She has recently admitted (from Texas GASP) that she is no longer in favor of the president's foreign policy, but still sees him (who shall not be named) as a "good guy" that was unfortunately given bad intelligence post 9-11. In other words, it's not his fault, he didn't mean it, one might even have a beer with him. (sigh)
Anyway, I'll copy and paste the email she sent me, and all her other bootlicking sycophants on her email list, then I'll copy my response, which I "replied to all" of course. If anyone is interested in this diary, and it sticks around longer than the 10 minutes my diaries usually last, I'll post any responses from the wingnuts in my family. You can then all help me craft an intelligent response to hopefully jolt their pea brains out of the fog of allegiance they seem to be caught in.
First - the original email that got my Saturday morning blood boiling:
----- Original Message -----
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY US. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?
My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been completed.
Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete
This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq this action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom , Spain , Bulgaria , Australia , and Poland are some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.
Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.
The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.
Need help with a famine ? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France .
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home . On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.
Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France , or maybe China
I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France , Germany , and Russia Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed I don't care about whatever treaty p ertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York
A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.
Mexico is also on List 2 President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put 'em? Yep, border security.
Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.
We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care.
It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."
Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America It is time to eliminate homelessness in America . To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.
God bless America Thank you and good night.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.
(Please forward this to at least ten friends and see what happens! Let's get this to every USA computer!)
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My response: (not yet sent - waiting for some input from the great minds reading DKos on Saturday morning)
A lie can travel the world while the truth is putting on its pants.
Fact is, those countries on list 1 have had their own regime change, their leaders have been replaced in recent elections due to the blind allegiance to a failed U.S. policy in Iraq. Italy, England, & Australia have replaced their respective prime ministers for following Mr. Bush into this lost cause. Why is it the Republicans have lost the U.S. Congress and are probably going to lose the White House next year? It's anti-war sentiment, as the facts have become well established, replacing the lies that started this nonsense, the people are realizing they've been duped.
Fact is, those countries on list 2 were the ones that were right to begin with, weren't they? Those are the countries that realized:
- There was no "imminent threat" from Iraq, except maybe Israel was in the crosshairs, but even that threat turned out to be exaggerated.
- There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, according to those U.N. inspectors in Iraq that knew the truth but were hushed by the chickenhawks running this administration. Talk of "mushroom clouds" by Mr. Bush and Ms. Rice were nothing more than hyperbole.
- There were no links whatsoever between 9-11 and Iraq. (Where is Osama Bin Laden and why has there been a Taliban resurgency? Have we forgotten who attacked us, or simply replaced them with Iraq in our minds?)
- The United States of America, having entered into a misguided pre-emptive attack on a relatively unarmed country without cause, has lost worldwide credibility and actually created an atmosphere that has led to an increase in worldwide terrorist activities in retaliation to our inept destruction of Iraq. Do you blame the Iraqis for calling the US soldiers "terrorists"? How would you feel if Saddam Hussein occupied Washington DC without cause? Wouldn't you grab a torch and a pitchfork to defend your country? I know I would.
The lies (some might consider certain assurances made by Mr. Bush to be "honest mistakes") we were told to get us into the war have never been proven accurate.
In a U.S. where Karl Rove has recently stated the war in Iraq was a democratic initiative I'm not surprised even those close to Mr. Bush are running from Iraq war complicity. The president is polling around 27%, right where Nixon was polling when a majority of congressional brave REPUBLICANS determined it was in the best interest of the country to vote for impeachment proceedings.
Let's not blame Canada, Mexico, and those other countries with more capable and considerate leaders for the mistakes of those that bought into the lies that caused this mess. The "defeat of the Iraq regime" was accomplished in 2002, 5 years ago. Our soldiers did their job. Now they are caught in a nightmare un-winnable civil war against an enemy without land to take; Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Americans and Al-Quiada all vying for control of the same ground. Just as predicted would happen by none other than Dick Cheney when he was SecDef in 1990. EXACTLY as he predicted. How many American deaths could have been avoided? Perhaps those leaders in Canada, Mexico, France, and Germany saved their countrymen from thousands of needless deaths. Isn't that kind of caution with other people's lives a preferable leadership attribute?
Perhaps it is those pathetic sheep blindly following the herd of chickenhawks into war that have betrayed America and should find solace in like-minded Somalia, where violence is the first choice of action, and diplomacy is just in the way of achieving their goals.
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That's my first draft - and if it sounds like I'm pissed off, I am.
I can't claim to be "one pissed off liberal", but I am.
This is going to my extended family, and some others my mom doesn't know enough to blind copy. I'm considered some kind of liberal black sheep, Thanksgiving is usually stressful as hell, but this one was lots of fun this year, I spent it with my honey on vacation in Florida without any wingnut relatives within a thousand miles.