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| ...the struggle of freedom and responsibility... |
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Riding the Coattails of Those they Destroyed David Cheney If you listen to just about any conservative radio talk show lately, you'll sooner or later end up hearing from a Democratic caller saying that John Kerry will follow in the footsteps of previous wonderfully successful Democratic politicians. Specifically, you'll hear that we should all go out and vote for John Kerry because.... "well, Bill Clinton gave us a balanced federal budget and all of these big surpluses during the '90's.....and now look at what George Bush has done. The surpluses are gone and now we have these great big deficits because of the evil, mean spirited Republicans....." I have a theory about the 20 % of American voters who seem to think along these lines. 1) They're entirely sincere in this belief, and simply have the attention span of a houseplant. 2) They're not really that interested in facts, and their only connection to the news is MSNBC. 3) They know better, and just hate George Bush for whatever reason that they can think of. Bill Clinton balanced the federal budget and gave us all these big surpluses during the '90's, huh ? It might be wise to revisit relatively recent political history on a factual basis. Do the words 104th Congress ring a bell to anyone ? Ok, how about government shutdown ? School lunch program ? Destroying Medicare ? Tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans ? Alright, here's one I know everyone will remember....Newt Gingrich. Ok, now it's starting to come back to us..... It took Bill Clinton six or seven tries before he could write a budget which was scored as balanced by the Congressional Budget Office....and when he finally did, early in '96, it turned out to be quite close to what the evil Republicans wanted anyway. It was Republicans who dragged Bill Clinton to a balanced budget, welfare reform, and a few other items kicking and screaming. Now, does anyone remember who was blamed for the government shutdown ? Right....Republicans. The strength of the 104th Republican congress forced a budget standoff with Bill Clinton which led to the federal budget surpluses of the late 90's. It was sad to see as a result many honorable Republicans personally destroyed by one of the largest political/media smear campaigns in modern history. What is even more revolting is to hear many in the Democratic Party in general, and the Kerry campaign in particular, who are attempting to gain politically on the sacrifices made by the Republican 104th congress. It's sickening to watch these "gentlemen" cash in on the accomplishments of those who they personally and politically destroyed over the exact same issues in the previous decade. What's even more disgusting ? That our informed and educated American voters nod their heads and approve as the John Kerrys of the world pull the wool over their eyes one more time... "I have said so much, to prove how wary we ought to be in going into new schemes. We ought at least to know the whole of them, before we consent to a part. It will also behoove us to have an eye to the quarter from whence they come; whether they be directors, or their masters, and confederates; or men of fair and upright characters, whose souls are honest, and their hands clean. As to those who are known to have promoted the mighty cheat, and the ruin of their country; their infamy is so glaring, that, since they will not have modesty and remorse enough to hold their tongues, and to forbear meddling with the concerns of a people beggared by them, we ought to mind no more what they say, than the judge did the house-breaker, who, upon his trial, told his lordship, that he would swear the peace against him, for putting him in fear of his life." JOHN TRENCHARD AND THOMAS GORDON , CATO'S LETTERS, OR ESSAYS ON LIBERTY, CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT SUBJECTS (1737) |
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