“Texicans Cain’t All be Bad....even if they are Emigres”
The following letter from Bali Bubba winged it’s way through the ether all the way from breezy Bali to the smoggy City of Angels and I share it, along with my reply, since the sender’s heart is obviously in the right place, and demonstrates an uncommon level of political wisdom, not to mention being a man of principle and exemplary courage in his convictions to gamble so prodigiouslay with his life’s, nay his wife’s, life savings.
Needless to say, I think he is wrong and that the Robber Barons from Texas will be soundly trounced in November’s presidential elections in the US. So I am more than happy to match his princely wager of Rp. 20,000 despite the odd nightmare that he might right :
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Dear ParacelsusAsia,
We almost know one another from Friday Trivia at the Cat and the Fiddle.
As a Texan for Nader (oxymoron?) I have a unique insight into American Politics. Let me cover a few points.
But first, let’s take care of business. In your latest column, you offer to give odds that Kerry will win the USA presidential race. I will take that bet, no odds needed. I have Rp. 20,000 from my life’s savings, make that my wife’s savings; that says George Bush will be re-elected.
Why you ask? Paracelsus, are you yawning?
Your remarks “My gut tells me that there will be a massive repudiation of Bush and his divisive politics.” I think your gut is wrong. I suspect you simply got hold of some bad Mexican food. That repudiation should have occurred long ago. It is not going to happen.
Why?
1. Bush could rape Mother Theresa in her grave (Moore cut that scene from F-9/11) and not lose a point from his political base. Look at all that has happened in the last 6 months...the damning book from his former Secretary of the Treasury, the hundreds of deaths/ chaos/lack of leadership in Iraq, Fahrenheit 9/11,etc. and still his numbers have not dropped as much as one would expect.
The worst is over for Bush. He has taken hit after hit. Only a major riot at the Republican convention or a major terrorist attack can stop him now and maybe not even that. Sad, but brutally true.
2. It should have been easy to unseat Bush. The Democrats should have it wrapped up by now. The fault lies in the selection of Kerry. Kerry is not Clinton. He is Al Gore with a wealthy wife who was a Republican (and still is) until 2 years ago. He has too much baggage from his years in the senate which will be used against him. Kerry is just an easy target as Bush. He is the candidate the Republicans wanted to run against. They were scared fece-less of Harold Dean getting the nomination.
For the first time in history a candidate did not get a boost of at least 5-10 points after a political convention. That is scary. Kerry is simply not connecting with the independents as he must do.
I love Michael Moore, he epitomizes free speech in America, but F 9/11’s impact has already been made. I think a true independent voter is too savvy to be swayed by the movie. Playing the Hollywood card often has a backlash effect. Witness Harold Dean who was leading the race in Iowa until Rob Reiner, Martin Sheen, and Michael Moore went to Iowa to campaign for him. It was his kiss of death.
I do think Kerry is the lesser of two evils and hope that he wins. But my wife’s money is regretfully on Bush. I think the Republicans are more organized and will get more people to the voting booth. This is the strangest election I can remember and maybe the most important in American History.
Now, when are you going to write about “The Successes of the United Nations”, and “Why America Owes So Much To Europe?” I would like to get your take on those subjects.
The Cat and Fiddle has moved as you probably know. Trivia on Friday is now played at the Castaways. Join us when practical.
Bali Bubba
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Dear Bali Bubba,
It is true that the food here is disgusting and it could be that this has caused the odd twinge I have once in a while that you could be right. However belief in a benevolent God and the innate common sense of the Great American Public (some might say wishful thinking) tells me my gut is right and yours is not.
So I accept your bet and match your magnificent wager.
However if I lose, I will only pay up if you have done your clear duty and returned to Texas and voted or can demonstrate that you are a fully accredited member of Bali’s Democrat’s for Nader, Kerry or even Bali Republicans for “Anybody But Bush”. And, for good measure, if Bush wins that the proceeds of our wager be donated to the Society for the Public Disemboweling of Ralph Nader on Fux News for allowing the wretched Bush to be elected in the first place. Your man should go back to the 60’s where he belongs, and stop causing mayhem in another century.
Thanks for the steer on future articles, though I think I’ll pass. On the subject of America’s debt to Europe, did you know that geneticists now say that the White Man got to America from Europe several thousand years before the Red Man? Apparently they crossed over on ice sleds during the Ice Age all the way from Spain. So nowy‚ all can have casinos on your tribal lands. Ain’t eugenics wunderbar, nicht wahr?!
