Opinari.net
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Monday, July 26, 2004
Continuing on the topic of Andrew Sullivan, I have to comment on Sullivan's newfound affinity for Kerry. I agree that Bush hasn't taken the most conservative stances on many things. I don't like some of his initiatives. I would rather see more spending cuts, and less subsidies, and trade barriers. I would rather see government exit the education business rather than setting up standardized testing to measure its success, or lack thereof.
However, the issue is this. We have a president who has demonstrated leadership, and a willingness to stand up to the terrorists. We have a challenger who doesn't know where he stands on anything, let alone the conflict in Iraq (read: "I voted for the war before I voted against the war.") In this day and age, we cannot have a commander-in-chief that vacillates. President Bush has shown that he will not back down to the terrorist threat we face in the 21st century.
Sullivan blames Bush for morphing into an aggressive nation-builder. Such a maneuver became necessary on September 11, 2001, when we witnessed the Twin Towers in New York City as they crumbled to the ground, killing almost 3000 innocent people. Bush changed his policy, and he was right to do so. Is Andrew advocating the Monroe Doctrine in the face of this new foreign policy dilemma?
Thus, I see the conservativeness of Andrew Sullivan to be foolish in the aftermath of 9/11. I see Andrew as he refuses to see himself - as a single issue voter. Had Bush not advocated the Federal Marriage Amendment, I think Sullivan would still be backing Bush as his choice for president. Sullivan has, however, been backed into a corner. Vote Bush, and Sullivan votes against his own lifestyle. So, rationalization has set in, and, voila... Kerry has become Sullivan's "reluctant" choice for the job.
Andrew would come off more honest were he to admit freely that it was the FMA that pushed him to the edge. Instead, Sullivan believes that Kerry "may be the right man - and the conservative choice - for a difficult and perilous time." Kerry and conservative are nowhere near the same. Either Sullivan knows this, he has leapt off the deep end, or he is lying to himself about it.
Labels: Archives_2004
.: posted by
Dave
2:10 PM
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