Krauthammer "Democratic Realism" (Must read and bookmark!)

A E I ^ | February 12, 2004 | Charles Krauthammer

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Liberals today proudly take credit for Truman’s and Kennedy’s roles in containing communism, but they prefer to forget that, for the last half of the Cold War, liberals used “cold warrior” as an epithet.

In 1992 I labored, in fury, to find a response to the Democratic rebuttal of the Republican Convention's claim of having won the Cold War, "but Democrats fought in Vietnam just like Republicans did!" In Vietnam, yes. But after 1972, it is exactly as Krauthammer says. "liberals used 'cold warrior' as an epithet."

[rface]

marked for a later read....

[OldCorps]

bump to read later

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

after 1972, it is exactly as Krauthammer says. "liberals used 'cold warrior' as an epithet,"

and Ronald Reagan led us to transcend communism.

And that should be the epitaph of the Kerry '04 campaign.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

The role of America, the future of the western world and its ideal is what is at stake in this election. It ain't about healthcare, or Viet Nam or budget deficits, as important as all those may be in their place.

The question is who is best suited to lead this country and set its direction for the next half century?

I think we know the answer to the question

[driftless]

Outstanding analysis by Krauthammer which deserves to be printed in every rag in America. For those who say we should not engage in nation building, I say why not? We did it with Germany and Japan two countries where democracy had been a filthy epithet. Why not remake the Middle East? Wouldn't quasi-democratic countries at least be better than authoritarian Islamo-terrorist malfunctioning ones? I'll bet that Inside the hearts of many mid-east Moslems beats the heart of potential democrats (small case d). If Iran succumbs to pressure from the large pro-american segment of their society, we will have three Islamic countries operating on a functioning of a sort democratic model. Just a few years ago, many skeptics would have said that that would be impossible. We may be on the verge of doing the impossible. Cross your fingers and pray.

[Bonaparte]

Krauthammer thinks Truman "dragged us into the Cold War"? What a laugh! The Republicans had to drag him into it after they swept both houses of Congress in '46. Meanwhile, he continued covering up for the "legacy" communists in the federal government.

[Chuzzlewit]

bookmarked

[VadeRetro]

Today, John Kerry boasts of opposing, during the 1980s, what he calls Ronald Reagan’s “illegal war in Central America”--and oppose he did what was, in fact, an indigenous anticommunist rebellion that ultimately succeeded in bringing down Sandinista rule and ushering in democracy in all of Central America.

I'm not surprised to hear/remember that Kerry was of course Sandinista-friendly and contra-Contra. It fits. Did we ever have an enemy he didn't coddle?

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

It would be nice if democrats would read this. Unfortunately, they wouldn't understand most of it. The only really long word they know is "delicatessen."

[The Wizard]

bttt

[The Wizard]

Americans do not. We like it here. We like our McDonalds. We like our football. We like our rock-and-roll. We’ve got the Grand Canyon and Graceland. We’ve got Silicon Valley and South Beach. We’ve got everything. And if that’s not enough, we’ve got Vegas--which is a facsimile of everything. What could we possibly need anywhere else? We don’t like exotic climates. We don’t like exotic languages--lots of declensions and moods. We don’t even know what a mood is. We like Iowa corn and New York hot dogs, and if we want Chinese or Indian or Italian, we go to the food court. We don’t send the Marines for takeout.

That's it...that's why AMERICA IS THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH

[IrishCatholic]

bump excellent read

[erinjohn]

Actually He touches on the future of the unipolar somewhat. The rise of China and the descent of Europe via demographics. He said it was for the young people in te audiance if of course we succeed in our current struggle.

JTG

[gatorbait]

Thanks, brilliant analysis by Dr.Krauthammer. He can think at levels most need oxygen to see. Whether in critique or in praise, he is worth the time to hear and to heed.

[RottiBiz]

Excellent!

Thanks for posting.

[Aetius]

Krauthammer may be brilliant, but he can also be an elitist asshole. When Dean spoke of winning the vote of guys 'with confederate flags in their pickup trucks' Krauthammer called such people "white trash, yahoos" and "rebel-yelling racist redneck(s)." . Now some may be as he claimed, but to use such a broad description of such people is a text-book leftwing tactic.

The idea that brandishing a confederate flag automatically makes one racist is something you would expect to hear from the likes of Jesse Jackson, not a 'conservative.' I mean, it couldn't possibly be out of pride in and respect for the vast majority of Southerners who fought in the Civil War and didn't own slaves could it? Apparently not to Krauthammer. He prefers the liberal view, which is Confederate flag = White Supremacist/White Trash.

Furthermore, such comments showed a remarkable amount of disdain for people who are likely to vote Republican, and to enlist disproportionately in the military to fight the wars Krauthammer supports.

So he may be brilliant, but he knows nothing of the South beyond bogus stereotypes that would make it hard to distinguish him from Al Sharpton and Ted Kennedy.

[The Wizard]

indeed

[ChadGore]

A must read !

[Dog]

. On September 11, 2001, we saw the face of Armageddon again, but this time with an enemy that does not draw back. This time the enemy knows no reason.

This is why we must not allow this crop of Democrats to regain power as long as that menace is out there.