The real problem here is the choices a voter is given.  If you have to
choose between a rare species of owl or trying to spare the lives of
millions of unborn Americans, what is more important?

It's not that Americans want either party, it is because the choices are so
limited and the issues so important.

Soccer moms voted for Bush, according to polls.  The media assumes it is
because they didn't trust Kerry to keep them safe.  Maybe it is because,now
that they  have children, they have a new appreciation of what "choice"
means.

The Catholic vote would be pro environmental, anti-gun, perhaps even
anti-death penalty if they did not have to vote at the same time to support
abortion laws that are so liberal that they include infanticide.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Orlando Schwartz" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 9:49 AM
Subject: Re: A book review


>  Bill Witt's comments about additional aspects of the politicking
> machine of the conservatives at first made me want to settle in to a
> terminal depression. There really is a vast, right-wing conspiracy that
> may seem unstoppable. However, there are aspects of Lakoff's book
> (unmentioned in the review) that give me hope.
>
> If they only knew, the vast majority of American's do not want what the
> neoconservatives are so effectively selling. If they only knew they
> would find it laughable, were it not so truly ugly. Lakoff devotes time
> in his book to describing the real agenda. Had I not read Ayn Rand's
> books 35 years ago I would have been totally disbelieving that anyone
> could call the neoconservative claptrap good or moral or desirable. For
> example, No Child Left Behind might require a much need return to
> academics in the classroom, but the penalty for failure is to cut the
> school's budget. That along with the unfunded mandate aspect of it
> basically bankrupts schools. Then we see the push for vouchers. This
> will leave the prosperous in a position to take the voucher, add to it,
> and send their children to good schools. The rest will muck around in
> the best inferior schools their voucher can buy. The value of
> neoconservatives is that education is for the rich. Certainly in my life
> I've never seen more than lip service to education from conservatives.
>
> In 2003 when presidential candidates were in Iowa, I met and told
> several, "You don't need to defeat George Bush, you need to defeat
> conservatism." I recalled Bob Gramm looking at me as if I were an infant
> and saying something about "a big tent." I think progressives should
> start now using proper framing to educate people about the agenda of
> conservatives.
>
> To me neoconservatism is simply a way for nasty, greedy people to find a
> way to feel good and moral about themselves, even if it is a country
> club morality. Their morality is so far from that of main stream
> Christianity that it should provide opportunities for educational, moral
> framing.
>
> In response to Cindy Hildrebrand's comments–As a scientist I am inclined
> to think like you, that our facts and logic are so impeccable that they
> should easily be accepted. My motivation to read Lakoff's book was to
> try to understand why that isn't working. A progressive value of the
> "nurturing parent model" is honesty. That is why John McCain is so
> appealing in his candid moments. I think the progressives need to find a
> Rovian media genius, but unless it includes honesty, it would not fit
> the model. Lakoff writes that he has given presentations and consulted
> with over 200 groups such as MoveOn. I hope they embrace his principles.
>
> I think the Mary Beth Cahill generation of campaign advisors are really
> dinosaurs. We need to find them a meteor.
>
> Lanny Schwartz
>
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