I hope I have your attention.
This is the Republican pitch. This is their election strategy. Vote for us, because the Democrats will get you killed. Vote for us because "we [Republicans] are the insulation to protect this country." Vote for us because if you don't, you'll die.
Be afraid. Vote for us. Be afraid. Now vote.
They're throwing around some pretty serious shit. If they really believe that Democrats won't fight terrorists; that we'd rather coddle Osama, and sing Kumbya with Saddam, then a Democratic victory would truly be abdicating to terror. And if they really believe that, then what would they do to make sure America survives?
To quote Mr. Sponge from Minvolved:
They're all just different levels of the same type of bullshit; from nonsense talk show hosts all the way up to nonsense Speaker of the Houses and nonsense Presidents. They think that people like us (and most likely like you) will get them killed. Honestly. If they don't believe it, then they're saying these things about their fellow countrymen just to get elected, stay on the air, get good ratings, turn heads...whatever, it's nonsense. Folks, we don't need to impress upon you the importance of life and death situations. However, let's pretend for a moment that Speaker Hastert actually believes that we Democrats aid Al Qaeda. Let's pretend for a moment that Mr. Bush actually believes that we Democrats do nothing but surrender and give up on America. Let's pretend for a moment that folks like Hugh Hewitt really and truly believe that we Democrats will get them killed. What if the people who follow/support/listen/read/see these people believe it too? What if the Democrats take control of the House? The Senate? The White House? If this is truly a life and death situation, what will these people do...no, what should they do to save the country? Don't these idiots follow their statements through to their logical conclusion?
No, they don't, and they can't. They can't, because the modern Republican Party is a party of cowards. They're the 101st Fighting Keyborders. They yell "bring it on" and search for weapons of mass destruction beneath podiums. They talk tough on terror, but their only play is fear.
The era of Republican statesmanship is over. They have nothing to offer us but fear itself.
The era of Republican statesmanship is over. Sure, there may be a couple of Republican statesmen still hanging on (but I'm willing to bet not at the federal level). And, certainly, not all Democrats are committed to good governance and reality-based policy (Senator Lieberman comes to mind).
Now, we live with a Republican leadership that puts their electoral interests above the country's interests: they would rather we never knew Mark Foley's sexual predation than admit they have a pederast in their midst; they would rather continue a needless war than admit they made a mistake. This Republican leadership mistakes its rhetoric for reality; from the war in Iraq to sexual education, they seem incapable of telling fact from electioneering.
The question this November isn't really about policy. It isn't about the minimum wage or social security. It isn't about Iraq and 9-11. This November, we ask if we want competence or incompetence. Statesmanship or electoral pandering. Security or fear.
Remember, "the fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves." So commit to change, commit to the fight--it's a good one, a righteous one.
We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Let's win this.
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