Posted by
Scooternyc on Friday, November 10, 2006 10:53:23 AM
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/110906/rumsfeld2.htmlThis story cracks me up! I was laughing out loud at the story and the premise right from the start. I had no idea that The Hill was so humorous and wrote good comedy.
The idea that the GOP lost the election because Bush didn't fire Rummy prior to the election, is absurd at best. As if Rummy or Foley or Haggard had the balance of the election riding on their shoulders. Get real! The reason the election was lost varies from person to person.
Personally, I think part of it is that the Far Right has hi-jacked this party and won't get off their soapbox of self-righteousness. They won't stop talking about religion, their faith, blah, blah, blah. They're not realizing that society, while respectful of their right to practice their faith, doesn't want to hear about it. Christopher Hitchens made a great point the other day on Hewitt's show and I agree, I'm not going to vote for someone who can't separate his/her faith from politics.
Another factor is that politicians when faced with the debate quesiton on television/radio with regard to Iraq never pressed the question about what the Dems plan was, oh sure they asked or made their talking point, but the way you get the sound bite out is you hammer the question home, "
sorry, Mr. Casey, but I've asked you now 5 times to list concretely and specifically the Democratic plan for Iraq and you've avoided the question each time, gave me your talking points, or your hate Bush policy, but you're dodging my question"
Too often these people get on television/radio and instead of getting some decent time to answer questions they get 3 minutes of yelling, arguing, cutting each other off with nothing accomplished. Is it really worth it? Not if you aren't getting your message out. If the program can't offer you enough time to seriously have the discussion then don't do it. Yeah, right.
You win elections by honesty. You win elections by connecting to people in a way that says, "I get it". You win elections by understanding the issues not by "hating" the other party. The Republicans had ample opportunity over the past years to step up, do what was right in the face of their fear about elections and get things done. They didn't. They paid the price.
This isn't to say the Democrats did a better job either, or that they have what it takes, but now at least they have a chance to reveal themselves for who they are and the world is watching, but will they remember? Will they hold the Democrats to the same standard as the Republicans? And will the Republicans get their sh*t together over the next couple of years?
No one I know wants another 8 years of Clinton White House, at least no healthy minded, sane person I know.