Democracy in the Middle East

[Timbuk3]

With all the attention being paid to Alito, and the possibility of a filibuster, I haven't seen much about the Palestinian elections today. Let me be clear. In my opinion, Alito was confirmed on November 2nd, 2004.

If you think that you're going to "take this country back" by going to the polls on election day and casting your vote, then going back to work, you're kidding yourself. You may as well turn off the right wing echo chamber (er, by that I mean "the news") and stop frustrating yourself with the end of the great American experiment. It's going to take a great deal of time, money, and effort to wrest the control out of the hands of a determined minority who have had a taste of power.

Now, then, about that "spreading democracy" in the middle east...

Americans think there's some point to "establishing democracy" in the middle east. As a matter of fact, it's the after-the-fact justification for war in Iraq once it became clear that the WMD weren't "in and around Tikrit", and the "ties to al Qaida" were non-existent.

Why is it not common knowledge that "the Vulcans", who flew into Austin, TX every weekend to "educate" George W. Bush while he was governor to enable him to run for President are the same people who wrote to President Clinton in 1998 to urge him to invade Iraq, then?
http://www.newamericancentury.org/iraqclintonletter.htm

Why does this same media that didn't bother to point out that the "whip count" that Bush called for in a nationally televised "press conference" that consisted of softballs lobbed by sycophants never materialized because *he didn't have the votes to get it passed, no veto was needed*, is now ignoring the Shi-ite victories in Iraq? (Oh, and why did Bush look like a drugged monkey at that press conference?)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030306-8.html

Why is it that the same media that told us all that Bush wouldn't lie to us, that we really *were* in danger of "the smoking gun taking the form of a mushroom cloud over an American city", now seems incapable of making the connection between "establishing democracy" and the extremely visible victory of Hamas, today?

Does middle America believe that their son or daughter dying to establish Islamic theocracies dedicated to the demise of Israel is a good cause, much less constitutional? Does middle America believe that they understand the definition of "victory" in "the war on terra(tm) or the "central front in the war on terra(tm)" that is Iraq?

I sure as hell don't.

Will the Democrats realize that *reality* just keeps handing them incontrovertable facts to dispute the right wing rhetoric? *WILL* the Democrats learn to use bumper stickers, not novels, to dispute the vast right wing echo chamber?

stay tuned, but if they don't, we need to find someone who will.

And here's the point:

If we accept that we're "establishing democracy" in the middle east, we have to accept the election results even when the winners aren't pro-American, pro-Israel lapdogs.

Somehow I don't think that crossed anyone's mind when they bought into the "spreading democracy" metaphor.

Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.

Oh, and as long as Alito is the topic of the day, promise yourself one thing. *ANYONE* who votes for Alito's confirmation must be targetted for defeat. And I don't mean taking an hour off from work to cast your vote.

[rodeodance]

1. Pat Buchanan says Bush was 'crisp', humorous today. yaddy dah.

(Oh, and why did Bush look like a drugged monkey at that press conference?)

[Timbuk3]

3. LOL - Thankfully, I didn't see it

I can't watch smirk, any more. I'm afraid I might spend too much replacing televisions.

But that evening press conference was scary. He honest to God looked like he was on heavy tranks to overcome stage fright, or something. Not that he needed it. Not with questions like this:

April. Did you have a question, or did I call upon you cold?

Q Oh, I have a question. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. I'm sure you do have a question.

Q Mr. President, as the nation is at odds over war, with many organizations like the Congressional Black Caucus pushing for continued diplomacy through the U.N., how is your faith guiding you? And what should you tell America -- well, what should America do, collectively, as you instructed before 9/11? Should it be "pray?" Because you're saying, let's continue the war on terror.

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that question a lot. First, for those who urge more diplomacy, I would simply say that diplomacy hasn't worked. We've tried diplomacy for 12 years. Saddam Hussein hasn't disarmed, he's armed.

------------

How do you spell "non sequitor"?

[rodeodance]

5. How is your faith quiding you>>>>>>>>>>> gawd

.....how is your faith guiding you? And what should you tell America -- well, what should America do, collectively, as you instructed before 9/11? Should it be "pray?" Because you're saying, let's continue the war on terror.

[Timbuk3]

7. I pray

Mostly, I pray Bush and the GOP don't get us all killed before they spend my grandkid's money.

[rodeodance]

2. Tucker said tonight that Rupugs do not have the guts to say We need

a democracy in Iraq-- (not the type the Iraqi people elected)--saying we have lost over 2000 lives...

he said Dems do not have the guts to say it either.

[rodeodance]

4. I have said on this board -Why does the media not connect the dots-

Syria, Afgan, Iraq and now Palistine--all had free elections-the purple simple fingers----and what happened?--well---it is the elephant in the room......

[Timbuk3]

6. The elephant in the room?

Or the elephant in Washington?

The old expression was "You can't force democracy at the point of a gun."

The new expression should be "When you force democracy at the point of a gun, don't be surprised when they shoot back."