Free Republic

Democrats should face it: they are incompetent and Bush will be reelected. With less than two months to go before the election, John Kerry is yet to address a single important issue. William Rivers Pitt, who runs the liberal web site, "Truthout," vented his frustration by declaring the election the dumbest ever (Sept. 10). The entire election, thus far, Pitt says, has been about Republican and Democratic TV ads. Pitt lists the real issues that remain unaddressed before the electorate: a war based on intelligence manipulation and deception, the loss of jobs, health care’s rising cost and declining coverage, the...

I never read "War is a Racket" by General Smedley Butler until I was an adult. I never read It Can’t Happen Here. Sinclair fictionalizes another election year, and traces the popular democratic process from republic to – don’t be alarmed – fascist dictatorship. In Chapter 1, the "cyclonic applause" was the response of average Americans to a retired general’s impassioned claim that we are a great nation that "[arms] itself more and more, not for conquest – not for jealousy – not for war – but for peace!" Tommy Franks on the convention floor, anyone? "Epidemic patriotism" is offered...

Watching President Bush’s speech on Wednesday, and the GOP reaction, was one of the most disturbing political experiences I’ve ever had. Bush’s convention speech had everything that should raise red flags for those concerned about the decline of liberty in this country. The president’s words had the worst of everything in American politics. He seemed to be trying to appeal to everyone whose main political goal is to see the government expand in one way or another. Looking at different elements in his speech, you can see how Bush is reaching out to conservatives, moderates, liberals and even some libertarians...