In the world of politics and election campaigns it is common for there to be an unbearable level of rhetoric and mud-slinging. This has been especially true in the U.S. Presidential race with both sides reduced to ridiculous charges of flip-flops and war records without actually discussing the issues. The borders of the issues have been blurred with knee-jerk voter reactions to whatever candidate makes them feel "safer." The other day Bush delivered a rally speech in St. Petersburg, Florida and said the following:
"With your help on November 2, the people of America will reject the politics of fear and vote for an agenda of hope and opportunity and security for all Americans."
Granted, both sides use fear tactics to scare the crap out of the American populace who is susceptible to believing pretty much anything the government tells them about security issues. However, I think it would be clear to most people that the Republican party and the Bush administration are the clear winners in the "vote for us or a swarm of evil, terrorist, madmen will descend upon your homeland with WMDs, biological weapons, torture chambers, and oppression in tow" game.
Essentially the whole Bush campaign is based around the idea that Kerry is a wimpy liberal who won't protect you from the dangers of this new and frightening world and they, in turn, are the strong fighters who will protect you at whatever the cost. Of course, this whole idea in itself is absolutely ludicrous as the Bush administrations policies are only making the world a more dangerous place and are not paying attention to actually protecting the American people.
But that is besides the point. It is completely crazy that Bush would try and paint Kerry as the one fearmongering when to any sane person it is obviously the Republican campaign that loves to scare people. Just count how many times Bush or other republicans use the words terrorist, evil, weapons or any host of other fear-mongering phrases in their speeches alongside claims that they are the only ones who can protect you.
This is just another example of this administrations traditional of lying and deceiving the public. The worst part of it all is that they do it so obviously, yet nobody in the media ever seems to call them out on it. Obviously I'm not advocating completely biased media as in yesterday's Ridiculous Rhetoric post on The Toronto Sun, but when journalists interview someone or are writing an editorial piece it is their job to ask the hard questions.
That is why this is ridiculous rhetoric.