Political Paranoia

[chaotic_nipple]

pecunium points us to this right-wing blog survey, where among other questions, 'Conservative' bloggers are asked: "Do you think that a majority of Democrats in Congress would like to see us lose in Iraq for political reasons?" to which 84% said "Yes!".

Now, this is very interesting. You go back to last November's archives for those blogs, and you will find hundreds upon hundred of reader comments (and sometimes posts from the bloggers themselves) expressing the opinion that the election results warrented another 9/11, either to "Punish Defeat-o-crat voters" or to "Wake people up". Yet if someone were to conclude that these sentiments were proof that "The Majority of Republicans would like to see more terrorist attacks on US soil for political reasons", why, they'd be declared clinically insane. Go figure...

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/little_e_/]

I think what people critically miss is that people can have a great many sources of desire--for example, I might wish a sucky restraunt nearby would go out of business so that a better one could move in, but at the same time, I could wish that it would get better so that I could eat there happily, and just wish that they'll get lucky and lots of people will eat their food anyway because I know the owner's daughter has Leukemia and that costs a lot of money to treat. So while we can say that I do want them to be replaced with a better restraunt for personal reasons, I also want them to succeed because I'm a decent human being.

Of course it would politically benefit the Democrats for a Republican idea to fail utterly and miserably. And vice-versa for the Republicans. But this doesn't mean that the democrats don't have other priorities which they view as politically superior, or which they think would be even more politically beneficial--such as conducting the WoT in a manner which they think will keep America safe.

Just because I don't like the restraunt's food doesn't imply that I'm going to call up the health inspector and leave them anonymous tips. Just because a failure of Bush's policies benefits Democrats doesn't imply that Democrats are willing to sacrifice American interests.

[blue-chicory.livejournal.com]

But they would be having parties in the back rooms while they cry big crocodile tears in public. Just like last time.