It's been really interesting to watch the flow of diaries likening GWB to a monarch in his pretensions of power - All of which, so far as I'm aware, overlook that fact that a whole lot of Democrats, including John Kerry, affirmed the nub of these pretensions in voting for the
Iraqi War Resolution. What's fashionable now is to be shocked - shocked I tell you! - at the President's grievious overreach in authorizing covert intelligence operations against American citizens.
I've got news for you: that's only a minor crime compared to the pre-emptive war that so many Democrats authorized way back when... before GWB was an undisputed fuck-up.
Remember John F Kerry's famous words, more or less: I think the President should have such power. Which power? The power to unilaterally wage war. The essential power, in other words - along with the suspension of habeas corpus that has been admitted for so long without continuing Democratic outrage - of a monarch. That's what JFK in effect said: I think the President should have the power of a monarch; the power forbidden him by the Constitution. Spying on Americans is such small potatoes compared with the ability to wage war. Yet, it's a safe issue to blame the President on because Democratic complicity is so passive.
Sure, Jay Rockefeller let it go on for a couple years (given the national security implications)... but he did cover his own ass with a sealed letter to the Vice President. Way to go Jay! That's the American Spirit in action!
I'm sure a host of you stupid fucks will troll rate me for breaking the taboo against stating the obvious about the Democratic Party. After all, to expect too much principled action from Democrats is only to give aid and comfort to Republicans. Never forget the lesser of two evils doctrine! Never expect the Democrats to be against the abuse of Presidential power till well after the fact, once it's safe to be against it. Then they'll pile on, like the pack of sanctimonious fucktards that they by and large are.
A real opposition would have called Bush on his king routine three fucking years ago, rather than lending a veneer of bipartisanship to the monarchical bandwagon. A real opposition would have come out unequivocally against the unconstitutional assertion of Presidential authority while the invasion of Iraq was just a glimmer in Dick Cheney's eye. A real opposition, in short, wouldn't have been afraid to call this Administration for what it is - regardless of how many Americans would have actually understood the critique.
A false opposition, by contrast, compromises itself while, with all the savvy of a seasoned bureaucrat, carefully avoiding responsibility. How were we to know that Bush would actually use the power to wage war that we unconstitutionally gave him?
Kossacks are fond of railing about how timely it is to make a stand on principle. Fact is, it's long past time.