Nov 1, 2004 | Dollars & Crosses
From Cox and Forkum:
We know that not all Kerry voters are primarily voting against Bush; and we know some Bush voters would vote for Bush no matter what. But in my opinion this cartoon captures what is motivating the large majority of voters on both sides. For Bush voters, fighting terrorism is the priority; for Kerry voters, fighting Bush is the priority.
I voted for Bush last week. Regular readers know that I have little good to say about Kerry's proposed policies. They also know that I've been critical of Bush's halting, apologetic pursuit of the war on terror (our first cartoon on that subject was in November 2001).
But because Bush correctly identified state-sponsors of terrorism as a primary target, and then followed through with deposing two terror-sponsoring regimes, and because Kerry has offered no alternative except to pursue the war more multilaterally (that is, commit the same mistakes Bush has made but as a matter of principle), and worse still, because Kerry would treat terrorism as a fundamentally criminal enterprise rather than the war it is, Bush remains the only short-term hope of holding back if not stopping Islamist terrorists and theocrats who threaten American and her allies. If re-elected, it would remain to be seen if Bush would prosecute the war as it should be. But he's the only candidate to come close to pursuing the correct course.
Two recent editorials do a much better job than I could of explaining why Bush should be supported with qualifications. The first is by TIA Daily's Robert Tracinski: Anti-Bushites for Bush.Kerry may not be the "perfect" candidate of the enemies of civilization -- but he is their candidate, nonetheless, and he must be defeated. Bush is far from being the perfect candidate for those who want a vigorous defense of civilization against murderous Islamic fanatics. But he is our candidate, such as he is, and he deserves our support. ...
September 11 demonstrated that it is necessary to topple and destroy the Middle Eastern regimes that use terrorism as a weapon against the West -- the principle behind the Bush Doctrine. The administration has applied that doctrine to two regimes, and they deserve credit for it. But even that is not enough, over the long term. Even if our leaders applied the Bush doctrine consistently (against Iran and Syria, for example) and backed it up with the maximum force available, that would still leave the question: then what? What would prevent the re-emergence of new terrorist regimes to replace the old ones?
The only long-term answer is that the Arab and Muslim worlds must be civilized. They must have imposed on them a better system of government, one that allows, for the first time in the Arab world, the material vibrancy of a relatively free economy and the spiritual vibrancy of the free exchange of ideas. This would do exactly what the clashing examples of East Berlin and West Berlin did in the Cold War: it would provide an unanswerable demonstration of the benefits of a free society on one side, contrasted to misery and oppression on the other side. It is, in my view, the most important thing that can be done in the military and political realm to defeat the philosophy that animates Islamic terrorism. ...
The choice, in short, is this. George Bush is a candidate who stands for a vigorous projection of American power to reshape the political structure of the Middle East, destroying the political underpinnings of Islamic terrorism -- but whose execution of that goal is continually undercut by compromise and appeasement. John Kerry is a candidate who stands for American withdrawal and passivity -- for whom any expression of American strength would be an act of compromise and appeasement.
George W. Bush cannot be trusted to fight the war properly, but John Kerry can be trusted to retreat.
Also, from Harry Binswanger: Vote for President Bush.The Bush doctrine, for all its timid, bumbling, and altruism-laced implementation, intends America to act, to use its military might offensively, even when half the world protests against it. Kerry's "instincts" are to negotiate, conciliate, and retreat.
It has been clear from the beginning of this overly long campaign that Kerry's fixation on "working with allies" does not represent a concern with any practical benefit to be attained but is an expression of his anti-American, anti-war views -- views essentially unchanged from his anti-Vietnam War days. Contrary to some of his more recent statements, Kerry does not think that Iraq in particular was "the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time": he thinks any military self-assertion by America is wrong.
I agree with both authors' contention that Bush's religiosity is a concern but not one that trumps the war.
Hopefully whoever wins Nov. 2 will do so by a wide margin. I, for one, do not want this presidential election to drag on like the last one.
Oct 31, 2004 | Dollars & Crosses
Reports that Martha Stewart is making her own food in prison illustrate the heroic actions of an unbreakable person. Prison will not get her down. Prison cannot tear her apart from her core value to make life more pleasant, no matter what the circumstances. This attitude is profoundly inspiring, completely American and eminently healthy.
Those who wanted to see Martha Stewart go to jail not over alleged violations of the law so much as to "cut her down a notch" will take no comfort in these reports. A woman who can find ways to brighten up even a prison term deserves not mockery or sneers, but the highest form of admiration one can muster.
In a world where so many demand something for nothing, it's beyond refreshing to see Martha Stewart make something out of nothing.Oct 31, 2004 | Dollars & Crosses
From MEMRI's "Arab and Iranian Media on the U.S. Presidential Election" [10/29/04]:
"In contrast, former Iranian foreign minister and exiled leader of the Iranian Freedom Movement opposition group Dr. Ibrahim Yazdi expressed his explicit support for Senator Kerry, saying that as president he would benefit Iran more. In an article in the reformist daily Sharq, Yazdi wrote that Bush was the Jews' "New Messiah" and that if he was reelected the U.S. would continue in its unilateral Middle East and Iranian policy. Bush, who would not be reelected again for a third term, would be able to implement his policy with greater determination, whereas if Kerry won the election, said Yazdi, he would seek cooperation with and consideration of the European Union countries, and even cooperation with Japan, China, and Russia. As a result of this policy of cooperation, the U.S. and Europe would change their policy in favor of Iran's nuclear program." [Sharq (Iran), September 11, 2004.]
See also: Endorsements for President Bush by John Lewis, Ph.D.Oct 29, 2004 | Dollars & Crosses
IRVINE, CA--The recent controversial decision by Interior Secretary Gale Norton to open up to oil and gas exploration 2.6 million acres in Utah, previously off limits as a potential "wilderness areas," is morally correct, says Dr. Andrew Bernstein, senior writer for the Ayn Rand Institute.
The conflicting values at the heart of this and most other environmental controversies are very clear, says Dr. Bernstein: "the value of human survival vs. the preservation of birds, snakes, insects, trees and rocks.
"Environmentalists allege that wildlife and ‘pristine' wilderness have value in and of themselves, apart from any use they have for man. Consequently, even when human prosperity requires industrial development of a wild area, they oppose it because of the ‘intrinsic value' of nature.
"To be a champion of human life on earth, one must uphold as a moral absolute the requirements of human life and well-being. No other consideration is relevant, certainly not the pseudo-rights of animals and vegetation."
Bernstein concludes that "industrial development, including that of oil and natural gas in America's western states, is an enormous boon to human living standards and life expectancies. Consequently, Secretary Norton's decision in this case to protect the rights of men to promote human life on earth is the only moral choice possible."
