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Friday, September 27, 2002
Bush Asserts That Al Qaeda Has Links to Iraq's Hussein, but, don't bother to ask for proof, because as with the matter of weapons of mass destruction, tthe Iraqis know how to hide evidence.
The Iraq terrorism link had been dropped for a while, presumably as being to implausible to be useful in the drive for support against Hussein. But, they're dusting it off for another try, since the nukuler weapons angle isn't panning out as well as they'd hoped. And, Bush likes to bury any opposition to his schemes in a mountain of outdated evidence, mistated or mispronounced old sayings, disinformation, smug remarks, lies and half truths. So, layering the terrorist link on top of everything else they've been confusing people with over Iraq only helps their case. Nobody's going to call them on it, really. And, if anybody does, they'll just ignore them. But, it'll make enough headlines so that the salt of the earth believe it.
It won't be challenged by the Democrats. There are about one thousand and fifty-seven things that Daschle could call Bush on. But, he's not pressed Junior on his venomously lopsided and rampantly destructive corporate tax cuts, or his ascension to dictatorship or his adandonment of Afghanistan. Instead he's angry because George questioned the Democrats patriotism. Since they won't agree with Bush's grab for unlimited power or that workers within the Department of Fatherland Security should have less rights than office equipment, they must be terrorist sympathizers, was the basic gyst of Baby Bush's comments. Tom was offended and thinks the war issue and the Gestapo bill shouldn't be used as political fodder, since most Democrats have bent over and taken the Bush doctrine. Everyone was impressed that the "usually reserved" Daschle got mad at Bush. But, what he said was pretty lame. I mean, for instance, George the Second accused the Democrats of being controlled by "special interests". Tom could've said "Special interests my big hairy ass! Who are you off to war to liberate Iraq's oil for, you walking cartoon? You've given your corporate pals so many freaking tax breaks that we owe them money. So, who is it that doesn't give a shit about the safety and security of the American people because of special interests? Answer me, fizzhead!" But he didn't.
The thing about PR is that the most effective kind, like Nazi propaganda, appeals to the lowest common denominator in a society. And politicial discourse, for the most part, is just PR. Any president is in a positon to direct discourse. But, Bush is actually the lowest common denominator. No one can know if the Democrats even want to challenge the president on any of the multitude of things they could, but they don't seem to be trying too hard. And so I Was a Teenage President...who, in some states, it's against the law to ignore, is the one directing public discourse, which is limited to "You don't agree with me so I'm not listening to you and if I can think of something humorous and insulting to say about you I will" or variations on that theme and then someone else reacts to it.
But, not very well, usually. Really, Tom, isn't a bit late to start worrying about politicizing the attack on Iraq? This is all PR for the Republicans. Or is the timing just coincidence? Nobody's bringing up the failing economy or financial scandals that every resident and employee of the White House and their friends and relatives and a few of their neighbours were involved in. It's all war talk. But no" if" or "when" or even "why", just "how" and "how much will it cost". And no "where will the money come from", either, after the federal treasury is emptied into the pockets of the people clamoring for Iraq oil.
Of course, there are examples of people who have criticized Bush and Chiney Inc. effectively. They've been dismissed, ignored and shunned by the White House Riverdale gang. They must beg forgiveness, like Germany, who will not be invited to diplomatic parties with the President until they have undergone some vicious and humiliating Skull and Bones or university type of initiation to prove their loyalty.
One public figure who doesn't seem to give a shit about that, other than Tom Cruise, is the guy who maybe was supposed to be the president, a pissed off Al Gore, who wrote that entertaining op-ed piece entitled "I Told You So", or something, a few months back. He's back at it, trying to jump start the 2004 campaign or trying to light a fire under the Democrats' asses or probably both, with a new scorcher speech called "Don't Get Mad at the Germans for Calling You Hitler, George...Because You Fucking Are!" Gore probably wouldn't be nearly as entertaining if he were president, but it's fun to watch him rail against the illiterate monkey boy who stole the throne from him.
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