National Divide Only In the Minds of the Leftist Elites

Read my opinion here... http://bbs2.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?



Keep D&D Civil!!

 

Victor Davis Hanson is a far right conservative.

 

Wow, an essay that's nothing more than a glorified letter to the editor. It's no even handed just because you say so. Also, this guy doesn't really try to back up any of his assertions.

 

past Hoover Institution fellows:

Newt Gingrich,
Condoleezza Rice
Donald Rumsfeld,
George P. Schultz

 

What a pathetic article you posted!

 

Appart from the inflamitory language (elites, rants, sermons, mythodramas, etc) not a bad insight.

Maybe we're not as divided as the talking heads make out. There are no riots...things have been more heated in the past. (Deck -- is it truly more passioned than the 60/70's???).

If people felt the situation was half as bad as the rhetoric out there, they'd be absolutely consumed. Yet it doesn't appear so. While there are marches and demonstrations, they're more of a sunday gathering, bring-the-family type affairs, then the angry civil rights and vietnam marches of the past.

Maybe its the 24/7 hundred channel 'everyones-a-pundit' world we live in where the need to be heard over the din sensationalizes everything. Or maybe that same world anesthesizes us at the same time.

 

my son was campaigning at a polling place yesterday in N.Harris Co and he had multiple old ladies flip him the bird - he was holding a Kerry/Edwards sign - ya see they need people to hold signs now since the nice Republicans stole hundreds of them through out Harris County this week

 

i agree with this 100%. this is not a nation divided. maybe a nation that's in disagreement...but it's ALWAYS been that. i see nothing to suggest that the populace is divided as they were during the Civil Rights Movement...or during Vietnam.

 

If something like 2000 happens again we'll find out how divided this country is. Considering the amount of passion and energy, and money, invested in this election its hard to imagine how either side is going to quietly accept controversial election returns.

 

How come its the rightward leaning people who don't think the country is divided yet polls are almost evenly split?

If the country wasn't divided it would seem to me that polls would heavily favor one side.

 

it was only in 2000 that one side couldn't accept the result. look at nixon in 1960. he had far more reason than al gore to be upset,and simply accepted the result. when asked why he didn't challenge the results in illinois, he said to do so would be "good for me, bad for the country." if kerry loses, will he show the same grace as nixon, or will he go to the mattresses?

 

no one is saying they're not split on who to vote for in the election. but that's vastly different than saying the country is divided. at least it is in my mind. this country has been truly divided in other times. i don't think it's close to that right now.

 

The situations are similar but not the same. I don't think there were official recounts done in 1960 and Nixon didn't win the popular vote.

For what its worth my own opinion at the time was that Gore should've given it up after the first official recount was done because he would've lost anyway if it went to the FLA legislature.

I suspect if it happens again Kerry will fight it and if GW Bush ends up on the other side he will do the same.

 

True we're not fighting a civil war but if opinion polls have any bearing we are very politically divided.

 

but it's not like we're choosing between jefferson and hamilton here. i think this says a lot about how little people believe in either one of these guys.

for example...the last poll i saw of likely dem voters saw that 59% felt they were voting for Kerry...while 41% felt they were voting against Bush. there was similar stuff among Republicans when Dole ran against Clinton. i think the division is false...no one is really going to the mat for their own guy...no one feels deeply inspired...most feel disconnected...that neither really connects with them. except for the hardcore supporters on both sides, of course...but the vast majority goes, "eh...no matter who wins, not that much changes....even if i wish that weren't true."

 

They both got screwed. You can't change what happened though. Hopefully though we won't have a repeat of 2000. That will just make most americans distrust the process and the government (both parties) even more. If shrub loses a close one, as most of the republicans/neocons/shrub lovers think won't happen,do you think he can accept the results and go gently into that good night? I'm guessing he wouldn't, he just doesn't think it will happen.

 

Our country is so ripe for a reasonable and legitimate third party, it isn't even funny.

 

i've doubted that in the past...but i think you're probably right.