Politically Correct Terminology
July 3rd 2008 00:50
What do you think when you hear the term "Watergate?" Do you actually recall what Watergate was really about? It happened at the Watergate Apartments. Some overly aggressive Republican operatives attempted to get information about plans being made by the Democrats. It wasn't that big a deal, folks. But it brought down a sitting United States President. It ruined Richard Milhouse Nixon because he tried to protect the people who worked for him (he didn't order or sanction the break-in!)
How about "McCarthyism?" Do you even know who Joe McCarthy was or what he did? He exposed communists actively working in the federal government. He was right, for cryin' out loud! There were communists and they were doing us damage! But these days his name is considered an insult thanks to the far left and their version of re-written history.
How about the term "Swift Boating?" These days it's used to describe an unexpected attack which is based on lies. That's not even close to the truth. John Kerry went to Viet Nam (as he continually points out, even after all these years!) and was on a Swift Boat. He took a film crew along so his "heroic exploits" could be properly invented and photographed in case he decided to run for office later on. He was only there for four months. He never went to Cambodia on a secret mission from Pres. Nixon in Dec. of 1968. Nixon wasn't President until January of 1969... just for your information. The Swift Boaters who had known him (those that couldn't be bribed to lie) came forward and exposed him for the fraud he was (and still is, by the way). So in fact, if someone is Swift Boated in the accurate sense of the term, it means they have been called liars by those who actually know the truth.
There's todays lesson in modern liberal semantics. Any questions?
How about "McCarthyism?" Do you even know who Joe McCarthy was or what he did? He exposed communists actively working in the federal government. He was right, for cryin' out loud! There were communists and they were doing us damage! But these days his name is considered an insult thanks to the far left and their version of re-written history.
How about the term "Swift Boating?" These days it's used to describe an unexpected attack which is based on lies. That's not even close to the truth. John Kerry went to Viet Nam (as he continually points out, even after all these years!) and was on a Swift Boat. He took a film crew along so his "heroic exploits" could be properly invented and photographed in case he decided to run for office later on. He was only there for four months. He never went to Cambodia on a secret mission from Pres. Nixon in Dec. of 1968. Nixon wasn't President until January of 1969... just for your information. The Swift Boaters who had known him (those that couldn't be bribed to lie) came forward and exposed him for the fraud he was (and still is, by the way). So in fact, if someone is Swift Boated in the accurate sense of the term, it means they have been called liars by those who actually know the truth.
There's todays lesson in modern liberal semantics. Any questions?
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Comment by Shout Politics
Comment by Lester Caudill
Round Politics
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Hi Lester. Isn't it amazing how meanings get changed and twisted over the years...?
Comment by Anonymous
Good people of all persuasion can argue till the talk shows are done and rerun whether or not Joe McCarthy was a bully, rogue and accomplished anything. My worst suspicions is that he made life a living hell for the rest of us who followed him whenever it came to calling a Red what he or she was without getting run out of town on the first Trans Siberian Express. And, I'm to think he also suffered more due to a case of bad television imagery, timing and that guy, Roy Shine -- of considerable unhappy memory, and of whose exact name I might be inexact on.
His personal baggage and his inability to build a stronger loyalty based on true friendship versus fear, undid him as fast as that Boston lawyer's question on national televsion as quickly as television "made him" in the wake of his famous "I have a list of ... suspected communists" speech in Wheeling, WVA.
I was blessed to have interned at the National Journalism Center in Washington DC, under columnist M. Stanton Evans, perhaps THE MAN most knowledgeable when it comes to Joe McCarthy.
Mr. Evans not long ago wrote a book about McCarthy and you might want to either write to him at the NJC (Young America's Foundation--Washington, DC. Another person pretty knowledgeable about McCarthy, and the Nixon-Hiss-Chambers era is Ann Coulter. She followed me by three years -- and safe to say, she's done a hell of a lot better for herself. Now, I've never met Ann, and I certainly don't agree with her on all issues, but she is a fellow NJC Intern grad. Mr. Evans teased me once saying I got in on an "affirmative action program for conservative Democrats from Mass." (West. Mass, no less, an even small population base to find politically discomforting people like myself.)
Back to Joe McCarthy: Depending on who you talk to in the GOP, or more fair-minded reporters and commentators, or even some Democrats who are willing to give him the same benefit of the doubt they showered on Bobby Kennedy -- doesn't he get conveniently "air-brushed out" even though the latter was deservedly hell on the Reds -- the way "Tailgunner Joe's" is remembered reminds me of the way the late Waylon Jennings honored Bob Wills when he said it doesn't make a difference who's popular in Texas now, "Bob Wills is still the king."
Perhaps if things had turned out more positively for McCarthy, his enemies who feared him weren't given the green light to pounce him like starving hyenas (because the "establishment's leading lights" in Wasington would turn a blind eye to their transgressions of bullying, etc. and McCarthy's personal problems with alcohol, and an inability to project a more "likeable" or "packageable" image -- he might go down as one of America's greatest heroes.
Sadly, many of the people who knew him the best are eithe retired, going to retire or are with him in eternity, (and not hell as a lot of liberals would prefer.) I wish he could've come off better, but that's small potatoes compared to how much I'd prefer, and I'm sure you'd prefer, to see the full scope and true record of what this man did FOR his country.
M. Stanton Evans, Ann Coulter, Brent Bozell (Sr.) and WFB come to mind as McCarthy's biggest supporters in the literary ranks. Pray for more.
(Boy, I'll bet that'll get some readers riled up!)
Comment by Anonymous
I'm not familiar with anyplace west of Jackson Hole, WY, which I visited as a youngster back some half-century ago, but I can rest assure anyone that even just a few days in Maine does wonders. Aaaarrggghh, now I'm back in Happy Valley in the People's Republic and it sure showed when I couldn't even spell violated correctly. Any more typos, I'm off to a re-education center.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
It's good to know that I'm in such good company, especially when it comes to Tailgunner Joe. He was one of the great unsung heroes of all time!
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
And then there's that New York story of the infamous Atty. Roy Cohn, who got his start under McCarthy. I happened to have seen Roy when he was still alive. This right-wing conservative icon was in a suave white full length fur, with two strapping young men on each side as his "bodyguards." (and he wouldn't even come out of the closet, even after getting AIDS.)
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Joe McCarthy had the courage to stand up and tell the truth gainst overwhelming odds and never got anything but misery for his trouble. Funny how so many people carp on the fact that he drank or that he was tenacious but still can't admit that he was RIGHT about communists infiltrating our government. That's the important thing you know, Howard. He took a stand for right against wrong, regardless of the personal price he wound up paying. I repeat... He was a Hero.
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Also, I'm surprised that you don't have anything to say about Steven's post concerning Communism and what their rulership is really like. Maybe you should come up with something to say, since that was the reason for the comments to begin with, wasn't it?
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
Unfortunately, too many misinformed people treat government sponsored credit for needed projects, and goveenment regulation, to be communist, when they are often employed by the American system, including the Reconstruction Finance Corp. of FDR in the 30's and the National Bank of Alexander Hamilton of the first decades of our republic. Both of these men are exemplary American patriots, of the highest caliber and success, that we need to emulate today, or at least by September. (Hint, to candidates for President).
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
The main concern I have (and that others have, as well) is the slippery slope into communism being encouraged by politicians who have learned nothing from history. In case you haven't noticed, Obama (and Hillary, too) want to "socialize" everything. Socialized medicine never works, just ask the people who have to live with the effects of it after a few years (they're not hard to find. They're the ones who come to America for the surgeries their own countries won't do). Look around you, Howard! If you want something done wrong and inefficiently (like the Post Office or the Department of Education) by all means have the government run it. They finally had to consider turning over the Senate dining room to private enterprise (because it was losing money!) And do we really need to discuss the bank (government run) that the politicians abused?
Turning anything over to the all-important government is a guarantee that it'll be an expensive waste. Every time we have stepped into a communistic endeavor it has failed miserably. And cost a fortune!
Communism (aka government controlled) NEVER, EVER works. Hasn't in the past, won't in the future.
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;rgn=full%20text;idno=AEU0417.0001.001
Try the link.
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
Really Long Link
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief