Kerry finished his convention speech a little while ago, and once again I was struck by a certain disconnect from reality. On one occasion, I rode my bike into Soviet East Berlin. And when I proudly told my dad, he promptly grounded me. But what I learned has stayed with me for a lifetime. I saw how different life was on different sides of the same city. I saw the fear in the eyes of people who were not free. I saw the gratitude of people toward the United States for all that we had done.
He could be talking about the Iraqis. I doubt that would ever occur to him, but he could be talking about the Iraqi bloggers that I regularly read. With his talk of the fear in people's eyes and the gratitude of the people toward the United States, you would think he'd have some sympathy for the Iraqis who had the misfortune to live under Saddam, but he made no mention of it. I'm sure he misses the parallel.
"I ask you to judge me by my record", he said, but any mention of the Senator's record brings howls that his patriotism is being questioned. He made almost no mention of his Senate record, but he mentioned his patriotism being questioned. And tonight, we have an important message for those who question the patriotism of Americans who offer a better direction for our country. Before wrapping themselves in the flag and shutting their eyes and ears to the truth, they should remember what America is really all about. They should remember the great idea of freedom for which so many have given their lives. Our purpose now is to reclaim democracy itself. We are here to affirm that when Americans stand up and speak their minds and say America can do better, that is not a challenge to patriotism; it is the heart and soul of patriotism.
This is a stunning accusation in its dishonesty. I feel he is speaking to me, and accusing me of questioning his patriotism. I don't think he has a direction for our country but for me to say that is to question his patriotism. His purpose he says is to "reclaim democracy itself". Is there anyone but the angry left who feel that democracy has been lost? He is recycling the propaganda of the left and I hope he will be called on it as the campaign progresses. He even went so far as to imply the old "no blood for oil" mantra with this. And our energy plan for a stronger America will invest in new technologies and alternative fuels and the cars of the future -- so that no young American in uniform will ever be held hostage to our dependence on oil from the Middle East.
Mr. Kerry delivered his speech very well. The delegates clapped and cheered, and the emotion was clear on their faces. It was a regular revival meeting. But the speech was full of snide digs delivered in a tone of false reasonability. I want to address these next words directly to President George W. Bush: In the weeks ahead, let's be optimists, not just opponents. Let's build unity in the American family, not angry division. Let's honor this nation's diversity; let's respect one another; and let's never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States.
Presumably to seek to offer an amendment to the Constitution is to misuse it. I find myself utterly repelled.
Repelled doesn't even begin to describe it! To say to our President, let's do this and that, is to accuse him of not having been doing those things precisely! What a way they learned to spin from Slick Willy! Did you noticed his poll numbers went down after the convention? He has no plan! He accuses Pres. Bush of secrecy, he won't disclose his economic plan or his plan for Iraq UNTIL he is elected! What is he smoking?
Posted by: Rosemary | August 05, 2004 at 03:20 AM