Moving towards 2006 mid term elections

As the mid-term elections approach and in the aftermath of Joe Lieberman repudiation, the Israel-Hizbollah conflict and the British airline plot arrests, I felt it necessary to present my view of how Democrats and other anti-Republican forces can view the political discourse of the next few months leeading to the mid-term elections..

First off, it is immediately obvious the the Republicans will waste no time in trying to turn recent events into a justification of their policies and into "proof " that Democrats are not to be trusted with the nations security. Already the Decider, the VP and the head of the Republican party are on the attack spinning these events as evidence of the correctness of their line.

Democrats have been less timid in their response than in the past and do seem ready to make the argument that the same policy decisions being trumpeted by the Administration and its alies as winning strategies are in fact, largely responsible for the increase in terror related activities, the civil war in Iraq, backtracking in Afghanistan , the stregnthing of Iran and in the continued ability of al-Qaeda to inspire, if not coordinate attacks.

A logical question to ask then is if, we are on the right track, why are there more attacks, more al-Qaeda plots and less security ? Why are ports still not secure and why is cargo on those same hair gel free airlines not inspected?

In this environment then,the continued disaster in Iraq, which every day costs millions of dolars and scores of lives will soon recapture our attention. Although America seems to care little for the deaths of Iraqis, Lebanese or Chechnyans, perhaps the continued deaths of the American military personnel will strike some nerves here in the "Homeland".

In addition, the non-ending oil crisis and the apparently slowing economy are all working against maintaining the political status quo. So, if any Americans can ever again believe that George Bush and company are to be trusted or are competent and re-elects their ilk, then America will truly deserve the government they get. Only the media and terror can take our minds off of these facts.

The wild card it would seem to me then, is how the media, in all its permutations, presents the facts and spins the analyses forthcoming. Already the lines are being couched in fear and bogeymen, and little detailed thought seems to be flowing out. If this occurs unabated, then the midterm and in fact the 2008 elections may already be lost.

Even Joe Lieberman has turned to the use of this tactic, immediately tarnishing Ned Lamont's victory with the British bomb plot. Desperation can make for some interesting politics, eh?

My own sense is that there is ample ammunition, in the form of the facts, and plenty of channels through which to deliver them, to help progressives and other groups reclaim the country from the corporate-christian fascists now in control. But don't be fooled, the battle is far from won and complacency easily revived.

Stay tuned.