It has taken an abortive impeachment attempt, a couple of contentious elections, a terrorist attack on American soil, the invasion of two sovereign nations, and political intrigue that would make Niccolo Machiavelli proud, for the neocon establishment to consolidate power within the U.S. Government to the extent that the traditional system of checks and balances has, for all intents and purposes, withered beyond recognition. Dick Cheney’s vision of a restored and empowered Executive Branch has been realized, and the notion of public accountability has gone out the window. Wrapping themselves in the banner of patriotism and national security, this authoritarian Republican cabal has positioned itself to influence both foreign and domestic policy in ways that have deliberate, enduring consequences. The obvious beneficiaries of this enterprise are the corporate giants that tend to flourish under imperialistic policies that favor exploitation of cheap foreign labor, unlimited natural resources, and virtual freedom from environmental regulation.
The most egregious aspect of this power grab is that is has been accomplished at the expense and future security of the American people. Mounting war casualties, exhausted and demoralized armed forces, massive budget deficits, weak dollar, costly energy, and floundering economy seem to be of little concern to this regime and their corporate paymasters, and in certain twisted ways, seems to work to their advantage. But given the amount of effort expended to achieve their goals, it is reasonable to expect that those in power will not readily relinquish it.
John McCain is the latest "useful idiot" of the neocon establishment, as it is a safe bet that, if elected and filled with gratitude, he will happily do their bidding, much in the same manner as the present Commander-in-Chief. McCain’s less-than-inspirational candidacy is causing concern for more than a few of his masters, but not to worry; what they cannot accomplish with money alone can be achieved through political subterfuge and character assassination.
But what about the worst case scenario for the neocons, if Barack Obama wins in November? With the Democrats likely to increase their majorities in both the House and Senate, things are going to get rough for the neocons. Let’s not fool ourselves; these ideologues are not going to willingly ride into the sunset. Does anyone think that John Bolton is going to retire from world affairs and open a haberdashery, or Richard Perle open a cooking school? The neocons and their sympathizers within the Pentagon and the intelligence community are likely to operate "under the radar" and maintain their own clandestine foreign policy establishment. Look what Reagan was able to do in Nicaragua and El Salvador, and he was in the public eye!
While our immediate goal is to elect a Progressive leader and turn the page on the last eight years of an ideologically-driven, authoritarian regime, we must remain vigilant while these same forces regroup, lick their wounds, and begin to plot their restoration.