Can you figure out who wrote these words?

[godai]

(I'll provide the answer in a separate post)

We are at risk of developing a permanent underclass. Millions of Americans are now propped up by government “safety net” programs that forestall open rebellion but at the same time neglect their well-being in all of the important ways that might contribute true social and economic advancement. Lacking a pathway to success and frozen inside crime-infested neighborhoods, this underclass has grown accustomed to inadequate schools, largely inaccessible healthcare, prison as an alternative lifestyle, single-parent homes and long-term unemployment.


The Karl Rove approach to politics is brutally simple and, let me say from personal experience, simply brutal. Damaging an opponent’s reputation is more important than contradicting him on the issues. Hit the other candidate where he is perceived to be strong. Cancel out his positives. Sow the seeds of doubt. Create a mindset among the public that he really does not understand the average American and that he cannot be trusted. Take away his personal credibility. And in the process, “define” him as an out of touch, sneaky, dirtbag sleaze.

[El Supremo]

1. Here >>

I cheated and Googled it.

[sailor65]

2. Webb, I think n/t

[godai]

3. Yes, It's Jim Webb in his latest book. Good choice for VP?

I'm very immpressed with what Webb writes. I think it fits well with Obama's beliefs as to the important issues in the US and possible solutions. He's obviously intelligent and has good global experiences. His previous military experience and Republican roots would be helpful with those middle of the road voters who can help Obama's prospects for victory.

[karynnj]

5. He's obviously intelligent

but I am less comfortable with his votes on many things from FISA (for) to a Global warming amendment to insure that water projects consider global warming so that they are no antiquated in a few decades (against). Many of these votes are party line and he was on the wrong side.

The other reason was the damn op-ed he wrote in mid-February 2004 that was SBVT like. Kerry at that point had won 16 primaries to edwards 1 and Dean and Clark had dropped out - 2 weeks later he was the de Facto nominee. The most despicable thing is that per comments in a 2006 Rolling Stone, he spoke of knowing that there were atrocities in Vietnam - that he had depicted them in his books. Yet he trashed John Kerry for listing in as non-sensational a way as you can the atrocities that people spoke of at the Winter Soldier hearings. Kerry had been invited to speak of those hearings, but he used most of his time to make a plea to end a war that the leaders no longer believed could be won, a plea to turn from the foreign policy that brought us to Vietnam, and another impassioned plea that the leaders not abandon the soldiers and to help them reintegrate in to society and to give them adequate mental and physical care.

I was disturbed by him trashing Kerry - but the fact that he was so hypocritical that he - having used atrocities in books that had far less merit than Kerry speaking truth to the US Senate chose to play politics because he hated Kerry because Kerry also told the truth that the war was not winnable. The chutzpah of the fact that he wrote fictional accounts of such things than attacked Kerry is mindboggling. His fiction is just not that important!

I know the Kerry, because he thought it would help win the Senate and help on the debates on Iraq, not only forgave him over 30 years of refusing to shake his hand, but endorsed him in the primary and raised his GOTV money. But, this speaks better of Kerry, than Webb.

With that intelligence comes too much inflexibility.

[godai]

6. You provide useful information related to some Webb issues.

Of course, Webb was still a Republican in 2004. He was so against the Iraq war that he switched parties in 2006. Still, his earlier positions don't sit well with many Democrats and you point out some recent votes that are debatable.

[democrat2thecore]

4. Well said by Webb - and very true. --nt