Let's forget that Pat Buchanan called Tim Russert "Chris" this morning on Meet the Press, and talk about the substance.
Let me preface by saying, as from a Jewish family, I was reared to believe Pat Buchanan was an anti-semite. It's easy to interpret the things he says as anti-Semitic. I made the quip in 2000 that it was pretty ironic that all my alter cocker Jewish relatives in Florida mistakenly voting for Buchanan is what cost Gore the election.
By the same token, even during the time I believe he was a rabid anti-Semite, I couldn't help but also think that -- if not for that -- he says a lot of very astute things from time to time, and you can't help but at least pay attention to him.
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Now ... today, on Meet the Press, he made the essential point (via his new book) that a lot of people around here make ... That Bin Laden does not hate America because of "our freedom" ... but that he hates us because of our "policies" ... Namely:
- Being on Saudi soil (which now we're not)
- The sanctions policy vs. Iraq
- Our uncritical favoritism of Israel, and not being fair towards Palestine
I completely believe this to be true.
Now -- then Tim Russert goes to Newt Gingrich for a response ... and Newt's response was also a decent one, as far as I'm concerned.
Gingrich said - wait a minute ... what are we saying here ... that the U.S. should have let a small group of fundamentalist control the world's oil without stepping in? That we shouldn't have allowed female soldiers participate in the first Gulf War and "desecrate" the land of Mecca and Medina? That we shouldn't help protect Israel from the (very true) hopes of some segment of the population that just wishes Israel didn't exist?
I wanted to hear Pat Buchanan's answer to this - but unfortunately, they got sidetracked and he didn't have a chance to respond.
My point in writing this diary is that, there are excellent points to be made on both sides -- notwithstanding the over-aggressive posture taken by the Bush Administration.
For example, I agree to an extent that not protecting the world's oil supply is a bad idea. Don't get me wrong ... I think we've (Bush) made HUGE, HUGE mistakes in doing it by ourselves and pissing off our allies - and in not having a clear policy towards getting ourselves off of oil. But that doesn't necessarily take away from the underlying wisdom of the idea.
So again, getting back to my point of this diary ... it's that I believe Pat Buchanan is right, and I believe Newt Gingrich is right. ... To what extent, I don't know. ... But THIS IS THE DEBATE WE SHOULD BE HAVING!!
Instead, we have phony sloganeering from the president about Bin Laden "hating our freedom" and that kind of bullshit. We spend our time debating ridiculous hollow statements, instead of the real issue -- where an honest, real debate can be had.
Why? Because the Bush Administration knew it couldn't win the real argument. So it made up other ones - and pissed off the world in the process and made things worse.
That's what makes the Bush Administration both dangerous and hard to beat.