reality still mean anything to the American voter?-BRILLIANT

[Clinton Crusader]

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2004/090404.html
Robert Parry: 'Does reality still mean anything to the American voter?'
Date: Sunday, September 05

By Robert Parry, Consortium News

Election 2004 suddenly is not just about whether John Kerry or George W. Bush will lead the United States the next four years. It's not even about which of the candidates has better policies or is more competent.

This election has become a test of whether reality still means anything to the American people, whether this country has moved to essentially a new form of government in which one side is free to lie about everything while a paid "amen corner" of ideological media drowns out any serious public debate.

For weeks now, George W. Bush's campaign has been radically testing the limits of how thoroughly one party can lie, misrepresent and smear without paying any price and indeed while reaping rewards in the opinion polls. Bush personally capped off this binge of dishonesty with his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, continuing his pattern of lying about how the war in Iraq began.

Before a national television audience, Bush repeated his false account of the run-up to the Iraq War, asserting he had no choice but to invade because Saddam Hussein refused to disarm or to comply with United Nations inspection demands. The reality is that not only did Hussein say publicly - and apparently accurately - that Iraq no longer possessed stockpiles of banned weapons but he allowed U.N. inspectors into Iraq in November 2002 and gave them free rein to examine any site of their choosing.
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:kick:

[Catfight]

1. Did Kerry forget to mention this fact? Did Edwards forget to mention

this fact? Here's a pass for lying Bush, pass go, collect 1 million dollars, enjoy a chuckle with Pickles while Kerry helps you out.

This should have been on Kerry's list of things to say in Springfield, Ohio. Also, Kerry needs to remind undecided voters how calloused Bush is when he made fun of missing WMD's and state how NOTHING is funny about soldiers dying for 'poor information.'

If dems want a theme, how about, "NO FREE RIDES!"

[Cobalt Violet]

2. Lying without consequences is clearly working for them.

The more they do it and the more success they have with it, the more they will continue to do it. Why should they worry if they get caught in a lie, they are not held accountable.

[skooooo]

3. Reality will eventually hit Americans..

...but it will probably take a lot more deaths of soldiers overseas. This is a great article.

[wurzel]

4. Parry is dead on. Unfortunately.

I'm not sure "reality" has been a factor in American life since Reagan. I have yet to hear any comment from the mainstream media about the actual content of that "rally" in MSG. I don't believe this country deserves Kerry. I think it truly deserves Bush. This country is not being "duped". It is embracing its fate in the same way the German nation did in the Thirties. We may well end up with the same result.

[randr]

5. This new form of government has also rewritten

the basics of the separation of powers principle.
An executive branch that declares wars.
An executive branch that selectively executes the laws.
An executive branch that decides what legislation moves through the congress.
A legislative branch that is so beholden to the political arm of the executive branch that neither Senators nor Congress persons can actively work for the people that they actually represent.
A legislative branch that has given its' Constitutional Responsibilities away so as not to be held responsible for the consequences of their actions.
Don't get me started on the Judicial issues.
In many ways, I do not think our country represents anything like the founders would have hoped for or even imagined.
When I hear the accusations of the fright wing party that liberals do not love America my blood boils.
Why can't they see that this no longer the American system of Democracy we where given the responsibility to protect?

[sundancekid]

6. thanks for posting -- brilliant piece indeed, and worthwhile full read

[Nay]

7. Excellent analysis. I couldn't agree more, and poor Kerry,

like Gore, may certainly lose as a result of the machinations described. I will still register voters and keep my hopes up, but this guy's analysis sadly describes what I see going on around me at work here in VA.

[lulu]

8. For repubs, reality is not what is seen, but what is felt.

The republicans have gone beyond any thought, any solid reality. They have masterfully, and maliciously, conquered half of America by playing to the primal emotions-- fear, sex, violence. This is beyond even Orwell. It is beyond immoral. It is messing with our basic needs -- not our thoughts, but our guts. It is a disgusting and soulless action. But Americans, brought up on John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Arnold S., have been classically conditioned to receive this kind of manipulation.

The only way to battle this kind of attack is not with words, but with appeals to the primal realm. Michael Moore did this masterfully in Farenheight 9/11. Equate Bush with death, with destruction, fear. Show him as the coward he his. Take away the image. Make people fear for their very soul if they vote for Bush. It's the only way Kerry can win.

[zanana]

9. Kerry has to start using the word "lie"

Not "misleading", not "mistatement", not "misinformation". Public figures have to start telling the world that Bush LIED. Bush and Co. have shown us how inattentive Americans are by benfitting from the Swift Boat ads; the latest poll numbers prove that the public only responds to sensationalism, not the facts. It has to be pointed out, in very simple language, that Bush and his cronies are LIARS. That word will make people pay attention.

[goclark]

15. Can Kerry tell the TRUTH and say the "L" word?

As much as we all want to resist our standard bearer going negative, the "L" word needs to be put front and center.

Everyone knows that Bush LIED to Congress and to us.
I'm not real sure about how to word this part but somehow Kerry needs to level with the American people. He needs to remind us that he promised he would be open and honest. He needs to say,that at this pt.in the election process he must do as he has promised.

In my dream I see him standing on a stage with the Stature of Liberty in the background. Standing behind him would be John Edwards and his team of soldiers Cleland,Clark, Rangel,and representatives of his support base. They need to be dressed in black, just like after the Clinton impeachment when all of those congressional leaders stood firmly on the WH lawn behind President and Mrs. Clinton.

" Ladies and Gentlemen, I have closely observed the tone of this debate. Our opponents have reached a smear level that is seldom seen in American politics. They smeared our candidate in 2000 and STOLE that election. WE will not let that happen again!

They will tell you that I flip flop and on and on. YOU know that is not true. But here is the situation...

As much as I respect the OFFICE of the President, I can no longer respect this President and HIS ADMINISTRATION for their WORDS and their DEEDS.

This administration LIED to Congress, to gain our support for THEIR War. The majority of us believed him then,I DO NOT believe him NOW.
We believed him when he told us that he had a PLAN TO END THIS WAR, i BELIEVED HIM THEN, I DO NOT BELIEVE HIM NOW.

They LIED to YOU and to the WORLD about THEIR war.
Most of you believed THEM then. At least 50% (or what ever number it is) do not believe them now. Have YOU flip flopped? You have because YOU and the WORLD knows now that what they told us then were LIES.

As I have said before, This President is UNFIT to COMMAND this great country etc. etc.."


Am I wrong to want him to take this approach? Is it too risky? If it is too risky than what do we do to gain the attention of the American people?

:think:

[coolhandlulu]

10. Crazy Pills!

How can people live or perceive reality when they are taking crazy pills?????? That's the only logical explanation for Americans supporting Bushco. For example...I just had a run in with a "supporter". Supporter of who or what, I have no idea. I have 3 bumperstickers on my car: Ohio Voter for Kerry, Kerry/Edwards, and an AirAmericaRadio. Some guy around 60 or 70 years old drives up next to me, waves to get my attention, gives me the thumbs down and says, "Forget about Kerry and Edwards...they are going down!. Trust Jesus!!!! Blah, blah, blah." Not once did he mention Bush or Cheney in his tirade. Am I to naturally equate Jesus with Bush/Cheney? Sorry but I didnt get my prescription for crazy pills filled. I went to catholic school for 13 years and nothing that Bushco has done reminds me of the teachings of Jesus. This stranger's actions doesn't seem godly to me either. I smile, wave him off, and proceed to get in front of him so he can get a better look at the bumperstickers. But it left me feeling that, for the right, reality has been suspended. Bush really has people believing in the voices that he hears in his head. Are Americans so gullible that they will accept anything as long as the salesperson wraps it up in Jesus/God? Our founding fathers really had the right idea when they separated Church and State.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

12. That's the strange thing isn't it? That they are so incredibly

FAR from reality. I always figured there might come a day when there was some kind of Cult of Personality in this country, but I never dreamed it could be formed around such a person as Bush or such a "religion" as they have. It always has the quality of some really, really bad movie.

[lulu]

13. Bush is not rational

He encourages and admires irrationality.

Someone the other day posted a thread here titled The End of the Age of Reason or something like that. Yes! I believe that we are experiencing a collective sort of hysteria that has been energized by the Bush cabal. It is a hurrican of insanity. DU offers a respite from that storm.

[goclark]

16. I saw the same thing yesterday

Man told me that "Jesus loved Bush and not Kerry."

This is mind control of the highest order.

The only way that I got his attention was to say Born Again Christian themes like,: "Jesus is my personal savior too. The same God that watches over you and me watches over Sen. Kerry etc. etc."

You have to speak their same language for them to "hear" you. The Christian Chip has been deeply implanted in their brains. Remember that the over riding mission of a Born Again is to convert you to their side with Jesus.

The next time they do that, holler out to them, " I am a Born Again Christian and my Bible tells me that Jesus loves all of God's children. including Kerry and Edwards!"

The man that I was talking to wanted to know what kind of Christian was I (I am really Methodist but I told him I was Born Again) As soon as he thought that he was talking to someone that has already converted then he was more at ease for me to hit him with facts.

I'll pray for all of these people at church today. They have woven Bush into the image of Jesus to win this election.

[Clinton Crusader]

11. I sent this to Kerry

and posted it on their blog and begged them to wake up.
:kick:

[senseandsensibility]

20. Good idea, Clinton Crusader!

I believe an entire campaign strategy could be contstructed from this article. It contains brilliant talking points galore. Just get everyone on the same page (this is the major Dem weakness) and we;ve got a plan!:)

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

14. Thanks for posting this

What he says is what I keep wondering about too. It seems if Kerry gets Gored, then so will everybody else, and there can be no democracy.

[kwolf68]

17. BINGO

We know the goddamn rules of the game...Now lets get something done.

[senseandsensibility]

18. Tragically, this article

is stating the truth. Americans are losing sight of what was once their greatest strength: the validity of their own experience. I see this as beginning with the "branding" in the mass media in the 80's, when Americans were convinced to buy extremely high priced snaeakers simply because they were portrayed as desirable in the media. It has been extended into politics by the corporate media, complete with the branding of *. Despite what their own eyes tell them, * is desirable because he and his administration tell them so, and because the corporate media reinforces it. My two cents is that Kerry should address this directly, and simply by telling people to look around them and judge for themselves what is happening. But the odds are so tremendously stacked against him. This article is heartbreaking because it is so true.

[Neecy]

19. devastating

I wonder, when Chris Matthews was slobbering about what a great speech Bush gave, if he mentioned the inconvenient fact about the multiple lies he told about Iraq (and probably everything else)?

Facts no longer matter. It's all theater and show.

The media jumped down the Democrats' throats if even the slightest criticism of Bush was made at our convention, yet they sat back at the Republican hate-fest and said nothing. That alone tells you everything you need to know about our American Pravda.

[goclark]

21. Will the sun come out tomorrow?

Will Bush be exposed for his LIES?

Will the Plame case see justice?

Will the prison abuse story ever see a solution?

Will any of their LIES stick before election day?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

22. Perfectly illustrates why trying to play the game the Repubs want

won't work. We have to rely on the people.

[Protected]

23. Great story!

Thanks for posting it.

[DeepModem Mom]

24. kick