Daily Kos

The Republican Horror Picture Show

Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 10:24:58 AM PDT

So what do Terrorists want anyway?

They want us to be scared. To be TERRORIZED.   Their goal is to spread panic, fear, chaos, and confusion.  They want us to be constantly thinking of them and their cause, and to change our way of life because of it.  They want our lives to become miserable, like frightened little mice, scurrying around, worrying about how to protect ourselves from them.  They want our country to become divided, forget its own principals, lose its soul, and to no longer have any respect in the world.

So why then GW, are we giving them what they want?

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" ~Franklin Delano Roosevelt

I am a veteran of the scare wars.  For me, it started when I was in grade school, with the "Duck and Cover" drills.  When the air raid sirens went off, it meant that that we might be under nuclear attack, and we were supposed to "duck" under our desks for protection.  Seems ridiculous now, but it was pretty scary stuff for a 6-year-old.

Later, in my teenage years, the Cold War was in full swing.  Communism was on the march, trying to take over the world.  We, the Champions of the free peoples of the earth, absolutely had to stop them in Vietnam; otherwise the whole world would fall.  The evil Soviet Union had tens of thousands of thermo-nuclear weapons (just like us), and a madman (Brezhnev), who was ready to use them. Ah, the good old days of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction).  We had movies like The Day After and Testament to help feed the fear.  As a teenager, I was sure I would never make it to 30.  For about a year I dropped out of school and became a hippie; one of the reasons being that "I might as well enjoy life while I still can".

In the early 1980's I joined the Army, and found myself on the front lines of the Great Cold War.  I went to Germany, and spent almost 8 years there, waiting for the Soviet Army to invade Western Europe through the Fulda Gap.  In my particular (Russian linguist) job however, I had a special "insider" access to what was really going on, and I began to realize that the Russian Threat was being, uh.... overestimated quite a bit (do I dare say bad intelligence estimates).  Anyway, I enjoyed my stay in Europe, traveled around quite a bit, and was not really surprised when the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union collapsed.  The world was not as scary as I had been lead to believe.

So now we come to the "Terrorism" scare wars.  Personally, I think this is only a transitional period between the Russian Threat, that fizzled out on us, and the upcoming Chinese Threat. (We do have to keep those Military Industrial-Complex jobs going, after all)

 The problem with "Terrorism" as a war is that it's an idea without a nation to go to war with.  You can't really go to war with an idea.  It's kind of like a War on Murder or the War on Crime or the War on Drugs or the War on Poverty.  There's no concrete, solid country for the Air Force to drop their bombs on, or for soldiers to put their equipment into.  There was Afghanistan for awhile; I don't know why the Administration lost interest in them so fast.  I mean at least try to look like your going after Bin Laden, for Christ sake.  Maybe it's because Afghanistan was already pretty battered and bombed out from its old wars with Russia.  Or maybe the big Corporations and Oil companies didn't see any potential profits to be made there.  For whatever reason, (probably the Oil Factor), the Bush Administration decided to make Iraq the latest "Greatest Threat America has Ever Known", with the famous "If we don't stop them in Baghdad, they'll be in Boston next week" meme.  Yeah right, whatever.   I've seen that movie before.

The Republican Horror Picture Show
The Blair Bush Project
Texas Cheney Massacre
Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue
The Rummy

Personally I'm not putting up with this sh#t any more.  I'm not going to cower in my apartment with a stock of duck tape and MREs because a small band of religious psychopaths in a foreign country, don't like my music, don't like my culture, and want me to walk around wearing a sheet over my head.   Sorry, this time I'm all scared out.   If it's my time to die, so be it.  And oh, by the way Republicans, this country has survived many threats MUCH WORSE than today's, but for some reason, the Presidents and Congresses of the time didn't feel the need to cannibalize the Constitution, torture prisoners, and turn the country into a military fortress.

That being said, I do have to admit to one thing that does really scare me - the fact that we have the Worse President the US has ever had running the country right now.  That does makes me scared.

Tags: Republicans, tactics, Cold War (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 22 comments

  •  And as the latest Repug Osama ad proves (4+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    Anna M, keefer55, SFJen, ilyana

    The only thing we have to fear is the Repugs themselves!

    "There are only the politics of fear and the politics of trust." Sen Edmund Muskie

    by JEB on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 10:31:20 AM PDT

  •  Keith Olbermann will have a special comment on (6+ / 0-)

    monday night's Countdown.  It will be devoted to this subject.

    George Bush's war isn't a war about winning. George Bush's war is a war about staying. Barack Obama.

    by tarheelblue on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 10:36:26 AM PDT

    •  the subject being that both the repugs. and (2+ / 0-)

      Recommended by:
      Anna M, madgranny

      osama seem to be on the same side, with the same goals, using the same talking points.  How republicans are spreading Osama's message for him...FEAR.FEAR.FEAR

      George Bush's war isn't a war about winning. George Bush's war is a war about staying. Barack Obama.

      by tarheelblue on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 10:39:47 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  realy?, thats a little disappointing (1+ / 0-)

      Recommended by:
      Anna M

      I thought that was the point of the RNC (?) ad, to spend as little as possible on it but get free media publicity.

      It seems like KO is kinda doing what they wanted him (and everyone else) to.

      But if anyone can  break the spin away from the Repugs, its Kieth.

      I'll definitley be watching!

      I cannot frakking believe I have to wait till 2008 to find out what happens next on Battlestar Galactica

      by SFJen on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 10:41:30 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I think that if handled correctly, this ad can (3+ / 0-)

        Recommended by:
        ThirstyGator, sgary, SFJen

        be turned against the rethugs.  It can be used to demonstrarte the similarities between the republicans and the terrorists message and, I have every confidence that KO will deliver.

        George Bush's war isn't a war about winning. George Bush's war is a war about staying. Barack Obama.

        by tarheelblue on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 10:50:48 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I hope it works (2+ / 0-)

          Recommended by:
          sgary, tarheelblue

          I think the Dems should really go after them for using all this bogeyman fear crap. I'm surprised they haven't used FDR's quote more - "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself".

          And for that matter they need to counter the "Cut and Run" theme.  How about "Stay and Pay" or something like that... You either Cut and Run or Stay and Pay.

          •  Because it relys on so much text... (1+ / 0-)

            Recommended by:
            Anna M

            I don't think most people bother following it.
            Not the ones that they're aiming for, anyway.
            I think a nice parody would be to replace the sound of ticking with snoring, and to have sheep jumping over the text.

            Keith Olbermann: If you truly revere Eward R. Murrow, it's time to change your sign off from "Good Night and Good Luck" to Fired Up and Ready to Go!"

            by sgary on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 11:56:20 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

  •  A was looking at the statistics (6+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    3card, JEB, sgary, keefer55, SFJen, ilyana

    of being killed in a Terrorist attack.   From what I figure it's about 88,000 to 1. To put things in more perspective:
    Attack of the Killer Vending Machine
    According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), at least 37 people have been killed by vending machines falling on them.  About 4000 people drown in swimming pools annually.  5000 people per year die of food poisoning.  20,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year. Car crashes claimed the lives 47,000 in 2003; which was about a 114 per day.

    Other odds of dying from National Safety Council statistics, and the National Center for Health Statistics, your odds of dying (lifetime):

      1 in 88,000 of a terrorist attack
      1 in 55,928 of death by lightening
      1 in 10,010 by falling from a ladder or scaffolding
      1 in 7,972 in a drowning accident
      1 in 197 of dying in a homicide
      1 in 299 of dying in an assault from a firearm
       
    But really, most people die from Heart disease, Cancer, Stroke, and other health problems. The chances of dying in a terrorist attack are so miniscule....

  •  It's all so predictable (3+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    Anna M, ilyana, marykk

    I have a fun toe-tapping parody flash video of Beer Barrel Polka up at

    ROLL OUT THE PERILS!
    Check it out.

    Keith Olbermann: If you truly revere Eward R. Murrow, it's time to change your sign off from "Good Night and Good Luck" to Fired Up and Ready to Go!"

    by sgary on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 10:41:54 AM PDT

    •  Loved it! (2+ / 0-)

      Recommended by:
      Anna M, sgary

      Mel Brooks said his best way to get even with the Nazis was to forever make them the subject of ridicule.  This is right in that tradition! Oh - graphics are excellent, btw.

      If you think you're too small to be effective, you've never been in the dark with a mosquito.

      by marykk on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 11:00:27 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  humble thanks! (2+ / 0-)

        Recommended by:
        Anna M, ilyana

        It's gotten so few hits compared to my previous efforts at HuffPo's Contageous Festival, I was surprised.  It's only my fourth attempt, so I'll keep trying.

        ROLL OUT THE PERILS

        Keith Olbermann: If you truly revere Eward R. Murrow, it's time to change your sign off from "Good Night and Good Luck" to Fired Up and Ready to Go!"

        by sgary on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 11:06:50 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Well if you'd like a tiny bit (2+ / 0-)

          Recommended by:
          sgary, ilyana

          of constructive criticism, pick up the tempo a little bit (not too much, as the graphics should not be missed) and - can you put this medium in a youtube?  I know nothing about this, but I think that way you may be able to embed it directly instead of sending folks via a link.  It's soooo easy to click on those youtube start buttons. . .

          But as to the substance?  Oustanding!

          If you think you're too small to be effective, you've never been in the dark with a mosquito.

          by marykk on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 11:11:17 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Thanks again (2+ / 0-)

            Recommended by:
            Anna M, ilyana

            This was only my fourth flash, and I hope to get a lot better by 2008.  I learned after posting this one that HuffPo's Contagious Festival doesn't allow cross posting, except on your own site, so YouTube will be my next host for my next project.
            I'm just doing them for fun, to learn, and to burn off some frustration, so any critism is welcome and appreciated.

            Keith Olbermann: If you truly revere Eward R. Murrow, it's time to change your sign off from "Good Night and Good Luck" to Fired Up and Ready to Go!"

            by sgary on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 11:22:53 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

    •  That's great (1+ / 0-)

      Recommended by:
      sgary

      You'll be up to JibJab in no time.

    •  Loved your (2+ / 0-)

      Recommended by:
      Anna M, sgary

      video. It reminded however of Ann Coulter and if she's a Christian, I'm a Republican!

      Barack Obama - I'll never see the threat of terrorism as a way to scare up votes, it's a threat that should rally this country against our common enemies

      by madgranny on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 12:04:23 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  This Fear Barrel Porkel needs to be headlined!! (2+ / 0-)

      Recommended by:
      Anna M, sgary

      It is so funny and right on...

      But can anyone tell me what is the bear image at the end, just before the curtains close? Was that Colbert rolling out a bear?  

      "Let us not be conservative with compassion. Be generous with compassion."

      by ilyana on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 12:30:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Yup. That's Colbert (2+ / 0-)

        Recommended by:
        Anna M, ilyana

        Tryin' to make America Afraid of Big Bad Bears.
        And Thanks.

        Keith Olbermann: If you truly revere Eward R. Murrow, it's time to change your sign off from "Good Night and Good Luck" to Fired Up and Ready to Go!"

        by sgary on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 12:36:19 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  AH.. I guess I think of the the big bad wolf :-) (2+ / 0-)

          Recommended by:
          Anna M, sgary

          but great job, really!!

          "Let us not be conservative with compassion. Be generous with compassion."

          by ilyana on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 12:40:48 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  I think The Pugs did the wolf thing (2+ / 0-)

            Recommended by:
            Anna M, ilyana

            last election cycle.  Steven have single-handedly brought back the Bear ("if there IS a Bear")
            for us to fear.

            Keith Olbermann: If you truly revere Eward R. Murrow, it's time to change your sign off from "Good Night and Good Luck" to Fired Up and Ready to Go!"

            by sgary on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 12:43:44 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  And Thanks for the kind words (2+ / 0-)

            Recommended by:
            Anna M, ilyana

            I would love for it to get more views, but my personal pimping of it on diaries sorta feels like panhandling to me, and I worry that that sort of thing is frowned on here.  
            Any ideas?  I don't wanna hijack Anna's great diary with my stuff, but love talking about something other than Foley.

            Keith Olbermann: If you truly revere Eward R. Murrow, it's time to change your sign off from "Good Night and Good Luck" to Fired Up and Ready to Go!"

            by sgary on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 12:53:55 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

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