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Cordiality in Post-Election America: To be, or not to be? (vanity)
Free Republic ^ | 11/04/2004 | MWS

Posted on 11/04/2004 5:57:24 AM PST by MWS

The election is finally over, and the Republican Party has won big. Our president has won reelection with what most likely appears to be 286 electoral votes and an actual majority of the popular vote. The Republican Party has gained in the House, gained in the Senate, and has gained in state governorships. If ever there were a mandate from the American people for our agenda, this is it.

There is much talk, in the aftermath of our great win, as to whether we ought to show cordiality to our Democratic opposition. The Democrats have spent the last four years throwing every charge and bad name possible towards our president, torwards our party, and towards us personally. They spent the eight years prior to that acting against our deepest held core beliefs while belittling us as "fringe kooks".

The Democrats have actively accused us of seeing in black and white in a world of grays. This is despite the fact that they are the ones that have pounded on the notions that "tolerance" is good, that war in Iraq is bad, that tax cuts are awful, that we are evil, that attacking those who mean us harm is wrong, that traditional morality is passe, and that government-funded programs are the panacea to all our problems and those who promote them are political saints. If anyone can be accused of failure in nuance, it is most certainly the Democrats.

In light of these facts, we Republicans find ourselves in a bit of a bind. The country is certainly strongly divided in ways that many wish it were not. There has been much talk about "healing" the divisions that exist today, and whether, now that we possess the power, we ought to extend our hands in reconciliation to the other side. There are many Democrats in this country who believe that the Democratic Party acts upon the best of intentions, who cannot see the naked Democratic partisan powerplays for what they truly are. Among these people are teachers, co-workers, grandparents, friends, and family members who vote Democrat not because the Democrats truly represent that which they truly believe, but rather simply because they have always voted Democrat. They cannot see the shift that has occurred before their very eyes, in large part due to the fact that they do not want to believe that their party has truly left them.

This election, if played politically for all it is worth, ought to significantly marginalize the influence Democrats have in the government. When the Democrats held similar power, they blew it by spitting on the core beliefs of the same "little guys" they claimed to represent. This election should most likely begin to open the eyes of some traditional Democrats who were under the believe that the Democratic Party was representing a majority of Americans when in fact it has gone about representing a morally corrupt minority of the population. It is our duty to show them that this is the case.

It is not our obligation to reach out to the left. We hold all the cards; we are the powerbrokers. But, while recognizing this, we must also recognize the fact that there are two Democratic Parties out there: the party of the Clintons, the Kerrys, the Moores, the McAuliffs, the Frankins, along with the rest of the far left, and the party of those who up to this point simply have not noticed that their party has gone astray because they have been manipulated by carefully crafted lies. There can be no reaching out to the former. The former is made up of a highly influential minority with strong anti-American sentiments. They wish only for the power to enact their extreme social agenda.

The latter is made up of many indivuals from all levels of society who truly do care about this country and, when it comes down to the heart of the matter, do not necessarily fully believe in everything their leadership tells them to believe in. The latter can be worked with. Before that can happen, however, we must do all that is within our power to help them to see the folly of following those in their leadership, which means we cannot go soft on defending that in which we truly believe. Furthermore, they must ultimately reach out to us. They are the ones that must cross the aisle for the sake of cooperation; all we can do is hold out our hands to accept them. To do this, we must make them realize that we not only know we have a mandate to govern, but that we actually believe in it. Perhaps this was not possible over the past four years, but it certainly ought to be possible now.

The Democrats that we certainly wish to heal divisions with can only be brought to the bargaining table if we stay the course and act on the fact that we truly hold the power in this country. It is only upon Democratic recognition of that fact that the compromises they so strongly desire can begin to occur.


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: bushvictory; mandate
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Just a few thoughts I had this morning, humbly submitted for your consideration.
1 posted on 11/04/2004 5:57:24 AM PST by MWS
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To: MWS

Yeah, I've got a brother AND my mother who voted for Kerry so I AM sensitive to how we should 'react' now BUT...

I have great difficulty being "nice" to people that voted for the candidate endorsed by Usama Bin Laden.


2 posted on 11/04/2004 5:59:56 AM PST by KenD
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To: MWS
W tried that in after the 2000 election - the whole "New Tone" thing was a failure. I hope he's learned from it.
"Healing" is for church. Politics is a place to defeat and dominate.
3 posted on 11/04/2004 6:02:17 AM PST by grobdriver
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To: MWS

I have no intention of being nice to these people.


4 posted on 11/04/2004 6:04:57 AM PST by KevinB
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To: KenD

I've got a mother, step-father, brother, two grandmothers, one grandfather, and a bunch of other relatives and friends who voted for that candidate too.

We don't need to be "nice" regarding what we believe. When it comes to our beliefs, being "nice", as far as Dems are concerned, means being silent.

The last thing we need to do is be silent. We need to bring Democrats back to the bargaining table. As is the case when dealing with any set of aggressors, the only way we will bring Democrats to the table is to be strong, yet in a manner that acknowledges the fact that we will work with them if they acknowledge the fact that they need to work with us first.


5 posted on 11/04/2004 6:06:01 AM PST by MWS (Errare humanum est, in errore perservare stultum.)
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To: MWS

Thank you. We needed that. One tends to lose the reasonable tone which sets us apart from the far left in the emotion of victory. It was fun for a day, but now its back to work! (With a sense of humor, of course!)


6 posted on 11/04/2004 6:07:50 AM PST by Melinda
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To: KevinB

I didn't say "be nice".

I said that we must force them to the bargaining table, but be willing to accept them when they come.


7 posted on 11/04/2004 6:08:38 AM PST by MWS (Errare humanum est, in errore perservare stultum.)
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To: Melinda

Definitely!

Personally, I wish that some Democrats would find their sense of humor again soon...


8 posted on 11/04/2004 6:10:20 AM PST by MWS (Errare humanum est, in errore perservare stultum.)
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To: MWS

Being a Southerner that has been all over this country and being a very obvious conservative, I have noticed one thing about liberals.

They will ALWAYS equate courtesy with weakness.


9 posted on 11/04/2004 6:15:52 AM PST by A Real Dan Fan... NOT (2 Johns. 2 flushes. 2 craps gone.)
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To: MWS

Perhaps the most radical of the radical left will indeed follow through and get on the waiting list to move in with our beloved brothers in the great white north. Where they belong. There they'll be embraced in the welcoming open arms of socialism, just what they want. As for the rest, they just need their eyes opened, educated, or deprogrammed. That's a very hard task though when the oposition is always hard at work to shore up their lies and spread rankor.


10 posted on 11/04/2004 6:17:13 AM PST by C0y0Te
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To: MWS

We are being told to be nice and be quiet already. We have no need to sit back and be slandered for 4 years more. They can kiss my ass. They didn't work with us when we tried to be nice, so they can shove it.


11 posted on 11/04/2004 6:18:18 AM PST by eyespysomething (Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality the cost becomes prohibitive.)
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To: MWS
Well stated, and I fully agree that we are in no way obligated to kowtow to the "losers". GWB has been clear and consistent with regards to his vision for the nation, and I would like to see him move aggressively towards it's realization, political pressure and popular public opinion be damned. He has the means and opportunity, a clear mandate (regardless of what the talking heads say)and the personal clarity to create and leave a legacy that is unprecedented since the Reagan presidency.

There will certainly be attempts at every step of the way to hobble him, via the now completely exposed "mainstream media", which I'm sure you meant to include within your statement about the far left faction of the 'Rat party. I would love to believe that the CBS/NBC/ABC propaganda machine has been exposed sufficiently enough, and will be chastised harshly enough, that they will be forced to change their ways.

All that said, I hold little hope that either the 'Rat party or the MSM will take the right lessons from this experience. I fully expect that they will only regret that they were not nasty enough and will redouble their efforts this time around. Hope I'm wrong! Militant
12 posted on 11/04/2004 6:24:56 AM PST by militant2 ("In conservatism is the salvation of the nation!" RPaul)
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To: militant2

We definitely need to put forward efforts to expose the MSM, especially among friends and family. The facts are definitely out there and on our side.

Sadly, there are many elements in the Democratic Party who will most likely be as nasty as possible. They saw their dreams of ousting Bush go up in smoke. The only way we marginalize them is by pushing the rest of their party to understand that they are the ones who need to make the compromises, and that the heavy assault tactics put forward by their more extreme elements simply are not going to get any of the policies they want pushed forward.

Compromise can only come about when Democrats are willing to cross the aisle. It is not our duty to build consensus with them under any circumstances. All we can do is accept the ones that come. Doing so will drive a strong wedge through their party, cutting the far-left from the power positions they currently hold.


13 posted on 11/04/2004 6:29:58 AM PST by MWS (Errare humanum est, in errore perservare stultum.)
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To: MWS
It is not our obligation to reach out to the left.

Say it loud and say it proud. Then say it again.

The door's open for Democrats to rejoin America. But no lunatic fringes need apply.

14 posted on 11/04/2004 6:36:22 AM PST by IronJack (R)
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To: MWS

Let's be civil but forceful, and those who also want civilization will follow, like the marriage amendments, although not all those people voted for Bush.

We have some power now, let's use it while we can, deal with the opposition that comes as we can, and move FORWARD.

Very clearly, you can't compromise with the far left, so it's quite pointless to include them. They want their "all" or nothing, so give them nothing. 2008 is closer than we think; we need real domestic successes so we can provide a clear choice to those centrists who were on the fence this time around. I assume Iraq will be a more peaceful place, so that shouldn't be an issue, but you never know what else can happen.


15 posted on 11/04/2004 6:53:09 AM PST by AmericanChef
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To: MWS
I would also like to believe that the rest of the 'Rat party is "pushable". But, I have come to see this group as a conglomeration of largely soulless, opportunistic machines, possessing a sort of hive mentality, and who believe that the ends always justify the means. It appears as if the days of the Zell Miller/Joe Lieberman principled Democrats are long gone, and we may as well call them for what they are...the new Socialist party.

Like with a sociopath, change in the mentality and behavior only comes about when they realize that they will be held accountable to the consequences of their actions. So, I agree that we must be the ones that drive the wedge through this group....but it has to be a wedge with sharp teeth. If we simply wait and hope that they will see the error of their ways, we will be waiting a long time. Militant
16 posted on 11/04/2004 6:54:26 AM PST by militant2 ("In conservatism is the salvation of the nation!" RPaul)
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To: eyespysomething

They don't change. Yesterday, I was sitting at my "spot" in my DoD Gov Office, and I was surrounded by them talking about "the stupid people who voted for the President" -- then saying they didn't know anyone that stupid -- then pointing to me and saying "Except [me}." I let this one pass, but I know the laws and regs and if they push me too I will file a formal IG complaint.
Difference is - I would never treat anyone like that. NEVER! These people had to go to school somewhere to learn to be so vicious.


17 posted on 11/04/2004 6:59:08 AM PST by Virginia Queen (Virginia Queen)
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To: MWS

W has been "reaching out" to them since the very first day of his first term, and they have responded by becoming ever more vicious. I hope he is firm in his program and just ignores them this time around.

As for the average person, I have never been unpleasant to Democrats. They are always the ones who sweetly say things like, "oh, I thought you were too intelligent to be a Republican" (said by a fellow choir member), and then persist in following me around talking about it even when I told her that I was not there to discuss politics. It was the Dems, including some of these very same "sweet" people, mostly ladies in their 60s, who shoved us on the street or spat at us when we were distributing campaign material, etc. But I have never responded in kind, and most of the Republicans I know have not responded to their provocations, either.

So I don't think this requires a change in our behavior, because we are not the ones who are out of control and hysterical. I suppose we will just keep on not responding to their provocations over the next four years, because I can tell you, it is not the conservatives who are causing this atmosphere of hatred.


18 posted on 11/04/2004 7:04:39 AM PST by livius
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To: Virginia Queen

LOL! I see this idea that Republicans are "stupid" and Dems have the right to tell them so to their faces is a national problem!


19 posted on 11/04/2004 7:07:59 AM PST by livius
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To: Virginia Queen

Yeah, I had a friend call me yesterday and tell me that now she'll never get help for her nerve damage from her broken back a few years ago (get up out of wheelchairs and walk, although she's not in a wheelchair), what if her daughter gets raped and needs an abortion, and her medicare costs have risen more than her social security income so she might as well move to Canada.

Nevermind the fact that 2 of the 3 haven't been affected yet. And I wanted to say "So I should pay more in taxes?"

I just was shaking my head (we were on the phone) and let her ramble on. She has never talked to me like this before, she knows where I stand and who I support, but we just never talked politics a lot.

I was kinda upset, because she is my friend and the tone of her voice was hateful, and I was caught totally off guard. I'm going to give it a few days and talk to her again (not about politics) but I would hate it if she is going to put politics above a 6 year friendship.

People have lost their minds in this country.


20 posted on 11/04/2004 7:20:20 AM PST by eyespysomething (Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality the cost becomes prohibitive.)
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