Comments on: Dude, Where’s My Party? http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/ Rory O'Connor's blog Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:39:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: romain blachier http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-45 Sun, 08 Aug 2004 21:29:35 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-45 Kerry told about security but he also talked about the respect US will treat the over countries with a democratic president. Come on, it's time to win against Bush. Kerry told about security but he also talked about the respect US will treat the over countries with a democratic president.

Come on, it’s time to win against Bush.

]]> by: Ann Onemous http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-35 Sat, 07 Aug 2004 09:08:15 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-35 "People aren’t stupid, the camera doesn’t lie." -- Rory 5 words: Ronald Reagan; George Walker Bush. If what you said was true, neither of these fools would have had a chance. Maybe Kerry's strategy is a bad one and maybe it isn't, but people are stupid and the camera does lie. “People aren’t stupid, the camera doesn’t lie.” — Rory

5 words: Ronald Reagan; George Walker Bush.

If what you said was true, neither of these fools would have had a chance.

Maybe Kerry’s strategy is a bad one and maybe it isn’t, but people are stupid and the camera does lie.

]]> by: Rory O'Connor http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-30 Fri, 06 Aug 2004 12:03:09 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-30 A few responses to your responses above: Bellyflop, you shouldn't assume I'm a Democrat! But even if Kerry can assume a vote from people 'like me," my argument still obtains. The mythical 'six swing voters from Ohio and Pennsylvania" that Kerry and Bush are fighting over will be turned away from the Democrats by the constant drumbeat of war -- when Americans get frightened, and fear for their security, they think 'Republicans." My thesis is that the 'strength, war and terror' rhetoric and imagery being employed by the Democrats merely plays intot he Republicans hands. Also, Emphyrio says 'no Kerry voter will feel betrayed if, a year from now, we withdraw from Iraq." My question, will Kerry voters feel betrayed if we DON'T withdraw from Iraq--if instead we INCREASE our occupation forces there, as I suspect will happen. Since the anti-war Kerry voters are keepingtheir mouths shut for 'unity's sake' and in their ABB zeal -- they will have only themselves to feel betrayed by! Being against Bush --and for 'anybody' else--is not an ideology--it's barely an idea! And to 'Iagreewithyou' I say--of course I'm bloviating! Although I guess it's called 'blogging' now...as far as my running for office, I gave them up after running for Student Government President years ago on the Surprise Party ticket, so don't hold your breath. Finally, your comment that "now is not the time for such comments" is reminisecent of remarks made by Ari Fleischer tot hat effect in the wake of 9/11. My pesonal opinion is that "now" is precisely the time for such comments--in fact "always" is the right time for such comments! A few responses to your responses above:

Bellyflop, you shouldn’t assume I’m a Democrat! But even if Kerry can assume a vote from people ‘like me,” my argument still obtains. The mythical ’six swing voters from Ohio and Pennsylvania” that Kerry and Bush are fighting over will be turned away from the Democrats by the constant drumbeat of war — when Americans get frightened, and fear for their security, they think ‘Republicans.” My thesis is that the ’strength, war and terror’ rhetoric and imagery being employed by the Democrats merely plays intot he Republicans hands.

Also, Emphyrio says ‘no Kerry voter will feel betrayed if, a year from now, we withdraw from Iraq.” My question, will Kerry voters feel betrayed if we DON’T withdraw from Iraq–if instead we INCREASE our occupation forces there, as I suspect will happen.
Since the anti-war Kerry voters are keepingtheir mouths shut for ‘unity’s sake’ and in their ABB zeal — they will have only themselves to feel betrayed by!

Being against Bush –and for ‘anybody’ else–is not an ideology–it’s barely an idea!

And to ‘Iagreewithyou’ I say–of course I’m bloviating! Although I guess it’s called ‘blogging’ now…as far as my running for office, I gave them up after running for Student Government President years ago on the Surprise Party ticket, so don’t hold your breath. Finally, your comment that “now is not the time for such comments” is reminisecent of remarks made by Ari Fleischer tot hat effect in the wake of 9/11. My pesonal opinion is that “now” is precisely the time for such comments–in fact “always” is the right time for such comments!

]]> by: onenationunderdog http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-29 Thu, 05 Aug 2004 03:52:09 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-29 ignorance? elitist arrogance? my my, those are loaded words! it's actually pretty funny for a grad teacher throwing 'animus' and 'bloviating' around to accuse someone else of elitism. but that joke wasn't intentional, right? after all is said, i'm unclear with what the criticism is here. rory expressed dismay with the 'republicrat' qualities of Kerry's speech -- his uncharacteristic militarism, his self-serving characterization of his service is Vietnam as "defending America" (um excuse my 31-year-old naivete, but isn't the tragic legacy of Vietnam that the whole thing was not only based on lies but was fundamentally unjust, unwarranted? isn't this what the 'old Kerry' fought to express after returning?)... "The perfect is not the enemy of the good. Now is not the time for such comments" you wrote. Our friend Emphyrio claims "no Kerry voter will feel betrayed if, a year from now, we withdraw from Iraq, declaring it a nice try." Huh? How is standing firm in opposition to unjust wars too "idealistic"? Kerry (and sensible Democrats) have no choice but to endorse further military involvement (read: occupation) in Iraq? Are peace and justice 'unrealistic' concepts for you? If so, there may be a place for you in government;>) ignorance? elitist arrogance? my my, those are loaded words! it’s actually pretty funny for a grad teacher throwing ‘animus’ and ‘bloviating’ around to accuse someone else of elitism. but that joke wasn’t intentional, right?

after all is said, i’m unclear with what the criticism is here. rory expressed dismay with the ‘republicrat’ qualities of Kerry’s speech — his uncharacteristic militarism, his self-serving characterization of his service is Vietnam as “defending America” (um excuse my 31-year-old naivete, but isn’t the tragic legacy of Vietnam that the whole thing was not only based on lies but was fundamentally unjust, unwarranted? isn’t this what the ‘old Kerry’ fought to express after returning?)…

“The perfect is not the enemy of the good. Now is not the time for such comments” you wrote. Our friend Emphyrio claims “no Kerry voter will feel betrayed if, a year from now, we withdraw from Iraq, declaring it a nice try.”

Huh? How is standing firm in opposition to unjust wars too “idealistic”? Kerry (and sensible Democrats) have no choice but to endorse further military involvement (read: occupation) in Iraq?

Are peace and justice ‘unrealistic’ concepts for you? If so, there may be a place for you in government;>)

]]> by: IagreeWithYou http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-28 Wed, 04 Aug 2004 18:10:09 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2004/07/30/whither-the-dems/#comment-28 Rory: After you've won an election yourself -- even state congress -- then I'll listen to your campaign advice. Until then, you're just bloviating. I love PBS Frontline, I show it in my grad school courses. I, too, speak out against the corporate dominated system and celebrate lightning rods like Howard Dean who help reestore equibrilium to the US political landscape. (I have given a lot to Dean.) But this posting on your blog highlights your ignorance of American democracy and your elitist arrogance. "Politics is the long boring of hard boards," wrote Weber. The perfect is the enemy of the good. This is not the time for such comments. Vote your brain, not your Oedipal animus. Rory:
After you’ve won an election yourself — even state congress — then I’ll listen to your campaign advice. Until then, you’re just bloviating. I love PBS Frontline, I show it in my grad school courses. I, too, speak out against the corporate dominated system and celebrate lightning rods like Howard Dean who help reestore equibrilium to the US political landscape. (I have given a lot to Dean.) But this posting on your blog highlights your ignorance of American democracy and your elitist arrogance. “Politics is the long boring of hard boards,” wrote Weber. The perfect is the enemy of the good. This is not the time for such comments. Vote your brain, not your Oedipal animus.

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