Bad Governance, or Criminal Behavior? by Scott Ritter

http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/ri... Posted by Scott Ritter at 9:59 AM on March 20, 2006.

Impeachment is the only recourse that can bring a halt to the madness in Iraq, and the insanity being planned in Iran and elsewhere. Blog Tools
EMAIL
PRINT
40 COMMENTS

As America reaches the third anniversary of President Bush’s decision to invade and occupy Iraq, there is for the first time the unsettling realization brought about by the clarity of acts that emerges only after the passage of time that something horrible has happened.

This awakening of collective awareness on the part of the American people is reflected not only in the numerous polls which show President Bush’s popularity plummeting to all-time lows, largely because of the war in Iraq, but also the collective shrug of the shoulders on the part of the one-time cheerleaders for the war in Iraq — the mainstream American media — when covering the hollow rhetoric of the President as he tries to rally a nation around a cause that has long since lost its allure.

No amount of flowery language and repeated pulls at the patriotic heartstrings of America, no repeated assault on the senses and sensibilities through repetitious referral to the events of 9/11 can jump start a second phase of the kind of mindless nationalistic fervor that greeted the erstwhile Cowboy President when he first herded a compliant America down the path of war with Iraq three years ago.

Looking back on the string of unfulfilled objectives, broken promises, squandered dreams, shattered bodies and eviscerated lives that was and is the war in Iraq, one thought emerges plain and clear. This isn’t simply a result of bad governance. This is criminal.

Bad governance is telling the American people that a war with Iraq would be concluded in a manner of months, and would cost the American taxpayer less that $2 billion, when in fact the war has gone on for three years now, with no end in sight, and over a quarter-trillion dollars have been expended, with untold billions more to be spent.

Criminal governance is the fabrication of a justification for war (weapons of mass destruction), hiding the President’s true intentions from the American people and the Congress of the United States (Bush signed off on the Iraq war plans in late August 2002, and yet continued to publicly state that no decision for military action had been made), and shredding international law by waging an aggressive war of pre-emption void of any United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing such actions.

Bad governance is manipulating war planning on the part of military professionals so that we enter into a conflict with far too few troops for the task, with no plan for how to proceed once the fighting ended and the reality of occupation set in.

Criminal governance is violating every principle of the laws of war in the conduct of the occupation of Iraq, manipulating the economic and political direction of Iraq, suppressing its population, and engaging in wanton acts of widespread murder, torture and abuse of the Iraqi people.

The fact is the war in Iraq has degenerated into one giant hate crime.

American soldiers and Marines are being thrown into a cauldron of our own making, scalded by a conflict with no purpose or direction, with the end result being that in order to survive these fighting men and women have dehumanized the totality of the Iraqi people.

The ancestors of ancient Babylon have become nothing more than "sand niggers", "rag-heads", "camel jockeys", "ninja women" or "haji" in the hearts and minds of American fighting men who are now killing Iraqis in ever increasing numbers. Gone is any talk of rebuilding Iraq. We are there to destroy it. The criminal nature of the war in Iraq is starting to become common knowledge among observers of the war.

It has long sense been common knowledge on the part of those waging it. In Vietnam Americans were shocked by the revelations of Mai Lai and the murder of innocent Vietnamese civilians by American fighting men. But Mai Lai is repeated in bits and pieces every day in Iraq, with the American military occupation slaughtering family after family of Iraqis in the name of bringing peace and security.

The realization that something has gone horribly wrong in Iraq, however, has not translated into any kind of discernable action on the part of the American people. While pundit after pundit breaks ranks with the Bush administration on Iraq, often repudiating their own pre-war chest beating and encouragement of the war, the fact is that the manifesto which manifested itself in the invasion of Iraq — the 2002 National Security Strategy of the United States — continues to dictate the manner and nature of America’s interfacing with the rest of the world in unquestioned fashion.

Indeed, President Bush has, on the eve of the third anniversary of the Iraqi war, promulgated a new, improved version of this manifesto, the 2006 National Security Strategy of the United States, which re-affirms America’s commitment to the principles of pre-emptive war. In short, the President has re-certified America as the greatest threat to international peace and security in modern times, especially when one considers that even as America is engaged in the brutal rape and occupation of Iraq, President Bush has his eyes firmly set on another war of aggression in Iran.

What are the American people doing in response? There is a huge difference between becoming aware and taking action. While poll numbers on Iraq reflect a growing unease about the war, this unease has not manifested itself into any discernable reaction of consequence. The Democratic Party has remained largely mute, largely because of the culpability on the part of much of its membership in facilitating and sustaining the Iraqi war and its underlining doctrine of global domination by the United States.

But in the face of the near total subservience on the part of the Republican Party in supporting the policies of President Bush no matter how illegal and harmful they are to America and the world, the Democratic Party must shake itself free of the doldrums it currently finds itself stuck in. The time for passive recognition that the war in Iraq has gone bad is long past.

The time for concrete political action has arrived. The Democrats need to recognize that the political struggle in America today is not a trivial extension of the partisan Red State-Blue State nonsense the American media likes to bandy about, but rather a far more serious struggle of national survival, if one in fact defines the American nation as being reflective of the ideals and values set forth by the Constitution of the United States.

The Iraq War, if anything, is a reflection of the total abrogation of constitutional responsibility and process by the Congress of the United States. As a result, the President has led a nationdown the path of illegal war of aggression which has damaged America’s reputation abroad, and its very fabric here at home. The Republican-controlled Congress has done little to stop this collective march towards national self-destruction, rubber-stamping the president’s illegal actions with little regard to either the rule of law or Congress’s status as a second but equal branch of government.

This must end.

The fact is that America today stands on the brink of having everything we stand for as a nation being swept away by a power-crazed President and a compliant Congress, both of whom are Republican. Whatever direction the Democratic Party takes in the future, it must be with the recognition that the hopes and dreams of saving the United States as a nation of laws founded in the words and principles of the Constitution rest heavily on their shoulders. The Democratic Party must become laser-like in its rejection of the war in Iraq, resolute in condemning this war for what it is, an illegal war of aggression,and determined in fighting for the concept of a nation governed by the rule of law by holding President Bush accountable for his illegal actions.

In short, the rallying cry of the Democratic Party must become impeachment. Given the magnitude of the crimes committed by the United States in Iraq under the direction and leadership of President Bush and his administration, there is simply no other recourse that can bring a halt to the madness in Iraq, and the insanity being planned in Iran and elsewhere.

The remedy is clear. The question now is whether the Democratic Party is up to the task.

Scott Ritter served as chief U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 until his resignation in 1998. He is the author of, most recently, Iraq Confidential: The Untold Story of the Intelligence Conspiracy to Undermine the U.N. and Overthrow Saddam Hussein (Nation Books, 2005).

« The AlterNet Blogs « Scott Ritter

Comments Give Us Feedback »
Tools: [Post a new comment] [Login] [Signup] View: Threaded Minimal Flat Flat Unthreaded
Impeach EVERYONE!!
Posted by: chasaturn on Mar 20, 2006 11:12 AM [Report this comment]

Hoping congress and/or the Democrats will stand against the corporate dictated policies and actions of the present gang of thugs occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is like buying into ANY religious babble. Simply put: Dream on!!! They. Don’t. Care. What. YOU. Think. They listen to the $$$$$, and "money doesn’t talk, it swears." Fire the lot of them. Put them in prison where they belong. Sieze their property & feed the hungry, care for the afflicted. Put a brand on their foreheads that reads, "I was elected and sold out". Ridicule and harass their families. Bring our troops home NOW! Before we do any more damage to our sons and daughters and to the innocents of Iraq. Then, treat the generals as we do the politicians. Professional soldiers? Not hardly! willing pawns with careers to advance.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

» RE: Impeach EVERYONE!! Posted by: Doubtom

So... What can I (we the people) do?!?
Posted by: flake on Mar 20, 2006 11:16 AM [Report this comment]

Don’t tell me to call/write my congressional/senatorial leaders... they’re not listening. I’m tired of signing "petitions" that go nowhere (that I’ve heard about anyways.) I vote the losing cause in every election. I talk the "lefty liberal" talk and the majority just keep walking away laughing.

What can we the people do to get rid of these corporate raiders!?! Really?!? I’m getting sick and tired of this crap! WHAT CAN I DO?!?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

» RE: So... What can I (we the people) do?!? Posted by: AlienSlave

» Wise comment! Posted by: LeonDion

» RE: Wise comment! Posted by: AlienSlave

» With [__] brings wisdom Posted by: LeonDion

» RE: So... What can I (we the people) do?!? Posted by: DRosen

Preaching To The Converted
Posted by: Wacre on Mar 20, 2006 11:51 AM [Report this comment]

You’ll get no argument from me. If I had my way, we would have had impeachment hearings a year or two ago, though I suspect the larger question is to how to create a great enough groundswell that even die-hard Republicans and ’fence-sitters’ of any political persuasion are on board.

Impeachment should not be a political question (one of the numerous ways we complicate issues that are, at heart, relatively simple) but instead a simple one of: Did the President lie or mislead the country into Iraq?

Then investigate throughly and impartially.

If the answer is ’No’ (and I can’t honestly see how that could be the case, but let’s go with this), then we move on to the next issue, and so on, till justice is served.

Relatively simple, which is why it probably will not happen quite that efficiently (though I get the feeling that it will happen, which is perhaps most important. Momentum towards doing something—what that something is is open to debate—about this Administration’s mendacious tendencies only seems to grow stronger by the day).

This is probably the greatest benefit to Russ Feingold’s efforts to censure the President. The effort to ensure that President Bush is accountable to the American people much remain prominent and dominant, so that when Congressional elections occur people will have a significant enough reason for putting enough Democrats in the House that impeachment of this president become a possiblity within reach (never mind Hurricane Katrina, the Bush Administration position of the division between Church and State)

At least we will not have any animal/human hybrids to worry about.

Now if the Democrats (who—in general—spend way too much time calculating the cost of actions they are too afraid to commit to, making them appear weak and vacillating) have the nerve to actually take a stand on an issue that’s right, then there’s a very good chance of not only reclaiming the House, but impeaching President Bush and perhaps even rolling back some of the poor excuses for policy promoted by his Administration.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Impeach the Democrats
Posted by: fifthworld on Mar 20, 2006 11:52 AM [Report this comment]

They’re worse than the Republicans if you ask me. I don’t like the dualistic Party system, but if we have to compare, just look at the cowardice there, the "we don’t believe in anything" Unitarian approach to democracy.

We reap what we sow. I’d like to imagine that a process of impeachment could and will begin, and that the further system behind all this crap can start to crumble too, but aside from contacting the appropriate authorities, right now I’m just watching...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

» RE: Impeach the Democrats Posted by: Wacre

» RE: Impeach the Democrats Posted by: kelly.nickell

» RE: Impeach the Democrats Posted by: kelly.nickell

» RE: Impeach the Democrats Posted by: SgtCedar

Count Me As One With Little Faith In Dems Too
Posted by: Royaras on Mar 20, 2006 12:57 PM [Report this comment]

For the life of me, I cannot understand the craven lack of response from the Democrats. I am beginning to suspect they suffer from a form of "Battered Wives Syndrome."

How is it possible that they can be so tone deaf to their constituency? How can you look at a poll with a 34-37% approval rating and not realize that you will be REPRESENTING your constituency by standing up and demanding accountability?

Both the blessing and the bane of the Democratic party is the diversity of its members. But that diversity keeps the Democrats from being able to articulate a unified message.

Too few Democrats have comprehended the power of the blogosphere as well, unlike the Republicans, who make sure that their weekly talking points are in the e-inbox of Powerline and Hinderaker.

Simply put, the Democrats are too cowardly, too cowed and too dumb to recognize the power they have. They need to wake up before this country is lost irretrievably.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

» RE: Count Me As One With Little Faith In Dems Too Posted by: kelly.nickell

channing
Posted by: channing on Mar 20, 2006 2:02 PM [Report this comment]

Thank you once again... I’ve been saying that a war of aggression was criminal since well before the invasion of Iraq, and the one and only person directly responsible for "intelligence failures", was the president, whose failure to discern good from bad intelligence, regardless of motive, was the single most important intelligence failure.

Worse yet, Americans in general seem obstinate in the face of worldly facts on every front, and incapable of self-judgement vs., say judgement of others, especially when religion, economics and/or culture differs from our grand 1950’s self-image.

WE OWE THE WORLD AN APOLOGY AND WAR REPARATIONS.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Inseparable
Posted by: Artkansas on Mar 20, 2006 2:19 PM [Report this comment]

BULLSH!T

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Good on you, Scott.
Posted by: deejayvee on Mar 20, 2006 2:29 PM [Report this comment]

I just wanted to say how glad I am that you’re writing for Alternet now. I’ve seen your movie "Shifting Sands" and think you’re doing a great job. Keep it up!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Overhaul War Powers Act
Posted by: Moonray on Mar 20, 2006 4:39 PM [Report this comment]

Congress should update the War Powers Act to require much more oversight early on in military deployments. Set a deadline — thirty or sixty days — and then demand substantive evidence that progress is being made. If that evidence isn’t forthcoming, the law should require a prompt, orderly withdrawal of U.S. forces within a specified time limit.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

We have seen the enemy and it is us.
Posted by: TKO on Mar 20, 2006 7:56 PM [Report this comment]

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a pre-emptive attack. What kind of attack was Saddam Hussein’s attack on Kuwait? What kind of attack was Hitler’s attack on Poland? Our war criminal president and his staff should be held accountable for their crimes to date. Unfortunately, we can almost bet Shrub isn’t done yet.

I worked in manufacturing (textiles, batteries, industrial size laundry equipment) for over 20 years and one important thing I learned was that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". Many more times than I can recall I’ve seen people that voice their feelings, complaints or ideas (sometimes petty, but many more times quite useful or helpful) and they almost always got what they wanted just so they would shut up. I wouldn’t advocate a nation of complainers, but now is the time for us to become a nation of "squeaky wheels". Remind your congressmen that their jobs are on the lines and they need to connect their head to their ass for a change instead of having one inside the other. Speak up anywhere and everywhere you can short of getting into a fight or arrested. We need to politically castrate this senseless idiot we have running this country and our opportunity is in November. Shrub keeps repeating the same old lies and they are now falling on deaf ears. He can’t understand why we no longer cheer him like at the Special Olympics. He is a criminal and Rethugs need to recognize they got duped. Shrub learned how to suck up to the faith-based voters while lurking around behind the scenes in Shrub 41’s election. Gas prices are rising so Shrub’s poll numbers will decline even further. Even his base let him down. The oil companies haven’t built any new refineries in almost 30 years in order to keep gas prices up. Now that will bite Shrub in the ass too. Shrub made a speech in Cleveland and made one of his off the cuff remarks "doesn’t anybody work here?". Well, under Shrub, now that fast food is considered manufacturing for the purpose of counting jobs created, one of the few things we still manufacture is hamburgers.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

» RE: We have seen the enemy and it is us. Posted by: Barbara

RE:Impeachment
Posted by: Chagrin-Chagrin on Mar 20, 2006 9:34 PM [Report this comment]

Dear Mr Ritter,
Thank you for your commentary. I agree with you that we need to impeach but it seems that impeaching only Bush will not be enough. The entire white house and many congressional leaders are also guilty. Impeaching Bush would be a start and make an impact but is it enough when an administration is so criminal that it not only murders abroad but also is suspect for murderous judicial silencing and murderous silencing of scientists. Is that the reason that the Democrats in Congress are so impotent? Are they afraid?
Why did they vote FOR the Patriot Act when over 250 cities have rejected it?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

» RE: Impeachment Posted by: Doubtom

Democratic Response?
Posted by: travman67 on Mar 20, 2006 11:46 PM [Report this comment]

I hate to say it Mr. Ritter but I don’t think the Democrats are up to the challenge. I heard Senator Feinstein giving some kind of response to the Presidents weekly radio address, and I was stunned at is ineffectiveness. I am not sure where she is in the grand scheme, but I think it is fair to say that by name recognotion she must be a party leader. If that is the best our party can come up with, we’re in trouble.

All I got from the Senator’s remarks was "they" have to fix this, answer for that; I am trying to hear somebody saying "we" are going to fix it by doing this and acting upon that. I would tell all the Democratic leaders and party members to stop offering weak accusations and tepid inferences and come up with a bold alternative based on clear, ethical conduct and action. That is a "can’t lose" formula; even the stupider people recognize the taint of bullshit.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

» RE: Democratic Response? Posted by: rbarthjr

» RE: Democratic Response? Posted by: AlienSlave

» Democratic Party infiltrated. Posted by: HeidiLockwood

» Democratic Party infiltrated Posted by: HeidiLockwood

» RE: Democratic Response? Posted by: Doubtom

Malice
Posted by: marxalot on Mar 21, 2006 5:28 AM [Report this comment]

If I did to my neighbor what the Bush administration has done to Iraq I’d be on death row. Impeach them all.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

A FELLOW COMBAT VET WEIGHS IN........
Posted by: kc10ken on Mar 21, 2006 5:47 AM [Report this comment]

Hey Scot...........

After 13 years in the military and 3 tours in the middle east I can relate to you, a fellow Vet. I respect greatly your views and opinions on this chickenhawk administration.

I saw Scot give 2 separate lectures. The first was in the fall of 2002 as the warmongers were fanning the flames and Scot was telling the world to slow down and let the UN weapons inspectors do their job. Scot said we were going to invade Iraq come hell or high water....and we did. He said we would never find any WMD’s because they no longer existed....he was right. He also said that Iraq would eventually descend into the abyss of civil war because of pent up hatred between the 3 factions, Sunni, Shiite and Kurd......and that’s EXACTLY what is happening today.

WHY didn’t this administration listen to ANY experienced Veterans like myself and Scot who pleaded in the fall of 2002 for a level headed inspection of Iraq to find any WMD’s that might have been there?

Scot’s right again. IMPEACH THESE BASTARDS. Someone MUST hold these IDIOTS in Washington accountable.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

» RE: Scot Ritter is Right On! Posted by: Ronaldo

THERE IS ANOTHER CHOICE BESIDES THE REPUBLICRATS
Posted by: chacha55 on Mar 21, 2006 6:08 AM [Report this comment]

The lesser of two evils is still evil.

There is a choice for those of you who are (rightly) disenchanted with the Dems and who under no circumstances will vote for the Republicans - Vote Libertarian!

Not only are we vehemently opposed to the ongoing war(s), but we are also opposed to the equally criminal and wasteful War on Drugs. We Libertarians support less government intrusion for citizens, lower taxes, and most importanly individual freedom and rights. We believe that American citizens are smart enough to think for ourselves; our party won’t be puppets for corporate masters.

Visit the Libertarian website at www.lp.org and decide for yourself. You don’t have to settle for the lesser of two evils.

Charlotte
www.charlotte@whyyoulittle.net

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Long Knives and Snow Jobs
Posted by: Chevaliere on Mar 21, 2006 6:20 AM [Report this comment]

First of all, let’s consider some of the headlines. We are now told that Bush’s popularity is at the lowest ever. The latest poll says that Bush’s Approval Rating Falls to New Low - fewer Americans consider Bush likable, honest, strong and dependable. Meanwhile, we read Americans take their ringside seats for the great conservative crack-up.

Sounds pretty exciting, doesn’t it?

But what was Congress doing while all this evidence that their great leader’s capital has gone seriously into the red was being trumpeted?

Why, following the Bush/Neocon agenda, of course!

First of all, in spite of the fact that there are 30 US Reps for Bush Impeachment Inquiry, which one might assume includes the charge that Bush lied the US into a war, Congress is still Pimping for the Neocons: US congressmen press for Iran sanctions bill. Doesn’t it occur to them that this whole Iran thing is identical to the Iraq lies about WMDs? Or are they really that stupid?

Sorry, rhetorical question.

Meanwhile, on the home front, Congress is still following the Neocon agenda of destruction of the U.S. as a democracy in which the people have any rights at all: G.O.P. Senators Say Accord Is Set on Wiretapping and this Illegal Spying, Spineless Congress: Oversight by Capitulation, and then more destruction of citizens rights in this one: House votes to dump state food safety laws.

Are you getting it yet?

Why would any group of people such as Congress and Journalists choose the disaster we are obviously facing when they could save themselves - not to mention the rest of us - by dealing with the truth?

Only one reason: there is something else they are more afraid of.

There’s been a buzz on the net for the past couple of weeks that maybe, finally, Bush is going to get his comeuppance. Cunningham has been sentenced to hard time, Katharine "President Maker" Harris is tainted by a related bribery scandal, Bush has been shown to be a liar (yet again) in public via the Katrina video conference expose, and most of all, the "uproar" over the Dubai Buy.

Don’t kid yourselves: they’re blowing smoke and snowing you.
Remember, these are desperate men who undoubtedly, as more and more people believe, were complicit in the faked Terrorist attack on 9/11. Do you really think that such criminals as that are going to go down for ignoring hurricane warnings or trying to sell off chunks of America?

Get real. These men are - literally - the new Fourth Reich and if you want to know what is really going on, what is really likely to happen, then study the history of Hitler’s Germany.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Long Knives and Snow Jobs 2
Posted by: Chevaliere on Mar 21, 2006 6:23 AM [Report this comment]

Bush has got control of the judiciary, finally, thanks to Congress laying down for Alito. What do you think all that warrantless, illegal spying was all about? You don’t really think Bush was using those powers to spy on ordinary citizens do you? He’s already got all he needs to keep track of them. See this article to get a clue on exactly how closely average citizens are being watched without illegal wiretapping.

No indeed, that warrantless surveillance was for an altogether different reason: it was to get the goods on all the members of Congress with secrets (all of them, no doubt), so as to make sure the legislation he wanted is passed, and to make sure that the judge he wanted was confirmed.

What about Meiers, you ask?

You don’t really think Bush wanted her, do you?

It was blowing smoke, giving the impression that there is "give and take," a real "democracy" in the U.S. Of course he didn’t really want her. If he had wanted her, you can bet she would be sitting on the court today.

Georgie didn’t spend that year or more doing all that warrantless surveillance on Congress for nothing.

Now he has another snow job going on to further bamboozle the slow-thinkers who keep hoping against hope that something good is accidentally going to happen, Bush will get exposed and somebody will do something. Now Bush is going after any journalist or whistle-blower who dares to expose his illegal activities.

Do you really think the New York Times and the whole Judith Miller nonsense was about protecting sources or journalistic freedom and integrity? After all, Judy was protecting members of the Criminal Bush Gang. The New York Times was promoting Bush’s war.

No, it was all cooked up to play out exactly as it did to give the masses the impression that there is still some real democracy in the U.S.

Now the Times is pretending to be a righteous, insulted lady for the next act.

Lemme tell ya, that’s no lady!

Think about it. The New York Times is STILL printing only those things that promote the Neocon agenda and burying those things that do not. If the New York Times had really "awakened" to a sense of obligation to democracy and people’s rights, it would be blazoning in giant headlines every day: Experts Call for Release of 9/11 Evidence . It would be sending out its army of investigative reporters to dig up the REAL dirt on Bush and the Neocons.

But that isn’t what it is doing. It’s making a mealy mouthed plea for information that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. It’s pretending to be "confrontational" just to keep the illusion going and calm down the restless natives.

Hell’s bells! If illegal wiretapping was the worst thing Bush had done, he would be a saint.

Nope. The Times is now playing the part of Harriet Meiers in Newsprint Drag. "Oh, you nasty Bushies! Warrantless wiretapping! How dare you...! We are gonna sue you!"

All the Times is doing is setting itself up as a Straw Man so that Bush and the Neocons can knock it flat. And when it goes down, so goes ALL the Press in the U.S. In fact, it may even set a precedent for Internet News censorship to an all-new level of suppression.

Fact is: No attempt to investigate or impeach Bush will go anywhere because it will be declared "aid to the enemy in a time of war", backed up by the Supreme Court, and the Neocons will get away with everything.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Long Knives and Snow Jobs concl.
Posted by: Chevaliere on Mar 21, 2006 6:24 AM [Report this comment]

But still, people are excitedly chuckling and suggesting that many of the Bush supporters are falling away, distancing themselves from the Administration and its cooties because election time is coming.

Don’t be fooled. There is no possibility of a fair election anywhere in this country. Bush lost two elections in a row, but that didn’t stop him from making himself president. The exit polls told the truth, but it doesn’t matter who votes for who, what matters is who is counting the votes.

It’s all an act, a shadow show to give the antsy populace a little hope to cling to while the rest of the trap is prepared: Prison Camps for dissidents brought to you by Halliburton.
So, what IS likely to happen out of all this apparent dog-eat-dog Congress vs Bush Media Games Madness?
Again I say: study the history of Hitler’s Germany.

What IS likely to happen if the pressure builds too high is something like Hitler’s Night of the Long Knives.

Ya’ll remember that funny law about transference of power in case most of the members of Congress were to die in a terrorist attack that was passed a few years ago?

The Neocons are nothing if not prepared.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Clean Sweep
Posted by: P. Hermes on Mar 21, 2006 4:02 PM [Report this comment]

Given the prevalence of attention deficit disorder among most Americans, simple phrases are now prescribed to help them "get it.". So, in the case of the executive and legislative branches of the US govt., we need a "Clean Sweep."

Clean Sweep! Clean Sweep! Clean Sweep! Clean Sweep!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Nevada Vote Direct
Posted by: DRosen on Mar 23, 2006 12:54 AM [Report this comment]

Don’t wait for politicians and great leaders to save us. Instead, take CONTROL of the government. In Nevada’s Second Congressional District, we are showing the way. Please look into what we’re doing at

Nevada Vote Direct

We’ve created a secure electronic voting system so that citizens in the district will be able to vote on any bill pending in Congress. This is not an opinion poll! I have pledged that, when elected, I will vote in Congress ONLY as the majority of citizens in my district direct me to vote through their participation in Nevada Vote Direct. To deal with the problem of last minute votes, I will work with my constituents to formulate more general rules controlling my actions in Congress.

In short, we are instituting a reform that will substantially alter the structure of power in this country.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Look up Chuck Pennacchio
Posted by: cseverett on Mar 23, 2006 4:52 AM [Report this comment]

there’s a democrat in Pennsylvania running for Rick Santorum’s seat; Chuck Pennacchio. He’s not taking any PAC or corporate donations. A gutsy person with a vision, He
has a PhD in Diplomatic History and would change the face of the Democratic party and the senate. Check him out: chuck2006.com. He’s already issued a statement of support for Feingold’s resolution and I’m sure he’d vote to impeach.