Lessons from elections past...Take no solace in Bush's bad month

[ramapo]

Do not for a second underestimate the liars who are in control of the government and much of the media.

Sure Bush has had a bad couple of weeks. Maybe it makes for some encouraging poll numbers, though certainly not all. First lesson, ignore all polls. Don't waste your time or energy. Much can change over the last seven days of a campaign, never mind over seven months. The polls are a diversion.

Make no mistake that this election is for keeps. If Bush wins, the Republicans consolidate power and they will have four years to really make their mark. As Reagan once said, "you've ain't seen nothin' yet".

The complaints that continue to pop up here about Kerry would be laughable were the situation not so serious. Forgive Kerry for not being the perfect progressive. Compare the lives of these two men over the past 35 years. If there is a question who you should vote for then you are likely in the wrong place.

In 1972, Nixon ran for reelection, with the war still raging, under the guise of "peace with honor". In spite of the revelations from The Pentagon Papers documenting the lies of past administrations, Nixon hid the lies of his own administration, coasting to a landslide victory while planning further escalation of the war. Note that Nixon failed to fulfill his basic campaign promise of 1968 to end the war that he claimed that Humphrey could not. Nixon was never held accountable.

The Republicans thoroughly trashed a war hero, George McGovern, in the process. McGovern warned the American people about the taint of Watergate, which would come crashing down on Nixon not long after he began his second term. The signs were all there pointing to corruption and criminal behavior throughout the White House.

Nixon couldn't have done it without the help of the media and the general apathy of the American people. He wrapped himself in the flag and sent his henchmen out to destroy the opposition. For the most part, the media cooperated.

There were few in Congress with the courage to stand up to Nixon on the war. While the public was generally against the war there was little real pressure brought on Congress to end it and the citizenry was complicit in prolonging the war and the resulting deaths of thousands.

Not much has changed except the Republicans have lots more money and better control of the media. Many of their tactics come straight out of the Nixon playbook.

The only hope of victory is matching the Republican money machine to the best of our ability, uniting in purpose, and taking every opportunity to expose the lies so cleverly spun by the Republican Party.

Remember that Nixon was rewarded by the people with a landslide victory for his lies and outright criminal behavior. Our challenge of 2004 is a good fight to fight but have no illusion that the enemy is limited to just the politicians and media running the show.

[hippiegranny]

1. nice post

and i agree... we have only just begun to fight.