Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Democrats Face Hobson's Choice
National Review ^ | September 10, 2007 | Mario Loyola

Posted on 09/10/2007 6:17:04 PM PDT by george76

I must say that I sympathize with the bind that Democratic leaders are in somewhat. Defeatism is forced upon them by their base. That's why they have no choice but but to insist that Iraq is going disastrously badly, that it was all a mistake, and that we should get out now. Where they have no choice but to acknowledge that progress has been made, they must insist at all costs that President Bush's policies have had nothing to do with it. It is a matter of political reality. Their base will throw them back into the minority if they say anything else. Chuck Schumer's recent talking point — that progress has come in spite of the surge, not because of it — is something he has little choice but to say, no matter how little he believes it.

You can't acknowledge that things are going better in Iraq without implicitly acknowledging that the president was right after all. The electoral center, which gave the Dems their majority, is exceedingly fickle. They elected the president in '04 because they thought we could still in Iraq, then turned around and elected the Dems in '06, because they stopped believing it. If the president was right after all, then they might as well go back to supporting the president. The would be the end of the Democratic majority, and possibly the end of their chances in '08.

The Democrats problem stems from the fact that their base is composed of two groups that fundamentally do not share the same view of American foreign policy or of the war on terror. On the one hand, you have people who once supported the war, and on the other, the people who were always against it. Those two groups agree about only one thing now, which is that the Iraq war has been a disaster and we should get out as soon as possible. Until recently that view was held by a majority of Americans, which is what translated into the democratic majority.

Unfortunately for the Demcrats, the progress in Iraq is largely undeniable, and the American people are starting to believe it. For the first time in a long time, a majority of Americans believes both that we can win in Iraq and that the war in Iraq is part of the war on terror. That, of course, is the essence of the Republican platform on Iraq.

Consequently, Democratic-party leaders are faced with Hobson's choice. They must play the pessimist's part – it is the only way to maintain their majority. Anything else is political suicide for them. They are irretrievably invested in defeat. They therefore have to deny that we are making progress, no matter how obvious that progress is — and no matter how relieved they are, deep down inside, as Americans, that we are making it.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 110th; charlesschumer; chuckschumer; congress; defeatism; democrats; elections; hobson; hobsonschoice; iraq; media; mediabias; schumer; wot

1 posted on 09/10/2007 6:17:06 PM PDT by george76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: george76

Mario could use some proof-reading.


2 posted on 09/10/2007 6:19:27 PM PDT by counterpunch (Ron Paul is gearing up to be Hillary Clinton's Ross Perot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
That's why they will lose by a landslide. Its obvious to Americans they see nothing good for America, want her to lose and hate our military. That's what I call a winning platform indeed.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

3 posted on 09/10/2007 6:19:42 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Yah, it’s terrible. The “have” to be traitors and liars. B.S.


4 posted on 09/10/2007 6:20:15 PM PDT by Greg F (Duncan Hunter is a good man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: counterpunch

“Mario could use some proof-reading.”

Indeed.


5 posted on 09/10/2007 6:22:45 PM PDT by toddlintown (Five bullets and Lennon goes down. Yet not one hit Yoko. Discuss.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: pookie18; potlatch

We need your chuck the cheese pictures ?


6 posted on 09/10/2007 6:23:56 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
You know, these elected Democrats are supposed to be the leaders of their party, not the puppets of their fringe elements.
The elected Democrats, if they were honorable, courage, or honest, could stand up for once and lead their party back from the brink, instead of following it off the cliff like lemmings.
Mario has done a disservice by apologizing for them.
 
7 posted on 09/10/2007 6:24:23 PM PDT by counterpunch (Ron Paul is gearing up to be Hillary Clinton's Ross Perot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave; USNBandit

This is what Schumer said:

And let me be clear. The violence in Anbar has gone down in spite of the Surge, not because of the Surge.

The inability of American soldiers to protect these tribes from Al Qaeda said to these tribes, “We have to fight Al Qaeda ourselves.”


8 posted on 09/10/2007 6:25:25 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: george76


9 posted on 09/10/2007 6:26:01 PM PDT by pookie18
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: drzz

The secret plan of the Democratic Party...?


10 posted on 09/10/2007 6:26:48 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pookie18

Thanks


11 posted on 09/10/2007 6:28:03 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: george76

I don;t have any sympathy for their postition. In the old days they would be lined up blindfolded in front of a Pock Filled Wall. They should be happy they have a treasonous press.

Pray for W and Our Troops


12 posted on 09/10/2007 6:29:28 PM PDT by bray (Member of the FR President Bush underground fighting FR BDS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
This is what Schumer said:

And let me be clear. The violence in Anbar has gone down in spite of the Surge, not because of the Surge. The inability of American soldiers to protect these tribes from Al Qaeda said to these tribes, “We have to fight Al Qaeda ourselves.

13 posted on 09/10/2007 6:32:47 PM PDT by TenthAmendmentChampion (Global warming is to Revelations as the theory of evolution is to Genesis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: bray; weegee; SunkenCiv

They are very lucky that they have a treasonous press.


14 posted on 09/10/2007 6:33:40 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: TenthAmendmentChampion; jazusamo; rlmorel; freema

Sen. Charles Schumer On The Inability Of U.S. Soldiers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi5PRGN4K7k&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmassdiscussion%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F


15 posted on 09/10/2007 6:36:01 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: TenthAmendmentChampion

And Chuck the Schmuck knows this from???

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters


16 posted on 09/10/2007 6:39:17 PM PDT by bray (Member of the FR President Bush underground fighting FR BDS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: bray

Yeah, check out the post above mine. I just reposted someone else’s words in big red letters. Schumer’s a stupid camera chasing wiener!


17 posted on 09/10/2007 6:41:10 PM PDT by TenthAmendmentChampion (Global warming is to Revelations as the theory of evolution is to Genesis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: counterpunch
You know, these elected Democrats are supposed to be the leaders of their party, not the puppets of their fringe elements.

The real leader of the Democrats is the millionaire, atheist, Communist, dictator of the proletariat George Soros.

If the Dims want to get reelected they do his biding.

18 posted on 09/10/2007 6:42:17 PM PDT by Pontiac (Patriotism is the natural consequence of having a free mind in a free society.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: george76

...the bind that Democratic leaders are in somewhat...

It’s not just the DemocRats. The MSM also has a very high stake in this. Their believability is at a all time low. They have been marching alongside the drumbeat of defeat. They have not challenged any of the absurdity that the Rats spout.

Now is the time we need our elected Republican to step up and start hammering home this point that the Rats are invested in defeat. We need 49 Limbaughs from our Senators, we need 201 Limbaughs in the House, all shouting out that these Rats are invested in defeat.


19 posted on 09/10/2007 6:43:33 PM PDT by UglyinLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
and no matter how relieved they are, deep down inside, as Americans, that we are making it.

I simply do not believe that, deep down, very many of them are at all relieved that we are making it. Damn few.

20 posted on 09/10/2007 6:43:46 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s........you weren't really there)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
and no matter how relieved they are, deep down inside, as Americans, that we are making it.

I wish I could believe this. But I just can't.

21 posted on 09/10/2007 6:44:21 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (A good marriage is like a casserole, only those responsible for it really know what goes into it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
Good Lord, george76, you keep pinging me into these things, you will be responsible for my demise...

Schumer's face is everywhere you look these days...


22 posted on 09/10/2007 6:49:16 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: george76

Thanks for your post and link.

Statements like that from Chuckie are expected now I guess, it just shows what a lowlife he is.

The dems are squirming now on their policy and I think it’ll get much worse for them.


23 posted on 09/10/2007 6:49:21 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

LOL! It’s a dead ringer!


24 posted on 09/10/2007 6:50:32 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: devolve; george76; pookie18
Sorry, I am running waaaay behind tonight, lol.


25 posted on 09/10/2007 6:57:44 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: pookie18

LOL, pook!! You beat me here and I didn’t know it!!!


26 posted on 09/10/2007 6:59:11 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: george76
and no matter how relieved they are, deep down inside, as Americans, that we are making it.

Yeah right as Americans --Cut me a break
27 posted on 09/10/2007 7:05:16 PM PDT by uncbob (m first)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
"...LOL! It’s a dead ringer!..."

Well, gosh...now that you MENTION it...:)

28 posted on 09/10/2007 7:05:33 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: UglyinLA
Their believability is at a all time low.

They still form public opinion BIG TIME
29 posted on 09/10/2007 7:06:48 PM PDT by uncbob (m first)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel
Yep...separated at birth. If there was ever someone who deserved to have a giant wrecking ball swing into the picture and demolish him...it would be Schumer in this picture.


30 posted on 09/10/2007 7:13:46 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

Schumer is a despicable human being. He stands for nothing except his next camera opportunity.


31 posted on 09/10/2007 7:44:54 PM PDT by baiamonte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: george76; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
Their base will throw them back into the minority if they say anything else... You can't acknowledge that things are going better in Iraq without implicitly acknowledging that the president was right after all.
And that isn't confined to Dhimmicrats -- and neither is hatred of the Bush family. Thanks, G76. Aww, you sank my battleship!
32 posted on 09/10/2007 9:38:13 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Wednesday, August 29, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: potlatch

.

LOL!

How did I miss this and this thread?


33 posted on 09/10/2007 9:41:56 PM PDT by devolve ( -- No -- --You cannot change hair color on photos or videos!--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: george76

Thanks for the youtube link of this TRAITOR.


34 posted on 09/10/2007 9:43:00 PM PDT by PGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: devolve

You were busy posting Charlie Brown perhaps?


35 posted on 09/10/2007 9:49:43 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: PGalt

Chuck Schumer is not only a liar, a traitor, a coward, but no better than Dan Rather is trying to fool us :

saying one thing in a speech, while carrying a very different rendering of a critical passage at a supposed “transcript” of that speech on his own Senate website.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1893969/posts


36 posted on 09/10/2007 10:09:03 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: potlatch

Thanks for making and posting Chuckie.

You did a nice job with his eyes and mouth.


37 posted on 09/10/2007 10:12:25 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: george76; devolve

Thank you george. I actually had another frame in that gif and accidentally ‘cut’ it and lost it!!


38 posted on 09/10/2007 10:14:23 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: potlatch

.

The famous “missing frame” huh?


39 posted on 09/10/2007 10:22:57 PM PDT by devolve ( -- No -- --You cannot change hair color on photos or videos!--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

The DUmmies are tied to this “lose at any cost” agenda. The longer they stay stuck on stupid ( with moveon and friends ), the bigger the risk for themselves.

If Iraq goes positive in the eyes of most Americans by October 2008, the DUmmies may have a serious split inside their party.


40 posted on 09/10/2007 10:23:24 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: devolve

Lol, it isn’t very famous and that’s how ‘onion skin’ previews can mess you up if you forget to turn it off.

Thought I had two of the same frame and just ‘cut’ the one, then was puzzled!!


41 posted on 09/10/2007 10:25:35 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: potlatch

.

Great colors

Eyes & mouth are super


42 posted on 09/10/2007 10:35:46 PM PDT by devolve ( -- No -- --You cannot change hair color on photos or videos!--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: devolve

Thank you devolve.
Think I’ll head on to bed, my head is pounding, lol.
Night!


43 posted on 09/10/2007 10:38:33 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: george76

That split is already there. In 2006, the Pubbies suffered from poor turnout and partisan media shilling. The radicals may have an impact on the Dhimmicrat primaries and caucuses (although that party has been cutting off their own delegations from various states, or trying to, or threatening to), but look what happened when they did that in CT in 2006...


44 posted on 09/10/2007 11:12:01 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Wednesday, August 29, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

It was Florida and ? who wanted an earlier primary.

If the DUmmies in these states sit on their hands in November 2008, it would be nice.


45 posted on 09/10/2007 11:20:05 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: george76

Post #36 BUMP-TO-THE-TOP!

Thanks for the link.


46 posted on 09/11/2007 6:07:23 AM PDT by PGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson