Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder This opinion piece is culled from today's Orange County Register, a champion of the right if there ever was one. ______________________ Sorry, Mr. President, We Won't Shut Up The Orange Grove: Even with the left discredited, Bush can't expect to go unchallenged over war Tibor R. Machan Adviser to Freedom Communications Does President Bush believe that by his announcing that critics of the Iraq war dampen our troops' morale he will prevent such criticism? Does he believe his words will silence critics and raise troop morale? This is America, and if Americans share a common trait, it's rebellion at those who wield power. Well, they used to, anyway - most of them. Remember, this country was born in revolution. There is irritating stuff in some criticisms of this war. Too many critics have lost their credibility about chiding government for extending its brute powers. The left likes big government and wants it to perform innumerable "precautionary" measures in every nook and carry of society. The left, with its irrational enthusiasm for (even exuberance with) every government program aiming to right the wrongs of society, is hypocritical in trying now to rein in government when it comes to this particular exercise overseas. Just like during the Vietnam War, the left complains that we're all being taxed for something that few support. Yet the same could be said about the New Deal, New Frontier and Great Society social programs. These statists would retort, however, that it's all good with government intervention, redistribution, expropriation, and regulation. OK, then what's all the fuss about a little preemptory, precautionary war in Iraq? Still, Bush should have stayed away from his censorial lament, aired previously by his first attorney general, John Ashcroft. It won't fly - this is not the Soviet Union (yet). I have been laying off the war partly because the United States, being steeped in it, probably should get more solid, expert advice on how to extricate itself. The whole thing was ill-conceived, ill-commenced and should at least be well-concluded. Fretting now about why this is a botched operation isn't too useful. But now that Bush raised the matter so unwisely, let's see why it is a good thing all around to keep up the critical scrutiny he wishes to discourage if not outright suppress. First, everyone needs to get a very clear idea that the U.S. military's job is defending the country from those who would - or are highly likely about to - attack us. The military (or at least the Marines) are not, as stated one grossly misconceived bumper sticker that I saw back in the early 1990s, "The 911 of the world." It should only be the 911 of Americans and so resist the temptation to go gallivanting about the globe involving itself with nation-building and Operation Iraqi, or whatever country's, freedom. Second, once committed to the war, every bit of brain power and moral fiber is required not to succumb to complacency about it, lest this country turn into the very thing those troops have been sent to reform, a suppliant dictatorship. This is a bad war, and it is time that those with the know-how put their minds to answering the question of how to undo the damage and leave without provoking further tragedy. Third, our future could benefit from this ill-begotten war if we remember that it was far from inevitable, that with wiser counsel it could have been avoided and other policies instituted to help those Iraqis - by no means even so many - who really want to live in a genuinely free country (as opposed to those wanting to take hold of power and force all to live by their creed). No, Mr. President, it is not a wise thing to tell us all to shut up to suit your likely embarrassment over an impossible situation from which you will not likely emerge with a swell presidential legacy. The troops, by the way, will do just fine. They may even be proud knowing that citizens back home haven't gone to sleep on their citizenship job of taking government to task when it's justified.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <Does President Bush believe that by his announcing that critics of the Iraq war dampen our troops' morale he will prevent such criticism?> No, he's hoping it will stop some of the lying from critics. This is hardly the right beginning to rebel. There's always been, and will always be, some on the right who don't go along with the consensus, just as there have always been, and will always be, some on the left who don't.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder "This is hardly the right beginning to rebel. There's always been, and will always be, some on the right who don't go along with the consensus, just as there have always been, and will always be, some on the left who don't." Doug, at some point, you're going to have to face it. There are chinks in the armor of this Administration. More like large holes. And I would disagree with your assessment. This is the first time Bushhas struck back at the war critics, and the writer is correct, Bush wants them to shut up. Thing is, not everyone falls in lockstep, but for someone from Freedom Communications to say this in print, this is big news. When the mouthpiece for conservative Orange County fires a shot off the Bush bow, like it or not Doug, it's noteworthy.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder "Wishful thinking is not an argument.' You're setting a record for non-sequiturs. No one's is arguing with you here, by the way. Just relaying some facts.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder Unfortunately, that's the problem of the right lately. They can't see.
Originally Posted By planodisney So are you not allowed to counter false attacks that accuse you of being a liar without being accused of simplu lashing out at war critics. Why ar you liberals confusing defending ones self while being accused of falsehoods, with just lashing out at people who are complaining about the war? Isnt the difference obviouse?
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder At least the Administration is backing off its criticism of Murtha somewhat. Cheney has called him a "patriot". <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/21/cheney/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITI CS/11/21/cheney/index.html</a>
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder plano, the problem is most on the right can't simply say "Apparently we disagree. Let's debate it, sir." They indulge in personal attacks and smear campaigns. And if you're responding to post 1, because it's not clear, what you were trying to say is what that article was trying to convey.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Last week he was "despicable" - this week he's a "patriot". Must be this week's new GOP talking points memo.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder Although Murtha's getting on in years, he probably made an offer to show Cheney how despicable he really could be. I wish.....
Originally Posted By Shooba Of course Cheney and Bush are singing his praises. Just like Bush acknowledged Kerry as a war hero. The job of slandering their opponents is handled by others. The character assassinations go ahead, while the President is safely above the fray. Bush therefore can't be criticized, while some of us are left with the nagging feeling he's not too unhappy about the smear campaigns. But there's no proof...and it all feels very devious...
Originally Posted By Beaumandy What a thread. First a fantasy that the right is falling apart and the political ground is cracking under their feet, then the claim that the right smear people who disagree with them. This is the alternate reality that the media and the left live in these days. What's really cute is that they think they are winning and gaining the approval of America. Bush Lied!! Bush is hitler!! Cheney is a chickenhawk!! The war was all for oil!!! Rumsfeld is a war criminal!!! The left does NOTHING but smear people who don't fall for their BS. They do it every single day, all while never offering any solutions.... except Murtha's cut and run proposal. Then when they FIANLLY get smacked back and people set the record straight they scream they were smeared and insulted! Funny how the dems and the people who support them can only win when America loses. It's been this way for several years now. That's why a poll that says people don't trust the president is GREAT news for these losers. After all, if Bush falls and we lose the war, the dems might get their power back. That's all that matters to these " patriots who support our military ".
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> They do it every single day, all while never offering any solutions.... except Murtha's cut and run proposal. << Congress is out of session for two weeks. The bush white house has free reign to say pretty much anything they want for the next couple of weeks without much in the way of an organized response. So what is the white house saying during this "golden period" where they get no substantive rebuttal? That the criticisms against them are unfounded and "utterly false". Seems like they could come up with something a bit more positive - take the high road for a change. Yeah, right.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Murtha throws a personal insult at Cheney regarding his defernments, and all Cheney says back is that Murta is a great man and a hero. You don't call that the high road? The GOP's main flaw is that they never fight back until they get hammered for weeks if not months on end. By that time, a clueless public starts to think the liberal media is actually telling them the truth.
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Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>a clueless public << Once again, you call this same "clueless public" fine Americans if they vote the way you want. If they don't, they're clueless. Nice.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Bruiser, I am trying to find a post from you where you actually forward the conversation with any ideas that make some intellectual sense. It's very tough to do.
