I was reading the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Hamdan2 this morning--the one that George Bush has already signalled he is going to ignore--and I started thinking, which is always a dangerous thing to do in Bush's America, about Jack Nicholson's speech from the movie
A Few Good Men.
At the end of the movie, Tom Cruise wants the truth, but Jack says he can't handle it--kind of like the public's right to know.
With a few subtle changes, Jack's speech could be given by George at his trial.....
Son, we live in a post 9/11 world [], and [we have to fight them over there so we don't fight 'em over here.] Who's gonna do it? You? You, [Sen. Kerry]? You, [Jack Murtha]?
Heck, Kerry was only awarded a Bronze Star, a Silver Star flag burand three Purple Hearts. Murtha received the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. [After all, G-d speaks to me.]
You weep [about the loss of freedom, but who needs freedom if you're dead], and you curse the [extraordinary renditions, the warrantless surveillance of Americans, the secret prisons and countless other violations of law that you don't know about yet].
You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that [stealing the 2000 election and the 2004 election], while tragic, probably [assured my brother's election as the next president]. And my [legacy], while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, [assured my family and friends extreme wealth and power].
You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, people like Melanie "I would have no problem with [NYT Editor Bill Keller] being sent to the gas chamber" Morgan, John "2 bullets in the head" Gibson, Bill "nuke Iran" O'Reilly and Ann "Let's frag Murtha" Coulter typify Bush's America.
We use words like Jesus, gay marriage, and abortion... We use these words [to get elected]. You [view] them as [private matters].
I have neither the [mind] nor the [intellect] to explain myself to [Americans] who rise and sleep under the [watchful eyes and ears of the NSA], and then question [its legality.]
I would rather you just [kept me in the dark] and [let me clear brush]. Otherwise, I suggest you [vote in November] and [make sure your vote is counted].
Either way, I don't give a damn [what Jesus would do].