scream-of-consciousness;
"If you're trying to change minds and influence people it's probably not a good idea to say that virtually all elected Democrats are liars, but what the hell."
My father was raised watching and trusting Cronkite. A few years ago he was in the room when my kid and I were discussing his history homework on the Vietnam war. I voiced my opinion that we lost the war because of guys like Cronkite going on TV every night and telling us that we were losing, even though they knew we were winning. Eventually enough Americans listed to him, lost hope and we lost the war.
Dad slammed the paper he was reading down, glared and me and stormed out of the room. Dad and I don't discuss politics much...
Again, we actually won the war. Nixon brought the NV to the table and forced a peace treaty. The Vietcong were eradicated, the NVA was crushed and unable to field an army, Haiphong harbor was mined and the roads to China were cut, cutting off oil and gasoline as well as other materiel. Neither China or Russia, nor ant western power, exerted meaningful objections. Although they had taken much of the countryside, the NV govt was forced to stand aside.
However, in the second half of Nixon's second term, the Democrat party took over both the House and Senate, and cut off both supplies and money to the South Vietnamese govt, and let the NV know they would neither complain or aid the South, so the reconstituted NVA more or less simply walked in. However, the fact remains, we had won, the Democrats gave away our victor out of spite.
There has been only one power in history ever to defeat the American military: the Democrat party.
During one of the presidential elections in the 70s I recall Cronkite saying "There's good news from California!" I remember levitating off the sofa. That's the sort of thing you don't forget. The tape has probably long gone down the memory hole, though.
Gwen Ifill's very first national TV appearance was on Sunday with David Brinkley. During one discussion involving some democrat misadventure, Ifill intoned "I think we're getting a bad rap here," or some-such. Like you, I levitated, but someone, Cokie Roberts I think, cautioned her with a "careful Gwen, none of us are affiliated here," or some-such.
Iwas looking at new books at the library last week. On title jumped out and smacked me" "Westmorland - The General Who Lost the Viet-Nam War" (or close to that).
My father was raised watching and trusting Cronkite. A few years ago he was in the room when my kid and I were discussing his history homework on the Vietnam war. I voiced my opinion that we lost the war because of guys like Cronkite going on TV every night and telling us that we were losing, even though they knew we were winning. Eventually enough Americans listed to him, lost hope and we lost the war.
ReplyDeleteDad slammed the paper he was reading down, glared and me and stormed out of the room. Dad and I don't discuss politics much...
Again, we actually won the war. Nixon brought the NV to the table and forced a peace treaty. The Vietcong were eradicated, the NVA was crushed and unable to field an army, Haiphong harbor was mined and the roads to China were cut, cutting off oil and gasoline as well as other materiel. Neither China or Russia, nor ant western power, exerted meaningful objections. Although they had taken much of the countryside, the NV govt was forced to stand aside.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in the second half of Nixon's second term, the Democrat party took over both the House and Senate, and cut off both supplies and money to the South Vietnamese govt, and let the NV know they would neither complain or aid the South, so the reconstituted NVA more or less simply walked in. However, the fact remains, we had won, the Democrats gave away our victor out of spite.
There has been only one power in history ever to defeat the American military: the Democrat party.
Anonymous, that's pretty much how I remember it. Haven't seen any history textbooks that say it that way of course.
ReplyDeleteCronkite was supposed to be the kind, gentle grandfather type that was full of wisdom and honesty.
ReplyDeleteTime has proven he was a crazy, progressive bastard with an agenda.
During one of the presidential elections in the 70s I recall Cronkite saying "There's good news from California!" I remember levitating off the sofa. That's the sort of thing you don't forget. The tape has probably long gone down the memory hole, though.
ReplyDeleteGwen Ifill's very first national TV appearance was on Sunday with David Brinkley. During one discussion involving some democrat misadventure, Ifill intoned "I think we're getting a bad rap here," or some-such. Like you, I levitated, but someone, Cokie Roberts I think, cautioned her with a "careful Gwen, none of us are affiliated here," or some-such.
ReplyDeleteIwas looking at new books at the library last week. On title jumped out and smacked me" "Westmorland - The General Who Lost the Viet-Nam War" (or close to that).
ReplyDeleteDidn't have any matches with me.
Damn!!!