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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dale Baker who wrote (23205)	7/7/2006 2:25:37 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541457

One of these days I'm going to figure out what people really mean when they argue that criticism of any particular element of American policy means "you hate America and think the US can't get anything right." So far, it just stumps me. I think it's illogical, irrational, hysterical, with little or no basis in reality -- maybe I'm wrong? Maybe the 77% of Americans who don't approve of Bush all hate America? Or maybe there's some sort of self-reinforcing echo chamber (which I called Dittoheads but that's rude, I guess). Or what? It's mystified me for years. I feel like I am a Libertarian-Conservative but these people aren't from the same planet, much less the same party. Just.Don't.Get.It.

To: Dale Baker who wrote (23205)	7/7/2006 3:43:31 PM
From: Jim S	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541457

"That assertion was not made here..." Specifically? Probably not, but, that IS the gist of what comes out of the NYT, and that is the gist of many, if not most, of the posts here. "If you poll..." Polls reflect mostly what pollsters want them to reflect. Of course people are upset that we've lost, what, 2500 people? trying to help a country that seems to not appreciate it. I saw very little response to the national ads placed by the Kurds thanking the US for what we've done. Instead, we continue to hear negativity and criticism. Which is not to say that only good news should be published, or that only pro-US opinions should be heard. But how about some recognition for things that aren't negative in the constant drumbeat of the news cycle? Just because a policy doesn't work, it doesn't mean it was necessiarily a bad policy -- it could also mean that it is being undermined by competitors who would prefer to see the US fail for their own nationalistic reasons. Maybe a better prez could have done better, I don't know. But I'm pretty sure that neither Gore nor Kerry could have succeeded, either. In fact, I pretty sure their efforts to do anything would have been disastrous.