I knew that already, so usually skip his stuff, but stumbled upon it via an unnamed link. Anyway, Rall has a bizarre, rambling piece complaing about how unfairly the Democrats are treated by the media:
Michael S. Dukakis served with honor in the U.S. Army for two years. Three decades later, he was ridiculed for riding in a tank while wearing a helmet and a goofy grin. George W. Bush, a simian-faced draft dodger, hitches a ride to an aircraft carrier decked out in full “Top Gun” regalia and CNN calls dubs him our “warrior president.”
Oooh boy. First, yes, Dukakis served in the military honorably. He still looked like a goofball sticking out of a tank. Plus, he wasn’t exactly George Patton. According to his official bio,
He served for two years in the United States Army, sixteen months of which he spent with the Support Group to the UN Delegation to the Military Armistice commission in Munsan, Korea.
Had he posed with a military clipboard, he’d have been fine. Bush didn’t look like a moron in a flight suit because he’s tall, athletic, and was actually a fighter pilot–even if very light on the fighter part.
Life isn’t fair to the Democrats. No matter how much they suck up to corporate CEOs, they can’t compete for contributions with Republicans who invite their backers to write legislation. Most registered voters are Democrats, but too many are disloyal swing voters and apathetic no-shows to assure victory. And even when Dems do win the most votes, cheating Republicans bully their way into office.
Uh huh. So, there are more Democrats but this advantage is obviated by the fact that many are too lazy to vote or too stupid to properly mark a ballot. Or to realize that you win the Presidency by winning more Electoral College votes than your opponent, not popular votes? Why is that the Republicans’ fault?
As things stand, Dems seem poised to get their collective ass kicked in ’04. While unified Republicans aren’t even bothering to hold presidential primaries next year, nine small-time Democrats are vying for the chance to take on a ruthless incumbent with bottomless pockets.
Umm, Ted, the reason the Republicans aren’t bothering to hold presidential primaries is BECAUSE THEY HAVE A POPULAR INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. Rather like the Democrats in 1996, when Clinton was able to run vicious ads against Bob Dole for months because Dole’s finances had been depleted winning the nomination. Incumbents have a huge advantage–if they’re popular. Get over it.
In theory Democrats should be able to beat Bush on the economy, but they won’t. Like Bush, President Reagan ran up staggering deficits during his first term. He likewise refused to create jobs or to stimulate the economy during a deepening recession. But thanks to the pageantry of incumbency and a few sound bytes, he won a landslide reelection over the decent but dull Walter Mondale.
Yes, Republican politicians have a magic job creation wand but won’t use it. Why? Because they’re mean. They’d rather lose their re-election bid because of a bad economy than provide magically-created jobs for the unemployed. That was supposed to be a secret.
(Hat tip: Heretical Ideas)
