Reply #119: all of that contains some truthful perceptions

[Lexingtonian]

but I don't think any of it is the truth about the matter.

There are a lot of people who live the Lebensluege that John O'Neill does- that Americans are a Messianic People, thus whatever wrong they do has Higher sanction and purpose, even if the shmoes perpetrating the wrongs are guilty. I know some personally, Vietnam vets too. They can't bear the idea that it was a nearly complete waste of effort, lives, and treasure. The positive results were tiny in comparison to expenditure- but let them make their point about the tiny positive results. I'm sure if the polling had shown that a counterattack on SBVfT would have been effective, it would have been done. But this election was not about people who were moderate and persuadable, as you seem to imply.

You are trying to believe that Kerry and Edwards should have Attained Perfection, used their so generated Magic Powers to convert the electorate to their p.o.v., and won. And now, because they haven't consulted you or DU about what to do with/about the mess in Ohio, do you sincerely think you have better ideas and keener political acumen about it all than they do? It's a trust I have- not blind by any means, yet real- and despite the seeming tactical fallibilities K/E appear to all of us to have, periodically, I'm still convinced those didn't decide the election. Their accomplishments on a strategic level will win out. 57 million votes weren't just a matter of Soros and Dean rallying or buying people, and the way Democrats are holding together at all levels, so solidly and unapologetically as a 48-49% unpersuadable disapproving bloc popularly and no interest in real compromise on the politician level is causing a lot of PR heartburn in the RNC and White House and offices of the leaders of Congress.

It's more right to admit that the bare majority American electorate is an ugly thing to behold in what it says and thinks, and persuaded of things not worth believing in. But we could be selfhonest and say: They have simpler, stupid, priorities, of which only some really are in direct opposition to ours. They got us into Iraq, let them get us out, let them deal with the price tag for everything they want and the remarkably limited political capital they have to spend on it now. Batten down the hatches, let 'em waste it and run a deficit in it too. Their end is nearer than you imagine, hopelessness of their cause in the longer run obvious.