HANNIBAL BUSH AND
THE HEFFALUMPS

If people remember nothing else about Hannibal, they recall he crossed the Alps "with the elephants." In fact, Hannibal lost most of his elephants in his crossing of the Alps, and the survivors (and resupplied elephants) proved to be of limited military value once the Romans learnt how to deal with them." http://www.barca.fsnet.co.uk/elephants.htm

Just as another Hannibal found out when he crossed the Alps with his heffalumps, Hannibal Bush discovered that they had little value once the folks in Cajun-Country (like the Romans) dealt with them. Those Louisiana voters kicked butt when they discovered their Senator Mary Landrieu had the brass balls to stand up to the media-driven popularity of Hannibal Bush.

The aftermath of Hannibal Bush's trek and subsequent total defeat has been nothing but delightful. Pained silence from the White House FOR SEVEN WHOLE DAYS as the Landrieu victory carried along with it the surprise win by Democrat Rodney Alexander in Louisiana's GOP-heavy 5th Congressional District.

The totally wrong predicting-pundits fell all over themselves to alibi their ignorant prognostications. Most claim that many blacks unexpectedly came out to vote for Mary, but facts show she attracted many white voters too.

Most important of all, Democrats learned that the Bush agenda could be opposed without sudden death resulting. It is greatly to be hoped that they have taken careful notes of the concerted attack of the herd of heffalumps that invaded and have rediscovered their own cajones and their own kickbuttability.

If they paid attention, they have plenty of ammunition for the next time one of them faces the heffalump hordes. One thing stands out clearly. They must be prepared to counterattack the masses of lies and false accusations made against their candidates.

In Louisiana, they labeled Landrieu's new Capitol Hill home as a "Washington mansion" and said she had "turned her back" on Louisiana. Automated "robo calls" were made to voters homes from special interest groups and Republican personalities, such as Iran-contra figure Oliver North, Gov. Foster and Barbara Bush, the wife of former President George Bush...

The heffalump's favorite nasty trick is to take a line of a speech out of context to prove that the candidate has no consistent stand on issues. Then this inconsistency is passed on to the media and other heffalumps.

They did this with Senator Landrieu on one of the most important issues for women especially now as reproductive rights face a heffalump majority in both houses. It's a really easy concept to understand.

Stated simply, one may be against abortion and still be pro-choice despite the Heffalump's attempts to make them opposite. Democrats must spike this particular lie at every opportunity and insist that the media be truthful.

Supporters of choice for women need to feel that Democrats respect their personal beliefs. There are those who would not choose abortion for themselves (against abortion) but would not deny it to other women (pro-choice).

They must hold the media's feet to the fire for their dishonest reporting. If it takes black votes to win, as they want us to believe, then heffalump Trent Lott has assured us of several wins in the future.

Speaking Thursday at a 100th birthday party and retirement celebration for Sen. Thurmond (R-S.C.) in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Lott said, "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

Thurmond ran as a staunch segregationist: "All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches."

"We stand for the segregation of the races and the racial integrity of each race."

Initially, most of the talk shows and other media generally tended to find nothing wrong with Lott's disgusting remark. However, they immediately declare that Democrats have said things that are much worse. Is anyone surprised? They think all heffalumps and woozels are sacred.

However, as more examples of Lott's former racist expressions were revealed, the media began to hoot and howl and claim that the Democrats were out to get Lott.

There is much to be done in the next two years. Democrats and Independents must not take too much comfort in Landrieu's stunning win lest they be trapped in the pit of another 4 years of heffalump-horror with no Christopher Robin to rescue them.

twanda@twanda.org

2002-052

Copyright 2002 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@twanda.org.