My agenda is very straightforward, I believe that truth is universal and true courage is displayed when we take a chance and embrace truth even when it goes against everything we have believed in or stood for. In the end either we are committed to truth or a weed in the wind that is bent according to the latest fad and whim of others who have their own agendas.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Don't Repeat Mistake of 1974
by John O'Neill Posted Oct 20, 2006 in Human Events
[Excellent article emailed to me by a friend. - I have believed for quite some time now that elections are not decided by the "undecided voters" as we have been lead to believe by the mainstream press, instead it is the ability of each party to mobilize their supporters to get out and vote. In these divisive times, I see small possibility of voters being swayed to a candidate or platform that is not in line with their already decided values. Often the indecision concerns whether the specific candidate whose stand on issues similar to our own is worthy of our personal support. If not, then the individual is likely to just not vote as opposed to voting for a candidate whose stance on the issues completely contradicts our personal values. Republicans who in general seem to have a stronger stand on personal integrity from their specific candidates are far more likely to sacrifice the ends when the means is repulsive to our personal ideals. I believe that this article demonstrates with profound wisdom and insight why we do not have this luxury in this dangerous world. It is truly a time when Republicans can say categorically that a choice to not vote for your party's candidate is a vote in favor of the other side and all of the frightening things that would come with their ascension to power. - Jay]
Dispirited conservatives and Republicans rightfully appalled at the Cunningham, Abramoff, and Foley scandals should remember history as they contemplate not voting in the 2006 elections because of disillusionment. In early 1973, the Dow approached new highs in a booming economy. In the 1972 election, the new left was rejected in almost every state. The Paris Peace Treaty was concluded with North Vietnam memorializing its pledge not to interfere militarily in the affairs of South Vietnam. The nation was prosperous and at peace. Worst President Within a short time, the mainstream media were able to dismember and destroy the Nixon Administration, using as their sword the Watergate affair. In the congressional elections of 1974, Republican candidates were pounded, losing 48 House seats and five Senate seats. Until the 1990s, the so-called “Watergate Babies” (i.e. left-wing Democrats) ruled Congress. As its first act after the 1974 election, the new Congress cut off all aid to South Vietnam. Within a short period of time, this led to Communist conquest of all of Indochina, the massacre of at least 4 million of our friends in the killing fields of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, and the displacement of millions of “boat people.” In 1976, the left wing captured the White House with the worst President of modern times—Jimmy Carter. By 1979, the U.S. economy was in shambles with 12% inflation, 11% unemployment, and vast deficits. Our military was reduced to a shadow. With even our embassy officials held hostage in Tehran, the United States became a powerless joke to the world. It may be fairly said that but for Ronald Reagan the days of our democracy might well have been numbered by the consequences of the 1974 election. It is not clear why the voters of 1974 thought it wise or just to indirectly cause the destruction of millions of allies in Southeast Asia because of the cover-up of a minor burglary at the Watergate. They certainly did not know that by their votes they would punish themselves severely, leaving, by the end of the Carter years, a U.S. economy that was a burned-out hulk and a nation that was humiliated. I wonder whether history will repeat itself this year. Despite mainstream media distortion, the economy is in its strongest condition since the Reagan years with low unemployment and inflation rates and diminishing fiscal deficits. We have recovered from the implosion of the Clinton Internet bubble and the shock of Sept. 11, 2001. We have crippled al Qaeda, assembled an international coalition to deal with North Korea and made reasonable progress in defeating at least the foreign insurgency in Iraq. We have seen no terrorist attack on our heartland in more than five years. Despite the second-guessing by Democrats who have no military experience and by a few veterans who question the Iraq policy, an overwhelming majority of active-duty personnel support the Bush policies and the Republican administration. For example, in 2004, an Army Times poll of active-duty military personnel showed less than 15% voting for Kerry and more than 80% voting for Bush. Despite the token military veterans trotted out by the Democratic Party as Trojan horses in Republican areas, it is clear that a large majority of veterans and active-duty personnel reject the “cut-and-run” policies of the fringe element now in control of the Democratic Party. In the spring of 1975, I watched in horror our refusal to aid our South Vietnamese friends and their collapse. I watched our friends die by the millions in the gulags of Cambodia and Laos and in frenzied attempts to escape on the high seas, and I remembered my friends, who died in Vietnam, and whose sacrifice was so casually discarded by the “Watergate Babies.” I lost faith in the United States for many years. I wonder now if we are so blind and ignorant of history to actually allow a new crop of “Watergate Babies” to install clearly unfit leaders such as Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.), John Conyers (D.-Mich.), and impeached Alcee Hastings (D.-Fla.) as the guiding force in our nation. Considering that a Democratic win could mean the rise of John Murtha (D.-Pa.) from Abscam to majority leader, and Hastings from impeached federal judge to House Intelligence chairman, it is no exaggeration to say both parties have bad actors. The distinction is that the Democrats promote them and the Republicans fire them. Finally, I wonder if voters (like those in 1974) are going to actually vote for the betrayal of our Iraqi and Afghan allies and the sacrifices of our troops. I wonder if our Iraq War veterans will watch the mass execution or flight of those who fought with them and believed in us. If so, history teaches us that in the end we will suffer terribly ourselves. This is particularly true here, where we face adversaries who have said they will not stop at the waters’ edge but have already reached across the ocean to destroy our nation’s largest buildings and thousands of our people.
In 1776 Thomas Paine stirred the land with these words: "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands now deserves the love and thanks of man and women. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price on its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated." Even 225 years later, the words have incredible power and relevance. - Jay
My Grand-Father was in the Coast Guard during World War II and stationed on a hospital ship in the European Theater. He has never discussed in depth his experiences during the war but a few times he has let down his guard and talked about the war in general. On one of these occasions, I was enthralled to listen to his descriptions of how they felt and viewed the Germans as America entered the war.
My perceptions of this conflict have always been tainted with the foreknowledge that “we won.” Therefore, it never entered my mind that possibly my Grand-Father and others of his generation had any doubt about the outcome when they entered the conflict. However, it appears that this was not the case in 1941. My Grand-Father spoke with a revered and subdued tone as he described the fear and overwhelming sense of doubt that many faced as news of the Germans advancements occurred in country after country. In his words, “they were un-stoppable and with their Blitzkrieg rolled over anything in their way.” Much of the country was uncertain if American forces could stop them and as preparations for D-Day took place they were truly facing the unknown. However, the one thing that unified the country at that time was the common knowledge that they (the Nazis) would not stop. Listening to his description of this snapshot in time, it was clear that they were unified by the undeniable knowledge that they were in a fight for survival. In their world at that time, there was no other option; they would either defeat the enemy or everything they knew would be swept away as occurred in Austria, Poland, Belgium, and France. Prior to Pearl Harbor, America had clung to the last vestiges of her selfishness and stubbornly sat aside while her allies struggled for their very survival. The attack on America galvanized the country in a way few expected but the overriding view of most Americans was that there was no alternative. It was either fight or die, fear, anger and resolve bonded our people together in a way that no other speech or persuasion could. The fight was no longer over there, it had come here.
In this context, I have heard several commentators discussing at length how they are perplexed and dismayed at the number of Americans who today do not grasp or understand the magnitude of the struggle we find ourselves in this war on terror. In a word, the American people as a whole have not reached the place where they see no alternative, in truth they are not yet afraid of the dire consequences of not acting. Some reasoned we had reached that place when the twin towers fell but in the midst of our twenty-first century entertainments and diversions we have shown as a nation that our memory is short. Like Nazi Germany, I fear that our current enemies possess the same evil intent, goals and persistence. With this perspective, I support the war because I truly believe that were we not bringing the fight to our enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan then we would be fighting the war here in our streets and in our cities. It is sad but true that history often repeats itself. I do not think it is completely due to ignorance but in the pretext of war that it is a deep seated desire on the part of many that we can avoid the cost and sacrifice. Inevitably evil will not subside until it has been defeated, the cost is always dear but always worthwhile.
Response to Latest Clinton Sound Bite That Republican Extremist Have Divided The Country
I read a Reuter's article today by Kay Henderson quoting former President Clinton at a fund-raiser in Iowa. As usual the former President remains a media magnet and his comments continue to formulate Democratic Talking Points and election strategy. Without intending to disparage the former President, I disagree with the premise of his message and also contend that his observations are inaccurate on several levels. First, there exists no comprehensive right wing conspiracy or sliver group that has undermined the consensus of public opinion (at least none that has any far reaching impact). The vast divide among the populace about various issues is instead a more visible divergence in their beliefs on underlying social issues and the impact they perceive of these issues on society as a whole. In essence, the Left and President Clinton in particular have fallen prey to the old saying, "Don’t believe your own press." For decades the Liberal elites have convinced themselves that their views on issues of interest were in line with the majority of mainstream America. With this distorted view they have moved their platforms towards extremism that pales in comparison to any analogies made to the Republican Platform.
Rather than erecting divides among the populace, the American people have begun to voice their concern and views without the Mainstream Media prism to correct any unwanted nonconformism. As the Democratic faithful feel now with George W. Bush as President, the conservative groups throughout the country felt during the entire presidency of Bill Clinton. The first reaction is disbelief that any measurable number of Americans would elect any individual so diametric to our core felt beliefs, the second is an overwhelming sense of frustration that the individual in the Oval Office sets forth and accomplishes their intended agenda.
Secondly, neither side has perpetrated the division, they have simply through their media sources been able to mobilize their like-minded fellows to vocally support or oppose the party objectives. While vilification is a normal and expected response, in the end you have to be able to recognize the truth in order to be effective in re-establishing your goals. In the terms of the Republicans, they seem to have figured it out... your constituents (those who elected you, not just those who gave you money) expect you to advance their interests. While the Democrats and Clinton struggle to understand why their mainstream liberal views no longer carry the day. (Hint: It never was a mainstream held belief)
In the end, the societal issues of abortion, religious freedom, the war and the Government's handling of these issues are never going to have a result that pleases everyone because the base line for each group is worlds apart. We’re a divided nation on these issues because we are a divided people on our beliefs. As such, there can be no middle ground when the other viewpoint is irreconcilable with our core felt beliefs. Unless there is a change of heart on either side, then there is no middle ground to agree upon.
The text of the Reuter's article can be read at the below link or found on the Drudge Report:
I spent almost 20 years as an aspiring singer/songwriter. I finally pursued the path that was set before me, attending law school. After many trials and hardship I finally achieved success and passed the Louisiana Bar. I am now an attorney managing a law firm that concentrates on representing injured workers in state and federal workers' compensation.
