Brent's column in NEXT Sunday was sadly little more than a gloating attack on Democrats. It didn't even reveal why Brent thinks the Republican victory was a positive thing; only how Democrats should be grateful to the mercy and patience of the Republicans that they haven't completely taken control yet.
Yeah, I'm sure Karl Rove held back on many fronts, because the Republicans were enjoying the neck and neck poll results so much.
Given that Bush's margin of victory came partially (I said partially) due to war, homophobia, and dreams of eroding the separation of church and state, what it would have really taken beyond that to make the Democrats' defeat worse I hate to imagine. Unfortunately, we may yet find out.
Brent also trots out the party line about Bush's margin of victory. But he fails to consider the facts that while yes, Bush got the most votes in history, Kerry was right behind him with the second most votes in history. Bush won by 51%, but Kerry got 48%. That's hardly a sweeping mandate. That's hardly a landslide. That's a president in wartime winning by 3%, and a single electoral state, against a supposedly lame opponent.
An interesting line in his column was the one about how Kerry wouldn't have done so well in the youth vote except for "the liberal onslaught of criticism on Iraq and the Abu Ghraib prison scandal." Now how could anyone dare criticize anything about this war, or the fine example of America spreading freedom and democracy that is Abu Ghraib? Shame on you Fox News, you crazy liberals.
As for Brent's deep concern over the emotional health of Democrats, well, a couple of sensationalist stories aside, most Democrats are disappointed, resigned, even angry, but few are seriously depressed.
I'm sure there are a far greater number of more serious and legitimate cases of depression as a result of the war, poverty and unemployment, lack of health care, student debt, corporate corruption, diseases brought on by pollution, lack of rights, or being detained and tortured under approval of the Patriot Act and Justice Department.
And while the Republicans may indeed continue to ride the fear of terrorism, the Iraq war, and religous extremism to more seats in Congress, eventually the political pendulum will swing back towards the Democrats. Maybe in 4 years. Maybe in 10 years. That's just the way it works.
And then, the Republicans will try to reverse all the ways they abused their majority to consolidate power, shut out the minority and undermine the democratic representative processes, because they will suddenly find themselves on the losing end of that deal.
Respond to Randy
Back to top