"There is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children and the
United States of America."
Otto von Bismarck
I was reminded of this famous quote while considering the Bush Admin and the
recent Supreme Court ruling. For 5 years, we have been under an
extra-Constitutional regime which built its powers on fear. Fear promoted
so endlessly and pervasively that it literally rivaled Orwell's nightmare of
a government in 1984.
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Watching it all unfold unhindered has been the source of despair to all true
American patriots. Each revelation or scandal was the hope of future
generations, but the lapdog quality of the national press just increased the
despair. The rumors of blackmail based on Internet activity must have some
foundation of truth.
But, as Bismarck remarked, God does look after the US. Not in the way the
bible thumpers think, but putting people in place where they are needed, or
where they will do the least damage.
Washington and Franklin during the Revolution. Imagined losers like Lincoln
and Grant. A cripple during WWII. A failed merchant as President to
contain the Soviet Union and rebuild Europe. Plus anonymous place holders
when things are going well.
This brings us to the current Admin. The tragedies of 9/11 had the
potential of allowing a lesser son to rise to the occasion and achieve
greatness....but only if greatness was within him to come out.
But it wasn't.
However, God, in his infinite mercy protected the US once more by placing
the right person in the right place at the right time.
Instead of greatness in this time of trouble, God provided incompetence.
Incompetence as a virtue? In this time and place, yes.
Imagine if you will you had an Admin after 9/11 lead by a person of wit and
imagination serving a toxic Oedipal psychosis and inflated religious
righteousness.
A person who saw himself above the law and with the ability to make it
stick. What if that ability was displayed in domestic manipulation
through oratory and internationally through successes against
hapless populations of the straw man of the moment?
What would be the state of our Republic then? How little would it differ
from other fascist regimes who were led by men displaying horrible
efficiency?
But God blessed us with George W. Bush, an incompetent who could not raise
beyond his limitations. A man who listened to dreamers instead of wise
foreign policy experts. Who supported ideologs instead of experienced
Generals with years of serving the Nation.
And what do you get when you ignore reality?
You can add more and more energy, money, troops trying to bend the world to
your will; but eventuality, like Canute, your feet get wet. Your troops are
wounded or killed, your treasure runs out , the people stop listening to the
lies. Then judges feel emboldened to uphold the law, columnists speak the
truth to larger audiences, your functionaries begin to leave the sinking
ship or are drug away to jail.
It all begins to unravel.
That is where we are. The Republic is still not safe, but the monstrous
hypocrisy of the GOP and rabid attacks against those who dare speak the
truth are signs that things are falling apart.
The despair lifts slightly when you consider these possibilities, so don't
be so quick to condemn this period. Think of what has been learned
and what will come in the future to protect our liberties
with stronger walls.
This era will be taught in schools like that of the Adams Admin and the
hated Alien and Sedition Acts. Laws that destroyed John Adam's reputation
and provided and example to be avoided for 200 years. Bush and Company
should be good for another 200.
Ridge