Full Article Text
S A T U R D A Y , N O V E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 0 4Execute The Mentally Retardedby Michael in New York on
11/06/2004 06:38:00 PMDon't yell at me. That's what Nicholas D. Kristof of the NewYork Times says. If only Democrats would only executementally retarded people found guilty of murder, why they'dwin more elections. It might make them feel icky, but until theDemocrats are ready to compromise their principles, they'regoing to be stuck in the minority."I wish that winning were just a matter of presentation. But it'snot. It involves compromising on principles. Bill Clinton won hiscredibility in the heartland partly by going home to Little Rockduring the 1992 campaign to preside over the execution of amentally disabled convict named Ricky Ray Rector," writesKristof."There was a moral ambiguity about Mr. Clinton's clambering topower over Mr. Rector's corpse. But unless Democratscompromise, they'll be proud and true and losers."His suggestions: support the blurring of the line betweenchurch and state and encourage the faith-based programs thatprosyletize with our taxpayer dollar. (Don't you DARE help apoor, black woman get health planning that involves areference to condoms as protection against disease andpregnancy. But, sure, give her a little soup and afundamentalist sermon to go with it.)Also, stop getting so uptight over the Confederate flag, stopmoaning about the policemen gunned down by criminals withonce-illegal Uzis (and give their widows a Bible to comfortthem, I suppose), don't worry if those Uzis get into the handsof terrorists, and if a Supreme Court nominee of Bush's mightset the Court back ten years, don't put up a fuss becausepeople will claim you're an obstructionist.Is all of that idiotic or is it just me?Supporting our police is a winning stance with mainstreamAmerica. (And every police organization in the country isfurious that Bush is letting those automatic weapons get backon the streets. Every time a cop or innocent person is killed --press conference. That's not taking cynical advantage of thesituation -- that's standing up for our men and women in blue.)Ignoring the spread of the Confederate Flag -- which causesSouthern states business and is deeply offensive to our core --is sure to dismay black voters, one of the few dependablegroups the Dems can claim. They already feel slighted andtaken for granted. Imagine if the Dems told them objecting toa racist symbol that only appears on most state flags becausethe Southerners objected to desegregating schools was a wasteof time.Objecting to government funds going to Moonies,Scientologists, Falun Gong and other minor religions or cultswould play well for traditional Dems, fundamentalist Christiansand many others. (Lots of major religions are leery of gov'tfunding propping them up.)
HuffPost PoliticsChris Weigant: It's Time To Lead, Mr. President - Ina few hours from now, President Barack Obamawill give a live press conference to the nation. Thisis part of a new and...8 minutes ago
Daily KosWhat's the Rush? Almost 5 Million Lose Insurancein 9 Months - To give added emphasis to themessage we're likely to hear tonight fromPresident Obama, that we've talked healthcarereform to death and now is the time...9 minutes ago
Ben SmithHealth insurance reform - President Obama seemsto have re-labeled his legislative push: In excerptsof remarks prepared for tonight's presser, he refersto it as "healt19 minutes ago
Political WirePreview of Obama News Conference - PresidentObama will hold a prime time news conference at 8p.m. ET. Excerpts of his opening remarks suggestthe main topic will be the health care reform...40 minutes ago
Crooks and LiarsLiz Cheney Defends The Birthers - You can viewthis video right here by getting the latest versionof Flash Player! DOWNLOADS: (53) [image:Download WMV] [image: Download Quicktime] ...40 minutes agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
Show All
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
1 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
A M E R I C A B L O G T V
Visit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 322 videos >I collect with
vodpod
In honor of SenatorDeMint
For the GOPers, healthcare is politics. They just
Traditional media has todebunk the birthers
One small step...
The right-wing media, thevoices of the GOP, in
REM - Orange CrushNext 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
2 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
Ezra KleinTab Dump10 minutes agoWonk RoomClinton: Hoping For TheBest, Preparing For TheWorst2 hours agoHealth BeatTruth Squad: WallStreet Journal HealthCare Editorial Wrong onthe Facts . . .2 hours agoThe TreatmentHatch Is Out4 hours agoDaily DoseProviders Endorse 'Payfor Value' Proposals9 hours agoBBCPandemic flu service togo live31 minutes agoABCVolunteers Wanted toTest Swine Flu Vaccine1 hour agoCNNObama, al-Maliki showoptimism on Iraqsecurity1 hour agoGuardianObama pledgescommitment to IraqG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
Blog RSS
AMERICAblog TV RSS
Twitter RSSTwitter Feed
Get the blog by email:
Subscribe me!
Top AdAdvertise in this spot.H E A LT H C A R ER E F O R M
Show AllT R A D I T I O N A LM E D I AAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
3 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
S E A R C H
AMERICAblog
Web
SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
4 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
5 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
11/06/2004 06:38:00 PMDon't yell at me. That's what Nicholas D. Kristof of the NewYork Times says. If only Democrats would only executementally retarded people found guilty of murder, why they'dwin more elections. It might make them feel icky, but until theDemocrats are ready to compromise their principles, they'regoing to be stuck in the minority."I wish that winning were just a matter of presentation. But it'snot. It involves compromising on principles. Bill Clinton won hiscredibility in the heartland partly by going home to Little Rockduring the 1992 campaign to preside over the execution of amentally disabled convict named Ricky Ray Rector," writesKristof."There was a moral ambiguity about Mr. Clinton's clambering topower over Mr. Rector's corpse. But unless Democratscompromise, they'll be proud and true and losers."His suggestions: support the blurring of the line betweenchurch and state and encourage the faith-based programs thatprosyletize with our taxpayer dollar. (Don't you DARE help apoor, black woman get health planning that involves areference to condoms as protection against disease andpregnancy. But, sure, give her a little soup and afundamentalist sermon to go with it.)Also, stop getting so uptight over the Confederate flag, stopmoaning about the policemen gunned down by criminals withonce-illegal Uzis (and give their widows a Bible to comfortthem, I suppose), don't worry if those Uzis get into the handsof terrorists, and if a Supreme Court nominee of Bush's mightset the Court back ten years, don't put up a fuss becausepeople will claim you're an obstructionist.Is all of that idiotic or is it just me?Supporting our police is a winning stance with mainstreamAmerica. (And every police organization in the country isfurious that Bush is letting those automatic weapons get backon the streets. Every time a cop or innocent person is killed --press conference. That's not taking cynical advantage of thesituation -- that's standing up for our men and women in blue.)Ignoring the spread of the Confederate Flag -- which causesSouthern states business and is deeply offensive to our core --is sure to dismay black voters, one of the few dependablegroups the Dems can claim. They already feel slighted andtaken for granted. Imagine if the Dems told them objecting toa racist symbol that only appears on most state flags becausethe Southerners objected to desegregating schools was a wasteof time.Objecting to government funds going to Moonies,Scientologists, Falun Gong and other minor religions or cultswould play well for traditional Dems, fundamentalist Christiansand many others. (Lots of major religions are leery of gov'tfunding propping them up.)
HuffPost PoliticsChris Weigant: It's Time To Lead, Mr. President - Ina few hours from now, President Barack Obamawill give a live press conference to the nation. Thisis part of a new and...8 minutes ago
Daily KosWhat's the Rush? Almost 5 Million Lose Insurancein 9 Months - To give added emphasis to themessage we're likely to hear tonight fromPresident Obama, that we've talked healthcarereform to death and now is the time...9 minutes ago
Ben SmithHealth insurance reform - President Obama seemsto have re-labeled his legislative push: In excerptsof remarks prepared for tonight's presser, he refersto it as "healt19 minutes ago
Political WirePreview of Obama News Conference - PresidentObama will hold a prime time news conference at 8p.m. ET. Excerpts of his opening remarks suggestthe main topic will be the health care reform...40 minutes ago
Crooks and LiarsLiz Cheney Defends The Birthers - You can viewthis video right here by getting the latest versionof Flash Player! DOWNLOADS: (53) [image:Download WMV] [image: Download Quicktime] ...40 minutes agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
Show All
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
1 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
A M E R I C A B L O G T V
Visit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 322 videos >I collect with
vodpod
In honor of SenatorDeMint
For the GOPers, healthcare is politics. They just
Traditional media has todebunk the birthers
One small step...
The right-wing media, thevoices of the GOP, in
REM - Orange CrushNext 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
2 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
Ezra KleinTab Dump10 minutes agoWonk RoomClinton: Hoping For TheBest, Preparing For TheWorst2 hours agoHealth BeatTruth Squad: WallStreet Journal HealthCare Editorial Wrong onthe Facts . . .2 hours agoThe TreatmentHatch Is Out4 hours agoDaily DoseProviders Endorse 'Payfor Value' Proposals9 hours agoBBCPandemic flu service togo live31 minutes agoABCVolunteers Wanted toTest Swine Flu Vaccine1 hour agoCNNObama, al-Maliki showoptimism on Iraqsecurity1 hour agoGuardianObama pledgescommitment to IraqG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
Blog RSS
AMERICAblog TV RSS
Twitter RSSTwitter Feed
Get the blog by email:
Subscribe me!
Top AdAdvertise in this spot.H E A LT H C A R ER E F O R M
Show AllT R A D I T I O N A LM E D I AAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
3 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
S E A R C H
AMERICAblog
Web
SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
4 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Execut...http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/execute-mentally-retarded...
5 of 57/22/09 7:58 PM