, 2004 is nearly upon us. I say we take the high road, as the ghost of Lee Atwater would have us do. We don't disagree that much: I just think more about why we're Right for people of color, and less about why they're Wrong, is better tactics. We agree, any serious student of history must, that the Democratic party has a lot to answer for on race.

I just love the Christopher Hitchens turn of phrase: that Al Gore used the race card against Dukakis, a point "every Democrat "know[s] but none of them remembers." Exactly.

[lodwick]

I'm going to check Sean Hannity's site to see if he archives his shows. Yesterday's was a classic - proving that the 'rats are the lying racists, with a lot of help from jessejackson, and that conservatives are the ones who want all people to be successful and free from the entitlement chains that drag them down.

It's time to get it out there in plain language that even the stupidest 'rat/lib can understand. Truth be told it's really not about race - it's about values and beliefs. Are you a freedom loving conservative or a government dependent parasite who thinks the rest of us owe you your livelihood?

Walter Williams, Ken Hamblin, William Raspberry, Clarence Thomas - all would be welcome at my dinner table while the race-baiting poverty-pimps like algore, jessejackson, bentmember and alsharpton...I'll stop so the post isn't pulled. bbl

[Mudboy Slim]

"I think it's in the interest of the Democratic party to try to make the debate between Republicans and Democrats about "race.""

This is where we part company, my learned FRiend...there's been a RaceDebate fer 40 years and the Right's allowed the Socialist DemonRATS to paint us as a bunch of RedNeckCrackers and I'm saying it's high time we stuffed their BarbraSteisand back down their RacistRATthroats...MUD

[FreeTheHostages]

Are you a freedom loving conservative or a government dependent parasite who thinks the rest of us owe you your livelihood?

Well, OK, but I have a broader question -- because there are lots of African Americans who vote democratic because they think they HAVE to, but are very productive and useful members of society. My question would be:

Are you a freedom loving conservative or someone who is content to live on a Democratic plantation where the Democrats promise you everything and basically just use your vote and fail to deliver what your communities need, which is what all of our communities need: economic prosperity, social stability, national self-defense and liberty.

That's in *everyone's* interest. I'm just saying, to persuade more African Americans of that, it's better to explain why we're Right for them and make the message positive. It worked for Jeb Bush in Florida to some degree. He wouldn't be in office without substantial Latino vote.

[FreeTheHostages]

Ok. :) We're back to respectfully disagreeing, my learned FRiend.

[Mudboy Slim]

Actually, I really do have a Christmas Party to which to VAMOOSE, but we'll get back into it later, I'm sure.

FReegards...MUD

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Billie. Glad to hear all your Christmas "stuff" is done.

Kick back and take it easy for a while...

[FreeTheHostages]

Wow, that slipped by me. You're DONE shopping?? I'm totally jealous. Here's what I've done: 22 people have left my house with decorated gingerbread houses, leaving behind crumbs which I try to vaccuum up before the cats. I haven't bought one gift, although I have made one quilt. I'm gonna be busy this weekend.

On the bright side, I have purchased my wrapping paper.

[lodwick]

Nutz - Sean does not all his shows, but I'll continue checking back. (I did snag some of his Let Freedom Ring books while visiting.)

The 'rats play the race card just like they play every other entitlement card to frightened the dim-witted and the dependent into voting 'rat. They don't stand for anything positive or constructive these days so that's all they have left to offer - fear of the boogieman pubbies. Conservatives have to to take off the gloves and call out the 'ratbastards on each and every one of their lies - enough's enough.