Letters to the Editor
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Cognitive dissonance
The majority of Americans distrust the reports about progress in Iraq AND the majority of Americans actually did NOT support the war from the beginning. The capacity of the media to manufacture a different reality is amazing. Will they get away with it this time? Will all those Americans that do not believe the surge is working be fooled again into believing that "everyone else" supports this war?
Thanks Glenn for putting things into perspective.
PS There is a typo in the summary "genral" vs general. Sorry it's one of my pet peeves.
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Democratic complicity
Since there would be no political repercussions for the Democrats if we left Iraq, we can only conclude that our Democratic leaders are too afraid for their personal safety to follow the public will. Or, even more likely, they want us to be in the Middle East for the oil or for Isreal.
The Republicans must be slapped down using almost any means possible to stop the momentum of their lies. The Democrats must also be reminded that they are representatives of the US, not the oil companies or Isreal. As much sympathy as this part-Jewish reader has for Isreal, we do not have the same interests.
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We're getting the ordinary treatment
The U.S. people are joining the rest of the peoples of the world, beginning to experience the complete disdain for our lives and liberties with which our elites have long treated everyone else.
We're not complete dopes; so we eventually notice.
Can we constrain empire?
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We Feel Better When We Give Up All Hope
"when a democracy's political establishment becomes as rotted and deceitful and corrupt as ours has become . . . the one encouraging sign is that a majority realizes how corrupt our establishment is and has stopped believing anything they say."
But what will this cause people to do? Take action to seize back the Republican Party from the liars, moralizers, and greedheads? Take the Democratic Party away from the shrinking violets who yearn for Dean Broder's approval and couldn't quote Franklin Roosevelt or Jack Kennedy even if there were money in it? If history is any guide, it just means voter turnout will continue to decline, and a few malcontent people will post madly on venues like this, but otherwise do nothing.
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And...
We will have an election in 2008 where the American people will let their voices be heard. Just like 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006.
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Beltway Establishment to America: "Shut-up!"
This war has completely eroded the relationship between our Beltway ruling class and the rest of the country.
And that relationship will continue to erode as long as the Beltway club insists on smearing the majority of Americans who are disappointed with Congress for not doing more to end the war.
And that’s exactly what they did by using Osama’s new video to promote their “stab in the back” campaign against the American people in order to stifle dissent.
The American people do not get their marching orders from Osama no matter what Chris Wallace and Fox News may say. Nor is it just “lefty blogs” (David Brooks term) who are against the war. They can pretend that most Americans want to stay and occupy Iraq, but that will only reduce their virtually non-existent credibility still further.
This whole narrative demanding that we “worship” Gen. Petraeus and treat his words as sacred text is all about making dissent illegitimate.
The talking point that dissent is wrong (“emboldens the terrorists”) is everywhere on the right. Freddie Thompson, the latest GOP entry to replace Bush, put it like this, "If we look weak and divided in this country, we're going to pay a heavy price for it in the future."
But would a “united” front actually keep the terrorists from attacking us? If, suddenly, all “lefty blogs” and war critics stopped criticizing Bush and supported the occupation in Iraq would Osama stop planning terrorist attacks against us? Would Al Qaeda just call it quits and give up because all Americans - now “united” - love Bush and the war?
Please. Is this the best they’ve got?
Bush-supporters told the Dixie Chicks to “Shut up and Sing” and now, using Petraeus and Osama, they’re telling the majority of Americans who don’t support “the surge” to just “Shut-up!”
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Need for alternative candidates
It seems to me that our only leverage as citizens is to vote for anti-war candidates. Since Deomocratic incumbants, as well as Republicans, are not doing much to stop the war, we need candidates in all the primaries that will better reflect the opinions of the populace. We need candidates who will make getting out of Iraq and reshaping foreign policy a campaign issue. Were can we find and support such candidates? How can we make this issue a substantive one in this comming congressional election cycle?
After writing the above, I realize that I may have to get involved politically as more than just a voter, but as an organizer, campaign volunteer, and participant in the local political process. I guess it means trying to learn how to make a difference. Is it still possible? Do I have to?
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Iraq
I'm wondering if GOP electoral strategy is to extend the occupation of Iraq as long as possible and then dump it in the lap of the new Democratic President in January '08?
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The political process is not always intuitive
Just a few months before she died, Molly Ivins declared that in no way she would ever support Hillary Clinton in any campaign for presidency. Ivins was totally fed up with the risk assessment low profile triangulation that has become second nature to any leading Democrat. Clinton is not unique in this, but she is the most important case.
Personally, I would love to have Clinton and Obama stand up and announce what a sham this war has been. However unlike Newt -- who is basically willing to say that -- they have a lot to lose by exposing themselves as dangerous leftist radicals who absolutely cannot be trusted on national security. Sure regular readers of Greenwald get frustrated by the apparent (or actual) lack of spine, but you and I are not the ones that she (or Obama) has to convince.
The polls look very promising, but we all know that we are "just one bomb away" (think Addington knew what he was talking about?) from Bush and the Republican party getting everything back and then some. The sad fact is those poll numbers can swing the other way overnight.