They're circling..."Fragility of Bush's 'mandate' is revealed"

[EMunster]

John Farmer NSL:

Isn't preocuppied by the election being overturned. Just doesn't look good for Bush any way you look at it:


Monday, December 06, 2004

President Bush's much-proclaimed "mandate" is being put to an unexpected early test and by unanticipated adversaries.

<snip>

Consider the election mathematics. Bush won the popular vote nationally by some 3.5 million votes. But he carried the 11 states of the ultra-conservative Old Confederacy, hardly a representative region of America, by some 5 million votes. In other words, Bush lost the popular vote in the other 39 states by more than 1 million votes. Indeed, a shift of less than 70,000 votes in Ohio would have made John Kerry the next president...

....more...

http://www.nj.com/columns/ledger/farmer/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/110231346482370.xml

[intheflow]

1. My favorite quote:

"And the four new GOP senators all won in the one-party South, where Beelzebub would be a shoo-in on the Republican ticket."

LMAO!!

But seriously folks...the best part of this story is the story of the Republicans attacking themselves. The shark feeding frenzy has begun! :D



Edited to welcome you to DU! :hi:

[Wordie]

3. Do you think they might be persuaded to try that secession thing again? nt

[stevietheman]

11. Jettison Texas :) n/t

[RaulVB]

2. Ha. ha!...your mandate sucks, "W"...

You can take it and..."shove it", I guess?

[Journeyman]

4. I certainly hope so. . .

n/t

[MatrixEscape]

5. The "mandate" is

such obvious agitprop that it is crushed easily upon inspection. It is like a butterfly-wing: Grasp it and it is easily ruined.

That is certainly a more than obvious credibility buster for the Administration, GOP, and their various cronies.

To achieve an advance that cannot be hampered, rush to his weak points.

To achieve a withdrawal that cannot be pursued, depart with superior speed.

Therefore, if we want to do battle, even if the enemy is protected by high walls and deep moats, he cannot but do battle, because we attack what he must rescue.

If we do not want to do battle, even if we merely draw a line on the ground, he will not do battle, because we divert his movements.

Therefore, if we can make the enemy show his position while we are formless, we will be at full force while the enemy is divided.

Sun-Tzu

I am in a Sun-Tzu mood lately. It is just interesting how his Art of War has so much application and inspiration for non-violent political strategy formation, particularly when you see the Necon's act "as if" and note the Rovian ethics involved.

[RaulVB]

6. Did you know...

That Sun-Tzu is a very popular reading in the WH "inner" circle?

No, not Bush, he is a lazy moron...

Plus, Grover Norquist (WH Tax policy "guru") reads and admires the works of the Italian Communist Antonio Gramsci!

[MatrixEscape]

8. No, I was not directly aware, so thanks for

pointing that out. It is assumable if you observe carefully ;)

I would also assume then, that careful study of this work, (and others) on the Left is a good starting point for many who feel they want to reverse the current tide.

While I have not looked it up to see if someone is doing that, I can easily see places to interject commentary for a Democratic/Liberal take on various passages in the ideological and strategical sense.

Also, I wonder how many people have taken the time to read Machiavelli's "The Prince". It is easy to see a very strong influence in today's culture, especially on the Right.

While I had always traditionally assumed it to be the "manifesto of the privileged" and "doctrine of the Elite", it is odd to see Machiavelli's tenets being embraced almost word-for-word by the Radical Right-wing Religious Republicans, now.

[RaulVB]

10. Not many, unfortunately

That's what I think.

Also, you point out something fundamental, the "DNC thinkers" should review their tactical approach when dealing with the Republicans. There is a rift between the WH and other Republican leaders.

The WH uses very radical philosophical theories in their interpretation of "reality."

They are "pure ideologues" and proud of it.

[driver8]

9. I heard Dubya preferred "Curious George"... n/t

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. Yeah, what mandate?

[Kellis]

12. my sentiment exactly.

He DOES NOT have a freakin' mandate.

[atommom]

13. Well, DUH! How did it take them so long to point that out?

Although I must admit it's still good to see them turning on W, even a little bit...