Comments Posted By emgersh
Displaying 11 To 15 Of 15 Comments
WHAT MIDDLE AMERICA THINKS OF THE ELECTION
I think everyone is ready for this thing to be over with. I just don't know if anyone is really ready for what comes next. Dana's heartfelt wish that we all support whoever wins and that we stop vilifying people for their free choice either way, is one I can fervently get behind.
I don't think that's a "middle American" virtue alone though. . . unless you call vast swaths of the coastal regions "middle America." Does anyone truly believe that a majority of the American people want their President to fail even if he is of the opposition party? That's demagoguery. Yes, a vocal minority may feel and act that way but that in no way represents a majority of either party. Just as the partisans on the right, who strove to obstruct Clinton at every step, do not represent average Republican voters, neither do the zealots who immediately declared war on Bush in 2000 represent the vast majority of Democrats.
we all need our President to succeed because we all need our country to succeed. To paraphrase McCain himself, "I'd rather lose an ideological battle than lose the country."
Let's hope for a clear result that leaves the conspiracy theorists with no grist for the mills and let's all support the next president in that general sense. Both partisans and the loyal opposition have only to gain if our next president is successful.
"Does anyone truly believe that a majority of the American people want their President to fail even if he is of the opposition party?"
Are you serious? Where have you been the last 8 years? Not a majority of Americans but definitely a majority of the Democratic party has fervently wished that Bush fail. They have cheered every downturn in the economy. They have prematurely announced that the Iraq War is "lost" and openly rooted for the surge to fail. They gleefully pounced on the confusion following a natural disaster and screamed about the federal response to Katrina before the hurricane winds had even died down.
They have sought to delegitimize his presidency from day one by claiming it was "stolen" - and then did the exact same thing 4 years later despite Bush winning by 3 million votes.
I have urged my conservative friends not to play this same kind of game if Obama is elected. Will Democrats do the same if McCain pulls off the miracle?
ed.
Comment Posted By emgersh On 1.11.2008 @ 17:11
'WE DIDN'T KNOW" WILL NOT BE AN ACCEPTED EXCUSE
Well, I'm sorry to see that you're leaning towards a bit of the hysteria that was targeted at you after your "My President" posting. There's just too much to go into for a comment but I do have to address you initial point:
"A sizable number of residents in Virginia buy and subscribe to the Washington Times. Obama is limiting a point of view that residents in perhaps the most vital swing state in America will be getting. Are we to believe that this is an accident? Are we to seriously consider that Obama isn’t trying to affect how reporters cover his campaign?"
If he's trying to further alienate them so they report negatively, then maybe. I can't see how this is in HIS interest. He may indeed be trying to make room for other, more sympathetic or future oriented reporters - a la Essence or Jet, but it certainly doesn't eliminate or in any way prohibit reporting by the listed newspapers. Yes, it's more difficult but not nearly impossible for them to cover the last days of the election. The only effect this move is likely to have is to piss off these reporters so that they have a more jaundiced eye when reporting on Obama.
As for the rest. . . wow, almost a complete flip from your posting the other day. Not sure even where to begin. If I believe what you wrote then the people who excoriated your "My President" post must be correct.
Are you saying that criticism of Obama is the same as delegitimizing him? Are you nuts?
Holy shit. I really worry about the intelligence of people when I read a piece of crap like this.
ed.
Comment Posted By emgersh On 31.10.2008 @ 14:07
I truly enjoy your writing and analysis. I am one of your fans on the left. It reinforces my faith in our system when I find well reasoned arguments on the opposing side presented by intelligent thoughtful people who avoid histrionics.
While I sincerely hope the right fails to make better use of these potent tools I do hope that we find more reasonable voices like yours online.
You must be a newbie. Believe me, I have my fair share of posts skewering the left. And my lefty commenters skewer me right back so fun is had by all.
ed.
Comment Posted By emgersh On 30.10.2008 @ 11:03
FOR CRISSAKES MY RIGHTY FRIENDS, LET'S GET A GRIP
Wow, Rick. After reading some of the comments to your original post on this issue, I fear you may be tarred and feathered and run out of the right wing blogosphere on a rail!
I guess Christopher Buckley will be there waiting for you if that happens. ;-)
Comment Posted By emgersh On 30.10.2008 @ 11:56
Thank you for your stalwart sanity.
Comment Posted By emgersh On 30.10.2008 @ 11:05
