Friday, September 14, 2007

A Rose by any other name...



[Tags: Democrats, neocon, linguistics, liberals, Iraq,
partisan]




As complex and intricate as the English language is, as time passes, it always becomes more so. I am in no stretch of the imagination, a linguist or even a wannabe. I use words to try and express in a hopefully calm and logical way, my thoughts such as the wanted meaning is conveyed successfully. That is to say, I say what I mean and mean what I say so ya'll can understand.. dig? Yet, as time goes by, language changes as do the meanings of words. What was once used in the past to convey an emotion or illicit an emotion is discarded over time such that either it is not used at all, or if the word is used, it's meaning has sometimes drastically changed. For example, the word “swell” in the past (read: 1920's – 1950's) was used to convey the meaning “Great!”. We have since stopped using that word as it has fallen out of favor by the popular culture through the 1960's and to today, and have adopted other words – more words, that convey and illicit the same feeling, without the word “swell” being used. “Awesome” and “Excellent” are two of the most common of my generation.

That brings us back to the politics of the world. Politics has an effect on our language as well. Little known words such as “jingoism”, first coined in 1878 (according to Websters Dictionary) was vastly lost to time until drudged up post in the 21st century post 9/11, and used by the Democratic party as an epithet hurled at those “flag waving” American's who some feel to have too much pride in their country called the United States of America. One can only hope “swell” makes a comeback real real soon.



In fact, the Democratic Party has been very creative in their use of language as I have pointed out in the past few years on this very blog. Intensive use of idiosyncratic words, coupled with adjectives and adverbs meant to degrade, flame and otherwise insult the government, the military, those unfortunate “jingoists”, and anyone else who dared stand opposed to these “New Liberals” way of thinking were fodder for the linguistic grinder of “The Daily Kos”, “Smirking Chimp” as well as the pseudo-pundits calling themselves “political comedians” on television and cable shows nation wide. This isn't to be confused with "neoliberalism" which is very very different (and deserves a post all by itself). Democrats have found that the written word when used as a weapon, and when honed either by adding not-so-well-known adjectives and descriptions as well as long-dead words that have fallen out of favor with the population cause people to “sit up and take notice”. This notice may be in violent agreement, or in violent protest – both of which are irrelevant as the purpose was and is, to illicit a response... ANY response, and they have been very successful at it. Therefore, the 1959 coined word “neoconservative” first used by a journalist to describe a new type of conservative was not that popular at the time. In fact, until the 21st century, very few people even knew such word existed until the media and then the blogs-sphere started using a shortened version of the word neoconservative; neocon. Like jingoism (jingoist), it's new form and new meaning was meant as a slur against conservatives who as Websters defines it as:

2. a conservative who advocates the assertive promotion of democracy and United States national interest in international affairs including through military means

Primarily, this is used to describe any and all (regardless of actual political leanings or thoughts) who supported the Iraq War and removal of Saddam Hussein from power. Like jingoist, neocon again has a negative use and is used as an accusation or attack. Calling someone a neocon was supposed to illicit the response: “No, I'm not a neocon”. Since no-one liked the word, and the people enmasse did not stand up and start support groups like “I'm a neocon and proud” of “NFWD” (Neocons for World Domination - I totally made those up btw), etc... the word stuck as a slur against Republicans when a Democrat needed a good zinger to throw out there. While very little of America, then or now, would espouse to actually fitting the definition of a neocon, I think it's time an accurate definition of some more colorful of the Democratic party be identified with some new terminology. The New Liberals are not like the old liberals like JFK, Truman, FDR, etc. Those Democrats would, in todays world, be Republicans. While the media and various PolySci organizations and Universities squabble over when and how much the Democratic party slid left, and the Republican Party slid right leaving the moderates alone and naked wondering where their clothes have gone – we're all left in the swamp of words hurled as arrows from one side of the political spectrum to the other by the politicians and the parroting and biased media. Until now, I believe the Democrats have had the upper hand in that, they are much more creative with language and have kept the Republicans either on the defensive or stuck in a library looking up definitions like “jingoism”. Republicans need a word that encompasses the New Liberals... the Code Pinks, the Dennis Kucinich's of the world who's views are, well, far from progressive or contemporary but very much radical and a very effing kooky. How can language possibly define a moderate liberal the same as a kooky liberal? Sure, Republican's have up until this point, been trying to be as creative with words but failing miserably. Moonbat is a favorite, but has little to describe in political terminology what a Moonbat actually stands for. Are there degrees of moon-bat or are they all clumped into one? “Liberal” and “Lefty” are sometimes used – the old standby “Commie-Pinko” doesn't really encompass the correct definition any longer as most of the worlds Communist countries have gone the way of the Dodo. “Socialists”? Meh... it hardly has zing! to it and you can't abbreviate it in a way that's got sting or that could possibly put an elitist Democrat on back on their heels in defense. No, there needs to be another word, a combination of words. Something that has some “POP” to it, something that will illicit a strong opinion one way or another but ultimately, will illicit SOME response. It's got to be catching, have some zing – be easy to say, easy to remember and most of all, based in reality. So far there is no such word and we all know what that means... we have to make up a word that can encompass the meaning.

In the spirit of being bi-partisan and to allow the Republican's the opportunity to think of and perhaps get the creative juices flowing, I created a new word that probably will not stick, that no-one will like or use, but which MAY get the Republican's back in the game here with a word of their own to describe the ever left-leaning rabid and moderate liberals of today and the future. What I call the “New Liberals” are really Zealo-libs. Z-libs for short. What's it mean? Well... let me provide you with a definition or two that may help explain:


Zealolib

Two entries found.
Zealolib

Main Entry:
zee·lo·lib
Pronunciation:
\ˌ'zē-lō-lib\
Function:
noun
Date:
2007
1 : A liberal who expresses and advocates mostly negative and critical extremist positions without need or want of a better suggestion or plan.
2 : To provide an “anti-anything” stance.
3 : Repetition of rhetoric or slander without providing evidence to the contrary.
4 : Denouncement and criticism for criticism's sake or for political aspirations only.
— zealoliberalism \-və-ˌti-zəm\ noun
— zealoliberal adjective
See also Zlib

While one term is fine, there are thresholds of Zeloliberalism that one term simply cannot fully encompass. The diversity of Zelolibs are such that, can one really lump in Richardson with Code Pink? I don't think I could live with myself making that vast of a generalization – and besides – Zelolibs and Moderate Liberals just won't take such a ludicrous comparison seriously and I don't blame them. While I chalk up the “neo-con” as slander BECAUSE it doesn't provide the layers and depth of difference between a Rush Limbaugh and a Ron Paul, that does not mean that I, the creator of the Zelolib term, would want to stoop as low and only create one word to encompass what is ... a vast array of crazies and moderates. Therefore, I must now delve into the picture that hopefully will provide some explaination of it all. To varying degrees, a Zelolib could be a Zelo-Com or a Zelo-Hipster. In order to further define what each of these things are and what they include, it will be necessary (I”m sorry to say) to further refine this at a future date. As I said in the beginning, the terminology changes as do the politics... while we can chalk up little change to “neoconservative” over the past 60 years, Republicans have a need to be accurate and factual – therefore, these definition's may NOT be accurate next year or the year after that.

New Liberals Graphic  Photobucket

From bad to better Examples in pictures

Zealocom


Zealosoc


Zealohipster


Zealolib (not the generic kind, but the specific kind)


Zealodem



Now that there is a definition of what a Zealolib is, further layers of detail on the types of definitions to the word, pronunciation, descriptors and variants, as well as MORE depth as to different levels of a Zealolib as well as specific examples of who and what each one would be, I'm hoping this will serve as a starting point for a word easier to use than mine, more specific and one that will rrrrrrroooll off the tongue without hesitation. Republicans are in dire need of this word to accurately and figuratively describe the self loathing, cynicism, hate, rabidness, slander, and utter rubbish some Democrats are spewing each and every day in hopes they can win a political erection... err... election. Democrats have and are now pandering to the lowest denominator with "Petraeus Betray Us" ads by Moveon.org in the NYT, as well as utter denial of the consequences of an Iraq failure not just for America, but for the entire world. While that may be our future given a Democrat in the White House in 2008 - what they are not talking about are the consequences. THAT is why we need a new term for these people - such that blame can be levied on each and every headstone when the terrorist come home to America to roost.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

U.S. defeat must happen...



[Tags: Iraq, politics, war, U.S. Defeat, Terrorism,
September 11]



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There's no doubt that the American people do not have the stomach for what is needed in Iraq. Since 2003, the American people have been in tug of war between the far-left rhetoric stating, "Iraq war was not necessary... cannot be won... we must leave." This opinion is shared by America and most all of Western civilized societies in Europe, Asia, Canada, South America, Australia, and other countries that enjoy a non-Caliphate based fanatic-Islamic based cult, such that Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Hamas and some other 100+ Islamic terrorist organizations want. On the other side, the Bush Administration decided to invade and remove Saddam Hussein and after a masterful invasion and removal of Iraq's elite and standard military, failed to listen to his commanders and failed to have a solid plan to quickly stand the country up and pull out. The Bush Administration then failed over years to make progress until lately, when a military surge was identified to stabilize security and remove a branch of Al Qaeda called "Al Qaeda in Iraq", and has used his bully pulpit to also use rhetoric to try and convince the America people that Iraq must be able to stand on it's own and it's in the worlds best interest that Iraq not become another Taliban or Terrorist stronghold, or that Iraq is not the catalyst for a civil war or worse, a larger Regional Sunni vs. Shia conflict which engages Iraq's surrounding country's. That has caused not really a debate, but a digging-in of positions such that, in my view, one side has committed to defeat and another side has perhaps, too late, identified a plan which will move forward and show progress that could identify success in a very difficult situation.

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The Republicans in the Administration have made possibly too many mistakes to recover from - not because operationally or diplomatically they are impossible to archive, but because the delays in identifying a clear pathway have turned public opinion and have been "too little too late". This would be due to many factors:

1) The inability to read intelligence
2) The refusal of the Bush Administration to listen to commanders in 2003 and 2004
3) The refusal of the Bush Administration to be able to quickly change direction and reassess and adapt to the Iraqi violence, terrorists, and insurgency
4) The inability of the Administration to understand the complex dynamics of differing religious members, tribal war lords, and impacts of terrorist organizations and it's effect on progress.

In short, the planning was so bad, and the expectations and intelligence was so misread, and the Administration's refusal to change direction caused insurgency and terrorists to take root, make relationships with Iran or with other groups willing to fund these attacks, and allow these insurgents/terrorists to carry out a strategy of attempting to start a civil war. The purpose of this civil war would be to drive out the U.S. forces which have been keeping a civil war from starting. The amount of rhetoric and constant stubborn "stay the course" functions of the Administration, as well as personnel who were both overseeing as well as consulting Bush were the wrong people, at the wrong time. For example, if Colin Powell and Rice were to have not had to traverse Cheney and Rumsfeld and Rove, the outcome may have been different sooner and more progress could have been made, or, the extended occupation of Iraq may not have happened at all.

The Democrats have seized upon every vile slanderous method to discredit and destroy the functions of the Iraq war. They have utilized and adopted an "anti-war" stance for political gain in 2006 in order to make governmental gains in the Congress and are using those same methods in the 2008 Presidential election. NDO's such as moveon.org and other soft-money organizations created by prominent and rich, to raise money and take out attack ads against both political and military personnel not based upon fact, but as a legacy and commitment to defeat of the U.S. in Iraq. Almost all prominent Democrats from Harry Reid, Senate President, Nancy Pelosi, House Chairwoman, Murtha, Durbin, Kerry, Kennedy, Biden, Feinstein, and others all have stated categorically, that the purposes for the Bush administration to stabilize and prop up Iraq to stand on their own as a peaceful nation, has been lost and it is impossible for success to be achieved.

The Democratic party has embraced an extremist viewpoint of far-left Liberal and Socialist methodologies, such that "loons" are used to interrupt House and Senate house meetings. Rabid anti-war groups with members such as Cindy Sheehan who has been arrested over and over are continually allowed to attend meetings where they scream and are re-arrested only to continue again at a future date/time/ meeting. Politicians have embraced the rabid-left and socialist attacks as an alignment to polls in hopes to gain political power - not end the war. Quotes from Presidential candidates such as:

Obama:"We've got to get the job done there [Afghanistan] and that requires us to have enough troops so that we're not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians, which is causing enormous pressure over there."

Schumer: "And let me be clear, the violence in Anbar (Iraq) has gone down despite the surge, not because of the surge. The inability of American soldiers to protect these tribes from Al Qaeda said to these tribes we have to fight Al Qaeda ourselves. It wasn't that the surge brought peace here. It was that the warlords took peace here, created a temporary peace here. And that is because there was no one else there protecting."

Durbin: If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners."

Kerry: You know, education --- if you make the most of it, you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't you get stuck in Iraq."

Not only are Democrats willing to slander and attack our military who are being dismembered, getting injured, bleeding and dying on orders of their government, but they are willing to call them murderers as well as stupid. The Democratic party has embraced the defeat in Iraq and will not discuss consequences of that defeat. This reason is that the Democrats will make sure they position themselves to be in governmental power and MUST, MUST show a defeat of both Bush as well as against terrorist. It is important to point out however, that the Democrats do not believe in the defeat of America in Iraq to the point that they will, as they have the majority in both Houses of Congress, to de-fund the Iraq war - effectively stopping U.S. involvement in weeks. That would be political suicide and as such, would validate that the Democrats have moved to a socialist stance and share the "kook" mentality of the rabid.

The consequences to the political fallout from such a defeat are not discussed because it's too horrible to discuss... the "what if" scenario's are dire. The majority of analysts and also my own opinion is that, not only will terrorism grow and establish a new stronghold with Iraq, but a clarion call of rhetoric from terrorists organizations will use the U.S. defeat as a new and worldwide recruitment tool showing such successes as the defeat of the U.S.S.R. in Afghanistan and now the defeat of the lone Super-Power in the United States. Not only will that ensure terrorism will be around for the next millennium both as a political and military strategy, but it will ensure the breakdown of borders and countries themselves - and may issue the start of a worldwide effort of genocide and conversion under threat, to radical Islamic as well as other ideologies. This effectively will put our world wide civilization back 500 years. As the current countries and societies are NOT willing to forcibly remove terrorists and accept collateral damage of dead men, women and children; we will allow it to continue to grow and take root in all countries while making feeble attempts to thwart their attacks.

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It therefore becomes necessary for a future generation to be involved in yet another World War. That's right, I'm saying that this current catalyst of Iraq will issue in a future World War, the third repeatable mistake that we as the human race are too stupid to avoid. A World War that has a great possibility to include nuclear weapons and death on scale that can little be imagined. America, Europe and other Western nations will get hit again and again, and are doomed to endure 9/11 squared in multiple countries in multiple cities over the next few decades. America's aversion and "lack of stomach" for a hard fight is not the only fight. It is not this only fact that will ensure our deconstruction of the life we currently enjoy, but is one part of it. The attacks that we will have to endure in the future are therefore necessary to occur until people who are thinking political gains by admitting defeat are proved incorrect and harmful. That political gain is no longer a need - but survival of a society is the need. Until that happens, nothing will change. Make no mistake - I fully believe terrorists and ideologies are the biggest long-term risk to this world. Until the world is ready to provide no-quarter to terrorists and their supporters, we will continue to debate and discuss and fight amongst ourselves, which is exactly what the Bin Ladens are hoping for. They want this issue to eat Western society out from the inside out. Barring that, continued attacks to fuel that infighting and corrosion form the inside will be necessary. I feel that the reason another attack has not occurred since 9/11 is because the amount of corrosion taking place within the United States politically and down to it's individual citizens is such that another attack is not necessary - unless the United States comes together again and are resolute, I feel another MAJOR attack may not be necessary... small attacks showing Al Qaeda is still powerful and still "in charge" certainly will continue.

So both political parties are at fault, one before and one after. The military is the proverbial "monkey in the middle" being held up as a possible savior by the Republicans, and being denounced as a "traitor" by the Democrats. The fallout from such a defeat in Iraq will have dire consequences for Western society in the future as well as influence in the United States as well, it may have economic, financial as well as other possible impacts that have yet to emerge.

So in summary, the Democrats will eventually remove troops from Iraq, will declare defeat in Iraq, will blame the Bush administration, will blame the military and blame everyone and everything other than themselves. They will issue in a new age of attacks, lack of influence and the decline ultimately of the U.S. and most of Western democracy. They will hand Al Qaeda a recruitment tool and power as yet unheard of. In fact, an Iraq in civil war or a regional conflict including Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Syria is actually the BEST CASE SCENARIO.

While the blustering in the Senate and House follow predictable partisan lines, until our way of life is threatened more so than the 20th Century Germany, Japan or possible Cold War enemy could, nothing will change. What is dysfunctional is how the U.S. Political system is more interested in political power - they do not yet understand or realize they are squabbling over the scraps from Bin Ladens table. I would urge those who want defeat to cut across the next 30-50 years of squabbling and embrace radical-Islam and join Al Qaeda as their goals are the same, their rhetoric is the same, and their belief system should now be the same. I'm resigned to the fact that the Democrats have less of a clue than the Republicans; a possibility that heretofore has not been yet realized. Unless extraordinary steps are being taken by extraordinary leaders and people who are yet to be identified (the current politicians and leaders are incapable of successfully wiping their own ass let alone take on a situation with this breadth and width) we our future generations are in major trouble. We're just too stupid to realize it.

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