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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Arvin Hill
Published Letters: 85 Editor's Choice: 2
"The current challenge is not a struggle against a totalitarian foe."
Actually, it is, Sid.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans (though not all, as evidenced by David Beckley's appropriately caustic response) lacks the courage to grasp the concept of domestic foes.
Voters are going to be bitterly disappointed - and, perhaps, by some strange cosmic convergence, very angry - when they experience the inevitably weak, inherently corrupt governance of the exact same politicians who turned their backs on the American people during eight long years of the lawless, dictatorial Bush-Cheney Administration.
Are you ever going to address your party's culpability for the lawlessness which has infected all branches of the Federal Government? Until you and other fat cats in the Democratic Party decide to level with the American People about not only the Republicans' failings, but the Democrats' failings, as well, you and they will rightly come to be viewed as vultures whose sole reason for existence is to pick the bones and pockets of the American public. Or maybe I'm just being uncharacteristically optimistic.
Your editorial reminds me of the mother who administers a daily beating to her kids and dresses them in pretty clothes so the neighbors won't catch on. If the political elite in this country - and the people they ostensibly represent - were half as concerned about our CONDUCT as our reputation, we wouldn't be having this unpleasant conversation.
I wish I could say the American People deserve better. Perhaps, one day, we will.
Just desserts or not, conscientious, fun-lovin' citizens aren't going to tolerate the lies, looting, torture, murder, death and all the other products of entrenched corporate governance indefinitely.
A lawless government will eventually yield a lawless citizenry... as it should. Whether they're cynics or idealists will be of little consequence.
P.S. "The Bush Policy" - contrary to your assertion - has not been "refuted." It has been furthered, repeatedly, by the Democratic Party as recently as last week.
But, then, you knew that already.
... is to have their asses kicked back into the corporate boardrooms from which they came until they (a.) stop listening to Republican strategists and (b.) start listening to The American People.
Your magnanimous advice smacks ever so slightly of desperation, but, rest easy, Rich.
There is ZERO doubt - none whatsoever - that you and Frank Luntz still have the ears of today's Democratic Party. Their resolute subservience to the GOP Agenda (whatever it may be at any given moment, but, hey, at least they're flexible), will not change one iota until its base demonstrates a willingness to punish them more severely than Republicans ever could.
Luckily for you and the millions of fear-mongering cheerleaders hailing The Unitary Executive, Democratic loyalists lack the fortitude to inflict such a punishment. In fact, they utterly refuse to believe that doing so is, and will remain, the first step in reforming their failed, broken party.
So put away the Sonata and beta-blockers, Rich. You won't need them for a long, long time.
P.S. Hey, all you rubber-neckers, why not fashion some collegial entertainment out of the inevitable responses here: Every time a response features the line, "What democrats need..." take a drink! It won't prove any more detrimental than it did the first six years. Better start with a full stomach, though, because the hangover is a bitch.
P.S. AGAIN: Way to go, Joan Walsh! I can hardly wait to see the next addition to your support team.
"Instead of throwing our hands up in disgust we should be backing Feingold and letting those who did not back him know how we feel."
They already known how you feel.
They have always known how you feel.
They know now how you'll feel when they do it again.
* * * * * * * *
Funny thing about feelings: They're only significant to the creature experiencing them.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
