The Campaign of Hate and Fear

Wall Street Journal ^ | 12/16/2003 | Orson Scott Card

[cordeiro]

The Campaign of Hate and Fear Some of my fellow Democrats are unpatriotic.

In one of Patrick O'Brian's novels about the British navy during the Napoleonic wars, he dismisses a particularly foolish politician by saying that his political platform was "death to the Whigs." Watching the primary campaigns among this year's pathetic crop of Democratic candidates, I can't help but think that their campaigns would be vastly improved if they would only rise to the level of "Death to the Republicans."

[cordeiro]

A pretty enlightened democrat (note lower case "d"), if you ask me.

[mondonico]

Great post --but a depressing article. I hope all FReepers take note. The fifth column in the US is being actively abetted by the media in its crusade to bring GWB down at ALL costs -- including the sacrifice of the security of this country.

Bush is hanging in there against the odds. But we cannot, CANNOT be lulled into a false sense of security. A booming economy, inflation at historical lows, a DOW headed for 11000, and constant, tangible progress in the war on terror, both in Iraq and elsewhere, do NOT guarantee victory next November. The traitors on the Left and their enablers in the press will continue their effort to subvert this nation up to, and as we saw in 2000, through election day.

[WarmLiquidGhoo]

Quite remarkable. Good read.

[Britton J Wingfield]

ping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[leadpencil1]

ping

[pabianice]

Card is a donkey? His militaristic science fiction makes one believe he's a conservative Republican...

[Rummyfan]

Great post. The difference in fighting the spin now is the growth of the alternative media - such as Free Republic, talk radio, and the cable networks, mainly Fox, that provide more accurate information. The spin merchants no longer control the means of disseminating information. At least, they don't have a monopoly anymore. 2004 could be a watershed year in American history, if the President is reelected (as I believe he will be) overwhelmingly and has significant coat-tails to carry other Republican candidates with him, thus pushing the Democratic Party closer to extinction. Big Media will also be impacted if we the people keep up our support. CBSABCNBC lose more and more viewers every day, and although I don't have data to back it up, other than the soliciting phone calls I still receive, I bet the Wash Post, the NY Times, and the LA Times are losing subscribers too.

[StriperSniper]

I can think of many, many reasons why the Republicans should not control both houses of Congress and the White House. But right now, if the alternative is the Democratic Party as led in Congress and as exemplified by the current candidates for the Democratic nomination, then I can't be the only Democrat who will, with great reluctance, vote not just for George W. Bush, but also for every other candidate of the only party that seems committed to fighting abroad to destroy the enemies that seek to kill us and our friends at home.

Here's a return PING! on a good one. :)

[cordeiro]

It was a suprise to me too. If he hadn't stated it clearly in the article a few times, I would've pegged him as a conservative Republican too.

[The Electrician]

I first read this article when it was posted on FR after it was originally published in NC. It's great to see the article make it to the WSJ. Card is a very effective writer, and his sense and sensibility are persuasive.

It was originally posted here. It seems to have also been posted today here. But it is good enough to be posted a dozen times more.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

While I've never been much of a fan of Card's writings, overall -- give me old-timers like Frederick Pohl, Damon Knight and Robert Silverberg anyday, when it comes to science fiction -- the man's defense of this administration, re: the war on terror, has been principled and consistent. He absolutely has my admiration, for that.

[LurkedLongEnough]

I would've pegged him as a conservative Republican too.

Beware of the democrat morphman. He's like the boogey man - blends into the background, then pounces on you from the closet when you're not looking.

[baseballmom]

And if we elect a government that subverts or weakens or ends our war against terrorism, we can count on this: We will soon face enemies that will make 9/11 look like stubbing our toe, and they will attack us with the confidence and determination that come from knowing that we don't have the will to sustain a war all the way to the end.

Honey, get me my smelling salts.

I would add to his last sentence, Nor the will to sustain our way of life. That means SURRENDER!

Another poster nailed it - we MUST work tirelessy for the re-election of GW. They are pulling in money from foreign sources (move-on.org) and other websites. They will do ANYTHING to win. I am not overstating that we could be in for the worst case scenario, if GW is not re-elected.

[LibFreeUSA]

This article provides the thesis to why we should be expecting GWB to be securing an embarrassingly (to Howard Dean) substantial high number of 'Democrat' endorsements to his re-election in 2004.

[Ichneumon]

[Pabianice:] Card is a donkey? His militaristic science fiction makes one believe he's a conservative Republican...

[cordeiro:] If he hadn't stated it clearly in the article a few times, I would've pegged him as a conservative Republican too.

Just give him some time...

I suspect it won't be long before Card makes the switch. I now realize that I was more conservative than liberal long before I actually switched parties (in my younger years I voted Democrat -- until the Clinton administration finally woke me up to what the Democrat party had become).

[swilhelm73]

Perhaps Card is pulling the same trick the Left likes to play. Namely;

As a Republican I'm outraged at the extremist blah blah blah that the evil far right wing extremists in Congress are proposing.

Then you find out this supposed Republican hasn't voted for a Republican since Nelson Rockefeller retired and doesn't agree with a single issue in the Republican party platform.

Or it could just be that like Zell Miller, Card is one of the last few pre-68 (aka pre the extreme left wing takeover) Democrats.

[chimera]

Bush is hanging in there against the odds. But we cannot, CANNOT be lulled into a false sense of security. A booming economy, inflation at historical lows, a DOW headed for 11000, and constant, tangible progress in the war on terror, both in Iraq and elsewhere, do NOT guarantee victory next November. The traitors on the Left and their enablers in the press will continue their effort to subvert this nation up to, and as we saw in 2000, through election day.

This warning must be ingrained into the thinking of any conservative who cares about the future of this country, from now until Election Day. We need to run sacred, because if we relax and laugh at the Rats and their seeming ineptitude, we'll get sucker-punched by the Rats and media like we were in '92. And there is good reason to run scared, because if the opposition wins then I have no doubts we'll be seeing 9-11 repeated on a regular basis in this country. Our enemies are nothing if not masters at exploiting our weaknesses. If we have a President Dean or President Hillary! imploring us to "understand why our enemies hate us", and fruitlessly trying to "internationalize" the WOT, while we're sitting around holding hands and singing kumbaya, the barbarians will be flying airliners into skyscrapers again.

Howard Dean has been carried to the threshold of the Rat nomination with one message, the same old vile, vitriolic one-note song that says "I hate Bush, and you should, too." Hatred is all the Rats have to offer. Hatred of Bush, specifically, but also hatred of anything that keeps them from obtaining power. As the author of the article points out, if that means throwing away the lives of our servicepersons, that's no big deal for the Rats. They'll spill the blood of others to obtain and hold power. And as long as its not their blood, they'll keep it flowing. Dean and Hillary! and all the other Rats don't give a crap about anything or anyone except doing whatever it takes to win.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Card's a Zell Miller-type democrat.

One of the few LDS Democrats out there.

[MarkL]

Card is a donkey? His militaristic science fiction makes one believe he's a conservative Republican...

Try to remember that at one time, many democrats were strong supporters of the national defense, like Henry "Scoop" Jackson.... Now your typical democrat is much more like Henry "Dump" Waxman.

Mark

[tje]

BTTT... good read...