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If there is one thing that never changes, it is reality. The Reality Based Majority that won the US Congress for the Democrats in 2006 was an educated bloc of voters that could see the reality of the Iraq War and its consequences on the US and could easily match reality to the politicians that told the truth about what was going on.
When the US population is educated with unbiased media coverage, the outcome of elections is predictable. In 1992, Clinton won because he was being honest about the economy and the media presented a lot of information honestly. (Remember Ross Perot's charts?) The Republican reaction to this failure to "get out the lie" was to create Fox News! However, in most other national elections of the past 40 years, the media have shown disdain for reality. They choose, instead, to trumpet falsehoods and confuse the electorate into voting against their own interests. The most recent example, the swift-boat lies told about Kerry, is typical. Other notable examples include Gore's "internet" creation, Dukakis' buffoonery, and Carter's character. From a safe distance, each of these falsehoods seems ridiculous, yet they actually decided national elections because the media failed to educate with the truth.
The Democrats have hung on to reality for about a year and a half, swinging with the winds of escalating climate change, escalating deaths overseas in war, escalating financial crises at home and escalating lies from Bush the Lesser. It is very difficult for politicians to embrace reality, because reality changes constantly. Politicians want consistency, lest they be called 'shifty' by opponents.
Today, the newly elected Democratic Congress let go of their hold on reality and asked their constituents and supporters to accept a bald-faced lie.
It seems much more difficult for Democrats to get away with lies than Republicans. Perhaps it is the soldier mentality of conservatives that both prevent them from learning the truth for themselves and compel them to support their leaders unquestioned. The Democrats have the more difficult position of appealing to activists and patriots (in the true sense of the word). Democrats are far from perfect, but they do seem to try harder to educate themselves to the truth.
As the media uses words like "capitulate" and "cave", loyal supporters and operatives among Democrats have distributed the word that this is Bush's War now. Sen. Reid said, "The Democratic Party will never, never, never give up."
And, with a few words, the Democratic leadership have detached themselves from the Reality Based Majority and, in so doing, have divided the majority itself. Blind followers of Democratic rhetoric try to sway realists into believing the lie, but their consciences can not. The typical accusations fly quickly that realists are being divisive and, ironically, unrealistic. "We didn't have the votes. This is the best we could do." We hear the excuses and wonder why that is not the message given to the media? Why must we digest and regurgitate the lie that, "This is Bush's War now" and "(we'll) never give up!"? Why is it wrong to tell the truth, even if it hurts. Isn't it the truth that sets us free? Aren't we the truth-tellers?
By choosing a lie, Democrats discredit themselves, much as Bush has done for the past 6 years (albeit, very slowly). Pundits and prognosticators suggest that the Democratic leadership is being very wise in planning to win the 08 election by loosening the rope and letting Bush hang himself. They don't seem to take into account that Bush will no longer be running for election.
The obvious question is, did the "Democratic Leadership" consult any of the Democratic Leadership? or the Presidential Candidates? There are only 2 or 3 among them who think this is a good idea. The rest are all publicly bashing their own party as gently as possible. Yet, when the Reality Based Majority points out the mendacity of saying, "the leadership is being smart" at the same time as almost all the leaders oppose this action, Democratic loyalists and campaign personnel begin to pummel the truth-tellers with insults and slurs.
"Why are you trying to hurt the Democrats?" The questions repeat themselves over and over. "Why are you doing this to us?" The questions are rhetorical, because the asker has already drunk the kool-aid. They simply can not accept that their leaders have just given 120 Billion Dollars to the Iraq War and, by so doing, have purchased a large investment in the endeavor. It becomes obvious that the innocent realist has become the scapegoat for a very bad decision by the "Democratic Leadership."
Reality based voters are still out there, but they have certainly lost the majority with today's decision to buy shares in the Iraq War. There are obviously plenty of Democrats who do not mind having blood on their hands, as though this is the only way to win against the villainous Republicans. While freedom from tyranny often comes with a blood-price to be paid, every battle has two sides - and it is the truth-tellers who will prevail in the end.
Will the truth re-emerge as political capitol once again? Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
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