My consideration of the issues in this Presidential race takes a bit of a different turn from that of most people. I do share the concern about the continuation of our war on jihadists worldwide. But as big as that issue is, I think there is a fundamental tenet at work that most people are ignoring.
As little regard as I have for Senator Kerry, I don’t think he would be any worse as President than Jimmy Carter. My greatest fear is that his administration would simply be a Ted Kennedy Administration. Kennedy couldn’t get elected on his own. And, like Jesse Jackson, neither Kerry nor Kennedy really have any clue why they want to be President. They just do. Kerry will return to the philosophy of fighting jihadists through the courts, and the International Court as the mainstay. Wrong in all regards. Richard Holbrooke, his most likely Secretary of State, is a full-fledged internationalist. The UN will be our vehicle for foreign policy.
The real issue in this election isn’t the two personalities in the contest except as they mirror our internal conflict. Dubya is as centrist as you will ever see. He holds some very strong conservative views, yet appeals to some in the give-away culture we’ve built. Fortunately, he makes those give-away concessions with a conservative touch–ownership of yourself, choices for education, and a push for moving research back into the commercial arena. Jobs are created by entrepreneurs, not government. Kerry is the anti-candidate. Which is precisely what makes him appealing to a segment of our culture. He finds victims everywhere, and claims we are all victims of Dubya’s policies–both good and bad.
And this is the conflict this election represents. Are we to continue a path of personal ownership, or abandon ourselves to the decisions made for our “benefit” by our “betters”? A Bush win with a small margin will mean a continuation of the political sniping we’ve had for four years. And no, it was nowhere near this disingenuous suring the Clinton years. Dubya will continue to be plagued by the real ankle-biters in this country, people too small to work their way through a system they feel is stacked against them. MSM come to mind.
A Kerry win, on the other hand, will be vindication for the far left groups that have taken over the Democratic Party. This is my greatest concern. Legislation through judicial fiat and the drive to socialize every aspect of our society will appear to be within reach. And reach they will. As far as possible. There are very few people in this country who believe this would be a good thing. But that matters little. The extremists currently own the party. And they will expect payment after inauguration.
Actually, it may resonably be expected to be the end of their reign. There will be such a rush of activity to try and legislate their various agendas there will invariably be some internecine fighting which destroys some of the groups. Perhaps there is an up side to it all.
Really, then, this election comes down to whether we want to continue attempting to follow the Constitution, or Marxist social thought.
Good take.
The sad thing is that may take more calamity before the ‘wakeup call.’
It’s sad to think that the party of Harry Truman and even FDR (whatever you think if the politics)counts John Kerry as a worthy descendant.
Comment by Alex — October 4, 2004 @ 10:18 am