After 9/11, all Americans were shocked, and all Americans were eager to attack Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden was hiding. But bin Laden escaped at Tora Bora. At that point, instead of "staying the course" and pursuing bin Laden, the administration decided to "cut and run" to Iraq. We were assured over and over again that this was necessary in order to keep America secure.
In 2002, Republicans labeled their "cut and run" as "stay the course," and they won majorities in both houses. In 2004, Republicans again told us that the only way to keep America secure is to "stay the course" in Iraq, and again they won. Even Bush was reelected.
Evidently "stay the course" was a winning strategy - not for achieving victory in Iraq, but for achieving victory at the American polls. Iraq descended into chaos. However, the administration held up the beautiful goal of democracy and painted all Iraq happenings in rosy red. "Stay the course" was a slogan that pointed out how confident Republicans were of victory in Iraq, and how positive they were that this victory would enhance American security.
A couple of months ago, Karl Rove told us that again achieving security by "staying the course" will be foremost in the upcoming elections. Indeed, it is.
However, this time achieving security is a message that is hurting Republicans and benefiting Democrats. Democrats are telling voters what they already see and are unhappy about: "stay the course" has been a recipe for disaster in Iraq. To make our country secure, we MUST find a way to extricate ourselves from Iraq.
Republican leaders are running around shooting in all directions and sometimes they hit other Republicans. Listen to the latest from Bill Frist, the majority leader of the Senate:
The challenge is to get Americans to focus on pocketbook issues, and not on the Iraq and terror issue.
So even Frist does not like "stay the course." Democrats have been against "stay the course" for a very long time. Frist prefers to talk about pocketbook issues. So do Democrats, because the Republicans have arranged it so that wages and salaries don't budge, while CEOs get million-dollar packages.
But the primary message of Democrats is about security. We insist that we get out of Iraq and return to finish the job in Afghanistan. Getting rid of Al Qaeda is the first order of business in keeping us safe.
Finally, after all these years of "stay the course" propaganda, it no longer works. Americans see the reality and are clamoring for change. They will get it by voting Democrats into office.
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