Vote Republican
In America, the best reason to vote Republican is the Democratic Party. The privation of political sense has made the much criticized two-party system if not monolithic, very close to it. It is difficult to vote enthusiastically when there is no substantial alternative, something as true in America as elsewhere.
Take a quick look back at the political fortunes and strategies of recent democratic nominees. Al Gore, before he became an outspoken proponent for the environment, calculated the tone of his political voice. At the presidential debate, Gore wore a blue tie (fiscally conservative) while Bush wore a red tie (compassionate conservative). Pandering to the middle is part of the political process, yet, when leading to obscurantism, it comes very close to propaganda. Gore lost.
The argument used to propel John Kerry to the nomination for president was that he was a Vietnam War veteran. The conventional wisdom was that after 9/11 the democrats must appear tough on national security. Kerry’s credentials were impeccable. Kerry decided to fight the election on the economy. The republicans trashed Kerry, for his anti-Vietnam stance. We were to be witness to the bizarre spectacle of Kerry, nominated because of his veteran credentials fighting a campaign on the economy and being attacked as a radical and labeled a “flip-flop”; the mud stuck.
Once again, we hear the war cry of “I can win”, from Hillary Clinton this time. It would be much better to lose on our principles than on their tatters. We expect the right-wing to shoot animals and dawn the cloak of the one true faith to connect with voters, but not democrats. Leadership: we must not merely follow the polls, but determine them.
The gloomy flight from a real alternative in American politics is enough to drive the left to vote Republican. When the differences between candidates are marginal, it is more important to shape the political process than the outcome of any one election. It would take a sort of courage that bends the mind to consider voting for the right but that is how far the democrats have taken the left wing in the United States.
Take a quick look back at the political fortunes and strategies of recent democratic nominees. Al Gore, before he became an outspoken proponent for the environment, calculated the tone of his political voice. At the presidential debate, Gore wore a blue tie (fiscally conservative) while Bush wore a red tie (compassionate conservative). Pandering to the middle is part of the political process, yet, when leading to obscurantism, it comes very close to propaganda. Gore lost.
The argument used to propel John Kerry to the nomination for president was that he was a Vietnam War veteran. The conventional wisdom was that after 9/11 the democrats must appear tough on national security. Kerry’s credentials were impeccable. Kerry decided to fight the election on the economy. The republicans trashed Kerry, for his anti-Vietnam stance. We were to be witness to the bizarre spectacle of Kerry, nominated because of his veteran credentials fighting a campaign on the economy and being attacked as a radical and labeled a “flip-flop”; the mud stuck.
Once again, we hear the war cry of “I can win”, from Hillary Clinton this time. It would be much better to lose on our principles than on their tatters. We expect the right-wing to shoot animals and dawn the cloak of the one true faith to connect with voters, but not democrats. Leadership: we must not merely follow the polls, but determine them.
The gloomy flight from a real alternative in American politics is enough to drive the left to vote Republican. When the differences between candidates are marginal, it is more important to shape the political process than the outcome of any one election. It would take a sort of courage that bends the mind to consider voting for the right but that is how far the democrats have taken the left wing in the United States.
Labels: 2008 American election, two-party system
posted by Anoop Gupta at 00:33
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