Meredith said: "I am sad to see that you still
support the Democrats, who I fear are
selling us down the river without remorse, excepting
Leahy, Lee, McKinney and a few more."
Bart responded: "Whoa! What point
are you not making? It's not like we're all in a
giant grocery store, and I have my choice
of sixty cereals, but I intentionally keep buying
the worst cereal when there are 59 better brands.
Can you be more specific?"
Meredith replied: "My point is that we are restricted to two brands. Why can't we choose from at least three?"
That seems to be idealistic.
Sure, it'd be great to have sixty choices of political parties, but:
1. We don't.
2. Even if we did, and the GOP had one, we'd loser every election no
matter what.
---
Meredith said: "I am sad to see that you still support Clinton after his abuses such as NAFTA,"
Bart retorted: "Objection! Clinton gave us the
best economy we ever had, and NAFTA surely
was a component of that. I have yet
to hear a valid objection to NAFTA, besides vague
Naderite platitudes. Please explain yourself."
Meredith replied: "Don't get me wrong -- I had
great fun during Clinton's economy. While I
appreciate the honest hard work and intelligence
that went into creating the budget surplus,
I do suspect that our government has indulged
in Enron style accounting, the effects of which
have yet to come due. Regarding NAFTA objections,
let's start with water privatization: http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/special/2002/0305water.htm
"
That could be, but I feel out only choice is to compare yesterday to
today.
Yesterday looks a lot brighter than today does.
---
Meredith continued: "...arms sales,"
Bart inquired: "Objection! What arms sales?"
Meredith replied: "Lifting the ban on
selling high-tech weapons to Argentina:
http://www.motherjones.com/arms/argentina.html
-- notice the O.S. arms sales graph.
I despair over the fact that our country arms
both sides of a fight, and the fact that my tax dollars
go to defense spending which benefits weaponsmakers
who sell their wares to potential enemies
(Halliburton's sales to Iraq come to mind)
who aim these weapons at our soldiers.
You and I are helping to kill our own team.
What kind of system is this?"
This is a new subject for me,but overall, if we sell the arms, we control
them.
When Iran got snippy, they couldn't buy parts for their F-16's.
If we sell the arms, we know how many they have, what they'll do, their
range etc.
If Russia or China (etc) sells them arms, we're blind.
---
Meredith concluded: "...and the simple fact that he lied."
Bart hollered: "Oh, please! If the Republicans
spent $100 million, and the press spent
another $100 million lying about YOUR sex
life, how honest would you be on live TV?"
Meredith interrupted: "I would be laughing hysterically, I'll tell you that."
Well, sure, but Clinton didn't have that option.
By avoiding the question, you seem to be conceding that point.
Bart ranted on: "Clinton's sex life was NONE
of our business.
You seem to have bought into the GOP spin
that Clinton owed us those details - that's sad."
Meredith whined: "I agree that Clinton's sex
life was none of our business. I agree that the whole
Monica ordeal was a witch hunt. As the
song says, 'Where are you now that we need you, Ken Starr?'
But Clinton lied *under oath* in front of
the entire friggin' planet. About a blowjob.
If Mark Twain was alive, he'd write some short
story about it, like
'The Hugest, Stupidest Lie Ever Told in the
History of Mankind' or something."
Under the circumstances, he did exactly the right thing.
Since you chose not to address the issue, it makes me think you agree
with me
---
Bart wrapped up: "I shouldn't exhort the Dems
to wake up and do their jobs?
I should be tougher on the best president
America ever had? I should spend less time
criticizing the GOP's top spokesman...but
you close with overall support for the big hammer?
If your intention was to confuse, the Eagle
has landed.
Rebuttal is welcome."
And Meredith handed Bart a chinaco: "PLEASE
exhort the Dems to wake up! I worry that they
are feigning sleep; prove me wrong.
Yes, be tougher on Clinton, and in our current state of disarray,
may Clinton find some opportunity to redeem
himself, because God knows we need a leader right now.
Keep the heat on the GOP's top spokesman and
Washington in general. So few are doing anything to
stop this runaway administration, and you,
dear Bartcop, are among the best.
That's why you should swing the big hammer.
Like I said, you do a great job -- that's
first and foremost."
Sincerely,
Meredith
Meredith,
It was sweet (and smart) of you to end on a positive note.
Perhaps others could use our exchange as an example of how
two people can argue without drifting into crazy and gratuitous insults.
Thanks for the exchange,
and a Chinaco back at you,
bart