News&Views

The Armchair Curmudgeon

March 20, 2007







Betweeen a Rock and a Hard Place…





What may have originally been perceived as a halcyon opportunity by democrats to remake congress, may, in fact, have been in actuality an opportunity for democrats to paint themselves into a dangerous corner and a saving grace for republicans….



….Think about it.



Democrats have had a difficult time in finding their sea legs and coming together to support one coherent program that supports democratic objectives which includes ending the war at the earliest possible time.

In the process of reaching accommodation, they have been perceived by a litany of critics as a party in disarray, an unequal opponent in the “war on terrorism….”



Nevertheless, polls reveal that support for Bush policy remains strong among registered Republicans.



Therefore, the Republicans have found an excellent scape-goat in the form of the democrats, and if they are smart, they may just be able to play the blame game to advantage casting them as the villians who are interfering with the progress of the war. Clearly, there are no good answers that will absolve democrats for anything they do…



It is an unbelievably clever trap that has virtually evolved in the deadlock with the Executive. . And, in many respects, the republicans could not have wished for more.



The danger for democrats is that they may not understand that anyway they move, may actually constitute a check-mate.



If the democrats push for holding back funds, the republicans can say they interfered with the progress of the war just as it was turning in their favor. The ball would be switched to the democrat’s court…



….Republicans can employ a similar argument, if democrats push too hard to remove troops from the battle ground.



If General Petraeus plans do not work out, the democrats can be villified as the reason “why.” Clearly, this view smacks of a cynical interpretation but it is what is already beginning to happen in the field.



The democrats, in effect, with their razor thin majority and a possible turn-coat senator within their ranks, have little advantage when it comes to the vote; but, nevertheless, they do have the power to investigate and use the power of the subpoena.



But if the democrats are perceived to misuse these powers, they can be said to be interfering with the pursuit of the war and operating in antithesis to the best interests of the United States.



On the other hand, if they overuse their powers, the republicans will quickly revert to name calling, charging the democrats with being anti-patriotic and supportive of terrorism, a catch all charge that casts the democrats in the roll of pacifist or worse.



Terrorism, per se, and all it connotes has supplanted the old anathema “communism” and we should recognize that our population is filled with those who are quick to label anyone who is against the war as the enemy without understanding the meaning of their accusations or the dangerous act of dividing everything into simplistic black and white. . In effect, there are many pawns who stand ready and abe to do the work of the administration in painting the democrats as “being soft on terror.” . And this is a dangerous ground for democrats to occupy.



No, what seemed to be an advantage for democrats eager to resurface and reshape the mantle of leadership has morphed into a position that is a mine field that can blow up at any time.. The democrats may actually discover that they are “damned” if they do; and “damned” if they don’t and that the future of democrats may hinge on the outcome. Incredibly, the democrats may have been the best thing to have happened to the republican cause in four years…



Les Aaron

The ArmchairCurmudgeon

www.lesaaron.blogspot.com

THE COMMITTEE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE