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<DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#008000 size=2>like just about everyone in the
beltway, daschle lives in another world. he's the inevitable result
of the spineless and lust for conformity of a right wing controlled democratic
party. i'd suggest he's overwhelmed by being in a job which
exceeds his abilities; rising to the level of his incompetence. he's
pitiful. a reassuring example of the level of politicians making
decisions as "our representatives." like shrub, just the kind of guy
you want leading the country through economic disaster and war.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#008000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#008000 size=2>of interest: i believe uncle
tom is the only senator who's not a millionare or multimillionare.
can't even do what the senate does best.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#008000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#008000 size=2>R</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #008000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=earnest@tallynet.com href="mailto:earnest@tallynet.com">RE</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=lbo-talk@lists.panix.com
href="mailto:lbo-talk@lists.panix.com">lbo-talk@lists.panix.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, March 30, 2003 10:13
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Daschle eats his words, and
then some</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>But Daschle does seem to think that unless he apologizes he
will be in<BR>trouble, so he believes someone is paying
attention. It's just not clear<BR>to me if he is being
overwhelmed by public opinion's vagaries, or allowing<BR>himself to be
overwhelmed in a masochistic, stupefying gesture. In
that<BR>respect I wish he'd just keep his mouth shut in the first place,
rather than<BR>say "Look at me, I'm powerful, and even I have to crumble and
apologize."<BR><BR>Perhaps vagary is the right notion. And wouldn't the
point be that once you<BR>don't simply submit, you have to keep a focus on
yourself long enough to<BR>define your position, instead of just sticking your
head up long enough to<BR>catch some stink, and then sinking out of sight,
"tainted by controversy."<BR><BR>:<BR>: Those who criticize the Dems put a lot
of faith in the idea that the<BR>masses<BR>: are hanging on their words-- I
actually think that most politicians have a<BR>: more realistic view that they
are far more likely to be overwhelmed by the<BR>: vagaries of public opinion
than effect it themselves.<BR>:<BR>: It's mass movements that have far more
effect on public opinion over time.<BR>: My basic view has always been that we
(and evolving facts on the ground)<BR>are<BR>: the ones who change the opinion
environment, and then the politicians<BR>: follow. I just don't have the
same expectations of politician-based<BR>: leadership that this kind of
criticism emphasizes.<BR>:<BR>: -- Nathan
Newman<BR>:<BR>:<BR>:<BR>:<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>