US Election 2004

In a piece titled “Capitalist Hawk for Kerry,” author Craig Biddle stated “John Kerry is despicable, and I will vote for him.”  Acknowledging that such a vote may induce vomiting, Biddle explains how George Bush has and will continue to fail as commander-in-chief and President.  In part he writes:

Here, in essence, is what Bush has done. By packaging a permission-seeking, capitulating, restrained, dovish foreign policy with lip service to an independent, firm, do-what-needs-to-be-done, hawkish one—he has removed the concept of the latter from the foreign policy debate. Kerry, unwittingly, would put it back on the table; this is why I will vote for him.

With Bush in the White House, the debate is between his half-battle, with which the Right is content—and something less, which is what the Left would prefer. With Kerry in the White House, the debate would be between his half-battle, which is the least that America would let him get away with—and something more, which is what the Right would demand no matter what Kerry were to do. In other words, whereas Bush is willing to wage only a half-battle and will never be pressured to do more, Kerry would have to wage at least a half-battle and would constantly be pressured to do more. And regardless of what Kerry were to do—even if he somehow were to get away with doing less than Bush has done or nothing at all—at least his actions or non-actions would not be called hawkish.

That “a half-battle is worse than none” is not hyperbole; it is a principle. A half-battle shows that we are morally uncertain of our cause; it provides our enemies with moral confidence, time, and leeway to further theirs; it gives us a false sense of security while they orchestrate the slaughter of more Americans. That package-deals destroy crucial concepts in people’s minds—that false alternatives remove the correct alternatives from discussion—and that a commitment to religion makes one incapable of rational judgment—are principles, too. These are the relevant principles in this election.  [C. Biddle, “Capitalist Hawk for Kerry,” CraigBiddle.com, Oct. 2004; Hat Tip to RuleOfReason and CapitalismMagazine]. 

B&WWReference:  See "Push Me Pull You" on page 67.

Grim Tale (11/11/2003)

Image Source: Intellectual Activist

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