The Party that Hates America Always Loses

[TO Kid]

I don't expect other voters to think like I do. They never have and they probably never will. I don't therefore conclude that I live in a country full of wicked, stupid people. I don't think the Westside of Los Angeles is a cesspool of idiocy and evil because it's full of people who vote over and over for Henry Waxman, whose hyperregulatory policies, demonization of various businesses, and love for ever-expanding Medicare entitlements I detest.

{snip}

I got fed up with Republicans in the late-90s because their loudest voices seemed to hate America. They turned me off, and they turned off a lot of other voters. Here's what I wrote after the 1998 midterm elections:

I told you so. The party that hates America will lose. The party that imagines no positive future, offers no "vision thing," will lose. The party that thinks it is better than the American people, that makes large segments of the voting public believe they are its enemy, that convinces people it wants the government to boss them around and destroy the things they love, will lose.

On November 3, that party was Republican. The GOP went down to humiliating defeat, losing close race after close race, plus many that weren't supposed to be close. The party lost its solid grip on the South and collapsed in California. It managed to lose seats in the House, an extraordinary result that even Democratic pundits failed to predict.

http://www.dynamist.com/weblog/archives/001447.html

Flame away if you like but I think she nailed it on why Kerry lost. Worth considering in the runup to 2008.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Excuse me!!! John Kerry does NOT hate America!

He fought for this Country and you imply that Kerry now "hates" America!!! :wtf:?

:grr:

[TO Kid]

4. If you read the article...

She wasn't referring to Kerry, she was referring to the tone of the post-election commentary going on from his supporters. The worst thing for the country would be for EITHER party to melt down like the Democrats are doing now- a viable opposition is essential in a free society, and you don't remain viable for long by insulting half the electorate.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. I am NOT an "America Hater"!

[TO Kid]

8. The question is, do you sound like one?

The fact is that if you insult half the country over the choice they made you'll never win.

[DBoon]

7. "you don't remain viable for long by insulting half the electorate."

So we may be rid of Bush yet? Or will we cease to be a free society?

[aquart]

2. First I would have to believe Kerry lost. He didn't.

So nothing she says is worth spit.

Just more kool aid.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[demnan]

6. "Keep on the Sunny Side"

as the old song says. I think we need to have a good hard look at ourselves, this doesn't mean we shouldn't investigate voter fraud, but it does mean that we need to address how we lost the common man.

[TO Kid]

9. Exactly

I had a look at another thread where it said essentially that. Most voters are not committed to either party, so you need to find out what issues concern them and focus on that.