"I wonder how many times you have to be hit on the head before you find out who's
hitting you? It's about time the people of America realized what the Republicans have
been doing to them" ... Pres. Harry Truman, Dexter, Iowa, 18 Sept. 1948
Familiar words that still apply. Yet with them, Truman won.
The words above have been quoted many times, and surely they apply as much today
as they ever have since that hot Sept. day at the ploughing contest in Iowa where
Truman spoke to a massive crowd of farmers. Times may change but human nature doesn't
HST's cynicism about the American electorate was justified, and it is ever more justified
today. This comes to mind when, the morning after a wacko election result in Delaware
and New York, and a virtual tie in New Hampshire, Americans have again nominated
egregiously unworthy candidates for the Senate and Governorship. Many Democrats
are running around this morning jubilant over the Rep's nomination of nut-cases for office,
feeling certain that their Democrat candidates will profit thereby. I would not be
so sure.
'Oh, she cannot be elected to office' - we hear that about O'Donnell, about Palin,
and many others. Based on performance, would you have expected GWBush to be re-
elected after his warmongering and profiteering first term? No reasonable person
should have voted for Bush, yet -- oh horrible irony -- he was again elected (remember
"I intend to use my political capital!"?), and in less than a year he was hugely unpopular
and disregarded. And the Republican party began to crumble and disorganize from lack
of real and responsible leadership, or effective address of issues.
So now the poison mushrooms have sprung up, as never before.
Do not take it for granted that the New York gubernatorial and Delaware
senatorial candidates on the Republican ticket will beaten by Democrats. Do not
take it for granted that Sara Palin (the chief mushroom of them all), will not win the
Republican nomination for the 2012 election. These things could happen, and these
terrible people and unworthy candidates could win high office, and the results of that
would be unthinkable; probably beyond repair!
H. L. Mencken said that the American voter is utterly foolish, more often than not,
and life experience should have long since taught that to all of us. But has it?
The lack of appreciation of Obama and his often-successful efforts are a serious
warning that the usual warped thinking of the American electorate is in full play; the
victories of the idiots in Delaware and NYState are just further proof.
Be very afraid Americans! You do not want the control of the Republican party to
slip into the hands of the Tea Party candidates and backers. Please remember that the
infamous (at last) Koch brothers, billionaires, of Wichita, Kansas are bankrolling the
Tea Partiers -- and their pockets are bottomless. If we did not learn from Bush, if we
did not learn from Wall Street corruption, if we have not now learned how corrupt and
for-sale is the U S Congress, when will we learn it? What price will be paid in unnecessary
wars, financial failure, criminal government practices if we don't resist the Republican
efforts.
My guess is if Truman were on deck today he would advise Democrats as follows:
"Get the hell out there and get to work; just tell the truth on those damn Republicans,
rub Americans' noses into the stink and filth of corruption and incompetence they
represent, and most of all recognize the proto-fascist interests that are sponsoring
them. Do not, President Obama, ever take it easy on Republicans; they are the enemy,
and in 2010 are worse than ever. Give 'em hell, America. And if necessary fight 'em
dirty! They are demagogues and don't you ever forget it!"
"Now, where is my shot of Bourbon?"