What Have The Democrats Learned?
By Barbara Stock (11/05/04)
As I watched the returns Tuesday night on Fox News, long-time Democrat pundit and Dukakis campaign manager and liberal, Susan Estrich, went on the air with Brit Hume. Susan seemed angry and tense. As I listened her talk--through clenched teeth--about how Kerry was going to win Ohio, I didn’t believe a word she said because she didn’t believe a word she said. I think that I knew then it was over. George Bush was going to win. I know from listening to Susan prior the election that she was never thrilled with Kerry’s nomination, but being a loyal and true Democrat, she stood by him.
I cruised my favorite left-wing sites to see how they were dealing with what they must see as the end of the world. The usual “Bush stole the election but we aren’t sure how yet--give us time.” postings were there. What else can they say?
One blog had the startling statement that it was “one man/one woman” proposal that was Kerry’s undoing. Those states supported Bush, the bloggers said. Indeed, all but one, Michigan, did go in the Bush column but the proposal was defeated by a much larger number in most cases than the number of votes given to Bush. What was amazing about this statement was that it was followed by comments about how the Democrats must learn to take “baby-steps” when trying to convince Americans that they should accept something the vast majority of Americans simply don’t want. This fellow said, “Democrats need to learn that they must make these changes slowly.” In other words, they need to sneak changes in the back door when America is busy with something else. After all, over 70% of Americans will be hard to convince to change their entire moral foundation. This Democrat has learned nothing.
Many are blaming the now infamous “exit polls” which proved not just to be wrong, but very wrong. Early on in the day, everyone was saying that it was clear-sailing for John Kerry--an easy win. Some are blaming those gathering the information. I’m not so sure that the numbers, based on what people told pollsters after voting, were wrong. I believe the people they polled simply were not honest.
Middle-of-the-road Democrats never embraced John Kerry. Kerry was the epitome of what comes from the far left of the party. Moderate Democrats knew Kerry was soft on defense. They heard his many flip-flops and they heard the lies. I believe that in the end, moderates just could not bring themselves to vote for John Kerry. While dutifully putting up Kerry signs in their yards and perhaps even putting Kerry/Edwards bumper-stickers on their cars, many moderate Democrats went into the voting booth and voted for George W. Bush. They will never admit publicly to anyone but these Democrats just didn’t trust their own candidate. To maintain their image with their hard-core Democrat friends, moderates are now smiling to themselves while shaking their heads in disbelief when asked, “How could this happen?” No one will ever know.
John Thune defeated Tom Daschle after decades in the senate. Daschle’s state of South Dakota finally had had enough of his hateful obstructionism and liberalism. Republicans gained seats in both the Senate and the House. This was a clear message to Democrats, but I have to wonder if they are listening. I suspect the hate will only grow. Instead of realizing that the majority of Americans just don’t see the world as they do, Democrats will just try to find a different, more subtle way of regaining their power.
Senator Edwards spoke of the continued dream of “one America.” America was never meant to be “one America.” Our forefathers planned for our entire future based on conflict. It is that conflict that makes us great. Democrats don’t understand this and I don’t know if they ever will. We Americans are a unique breed in the world. Some countries come close, like Australia, but even it has chosen its own path after adopting our basic premise. Many fledgling democracies still look to us for guidance and help but each democracy must adapt to the needs and wants of the citizens of the country. Our form of democracy works for America and only America.
This election leaves no doubt where America stands. There is no legal action pending. There can be no more calling President Bush “selected, not elected.” Even though there will still be many who will try to degrade this Bush victory, they will only look like the fools that they are. There is no doubt. Bush won and he won in a big way.
This election sends a clear message to our enemies. That message is that Americans are not afraid of you. We will be coming to find you and there is no place on earth you can hide. The last-minute flurry of threats only made Americans angry. We are not Spain or France or Germany. Our mindset is one that men like Osama bin Laden will never understand.
The American media were exposed for what they are--blatantly liberal. In fact, they were shown to be working in concert with the leftists in America. Even now, they make no apologies for their shameful behavior. The New York Times and CBS in particular, sacrificed their entire reputations for John Kerry. Never again will either be trusted as they once were.
I have no doubt that residents of Old Europe are bewildered right now. They are possibly thinking, “How could Americans re-elect this horrible, hated man?” Perhaps we re-elected him because he is neither horrible nor hated by the people who had the right to vote for him. It might behoove many people in Europe to accept the man that we have chosen. It seems they do not understand the American mind any more than the likes of Saddam Hussein did.
Americans are unique and we are unpredictable at times. And do you know what? I like it that way. I enjoy making the French angry. There is no doubt in my mind that Europeans need us more than we need them and they know it. That is what makes them angry. Europeans owe us and that makes them bitter. In their all-knowing wisdom, they tried to guide us to the man they wanted as president of our country. Even the corrupt United Nations made a last-ditch effort to rid itself of Bush and failed.
The election of 2004 is history now. This election is one more presidential election in America that confuses our allies and angers our enemies. All in all, it was a good day.
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