Soccer Dad

Thoughts on the Democratic Convention Speeches

I never thought that I'd hear it but did Sen Edwards advocate unilateralism?

We are Americans and we choose to be inspired. We choose hope over despair, possibilities over problems, optimism over cynicism. We choose to do what's right even when those around us say, "You can't do that," we choose to be inspired, because we know that we can do better, because this is America where everything is still possible.

Didn't the Bush administration choose to make Iraq a better place even when Jacque Chirac said "You can't do that?"
Of course Sen Edwards accuses the Bush administration of taking the low road:

EDWARDS: They are doing all they can to take the campaign for the highest office in the land down the lowest possible road.

But this is where you come in: Between now and November, you, the American people, you can reject the tired, old, hateful, negative politics of the past. And instead you can embrace the politics of hope, the politics of what's possible because this is America, where everything is possible.

Of course the Democrats really can't claim to be taking the high road. Remember all the unsubstantiated accusations of Joseph Wilson that were uncritically reported by the press until he was found not to be credible? The Democrats could claim that they had an expert on their side. They just had to sit back and let the media "report" Wilson's charges and let that damage the Bush administration's credibility. It's nice when you don't have to "go negative" because the "objective" media does your job for you. I hope what voters will be sick of is the prostitution of the major media to the Democratic agenda. I hope the backlash significantly hurts the Democratic ticket in November. (The Kerry-Edwards campaign has popup and banner ads at the Washington Post website. Do you think that might be that it expects to find contributors there?)
And Sen Edwards' prospective boss, Sen Kerry didn't impress me either. (Not surprising)

My fellow Americans, the world tonight is very different from the world of four years ago. But I believe the American people are more than equal to the challenge.

Remember the hours after September 11th when we came together as one to answer the attack against our homeland. We drew strength when our firefighters ran up stairs and risked their lives so that others might live; when rescuers rushed into smoke and fire at the Pentagon; when the men and women of Flight 93 sacrificed themselves to save our nation's Capitol; when flags were hanging from front porches all across America, and strangers became friends. It was the worst day we have ever seen, but it brought out the best in all of us.

(APPLAUSE)

I am proud that after September 11th all our people rallied to President Bush's call for unity to meet the danger.

KERRY: There were no Democrats. There were no Republicans. There were only Americans. And how we wish it had stayed that way.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, I know there that are those who criticize me for seeing complexities -- and I do -- because some issues just aren't all that simple. Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't make it so. Saying we can fight a war on the cheap doesn't make it so. And proclaiming "Mission accomplished" certainly doesn't make it so.

(APPLAUSE)

As president, I will ask the hard questions and demand hard evidence. I will immediately reform the intelligence system, so policy is guided by facts and facts are never distorted by politics.

And as president, I will bring back this nation's time-honored tradition: The United States of America never goes to war because we want to; we only go to war because we have to. That is the standard of our nation.

He refers to the 9/11 commission when he talks of reforming the intelligence system, but is this the only message he gets? I'm reading "Losing Bin Laden" by Richard Miniter and whatever weaknesses it has, it shows how the Clinton administration missed all the little things adding up to the threat. Is waiting until "we have to" go to war the proper lesson? I think not. I'm glad that President Bush chose not to wait until it was possibly too late. If Sen Kerry feels that it is proper to wait, he is declaring himself unfit to lead the war on terror.
LGF I think has it right:

Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response.
Consider the implications of this statement.

He’s going to wait for the attack.

Finally: Why does it seem that Jay Nordlinger is the only person who is offended by Al Sharpton's free pass?

But I am ever-mindful of Sharpton's record. I addressed it in a longish piece four years ago ("Power Dem"). To this day, he has not apologized to Steven Pagones, the man whose life Sharpton almost ruined by accusing him of raping and mutilating Tawana Brawley (who had perpetrated a hoax). He incited — he arguably incited — murder at Freddie's Fashion Mart. Sharpton could not help whipping up an already dangerous crowd by denouncing "white interlopers."

His appearance as an honored member of the Democratic party should be reason enough to disqualify the party from governing. Alas, there are too many people with short memories who consider his a "civil rights" leader instead of the uncivil (and dangerous) charlatan he truly is.

Posted by SoccerDad at July 30, 2004 02:27 PM | TrackBack