Posted on 10/26/2004 5:57:00 AM PDT by shortstop
Apparently, John Edwards has a wife.
John Edwards. The guy with the hair running for vice president with John Kerry.
It turns out he has a wife.
And she said something the other day that makes you stop and think. Or at least it ought to.
It was in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at some kind of campaign thing. It was on C-SPAN.
Which tells you about how important she is.
Anyway, Mrs. Edwards was talking to a Democratic supporter and the supporter said, “Kerry’s going to take Pennsylvania.”
“I know that,” Mrs. Edwards answered.
“I’m just worried there’s going to be riots afterward,” the supporter said.
“Uh, well,” Mrs. Edwards said, “not if we win.”
It was a telling exchange. It raises a lot of questions. Questions most of us aren’t honest enough to explore.
For example, why is it that Mrs. Edwards seems to expect it’s possible for disappointed Democrats to riot after the election but not disappointed Republicans? She seems to say that if George W. Bush wins there could be riots but if John Kerry wins there won’t be riots.
What does that say about John Kerry’s supporters?
Are they less civilized than President Bush’s supporters? Are they less capable of civilly expressing their disappointment? Or have they been so spoon fed rhetoric of victimization that they will presume they have been robbed and opt out of the social compact? If Democrats lose and feel that the election was stolen from them, it will be because the Kerry campaign has crisscrossed the country saying exactly that.
The myth of a stolen election has been a tool of empowerment for Democrats for four years. And if they lose again they will further fan the flames of disenfranchisement and resentment. Not because they are based on truth, but because they bring support to the party.
If Kerry supporters riot in the wake of a Bush win, it will be because the Democrats yelled “Fire” in a crowded theater.
Is there an aspect of race in this matter?
In Mrs. Edwards’ mental image of rioting Kerry supporters, what color was their skin? Was her snap response a stereotypical response that was unfair toward some Democratic voters?
Who exactly are the people she thinks will riot? Will they be upset urban blacks, will they be angry white anarchists? Who will it be?
And what is so fundamentally different about them that they would react differently than Bush supporters?
The sad part of all this is that Mrs. Edwards is right. If Republicans lose, they will call Rush Limbaugh and complain. If Democrats lose, they might take to the streets.
There is a cultural difference between the mainstream of the two parties. Democrats and Republicans are both revolutionaries, but they are fighting in different wars. Republicans are fighting the American Revolution and Democrats are fighting the Bolshevik Revolution.
One is building something up, the other is tearing something down.
At least that’s the perspective of a Republican.
Both sides are sincere and intense, but one side is angry. And Mrs. Edwards has her husband and his running mate – and their masters and minions in the Democratic Party – to thank for that.
There is a nastiness in the Democratic rhetoric that seems unusually harsh. As has been said many times, the Democratic platform seems to be: We hate Bush. Granted, there is certainly animus on the Republican side toward John Kerry and others, but it does not seem to be as personal or as intense as in the Democratic camp.
This isn’t an indictment, it’s a warning. The goal for the Democrats must be to win an election, not start a civil war. And while the politics of anger has been a Democratic staple for years, it has the potential to get out of hand.
At least Mrs. Edwards and that Pennsylvania Democrat think so.
This wasn’t Republicans talking, it was Democrats. And I don’t mean this to throw stones at Democrats. But we all need a better way of doing business. It’s time for the grown-ups to take over. It’s time to build up instead of tear down.
It’s fine to incite people to action, but not to riot.
And a political platform or process that leads to social unrest is unacceptable. Hopefully Mrs. Edwards can get that point across to her husband and his running mate.
If they do riot, remember we have the guns.
I doubt liberals will riot.
It's a threat from liberals, dreaded by the worlds dictators. (sarcasm)
we have some nice spots in texas you can send them all to..... its warm and doesnt have that musty air conditioned air feeling during the summer months..... we could show them southern hospitality...
yall come on down
I've been trying not to take cracks at Mrs. Edwards over her weight (who am I to point fingers?).
But no matter what she may look like, she sure has been saying some stupid sh*t lately.
If Kerry wins, Mrs. Edwards promises to sit on all of the Republican rioters.
Does it have to come down to another Civil War?
Let 'em riot. Let them destroy themselves in one final God-less orgy of violence and be done with it.
Aw give her a break, she did'nt have her daily dose of 3 dozen donuts so she was a little bit***.
They are all cowards!
They are already rioting--putting bullets through the windows of GOP campaign headquarters, breaking into headquarters, intimidating Republican early voters. defacing autos whose owners display pro-Republican decals. And this is before the election. What on earth would make anyone assume that their behavior would improve after the election, when they are disappointed and angry? I anticipate a great deal of hostility and some real problems.
Read an interesting article the other day.
It was citing all the Dem rhetoric about "taking the outcome of the election to the courts" and "taking to the streets", etc.
It mentioned a theory, which I think it called the "Landslide" theory.
Idea being that if regular middle of the road dems or independents sense that Bush will win (which most polls show that when Dems are asked who'll win, they say Bush), they may cross over and vote for Bush to avoid a drawn out court fight and the drama that surrounded the outcome of the election last time.
Don't know if it's valid, but I like the sound of that theory!!!
I would not discount the possibility that the Donks have a plan to actively incite riot should they lose a close election. We already have Kerry saying he will declare victory, even if he loses the vote as long as it is close enough. Riots in the streets would help bolster his position as he tries to sue his way into the White House. Frankly, the Donks would be foolish to ignore the power of this tool.
They won't "riot". The media will report it as "celebrating." Republicans would be rioters.
When Liberals riot "Kent State" happens
Check this out.
www.unitedforpeace.org
www.nov3.us
Kent State: 0.
If Kerry-Edwards win, Clinton-Gore will have looked like a class act. The first lady a prozac Queen and the second lady a bone head hefer. Now that I think about it maybe these people WILL look like America.
I hope not, but I'm there if it is.
You and your supporters feeling a little frisky, Mrs. E? Well, bring it on, you big heifer.
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