Recently I lamented ongoing press fascination, indeed confusion at times, with the degree to which respective major party platforms tend not always to align in full with the voting masses who comprise each party's coalition. Let's not even get started on the point to which some elected officials bearing that party's banner may not agree with all elements of those platforms.
To emphasize that fact, note the elements of the state Democratic platform that are as at odds with public opinion and political reality as the state Republican platform's discussion of major changes to modern interpretations of the 14th Amendment:
The "Department of Peace and Nonviolence" is still being proposed. The Department of State apparently not being deemed good enough for that purpose.
State Democrats also hope to re-make the new world order in addition, not only with the renegotiation of NAFTA and other recent trade deals, but also with the re-working of GATT - the foundational framework for modern trade in the post-World War II era. Apparently impressed by the problems with the Doha round of WTO talks, the Democratic faithful would like to re-order the entire structure of the global economy.
Good luck with that.
Not that one should expect any serious Democratic candidate to embrace such an idea. It just shows that sometimes each party's base has some ideas that the bulk of the electorate doesn't quite share.
Posted by Eric Earling at June 15, 2008 02:13 PM | Email This''The elephant in our living room is the violence of the suicidal, adolescent American psyche that needs the tough love of a Secretary of Peace.''
Right back to the infuriating, anti-American ''Yes, 9-11 was a bad thing, but we can understand why they did it: It's all our fault.''
Still not sure why I wasted my time, but I see from davidhazen.wordpress.com that he claims to be the ''Oregon State Coordinator for the campaign to establish a U.S. Department of Peace''.
Tell you what: Why don't you get a few of your fellow ''it's all our fault'' buddies together, and:
1.. Find yourself public transport that will get you all the way to Peshawar in Pakistan.
2.. Hike into the tribal areas on the Pakistan - Afghanistan border, and see if you can find Bin Laden or some of his fellow terrorist murderers; or at least a few local Taliban. Shouldn't be too hard.
3.. Try a little of your ''tough love'' on a few of THEM, and see what that gets you. Best of luck; we'll understand if you don't report back.
Posted by: Methow Ken on June 15, 2008 09:26 PMSomehow, I don't think that the kids behind Columbine would have suddenly been all peace and love if we had a Secretary of Peace.
Posted by: Mike H on June 15, 2008 10:22 PMContrary to what the "law abiding" Lefties tell you, the police do far more than arrest protesters and bust pot growing operations. If your first experience with rules is with the police, then your parents were the ones that failed to teach you right from wrong.
I have never met a cop who put on a uniform every morning, hoping to bust some heads. Cops take FAR more abuse than they allegedly dish out. Sure, Lefties can point to some bad apples that make the evening news, but consider how many good cops there are out there every day doing their jobs -- including the ones who line the streets to protect your right to hold a "peace vigil."
The next time you protest, how about sending the Seattle PD a note thanking them for keeping you safe and keeping the peace?
Posted by: The Real Mark on June 15, 2008 11:42 PM"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Posted by: TrueSoldier on June 16, 2008 01:25 AM#1 "The elephant in our living room is the violence of the suicidal, adolescent American psyche that needs the tough love of a Secretary of Peace"
You may have made a slight slip with this statement. Elephant? You mean me, the guy who might be a threat to your kind of government? Humm. Boys & girls it's time to get concerned about these lefties.
Posted by: Ken Howard on June 16, 2008 08:20 AMThis is the same mindset that allows for Anthropogenic Global Warming, Serial Killer Rehabilitation, Racism of one color as a solution for Racism of another color, etc.
The reality is that we are all individuals. And creating a better world is mostly a function of a better underlying philosophy and thus a better underlying culture. But we are not going to get there with a Pollyanna-ish view of the really evil people who would do us harm. And we are not going to get there by simply placing restrictions on everything we don't like.
It's clear that most of the leftists who propose such policy have never raised children, or done so in active and thinking manner. Because any good parent knows that saying "no" all of the time does not form a child that will make good decisions, but only a child that will wait until there is no one around to say "no."
The Department of Peace and Nonviolence is just like the myriad of useless UN resolutions that have not constrained any of the world's dictators and tyrants in the least. Adults know that the real world requires boundaries. And boundaries mean enforcement.
Posted by: Jeff B. on June 16, 2008 09:14 AMAnd what would that be? Jim McDimwitt and the Department of Peace planting lip prints on the rumps of MS-13 gangbangers no doubt.
Allan: Not only is portraying Democrats as communists misrepresenting the facts, it's counter productive. It instantly labels you as a wacko. I'm guessing you have valid issues to bring up. But who bothers to pay attention to someone who calls Democrats communists?
I grew up in Yakima in the 40's & 50's. In those days in Yakima, there were only two political parties; Republican and Communist. In that era of hyperbole, most could be forgiven their ignorant rantings. Today, we know better. Legitimate, loyal, Americans can have honest disagreements about policy without calling the opposition vile names.
Posted by: km on June 16, 2008 09:40 AMClearly, the liberal majorities on the Supreme Court and courts throughout America have now declared themselves the real legislative authority. Reid and Pelosi can just do the press conferences and block Republican appointments while the liberal court system makes all the changes they want, but don't have the guts to legislate themselves.
Posted by: Reality on June 16, 2008 10:03 AMIf it were not for the many uneducated classes who would trade their freedom for a little of the bounty their party offers, then their would be no Democrat party at all. It's a daily smokescreen of lies, and deceit, and just enough nodding to the center to keep the ugly collectivist side hidden, and the politically correct, compassionate, victim peddling graciousness in a seemingly good light.
It's a precarious balance which depends on so many who allow themselves to be classed. The more people learn that their best ticket to success is their own individual effort, hard work. personal responsibility, and a smaller, less intrusive government, the more the Democrats lose.
I'd say that non-violence starts at home.
Posted by: Bruce Guthrie on June 16, 2008 11:35 AMMetro's answer to $4 gas? Make it worse by taxing us to death for unworkable "lite rail". And keep soaking us for the current $2 Billion and then call it a "deficit".
Posted by: John Bailo on June 16, 2008 06:11 PM