Just Say No...to Defeatism

Okay, so I'm clicking around the blogosphere, trying to get caught up on all the stories I missed while I was drumming the Orange[men] to victory yesterday, and I'm seeing a trend: A lot of right-wing bloggers seem to be giving up the fight all of a sudden.

I don't feel like providing specific links, but if you've been reading blogs lately, you know what I mean. Some polls are showing Kerry back in the lead, he supposedly "won" the debate, and confidence in Bush is down. Apparently, some bloggers see this as a reason to doubt Bush's ability to win the election. I tend to agree in some respects, but let's break it down.

First, the polls. They're showing Kerry in the lead, fulfilling the Democrats' need for a "comeback." But think about it for a second. The media are obviously biased toward Senator F**k Up. Their pre-determined narrative calls for a late comeback and subsequent victory. Is anyone surprised that he's now in the lead? Remember the CBS document fiasco? The coining of "fake but accurate?" What if the media are purposely skewing their polls in favor of Kerry, but justifying it by telling themselves that, since he won the debate, voters now favor him over Bush? Doesn't this make anyone else a little suspicious?

Also, I question the ability of these polls to predict the outcome of the election. They supposedly polled "undecided debate viewers" for some of them, but how many people actually watch the debates? I did, but I already know I'm voting for Bush. The votes are probably influenced more by post-debate spin than anything else. That's where the media come in. They're making sure people know that Kerry "won," and that he's seen as "more presidential" than Bush. Unfortunately, image matters a lot, so that isn't good news for Bush supporters.

HOWEVER, this is the 21st century. We've got ways of getting information out there without relying on the Old Media for assistance. I'm doing it right now by typing this blog post. We, the people, need to shift the focus from image back to facts. And on facts, Bush clearly won the debate. Kerry contradicted himself multiple times, he shot himself in the foot with his moronic "global test" rhetoric, and he still hasn't explained how he's going to get his so-called "allies" on our side. Think about it. If they're our allies, why aren't they with us now? Why is he insulting our true allies by calling them a "coalition of the coerced and the bribed?" The man is an idiot.

Speaking of facts, there are some good ones coming out today. A visit to Blogs for Bush will get you started. First, there's the revelation that Kerry may have violated debate rules by bringing notes with him to the podium. In addition, Kerry's brilliant idea of giving nuclear fuel to Iran has been rejected. I hope he has a backup plan in mind.

There's a lot more, too. Look at Kerry's words in the debate, and try to explain where he stands. You can't. The war in Iraq was a mistake, but we needed to disarm Saddam, but Bush did it the wrong way, but Kerry voted for it, and it's wrong not to fund our troops, even though Kerry voted against the $87 billion in funding, etc. FACTS. KILL. KERRY'S. MESSAGE.

That's why it's important to focus on facts. We have the power to respond to Kerry's lies and distortions. We don't have to rely on Bush and his...well, horrible public speaking abilities. We can help him out by exposing the idiocy of John Kerry's policy proposals. It may not influence a huge number of people, but it's better than standing on the sidelines and watching Bush stare off into space while Kerry flip-flops before our eyes.

Don't give up. This country was founded on the idea that people can control their own destiny. It was also founded on the idea that people can pick their own leaders, but that doesn't begin and end on Election Day. Voting is important, but it's a good idea to make sure people know what they're getting when they choose a candidate. That's why it's so great to live in this period of history. We have the power to change people's minds by using technology to our advantage. If we focus on facts, we can chip away at Kerry's polished exterior and reveal his hollow center. Besides, whining and victimization are best left to liberals. Republicans believe in changing the world, not blaming everyone else for its problems.

Remember, if you decide that Bush doesn't have a chance of winning, it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead, use it to your advantage. Persuade an undecided voter to help Bush take the lead. Explain why Kerry would put us in danger, and mention that he's pulling ahead in the polls. If you know someone who might vote for Bush, but doesn't really care about voting, change his or her mind by referring back to the last election. A few votes can make a big difference.

I don't want to be a hypocrite, so I am doing what I can. This blog is my main way of influencing opinion, but since only a few people read it, I'd like to do more elsewhere. I'm obviously voting for Bush, I have a couple Bush signs on my door, and whenever possible, I try to help change opinions in everyday conversation. I'm also seriously considering joining the Syracuse College Republicans, even though I can't make it to their meetings until next semester. But I am trying. And everyone else can do something, even if it isn't much.

This is not over.