I think we find that we are seeing these words attributed to Gahndi in action. 'First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."
We've seen since the founding of the progessive/liberal blogtopia that by and large it was ignored and then riducled. After the apparent success of YK fear has entered into the picture.
Never one to disappoint, the Bush Assminstration made this week another low point in American history ablely assisted by the pin-head pundits and criminal media.
We were treated to an impressive display of poorly conceived wasting of resources as the U.S. military launched a PR offensive supposedly showcasing the talents of the Iraqi security forces. While the Iraqi forces did their part showing up in freshly painted Humvee's and cleans uniforms the insurgency was a no show. So we were treated to the military vehicle version of a beauty paegent complete with a formal wear display and talent show, but no fire fights for the news at 11, no high value detainees, in fact the entirety of "Operation Swarmer" is best summed up by "Much ado about nothing". (NOTE: the funny thing was all I saw on the news were videos of very bored looking 101st Airborne troops riding in helicopters and standing around in their shades, no smart looking Iraqi troops)
AP is reporting that the Department of Defense is releasing a huge number of untranslated and unsupported captured Iraqi documents.
The documents are from Iraq's intelligence and other government agencies, captured by U.S. forces during the early part of the war.
These documents are supposed to bolster their pre-war claims in regards to an al-Qaida links, WMD, etc.
What do you call this slow motion national train wreck? You have to call it a sad slide into fascism.
I often wonder how things have devolved to the point we currently find ourselves in. What gross error in judgment has allowed this once great country to fall to its current low state? Unfortunately it wasn't a one grievous error, or even just one person's fault. The American public's apathy and concern for their own personal welfare was partly to blame, but that apathy and greed was built up and instilled by the forces behind our national disgrace.
Unbelieveably AP is reporting that Tom Delay has taken not one but two powerful House committee seats:
"DeLay, R-Texas, also claimed a seat on the subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department, which is currently investigating an influence-peddling scandal involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his dealings with lawmakers. The subcommittee also has responsibility over
NASA -- a top priority for DeLay, since the Johnson Space Center is located in his Houston-area district."
The march of brownie's in the current administration continues to take it's toll on hard working, qualified and experienced people who have dedicated their lives to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
A very informative Knight-Ridder report explains that as with the CIA, other parts of the State and Department of Defense the Non-proliferation group is seeing "an exodus of weapons experts".
This continuing brain-drain will greatly weaken our ability to keep not just our nation, but the world safer from unchecked spread of nuclear weapons. We've seen this happen time in again in the Chimperor's reign. This loss of expertise must be used as part of any argument that "Bush is strong on defending our country".
A very important lesson was reinforced in today's Senate hearings. No matter what it is; lunch, the time of day, the color of the sky please for the love of God and this country, Democrats must disagree with the Republicans.
Time and again the fealty paid to the UberBush through the Authorization of Force was thrown at the Democratic party's feet during the Senate hearings.
I urge all current and future elected representatives that cooperation is in fact co-option. There is no bipartiship with a group bent on not governence but domination.
p.s. John McCain's antics with Obama reinforce my feelings on this.
My presence at the meeting was coincidental. I was a bystander, there for public relations more than anything else. The evening before had been a wonderful corporate reception for the area's parts managers and their spouses, I had worked the crowd, shaking hands and exchanging pleasant nothings. The food and libations had flown freely that night. I chose the house red wine. It had proven to be unremittingly simple; grapey aftertaste, almost Kool-aid, a quick wine flash on the tongue but no depth, no complexity. The choice was fine, and it kept my consumption to a minimum. I had left the reception early, excusing myself to tend to my email. The next day, I was grateful that I had chosen to take my leave early that warm September night.
There was an excellent post last week that dug up some of Bush's quotes on Clinton's foreign policy and on Clinton's prosecution of the Kosvo action. This got me thinking about some of the invectives thrown around about Somalia and the death of the 39 U.S. troops there. Remember that Clinton inherited the Somalia intervention from George the 1st. While there is an argument that could be made about the lack of armor (tanks), overall a tragic confluence of circumstances and miscommunication led to the loss of life there.
First, I would like to offer up something from 2000 from the psychopaths over at Freep after a post about an angry father who supposedly refused to shake Clinton's hand after the posthumous presentation of the Medal of Honor:
This is pitiful. I cannot abide this thrashing about blame game that some of you are playing, especially the one plaming the candidates, the DNC, etc. Guess what folks, we got gamed! No shame, no blame. Pull your f'ing panties up and get your act together.
Look we lost on three counts:
We didn't control the narrative. Not any one persons fault, we don't have enough influence on the media. This should be our first priorty.
Bushco was VERY good in getting their base out, quietly with the gay marriage issues. We got ours, but publicly. Look at what we're doing!
FRAUD, good old fashioned Texas politics, voter intimidation, call it what you want. The Repugs did what they had to do, where they had to do it to make sure this happened.
As the fatigue and rage courses through me I have to ask what next? While it is still possible for use to eke out a victory through litigation and CEV, the process will be long and very divisive; two things we all agreed were not in the best interest of a Kerry administration. If we choose a course of litigation, and were to prevail the wailing and prattle from the Red Staters would be all the louder and make Kerry's attempt to set the country ship of state on the right course all the more difficult.
