"There You Go Again"

I loved that phrase when I first heard it issued in a presidential debate by Ronald Reagan against Jimmy Carter. Reagan crystallized the entire debate and eventually run for the presidency on that one statement, “There you go again”. It is a simple statement but it drew Carter out as a one minded, single issue president (which he was) and showed his thinking to be flawed.

Harry Reid reading from a prepared text yesterday on the floor of the Senate stated that the Republicans that were blocking the healthcare bill were like the supporters of slavery during the civil war. These are heavy word for such a lightweight politician.

First off, Abraham Lincoln was a Republican that put his entire presidency on the continuation of the union. It eventually cost him his life. There is no way that the Democratic Party can ever annex this great man as their own.

Secondly, the supporters of slavery prior to the civil war that were in congress were DEMOCRATS not REPUBLICANS. Southern democrats were staunch supporters of state’s rights and the ability and sovereignty of each state to decide the issue. Republicans on a large basis condemned it and sought legislative ways to unbind the south from such an enterprise, as we know, that failed and war ensued.

Harry Reid is a poor leader and a worse purveyor of the facts as was demonstrated yesterday in his speech. Revisionist history has always bothered me but to besmirch the honor of the Republicans today by lying about the Republicans in that era is a sad epitaph for such a small man.

Oh by the way, Harry Reid is trailing in his bid for reelection to his seat in his own state. This might be his last hurrah but at least he could leave with honor and not the pitiful bleating of a lost sheep which really caricaturizes him at this time.