A familair refrain in the past few months has been that the United States has replaced Saddam Huseein with our own strong -man, Iyad Allawi, and that Bush and this administration have done nothing to promote thedemocritization of the world. Let’s take an example to look at the Democratic ideal of Democracy, pace Jimmy Carter:
Within one hour of the gathering, just over 100 of Lt. Col. Ch
Dean
Yes, but John, at least Saddam was elected, unlike Dubya, who was SElected.
And who is to say whether Saddam didn’t actually receive the overwhelming support of the people?
As many political pilgrims like Johann Galtung have noted, Mao, Castro, Stalin, Khrushchev, would win elections if they were held. Saddam was just more honest—he actually held them.
JKC
Venezuela is headed for disaster. Perhaps someday the Creator will explain his joke of putting all the world’s oil reserves in politically unstable countries.
I’m not sure how this is Jimmy Carter’s fault, though. I think populism always has an audience, especially in poor countries with a large gap between the richest and the poorest. It wouldn’t surprise me that Chavez actually got a plurality of the vote. It doesn’t change my opinion that he’s a self-aggrandizing, opportunistic thug with all the democratic instincts of Attila the Hun.
ape
why is this the fault of jimmy carter? the pro-bushies appear not to agree with election oversight at all. is there an account anywhere of the actions of the anti-chavez side? i don’t know, er, maybe, conducting a coup funded by foreign interests?
John Cole
Ape- I was merely referring to Jimmy’s rush to certify theelection, which clearly had numerous issues.
capt joe
Well, Jimmy had to return quickly for his wife’s birthday party. priorities, ya know ;0
Slartibartfast
Maybe they threatened him with a bunny. The most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever laid eyes on.
JPS
Slartibartfast:
Silly favor to ask: Can you explain the Carter/rabbit joke? I consider myself reasonably well-versed in this kind of political lore, but I’m embarrassed to say I never heard the back story on this one. So every time it comes up, which is often, I’m left saying “Huh?”
HH
“And who is to say whether Saddam didn’t actually receive the overwhelming support of the people?”
There’s opposition to Bush and then there’s outright apologia for Fascist governments.
Mikey
JPS – IIRC it was reported that Carter was out fishing and he was attacked by a swimming rabbit and that he barely fought it off with a canoe paddle.
This did not bode well for his re-election campaign.
Slartibartfast
Always happy to oblige, JPS.
I don’t think the Carter bunny attack is relevant here, BTW; I just feel the urge to toss it in when the planets line up just so.
JPS
Thanks, Mikey and Slartibartfast, for the best laugh I’ve had all day. (It occurred to me five minutes after posting that I should have spent ten seconds googling “Jimmy Carter killer rabbit”, but sometimes I don’t think these questions through.)
“I just feel the urge to toss it in when the planets line up just so.”
I don’t blame you one bit.