If RedState wants to play infantile games, count me in. I remember a taunt from the first grade playground: We are rubber, you are glue. Whatever you say to us bounces off us and sticks to you.
Case in point, the front page from RedState today:
Funny, huh? Looks like none of them have ever tried comparing Bush to Mao. Because I have. If you want to know which party is acting like commies, I can tell you, it ain't us.
Similarity #1: Attitude Towards Intellectuals
Bush and Mao both distrusted intellectuals. As Stephen Colbert said:
It is my privilege to celebrate this president, ‘cause we're not so different, he and I. We both get it. Guys like us, we're not some brainiacs on the nerd patrol. We're not members of the factinista. We go straight from the gut. Right, sir?
That's where the truth lies, right down here in the gut. Do you know you have more nerve endings in your gut than you have in your head? You can look it up. Now, I know some of you are going to say, "I did look it up, and that's not true." That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut. I did. My gut tells me that's how our nervous system works.
Similarity #2: Support from Rural Areas
Before the Communists succeeded in taking over in China, for many years the Nationalists (Guomindang) thought they would beat the Communists due to their large support in the cities. The Communists, meanwhile, rallied the countryside of China behind them to ultimately prevail. Not too dissimilar from our own country... except China didn't have the Supreme Court appoint Mao because of hanging chads in Florida.
Similarity #3: Ideology Over Facts
Need I say more?
OK, I will... even if this one speaks for itself. During Mao's reign from 1949-1976, his quest for ideological purity did nothing but hurt China. The Great Leap Forward led to horrific famines, and the Cultural Revolution was 10 years of upheaval all over the country. Children did not go to school for several years, many kids were "sent down" to the countryside to learn from the peasants and they were unable to go home for years, children ratted out their parents and beat their teachers, Red Guards burned books, etc.
Bush, meanwhile, started an illegal war of aggression against a country that was contained, gave tax cuts to the wealthy, cut education funding... but increased funding for abstinence-only education, and... well you get it.
Similarity #4: Dislike of Science
Again, both Bush and Mao were not really into science. For example, under Mao, if you were a scientist, perhaps you would be sent to the countryside to learn from the peasants and work with your hands. Perhaps your job there would be carrying buckets of shit around... you know, something useful. Unlike science.
With Bush, while there are too many examples to choose just one, I will anyway. Stem cell research. His one veto. Today I heard a guy on the Ed Schultz Show who is paralyzed from the neck down. In Bush's mind, it's better to throw away blastocysts instead of using them for scientific research that may one day help millions of Americans who are living their lives in wheelchairs.
Similarity #5: Bankrupting the People... While Spending More on Defense
Mao knew damn well what he was doing when he did it. He let the people starve while simultaneously throwing everything China had into projects like building the bomb. China got the bomb in 1964. Why the hell you'd sacrifice the well-being of the people in order to develop weapons, I don't know. Bush has been doing the same thing for six years now, and I still don't get it.
Similarity #6: Disregard for Personal Liberties
Under Mao, you could be sure that there was someone assigned by the Party in your neighborhood who was reporting on you, perhaps even sorting through your trash to see if they could discover any secrets. Bush didn't have to resort to that... he had warrantless wiretapping.
So, what were you saying, RedState, about socialists taking over Congress? I would say that Democrats took over Congress to impose checks and balances on the fascistic ideologue in the White House.