Nothing to Fear but Karl Rove himself

[October]

Editorial in Philadelphia Inquirer...



Nothing to fear but Karl Rove himself

By Leonard Pitts Jr.

Karl Rove said in a speech on Jan. 20 that this year's midterm election will be about security. So you know it will be about fear.

It'd be nice to be able to take President Bush's chief political adviser at his word. Consider where we stand 52 months after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Hurricane Katrina has shown that the government could not effectively manage a catastrophe whose place and time it knew "in advance." The same storm revealed that first responders are still unable to communicate because their radios are incompatible, "four years" after the inability of emergency agencies to speak with one another emerged as one of the signature failings of 9/11.
Meanwhile, questions remain about the efficacy of airport security. And just last month, members of the 9/11 commission, five Republicans and five Democrats who were tasked with investigating the tragedy, gave the government failing grades in its response to the terror threat.

So yes, a national conversation about security could hardly be more timely. But it would be naive to think that's what Rove meant when he addressed the Republican National Committee in Washington.

Experience tells us that with this crew, "security" is just a code word for fear. So this election will hinge on making people think terrorists are going to get 'em if they don't vote Republican. In a sense, you can't blame Rove. With apologies to Garrett Morris, fear "been beddy beddy good" to the White House. That's why Sept. 11 has become Team Bush's fallback position, its default reply to every hard question

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/13745333.htm


(I've never before posted here...sorry for any mistakes.)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

1. From Newsweek:

Part of President Bush genuinely wants to be fiscally responsible. Another part of him sorely wants to skewer Democrats on taxes in 2008 if they try to let his tax cuts expire. Part of President Bush genuinely wants to lead a harmonious and united nation in the long battle against Islamist terrorists. Another part of him sorely wants to silence his Democratic critics and portray them as weaklings in November.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11126201/site/newsweek/

[John Grevstad]

2. Best part of the article

Amen to this:

"Make no mistake: America is not for wimps. It takes guts to be an American in the largest sense of that word, to believe in the rule of law, the freedom of dissent, the dignity of woman and man even when - "especially" when - it is more expedient not to. To be an American is to commit a daily act of faith."
Leonard Pitts

[October]

3. Yes, and the preceding paragraph to that, as well...here

"Ultimately, though, my concern is not the Democrats. Because what is at stake this year is not the fortunes of a party but the character of a nation. The choice is simple: remain true to the ideals that have guided us for 230 years or surrender them on the altar of expedience because we were too scared to live up to them."


Full editorial:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/13745333.htm