The Concession Speech We'd Like to Hear

[Wakie]

The concession speech I wish Kerry would have given.


My fellow Americans, the people of this nation have spoken, and spoken with a clear voice. So I am here to offer my concession.
[Boos, groans, rending of garments]

I concede that I overestimated the intelligence of the American people.  Though the people disagree with the President on almost every issue, you saw fit to vote for him. I never saw that coming.  That's really special. And
I  mean "special" in the sense that we use it to describe those kids who ride the short school bus and find ways to injure themselves while eating pudding with rubber spoons. That kind of special.

I concede that I misjudged the power of hate.  That's pretty powerful stuff, and I didn't see it. So let me take a moment to congratulate the President's strategists: Putting the gay marriage amendments on the ballot in various
swing states like Ohio... well, that was just genius. Genius. It got people, a certain kind of people, to the polls.  The unprecedented number of folks who showed up and cited "moral values" as their biggest issue, those people changed history. The folks who consider same sex marriage a more important issue than war, or terrorism, or the economy.  Who'd have thought the election would belong to them? Well, Karl Rove did. Gotta give it up to him for that. [Boos.]

Now, now.  Credit where it's due.

I concede that I put too much faith in America's youth. With 8 out of 10 of you opposing the President, with your friends and classmates dying daily in a war you disapprove of, with your future being mortgaged to pay for rich old peoples' tax breaks, you somehow managed to sit on your asses and
watch the Cartoon Network while aging homophobic hillbillies carried the day.

You voted with the exact same anemic percentage that you did in 2000. You suck. Seriously, y'do. [Cheers, applause]

Thank you.  Thank you very much.

There are some who would say that I sound bitter, that now is the time for healing, to bring the nation together. Let me tell  you a little story. Last night, I watched the returns come in with some friends. As the night progressed, people began to talk half-seriously about secession, a red state / blue state split. The reasoning was this:  We in blue states produce the vast majority of the wealth in this country and pay the most taxes, and you in the red states receive the majority of the money from those taxes while complaining about 'em.  We in the blue states are the only ones who've been attacked by foreign terrorists, yet you in the red states are gung ho to fight a war in our name. We in the blue states produce the entertainment that you consume so greedily each day, while you in the red states show open disdain for us and our values. Blue state civilians are the actual victims and targets of the war on terror, while red state civilians are the ones standing behind us and yelling "Oh, yeah!  Bring it on!"

More than 40% of you Bush voters still believe that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11. I'm impressed by that, truly I am. Your sons and daughters who might die in this war know it's not true, the people in the urban centers where al Qaeda wants to attack know it's not true, but those of you who are at practically no risk believe this easy lie because you can. As part of my concession speech, let me say that I really envy that luxury. I concede that.

Healing? We, the people at risk from terrorists, the people who subsidize you, the people who speak in glowing and respectful terms about the heartland of America while that heartland insults and excoriates us.  We wanted some healing. We spoke loud and clear. And you refused to give it to us, largely because of your "high moral values."  You knew better: America doesn't need its allies, doesn't need to share the burden, doesn't need to unite the world, doesn't need to provide for its future. Hell no. Not when
it has a human shield of pointy-headed, atheistic, unconfrontational breadwinners who are willing to pay the bills and play nice in the vain hope of winning a vote that we can never have. Because we're "morally inferior," I suppose, we are supposed to respect your values while you insult ours. And the big joke here is that for 20 years, we've done just that.  It's not a "ha-ha" funny joke, I realize, but it's a joke all the same.

And I make this pledge to you today: THIS time, next time, there will be no pandering. This time I will run with all the open and joking contempt for my opponents that our President demonstrated towards the cradle of liberty,
the Ivy League intellectuals, the "media elite," and the "white-wine sippers." This time I will not pretend that the simple folk of America know just as much as the people who devote their lives to serving and studying the nation and the world. They don't.  So that's why I'm asking for your vote in 2008, America. I'm talking to you, you ignorant, slack-jawed yokels, you bible-thumping, inbred drones, you redneck, racist, chest-thumping, perennially duped grade-school grads.  Vote for me, because I know better, and I truly believe that I can help your smug, sorry asses.

Thank you, and may God bless each and every one of you.

[Wakie]

Well hey Kerry surrogate:  you friggin' lost so crap and bark at the moon you troll.

Everyone who disagrees with you is labeled a troll.  I post something which is clearly intended for humor and I'm a troll.

You know what?  I'm sick of playing nice with you guys.  Throw insults at me and I reply rationally.  Enough of it.  If you can't see humor and sarcasm then go get bent shank.  Or actually contribute some content (either humor or a meaningful post).  So far all I've seen from you is venom and namecalling.

[Wakie]

My post was an attempt at humor.  Poor taste humor, but I was amused by it.  I think some of you really do believe that somehow posting on a random political message board is going to influence elections.  Sad.

As for the Engineer's claim of "inaccuracies" in my post, let's discuss 'em.

The Gay Marriage Ban was a blatant attempt by the right-wing to turn out their base in certain states (OH, OR, LA, MI).  It certainly worked.  And it certainly is a play to bigots in our society.  I'm sorry but if you are against giving a gay couple the same rights as a straight couple then you are a bigot.  They aren't interfering in your relationship, why should you interfere in their relationship?

I absolutely agree with you that morality is more than just who sleeps together.

Morality is about honesty.  And we have a President who lied to the American people about why we should go to war.  The President even lies about what he says (see his debate comment where lied about saying he doesn't think that much about Bin Laden).

Morality is about integrity.  To me Bush lost all integrity when he came to Pittsburgh for a fund raiser proudly boasting about the steel tariffs he had put in place.  2 days later he lifted them.  Now regardless of whether you think they were good or bad, Bush clearly misled the people of Pittsburgh.  He knew he was lifting those tariffs.  But as long as there was campaign money to collect he was going to play on them.

Morality is about the sanctity of life.  But President Bush is a huge supporter of the death penalty.  Also, although President Bush wants to eliminate all abortions, and that sounds nice, it doesn't account for those which are necessary to save the life of the mother.  So I guess the life of a pregnant woman isn't that important to Bush.

Morality is about why and when to go to war.  Bush didn't go into Iraq to disarm a dictator.  The world is full of dictators.  Look at Sudan.  Bush isn't doing anything about that.  The Reagan administration (which Bush's father and Dick Cheney were part of) built up Saddam.  They sold him the chemical weapons he used on his own people.  We knew he used them on his own people.  Don't play the Bush/Iraq Morality card.  It is an absolute failure.

Morality is about a "host of other things".  Morality is about taking care of your fellow man.  "What you do to the least of my brothers you do to me."  But the GOP can't wait to cut social programs which help the poor.

I'm sorry but George W Bush may talk a lot about religion, but he is not a moral man.

[Wakie]

Blah blah blah.  You know I really don't care if you believe me.  I have nothing to gain or to lose.  So, believe it was meant to be humor or don't.

BTW, I'm not "blaming" anything for the lose of this election and certainly not religion.

Just remember, over the next 4 years whenever the government screws something up that is the Republicans screwing it up.  You control all 3 branches.  You have more control now than we did in '92-'94.

Hope Smarmy George doesn't fall off the wagon.

[Wakie]

This is an excellent example of why the Democrats will continue to lose until they change their image.

Calling voters dumb doesn't win a lot of votes.  Neither does contempt.

Yes, I personally am responsible for the Democratic Party image.

Does this mean StatesRights is personally responsible for the Republican Party image?  What was it he said today on the Congressional Board?  Ahh yes, "your party (Democrats) hates America and its freedom.  You're a bunch of latte sipping, limps who love Europe."

What was it that Jim Quinn (a prominent conservative talk show host in Pittsburgh) said the day of the election?  "If you don't vote for George W Bush you are a traitor to America.  And a morally bankrupt idiot."

What was it that President George W Bush said about where "the real work of America is done"?  Ah yes, in the middle of the country.  Implying that no work is done in cities along our coast lines.

But me ... one little random guy on a random political website ... I am a great affront.

[Wakie]

1) Trying to link illegitimacy to gay marriage is a pathetic stretch and I challenge you to provide a real source to back up such an argument.  It is like arguing that people who like the color blue are more inclined to have skin cancer.  One does not relate to the other.  Trying to pretend it does demonstrates your lack of understanding of cause and relation.

2) When asked about Bin Laden, Bush DID in fact say "You know I don't spend that much time on him.  I don't really think about him."  Denying that Bush said this is BLATANTLY lying.  Now you can try and spin WHY he said it, but he did say it.

3) Ok, so according to you, when Bush said, "These safeguard measures have now achieved their purpose and as a result of changed economic circumstances, it is time to lift them." about the steel tariffs he was lying?  According to you he was forced to do it by the WTO NOT because of "changed economic circumstances"?

4) Who sold Saddam chemical weapons?  The US.  Who facilitated the deal?

5) When I have a little more time I'll provide a list of all the programs cut by Bush.

6) Your blind devotion to the Republican Party and refusal to admit any wrongdoing by it is, in a word, sad.

[Wakie]

You are a flaming idiot with a snotty attitude.  Your learning curve is non-existent.  You keep coming back with the same old tired crap and DNC talking points, and every time you get the same dominating rebuttal from some GOPer on the board.  When are you going to figure out that your attacks have no merit whatsoever?

You are an insulting little man who clearly cannot hold a rational conversation without turning to insults.  Some day you're going to come to the realization that there is good and there is bad in both parties.

GAY MARRIAGE
Years ago interracial marriage was taboo.  Many argued that allowing an interracial marriage was against biblical teachings and altered the nature of marriage.  Today I think we can agree that is ridiculous.

As for the argument about marriage, I do not believe that the state forms a marriage.  They can give certain legal rights to a couple who wishes to be recognized as married, but only GOD can form a marriage.  That being said, any 2 sane adults who want to be recognized by the state as married should be able to be recognized by the state as married.  This doesn't mean that any church or any outside individual has to think of them as married, but they do have to respect their rights.


BUSH BIN LADEN QUOTE
Ahh ... I see, so parsing a Bush quote is no fair but when the Bushies parsed a Kerry quote it was ok?  I see ... very nice.  Double standard.  Well done.


STEEL TARIFFS AND THE WTO
Actually the dropping of the steel tariffs had less to do with the WTO and more to do with the threat by European nations to impose tariffs on American goods.  They had been saying this for weeks.  The White House knew it was contemplating dropping the tariffs.  But Bush's political arm wanted to grab the last bit of money he could get before they were dropped.  It was a sleazy move.  Typical of a politician.


SADDAM CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Do you really need the history on this??

In 1981 US Sec of State, Alexander Haig reported to the Senate foreign relations committee that the relationship between the Soviet Union and Iraq was breaking down.  An opportunity existed for the US to become "friendly" with Iraq (who were currently at war with Iran).  They jumped at it.

Donald Rumsfeld was dispatched as a representative.  Using its allies in the Middle East, Washington funnelled huge supplies of arms to Iraq. Declassified State Department cables described covert transfers of howitzers, helicopters, bombs and other weapons to Baghdad in 1982-83 from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait.  The January 1, 1984 Washington Post reported that the US had “informed friendly Persian Gulf nations that the defeat of Iraq in the three-year-old war with Iran would be ‘contrary to US interests' and has made several moves to prevent that result”.

A 1994 US Senate report revealed that US companies were licenced by the commerce department to export a “witch's brew” of biological and chemical materials, including bacillus anthracis (which causes anthrax) and clostridium botulinum (the source of botulism). The American Type Culture Collection made 70 shipments of the anthrax bug and other pathogenic agents.  The report also noted that US exports to Iraq included the precursors to chemical warfare agents, plans for chemical and biological warfare facilities and chemical warhead filling equipment. US firms supplied advanced and specialised computers, lasers, testing and analysing equipment.

Former US Intelligence operatives have come forward to say not only were we providing Iraq with the materials to make chemical weapons, we had experts there to show them how.

On March 16, 1988, Iraqi forces launched a poison gas attack on the Iraqi Kurdish village of Halabja, killing 5000 people. While that attack is today being touted by senior US officials as one of the main reasons why Hussein must now be “taken out”, at the time Washington's response to the atrocity was much more relaxed.

On September 8, 1988, the US Senate passed the Prevention of Genocide Act, which would have imposed sanctions on the Hussein regime. Immediately, the Reagan administration announced its opposition to the bill, calling it “premature”. The White House used its influence to stall the bill in the House of Representatives. When Congress did eventually pass the bill, the White House did not implement it.


SOCIAL PROGRAM CUT BY BUSH
I think we can both agree that this administration spends uncontrollably.  That being said, I'd argue that what they spend on isn't necessarily what I would spend on.  38 different programs in the Dept of Education (including school counseling and programs designed to improve poor children's reading skills) were killed by this administration.  Bush cut funding for water projects, rural conservation, aid to state and local law enforcement agencies, the Amtrak passenger railroad, and federal prisons.

It is interesting to note that Bush proposed increasing defense spending by 7% (not including Iraq and Afghanistan costs this year and next) and domestic security by 10%.  To pay for much of this Bush proposed outright cuts in the budgets of 7 of the 16 Cabinet-level agencies, including Agriculture, Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency.

[Wakie]

I find it amazing that you agree that Bush is sending this nation "down a road of ruin" but yet you won't vote for the one guy who had a chance of removing him from office.

I'll agree that John Kerry's positions on the issues weren't always black and white.  You know why?  Because not every issue is black and white!

Was he for the war in Iraq?  Yes.
Then why is he complaining about it?  Because the Bush administration did it half-assed and didn't plan for the long-term ramifications of occupying Iraq!

What about the Iraqi aid package (which includes the body armour) and vote for and then against it?  Kerry supported body armor for the troops, he opposed the additional pork that was attached to the bill (including building a parade ground for a military base which had long since been closed).

But how could he vote against it and then for it?  Well, time for a civics lesson everyone!  A bill can be voted on MANY times.  Each incarnation of the bill can have different amendments attached to it.  Kerry voted for the original bill.  Then the GOP-controlled Congress refused to pass it unless they got the chance to pile some pork on top.  THAT is when he voted against it.

What about gay marriage?  He believes marriage is a man-woman relationship.  But he also realizes THAT is a religious belief and that you must draw a distinction between religion and government.  As a Catholic he holds fast to "thou shall have no other gods before the one true God".  But that doesn't mean he will create a law banning the worship of non-Christian dieties!

What about John Edwards?  Yes, John Edwards was picked purely for his 'likability'.  Poll after poll after poll showed that John Edwards was America's top pick for VP (after John McCain).  So, after McCain declined the nomination, Kerry followed the will of the people and chose Edwards.

Now, my piece of advice for you if you REALLY want to build a third party.  Start small and build momentum.  Go after state and local elections!  Grab a seat or two in Congress.  Don't be so arrogant as to believe that you can just go out and grab the Presidency!  Badnarik and Nader were both running without a chance of winning.  They were just on ego-trips!

[Wakie]

I concede that I misjudged the power of hate. 

Yep when the people on your side are calling the other candidate worse than Hitler it has tendency to hurt you not help you so he did misjudge it. Glad you wanted to see him say tha Wakie.

That was a few wacko's, it was not a party-wide thing.

Okay Michael Moore hated Bush so much he was willing to bind the truth every which way in order to tarnish the President. Howard Dean entertained theories that the President knew about Sept. 11th before it happened... Sorry but from what I saw the Democrats were a machine blinded by perhaps not a hate but a severe dislike for President Bush.. Remember all the ABBers? Both sides of their radicals the Republicans just did a much better job at hiding theirs then the Democrats did.

That is just my opinion take it or leave, shove it in the trash, frame it and put it over your fire place I dont care

I don't remember Dean entertaining theories that Bush knew about 9/11 before it happened.  I'd love to know the basis for your charges there.

I cannot understand how someone can say the left has more whackos than the right.  Just watch the conventions!  The left had a very temperate convention focused on policy disagreement.  The right had Zell "I challenge you to a Duel" Miller and Dick "vote for me or die" Cheney.

[Wakie]

HOWARD DEAN
Not to be rude here, but did you read that article about Dean?  Directly from it .... "Although Dean said he does not believe Bush was tipped off about the assaults that killed nearly 3,000, he has made no apologies for raising the rumor."  And the context in which he brought up the rumor was in saying that as long as information is supressed about what the government knew and when they knew it, people are going to develop outlandish theories.


JENNIFER ANNISTON & MARGARET CHO
Since when do the statements of 2 private citizens reflect on an entire political party?  I could cite dozens of quotes from Rush Limbaugh, Neil Borts, or any of the other Republican "talking heads".


THE REST
As you acknowledge, the crap flies from both sides.  But pretending that more flies from the left than the right is just plain blind.

[Wakie]

Are you seriously saying you don’t understand what Dean said?  His point is plain and simple, if the government refuses to tell us what it knew and when it knew it people are going to come up with outlandish theories.

Now, in response to your bet that I couldn’t come up with an expletive ridden tirade … well, it isn’t expletive ridden, but read Jackie Mason’s comments about Clinton in 1998, http://www.jewishsf.com/bk980710/etbill.htm  I guess the Republicans leave the expletives for the VP.

You asked for Republican ‘hate’ comments so here ya go ….

-Dick Cheney very famously told Americans that if they don’t vote for him they would be attacked.

-On his tv show Rush Limbaugh very famously compared a then 13-y/o Chelsea Clinton to a dog.  (IMHO this was the ALL-TIME low in American politics.)

-Dick Armey repeatedly has attacked openly gay Congressman Barney Frank, calling him “Barney Fag”.  He even did it in an interview with a number of reporters.  http://archive.datalounge.com/datalounge/news/record.html?record=9187

-“Mr. Clinton better watch out if he comes down here. He’d better have a bodyguard.”  Jesse Helms threatens the President of the United States

-“One might have that [homosexual] lifestyle, but if one promotes it as acceptable behavior… I don’t think they should be a representative of this country.”  Sen Don Nickles

-"Robert Black, the [Texas] state [Republican] party spokesman, called them [Log Cabin] a 'hate group' and compared them to the Ku Klux Klan." [This occurred after Log cabin Republicans (a gay republican group) tried to attend the Texas Republican State convention.] - NY Daily News 6/24/98

-There were Alan Keyes comments on homosexuality …
" 'Hitler and his supporters were Satanists and homosexuals.  That's just a true statement.'   He added, 'The notion that is involved in homosexuality, the unbridled sort of satisfaction of human passions' leads to 'totalitarianism,' 'Nazism,' and 'communism.' "

-Pat Robertson told his tv audience to pray that God kill off “liberal Supreme Court Judges”.

-"Even Islamic terrorists don't hate America like liberals do."  Ann Coulter

-Ross Perot (yeah I know he is technically an independent but technically so is Bill Maher) compares Bill Clinton to Hitler. http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a360f8d25189c.htm

-Remember when Trent Lott told a room full of people that if America had elected Strom Thurmond (and his segregation platform) President “we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years”.

-“When you see a blonde with great tits and a great ass you say to yourself, ‘Hey she must be stupid or must have nothing else to offer’”  Arnold Schwarzenegger, July 2003 Esquire Magazine Interview … I included this to reinforce what a stand up guy Arnie is

-“I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.”  George HW Bush 8/27/87 at O’Hare Airport

-“You say you’re supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing.  Nonsense.  I don’t have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist.”  Pat Robertson, 700 Club, 1/14/91

-“Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians.”  Pat Robertson at the ’92 Republican Convention

-“Most of these feminists are radical, frustrated lesbians, many of them, and man-haters, and failures in their relationships with men, and who have declared war on the male gender.  The Biblical condemnation feminism has to do with its radical philosophy and goals.”  Jerry Falwell

-“Men in the pro-choice movement are either women trapped in men’s bodies or younger guys who are like camp followers looking for easy sex.”  Rep Bob Dornan (R-CA)

-“We can support our troops without supporting our president.”  Trent Lott in 1999 (and I agree with him … just included this one for fun)


-“I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America.   I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped (Sept. 11) happen.’”  Jerry Falwell

[Wakie]

MARRIAGE
Once again, I repeat, as a Christian I believe that only God can form a marriage.  The state can confirm that two people are legally “married” and therefore entitled to the legal rights and responsibilities of such.  If you don’t understand the difference (and are a Christian) then I direct you to your priest/pastor/minister.

PARSING QUOTES
If you want an example of how Bush would parse quotes how about the “Global Test” quote.  Kerry clearly said “I will not surrender America’s right to pre-emptive action.”  Then a sentence or two later he said “but we must explain to the American people why we are going to war … it has to pass …” and he hesitated looking for a term to describe it “the global test”.  Now all YOUR said heard were those last 3 words.  Your side repeated it over and over and over.  Clearly though Kerry was saying that for America to take pre-emptive action we have to be able to explain why we are taking it to the American people.

STEEL AND THE WTO
You are really grabbing at straws.  The US Government is not a bunch of idiots.  We knew what was coming.  Bush certainly knew what was coming.  But it was worth a few campaign dollars to keep quiet about it.

SADDAM CHEMICAL WEAPONS
The link you requested … http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20911FA38590C7B8DDDA10894DA404482

SOCIAL CUTS BY CUTS
I stand by my statements.  Bush spends uncontrollably on defense and pays for it by cutting from domestic spending (including the Justice Dept) and borrowing from future generations.  I might be ok with this if there wasn’t such horrible accountability from the DoD.  I’ve said this over and over and over, it really is time for another Truman commission to reduce graft, corruption, and waste in the DoD.

[Wakie]

Soulty, all of the things I listed WERE said/done.  I saw the episode of Limbaugh's show where he pulled the Chelsea Clinton thing.  It has been well documented.  But hey, live in denial if you want.

Second point, you belittle my listing a quote from the spokesman of the Texas state Republican party.  You compare it to "Joe Schmo down the street".  I'm sorry but I think the statements made by a party spokesman from one of our larger states is more relevant than statements made by Margaret Cho.  These quotes were listed in response to John Ford complaining about not having conservative alternatives to Wildcard's quotes (which included Margaret Cho and Jennifer Anniston quotes).

Third point, if conservatives disowned Alan Keyes a long time ago why did you run him for the Senate in Illinois?

Merry Christmas

[Wakie]

Soulty, all of the things I listed WERE said/done.  I saw the episode of Limbaugh's show where he pulled the Chelsea Clinton thing.  It has been well documented.  But hey, live in denial if you want.

Second point, you belittle my listing a quote from the spokesman of the Texas state Republican party.  You compare it to "Joe Schmo down the street".  I'm sorry but I think the statements made by a party spokesman from one of our larger states is more relevant than statements made by Margaret Cho.  These quotes were listed in response to John Ford complaining about not having conservative alternatives to Wildcard's quotes (which included Margaret Cho and Jennifer Anniston quotes).

Third point, if conservatives disowned Alan Keyes a long time ago why did you run him for the Senate in Illinois?

Merry Christmas

Whoever heard of the Republican Party spokesman from Texas?  Who ever heard f Howard Dean, Al Gore or Jennifer Aniston?  Big difference, wouldn't you say?

I certainly didn't run Keyes in Illinois, nor did anyone else from this forum or anybody else that I know and or have heard from for that matter.  Keyes acctually ran himself, it seems to me.

So ... according to you what Jennifer Anniston says is more important than what is more important than ... let's say Robert McCallum.  And Jennifer Anniston, a private citizen, is more reflective of a political party than someone whose job it is to speak for said party.  I'm sorry but that is backwards priorities.

And while you personally may not have run Alan Keyes, your party DID endorse him as its candidate.  See when I talk about what I disagree with the GOP about I'm not attacking you personally I'm just talking about what I view to be bad decisions by the GOP.