While I agree with you that laughter can be powerful. I have to disagree with the rest of your premise. During Hitler's rise to power, the satirists of his day pointed out what a fool he was and made lots of jokes about him. Can't remember who said it but "the satirists sure did stop Hitler, didn't they?". Take for example Colbert's interview with Naomi Klein. She's laying out the ten steps that always happen when dictators rise to power. After Naomi names a step, Colbert cracks a joke about it. So instead of it being taking seriously, it's just something to laugh at. While some people will watch these satirists shows and become motivated to act. Others will just think it's all just a joke, so there's nothing to worry about and won't do anything.

I watched the 60 minutes interview yesterday. The interviewer made the statement that it's an established fact that Iran has been sending weapons to the insurgents in Iraq. He said you have american blood on your hands. Can someone show me that "established fact" that the Iranian gov't has been arming the insurgents? Because I've heard a lot of accusations by "anonymous military advisers" of this, but no one willing to go on the record making such statements. Yet alone been shown actual proof of this claim. Funny how a reporter for 60 minutes will say something is an established fact, that's never been proven. Or atleast I've never seen it.

I've checked out every link you provided and I'll grant weapons are being smuggled from Iran into Iraq. However you still haven't provided proof that those smuggling weapons are being done with the knowledge and blessings of the Iranian gov't. Who is smuggling weapons into Iraq has not been established by any of those links. Is it private individuals, rogue military personel, or individuals doing the bidding of the Iranian gov't? There are weapons being smuggled from Saudi Arabia into Iraq, but the US hasn't accused the Saudi gov't of arming the insurgents. If the US had actual concrete proof that the Iranian gov't was behind the weapons shipments, we would of bombed them by now. Bush would of went on national tv and laid it out for all to see. He hasn't done that because they don't have that.

Also your initial response accused me of being so blinded by my hatred of Bush blah blah blah. Please do tell me where in my established fact? post, I said anything about Bush? I'll answer it for you, I DIDN'T SAY ONE DAMN WORD ABOUT BUSH. Maybe you need to take your blinders off buddy.

Every day this country descends farther down the road of fascism. My local paper the Rocky Mtn News runs editorials by right-wingers equating democrats with Osama Bin Laden. A letter today said that Osama Bin Ladens latest tape was a call for aid to the democrats. Mike Rosen, local right-wing talk radio host, said Osama's message sounded like democratic talking points. Local radio station 104.7 the Pirate, runs oped pieces equating dissent with treason. Saying anyone that speaks out opposing the Iraq war as hurting the troops. Then saying anyone that harms the troops needs to be arrested and prosecuted. Every day we take on further step down the road to the end of our democracy. It's incumbent on all of us to speak out and stop this now. Speak now or forever hold your peace.