Liberals need to stop sneering at people

[Ramo]

As I said I haven't seen any evidence that he was an actual anarchist, simply that he sympathized with the ideology. If I'd said otherwise, it was either a typo or I hadn't a proper understanding of Orwell at the time (if it were a while ago).

Likewise, I haven't seen any evidence that he wasn't a (state) socialist (including during/after WW II). He did become rather unenamored of communism during the Spanish Civil War, if that's what you mean.

[Alexander's Horse]

I spent a lot of time studying Orwell at uni - he wasn't a joiner so you'll never get to the bottom of his politics.

Early in life he was a policeman in Burma.

[Ramo]

Burmese Days is an excellent book too.

[Alexander's Horse]

Yes, very good - Orwell seems to have to have gone to Catalonia without any clear political objective other than to "fight fascism". He was defined more by what he was against throughout his short life.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Agathon


I might end up there. Most of the jobs in my field this year are in the States. I don't think I will get one this year though, I don't have enough on my CV yet. Still, it costs very little and is worth a shot.

I can corrupt it from within.

If you find yourself living here, I hope you will try hard not to detest the place as badly as you do now. I hate when people voluntarily move to a country and persist in loathing it after taking up residency there. I sure as hell wouldn't expect you to wave a flag or change your opinion on US policies but easing up on your contempt for the US would be very welcome.

[Agathon]

If you find yourself living here, I hope you will try hard not to detest the place as badly as you do now.

Dude, I hate everywhere. Have you ever smelled a Canadian!?!!?

[Drake Tungsten]

Yep. They smell of pancakes... *shudders*

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ramo
Trotskyite

Trotskyist!

[Ramo]

Grammar Commie.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Ned
When contemplating a former New York mayor as their next presidential candidate, Republicans should remember: This election should have been over sometime in August, not 1 a.m. election night."

http://www.anncoulter.org/

Ann's right about this - except with the opposite result she would like. A half-decent Democratic candidate would have burried Bush months before the election.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Trotskyist!

A loser, by any other name, would lose as much.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Kontiki


Ann's right about this - except with the opposite result she would like. A half-decent Democratic candidate would have burried Bush months before the election.

The "only" liability Kerry had was "Vietnam." Otherwise he was a very typical Democrat on policy. He was also very "presidential" in demeanor. This came out especially well in the debates. Finally, he was obviously intelligent and articulate.

Now the problem with your thesis about Kerry is that the only apparent liability to the larger American public, his antiwar activities after Vietnam, fairly well reflects where the bulk of Democrats are on that war, and on war in general.

So, where did Kerry fail as a Democrat candidate?

[Arrian]

The perception that Kerry would be softer in the WoT & Iraq did kill him. Moreso than the much-discussed Gay Marriage/Moral Values issues. Personally, I think Kerry showed a lot of courage in first volunteering for, fighting in, and then returning and fighting against the Vietnam War. I think that took balls. But most people didn't see it that way. They chose the guy that hid in the National Guard and likes to start wars over the guy that volunteered to fight for his country, didn't like what his country was doing, and sought to stop it. Go figure.

-Arrian

[Ming]

Originally posted by Ned
So, where did Kerry fail as a Democrat candidate?

He was your standard Northeast and wealthy Democrat.

I hope the Dems keep putting up candidates like that, because they can't win.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Arrian
The perception that Kerry would be softer in the WoT & Iraq did kill him. Moreso than the much-discussed Gay Marriage/Moral Values issues. Personally, I think Kerry showed a lot of courage in first volunteering for, fighting in, and then returning and fighting against the Vietnam War. I think that took balls. But most people didn't see it that way. They chose the guy that hid in the National Guard and likes to start wars over the guy that volunteered to fight for his country, didn't like what his country was doing, and sought to stop it. Go figure.

-Arrian

I think Kerry would have/could have won had he 1) apologized for his Ghenghis Khan remarks, 2) had consistently been in favor of the Iraq war, 3) had presented a positive message on the issues and 4) had never once mentioned Bush's name in the campaign. (No negative campaigning.)

The only problem is that such a Democrat could not have been nominated, at least given Dean.