Bush, fascism, and my failure at the local pub.
Tue Jul 11, 2006 at 12:26:00 AM PDT
Let us stop being chicken-shit liberals. Let's start telling the truth we know: G.W. Bush is a fascist. It is that simple. Say it loudly. Repeat. People who are deceived must hear the truth. The sleepers must awaken!
The real war going on is not in Iraq; it is for the minds of Republicans and "moderate" Democrats who consider themselves "patriots".
This is not politics as usual: we cannot continue thinking we are playing against ethical people. By permitting the "unitary executive" meme to go un-challenged at our local pub, in our family events, and at our workplace, we lose our freedom. Ask them..."Even if there is a 1% chance that G.W. Bush wants to be Dictator, should this not merit a full investigation? Trust, but Verify."
Say it now. G.W. Bush is a fascist. Say it firmly. Say it often. Take no quarter.
Two weeks ago, I had a talk with the owner of a small diner down the street in a very large city. Things got around to politics, and he asked me what I thought of Bush. This was a blunt question by a blunt person: your typical Republican. So, in an attempt to be "fair and balanced", I explained how security must not be achieved at the cost of Liberty. Soon after I met that all-too-familiar blank stare. His world-view was confirmed, I was a "wobbly liberal" and probably wasn't telling him the truth. He would have no more of our chat.
Do you know what? He was right. I was a chicken-shit liberal and I didn't put it on the line for him. I didn't confirm for him the blunt truth that he already knows, but would rather not believe. Deep down he fears that Bush is on his way to supreme leader, but he is in denial. So, he drinks a pint of Sam Adams, mounts his flag at the pub's entrance, and watches Fox. He doesn't want to face the ugly world outside his pub. He doesn't want to hear about the torture, death, imprisonment, renditions, secret wire-tapping, and the direct challenge to our Democracy. He doesn't want to know that his vote this November might just wash 230 years of Freedom down the toilet. I wronged that man as I went on trying to be "fair and balanced". Worse, I lost a vote for our Constitution in November, and perhaps many many more. I was playing it safe, keeping my cards to my chest. I didn't lay it on the line for him: Bush is a fascist.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! - Patrick Henery, March 23, 1775
I did not come to the realization of my own failing until yesterday when nailmaker posted What do you call 400,000 lawyers. In this diary was a must listen to speech by Michael S. Greco, president of the American Bar Association. As nailmaker wrote, it was "devastating" talk. As he spoke about the Bush administration you could hear the crackle in his voice: an unmistakable combination of anger, sadness, and profound disappointment. What I took from that speech wasn't what he said -- I already knew all that stuff. What I learned was that courage lives. If he can speak out, I can. While he didn't use the term "fascist", everything he said re-enforced the true meaning of that word. He didn't have to say it.
Now, there might be some of you who object to this word, I think you argue from the wrong time-frame. Fascism starts out slowly, cautiously. Only after it is going strong, unchecked and unaccountable does it reveal its true identity. Until that time when it is irreversible, it wraps itself in the flag, holds a cross, and reminds us about our mortality. For me, I've seen enough of its tell-tale signs. I believe it exists. I believe that G.W. Bush is a fascist and I see absolutely nothing wrong with telling it upon the mountain. However, if you must be cautious about your words, then phrase it as a conditional. We went into Iraq because there was a "1% chance" that they had a nuclear weapon. Certainly our unitary executive deserves oversight if there is a "1% chance" he wishes to be a dictator.
Thanks for Listening
