Brothers and sisters ... do you *believe*?

[Mechatanketra]

There's a sentiment that pops up time to time in discussions, a kind of rhetorical trick where prognostication is read as preference. "The Democrats are rooting for the economy to stay sour!" "The peaceniks want more Americans to die!" and so forth.

Closely related to this is a kind of handwringing over various potential party positions as if the outcome of anything wasn't actually caused by stuff, but merely randomly determined by some cosmic crapshoot. "We can't oppose this war -- what if they find WMD? We'll look bad!" "If Bush turns the economy around before the elections, we're not going to have much of a platform!" And so on, and so on, and so on.

Hearing this stuff makes me wonder sometimes: does anyone else actually believe in our side (read: "people who think Bush and/or Republicanism is in the wrong") anymore? Or do people generally harbor this sneaking suspicion inside that someday, out of the blue, supply-side economics will produce prosperity, total deregulation will finally accomplish the birth of a corruption-free self-policing market, noted terrorist leaders will admit they only attacked us out of envy for our freedoms, the abolition of affirmative action will lead to an unprecedented era of racial harmony, etc.?

I, for one, don't have an answer to those who ask "but what if ...?" -- because it's a strawman, a red herring. Or rather, I guess, my answer is that of Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters: "If we're wrong ... fine. Nothing happens. We go to jail, calmly, peacefully, we'll enjoy it." (OK, maybe not that far, but I think you get the idea). If the Republicans' way of doing things could produce the results they claim, I'd be a Republican -- but I'm not. Because half the time they're lying, and half the time, they're just wrong. I mean, that's why I'm here; that's why I get involved in politics at all.

Thus concludes the sermon. We will now proceed to a hymn (hmm -- onder how "Idiot Son of an Asshole" sounds on an organ ...)

[Section_43]

1. excellent post!

could you pass this on to DLC HQ?

[diamondsoul]

2. BAHAHAHA!

Idiot Son of an Asshole and KucinichMix are my two current favorite songs! One for each mood- protesting Bush, "Idiot Son of an Asshole" (which, btw my 12 yr old loves to sing, and is allowed to, asshole and all!), and campaigning for Kucinich "KucinichMix".

[AndyTiedye]

3. It's Not That...

...it's that we are afraid that the Rove propaganda machine and all of its wholely-owned media subsidiaries might succeed in convincing people that they found WMDs, just like they convinced 70% that Saddam was behind 9/11. We're afraid that they
will get their friends to cook the books some more to pump up the markets and make something that looks like an economic recovery (even if it only lasts a few months). Maybe even get them to do some hiring next fall. They can always fire them again after the election.

[Adjoran]

4. My answer to such people has always been

that a wise person "Hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst."

Our national attitude should be optimism, but we can't base all national policy on a hope and a prayer. Being PREPARED for the worst doesn't mean we necessarily expect it or hope for it, but it does mean that we won't be caught flatfooted.

[Atlant]

5. Giving it a kick cause... "*I BE-LIEVE, BROTHER!*" (NT)

[JNelson6563]

6. I believe....

that while Bush is in the WH those turn-arounds you hear mentioned as possibilities are highly unlikely. Damn near impossible.

To anyone who would say such a thing to me I would merely ask them how they think such a thing could happen. Would Bush change his failed policies? No. They are rooted in idealogies, not realities.

Julie