The Democratic Party is Toast

washingtonmonthly.com ^ | September 2004 | Grover Norquist

[Republic]

That is probably the single best read yet...this man did a terrific job, and I read it under a thread titled 'the Fall' here on FR...and posted to it, pinging folks there as well.

I agree with you with all of my heart.

It is phenomenal.

Almost EVERY line is a sound bite!

This was my favorite quote from this article-

"But in the process there also began a professional devolution, as questionable legal and ethical methods were excused in the name of the greater good. We got the Ellsberg pilfered documents, the blank check of "unnamed sources," trips to Hanoi and Paris to meet the enemy, Peter Arnett broadcasting gloom and doom live from Baghdad — all culminating in the two-bit forgeries used for the "higher" cause of unseating George Bush. Daniel Ellsberg, Jane Fonda, and CBS may have done things that were legally wrong (like the latter's promulgating fraudulent government documents to defame a government official), but in postmodern logic they were morally "right" given their superior knowledge, character, and progressive intentions.

[GoBucks2002]

BushCheney win in '04 means a debate on eliminating forever the income tax and the 16th amendment too

No, it means the trial lawyers will shift to contributing money to the GOP and the Congressional leaders will take their money and do their bidding, while selling out the business community and taking their money, too. That is what is happening here in Ohio.

[olinr]

Unfortunately, there is Senator Orin Hatch!

[BillyCrockett]

Wouldn't it be something if Jeb decided to jump in during the 2008 election? If George has done most of the heavy lifting of the terror war by then, what a perfect follow up to keep things calm. There would be no more libs in America by then too. They'd all be dead...in a mental hospital... or living in France/Canada. America the Beautiful!

[longtermmemmory]

Not if state court judges have anything to say about their democrat friends.

[longtermmemmory]

actually many of those are finding jobs as candidate consultants. The Election industry is big business now.

But this does point out another consideration for voting blocks. If they support the democrat candidate they WILL have no voice in the republican controlled congress. If they support a republican, they will have a voice. (assuming they are compatable with republican platforms)

[ARCADIA]

Grover Norquist is an arrogant fool. We are where we are today, not because of the mechanics of support for the Democratic Party; but, because their powers that be erroneously selected John Kerry to lead their opposition. There will always be divisive issues and there will always be ways for savvy politicians to build support on one side or the other.

Had the Democrats unearth yet another moderate politician with Clinton-like political skills (especially if they could find one who could keep his pants on), they would have had GW on the ropes by now. Bush's position on global trade, pharmaceuticals, the deficit, farm aid, illegal immigration, and even the war (Could we have used a heavier hand and called upon ourselves for a more serious commitment - why haven't we sent the UN packing); would have been readily open to attack. Instead Kerry's inability to hold a course, his tendency to drift sharply left, his lack of personal charisma, and his incredibly anti-american record, has left them with virtually no platform upon to raise a credible issue.

The problems with the Democratic party resides within its pathetic leadership. But, as the crusty old communist sympathizers of the Kennedy camp fade, as their lying self serving Clinton types are devoured by the new media, we may see the rise of a more pragmatic opposition. That our opponent has, in its internal chaos, practically conceded 2004 should not raise a klaxon call for the Republican party's to drift right. The center is where the majority stand, and as Kerry is so aptly demonstrating, those who would ignore that will not hold onto power for long.

[Leisler]

I remember the later years of the Communist Party in Russia. All of them timeserving, brown nosing, ticket punching schemers, backstabbers, grasping mediocrities all trying to get one big mouthful at the Soviet trough and all the corrupted and diminished honors they could. Ditto today’s Democrat Party. As much as they say they want to win, they will settle for money and status. The Democrats have no ideas, save thirty year old ones. They can’t look into reform, because those now at the top are responsible for the present form. The Party is their Rosemary’s Baby, and they love it so.

Pretty soon, when the funds begin to get tight for their various swinish groups, they’ll turn upon themselves and start throwing the weaker groups off the lifeboat, hitting and pushing them away with oars. Good.

It is an old story. What we are seeing is what those saw at the end of the Roman empire, in the Berlin whorehouses in 1945.

It’s natural, it’s time, I’m glad to live to see it.

[William Terrell]

Jam spreads well on toast.

[Nick Danger]

I don't understand the two replies just above your post. They are long time FReepers but I just don't get it.

Norquist helped found an Islamic outreach institute which became sort of a magnet for Islamists seeking White House access. The usual sequence was:

1. Creepy Arab comes out of woodwork, approaches Norquist.
2. Norquist arranges some White House visit for creepy Arab.
3. FBI subsequently arrests creepy Arab for terrorist ties.

Some people have interpreted this sequence of events as indicating that Norquist is in bed with creepy Arabs. The other possibility seems to elude them.

[votelife]

this article doesn't mention the effect 4 more years will have on the judiciary, probably more important than anything Grover just said.

[votelife]

Re: 42. This is going on in Florida also...

[BobS]

"It’s natural, it’s time, I’m glad to live to see it.

You never know history is being made when you are in it. I was in USAFE when the Soviet Union finally imploded. The roaches and maggots came out in full force in every country. From the Plaza Major in Spain to the Castle on the Mound in Scotland. Noisy, filthy people at that time, and they are not different than now.

[patriciamary]

Sure they are,just like the republicans now have the guts to speak outagainsts the democrats!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Nearly 25% 0f Troops in Iraq are Non US Troops - Kerry wrong again!


http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/iraq/foreigntroops.html

In addition to the United States, which has more than 130,000 troops in Iraq, many other countries have sent military personnel. The number of non-American coalition troops is more than 40,000, though numbers fluctuate.

United Kingdom: 9,000 soldiers
Italy: 3,000 soldiers, some serving as police and engineers
Poland: 2,400 soldiers
Ukraine: 1,600 soldiers
Netherlands: 1,100 soldiers plus a logistics team, a field hospital, military police and 200 engineers
Japan: 1,100 soldiers assigned to reconstruction
Australia: 800 soldiers
Romania: 700 soldiers plus 149 de-mining specialists, military police and "special intelligence" members
South Korea: 600 military engineers and medics
Bulgaria: 480 soldiers plus chemical warfare experts
Thailand: 440 soldiers assigned to humanitarian missions
Denmark: 420 soldiers including medics and military police
El Salvador: 360 soldiers
Hungary: 300 soldiers
Norway: 179 soldiers, mostly engineers and mine clearers
Mongolia: 160 soldiers involved in peacekeeping
Azerbaijan: 150 soldiers taking part in law enforcement and protection of historic monuments
Portugal: 125 soldiers functioning as police officers
Latvia: 120 soldiers
Lithuania: 115 soldiers
Slovakia: 102 soldiers
Czech Republic: 80 soldiers, serving as police
Philippines: 80 soldiers plus police and medics
Albania: 70 non-combat troops
Georgia: 70 soldiers
New Zealand: 60 army engineers assigned to reconstruction (expected to leave in Sept. 2004)
Moldova: 50 soldiers including de-mining specialists and medics
Macedonia: 35 soldiers
Estonia: 30 soldiers
Kazakhstan: 30 soldiers (expected to leave end of May 2004)
Spain withdrew its troops from Iraq following the election of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on March 14. Honduras and the Dominican Republic quickly followed suit. The three countries combined had nearly 2,000 troops in Iraq. Nicaragua withdrew its 115 troops at the end of March 2004 for economic reasons.

Countries that provide non-military support include: Kuwait and Qatar, which have hosted the U.S. Central Command and the invasion force; Ethiopia and Eritrea, which have given use of bases or ports; and Turkey, which has given permission for airspace use. Others countries have opted to give political support: Angola, Costa Rica, Colombia, Iceland, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Palau, Panama, Rwanda, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Uganda and Uzbekistan.

In early April 2004, the Bush administration indicated it was negotiating with another 50 countries that had expressed interest in providing peacekeeping troops.

FOREIGN WORKERS

The exact number of foreign workers in Iraq is hard to gauge, but it's at least 30,000. Many work for companies that have contracts with the American military to provide support or to rebuild the country. Others work for aid agencies.

Companies with U.S. Department of Defence contracts:
Kellogg, Brown and Root
Washington Group International
Fluor Intercontinental
Perini Corporation
Vinnell Corporation
CSC DynCorp International

Companies with U.S. Agency for International Development contracts:
International Resources Group
Air Force Augmentation Program
Stevedoring Services of America
Creative Associates International
Research Triangle Institute
Abt Associates
Skylink Air and Logistics Support
Bearing Point Inc.
Bechtel (including subcontractors from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Kuwait, Switzerland)

Non-governmental organizations with USAID grants:
United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Mercy Corps
International Relief and Development Incorporated
Agriculture Co-operative Development International
Volunteers in Overseas Co-operative Assistance
Co-operative Housing Foundation
Save the Children Federation
Iraqi Nursing Association

[okstate]

While the articles' premise is interesting and probably true, the fact is that political parties change. Right now demographics are highly favorable to us... but we need to be loyal to an ideology, not a political party.

[stockpirate]

I scanned the list and noticed that it failed to mention the country with the largest number of security forces in Iraq...............IRAQ

[writer33]

That was such a good ping. I love it when you ping me! :) HA!

Seriously, thanks for the ping!

[fritzz]

"Almost 25% are non-US."

We'll probably be hearing this on the MSM in the next day or two. (Not)

You are all over the place today. See your handle everywhere I go. Anyway, good post. I wasn't aware of some of the numbers and countries.

-t