Such are the sometimes "un-intended consequences" of a particular election in a "representative" democratic "republic".
The outcome and margin of victory are unpredictable, but the "message of the voters" has already been set into type by the corporate-statist media. (unless of course the ever present possibility of an "indecision" results, replete with charges and counter-charges of "shenanigans" and lawsuits etc. Late registrations, overseas and military ballots could once again provide the fodder for a prolonged and bitter determination process.)
If Ned Lamont wins big, the Posts of NY and D.C. will trumpet something like:
"DEMS CHOOSE SURRENDER IN WAR ON TERROR"
and if he wins by a narrow margin you will see such headlines as:
"DEM ANTI-WAR 'INSURGENTS' CLAIM FIRST VICTIM"
of course they are also ready for the anti-conventional wisdom result with:
"PRO-WAR DEM SURVIVES ANTI-WAR CHALLENGE"
or more likely:
"CT DEMS STAY THE COURSE"
Either way the "message" will revolve around a single issue, setting the stage in the battle for control of the House and Senate in another 90 days, much to the benefit of Karl Rove and the GOP. For quite simply, on the single issue of President Bush's policies in the "War On Terror", the GOP is united and the Democratic Party is still divided.
And with a "war" raging in Lebanon that shows no sign of abatement in the foreseeable future, a "civil war" continuing to escalate in "liberated" Iraq requiring more, not fewer U.S. troops, not to mention the fighting in Sudan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka, nor the soap-opera that is the Iranian quest for nuclear weapons and the suddenly quiet North Korea. Add in the mutual expelling of diplomats by India and Pakistan as fallout from the Bombay bombings of 11July, (remember them?) and you have more than enough "news" to keep the American electorate fixated upon a single issue well into November.
"Scaring the Hell" out of Americans has been a successful political tactic for well over a century. (see Pancho Villa, the "Zimmerman Telegram", Truman's "Cold War", Cuban Missile Crisis, Gulf of Tonkin (42nd Anniversary today) Ollie North's "Communist Invasion" from South/Central America, on up to and including of course, Saddam's "WMD"s.
Exploiting American's historical reluctance to "changing horses" in the middle of a "war" is not difficult nor is it stupid politics. (except in the long term interests of the nation, but then what political party cares about that?) Not even another spectacular "disaster" overseas or in the U.S. would likely convince voters to "make the change", indeed quite possibly the opposite, especially after the statist-media have their say about it.
So tomorrow's primary in Connecticut gives a few Americans yet another "second chance" to begin the "turning away" from the disastrous policies of the current Administration. Will they take it? I do not know, but I am confident that I do know how the results will be "spun".
A "Journey of a thousand miles", so it is said, "begins with a single step". And make no mistake, the U.S. certainly has at least 1000 miles ahead of it in the journey to fully and finally become the ideal that was the inspiration of it's creation, a "shining beacon of LIBERTY", and away from it's current incarnation as "just a bit better than all the tyrannies that preceded it".
But that "single step" requires "leadership". Americans have historically been led by an active minority empowered by an "idea". The American Revolution, Abolition, Prohibition, Civil Rights Movement, etc. are but a few examples. And now it is Connecticut's turn to provide leadership, to set the example, to tell others who oppose the current policies and the ethos that supports it, that they are not alone, and most importantly, to show that, "it can be done".
I am not a believer in the value and validity of elections as a rule, but every now and then one comes along that has a chance to really matter. I believe tomorrow's election fits into that category. So, contrary to my predisposition, I say to those people in Connecticut who desire a change, "Go Vote".
It just might, might I say, MATTER!
stephenhsmith
7Aug2006
