This must be the part of Rumsfeld's speech that has the Democrats all riled up.
We hear every day of new plans, new efforts to murder Americans and other free people. Indeed, the plot that was discovered in London that would have killed hundreds — possibly thousands — of innocent men, women and children on aircraft flying from London to the United States should remind us that this enemy is serious, lethal, and relentless.
But this is still not well recognized or fully understood. It seems that in some quarters there’s more of a focus on dividing our country than acting with unity against the gathering threats.
Well as they say, when you pitch a rock into a pack of dogs the one that yelps is the one that got hit.
"It is a dangerous business to accuse those who disagree with you of moral and intellectual confusion," Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said. "Debate in our democracy is based upon respect, not vilification."
Old Ike from Missouri might have a point, except that we have a track record of Democrats leading by example as they respectfully carry on their debate. Here's prominent Democrat John Kerry's idea of debate based on respect, from his 2004 campaign for the presidency.
"Let me tell you, we've just begun to fight. We're going to keep pounding. These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen."
Sure, we'll just look to the Democrats to elevate the level of debate.
Comments