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Add to My Group(s)
Add to My Group(s)
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By Ed Cowan (about the author)
Become a Fan -- Page 4 of 6 page(s)
"I couldn't agree more," he cut in quickly. I nodded and paused, but he was silent. I continued.
"But you and I haven't pondered the power of those twin swords of democracy, truth and justice. Remember: 'I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against."
He was looking at me with eyes that were mesmerizing in their directness. "Of course, I remember, but twin swords of democracy? Truth and Justice are swords... ah, for what purpose?"
"To hack away at the hypocrisies, the myths, the lies, and the tremendous evasions by national politicians and media that have grown so thick in what used to be American democracy, Mr. President. Do you want some examples?"
He was now looking at me like I was a little bit crazy. He nodded and added, "I would like to know specifically what you are talking about. Of course!"
"Okay, sir, how about this half dozen. First, of course, is treason on 9/11 that even Nation and Mother Jones won't touch, never mind anyone inside the Beltway. The obvious reason no one will come clean on 9/11: fear.
"Next... lets talk about the cousins, hemp and marijuana. Both have been used by humans for millennia. You can make almost anything out of hemp: paper, cars, clothes, houses... nutritious granola. As for dope, the Right hates it because it is a mind-opener for some people, and the Republicans would much prefer complacent slaves instead of questioning citizens. There is also the medicinal effect, and as you know, in California it is legally used and taxed as a medicine. More to the point, however; what goes in my body is my business, sir, not that of government."
Obama smiled and nodded at that comment and I continued.
"Next, the Republican-led class warfare that they have been practicing for some time. You're trying to work with Republicans; nix this strategy that allows them to pull you further to the right. Accentuate that they are reactionaries. You can see that when I ask you to name one thing that Republicans did for poor or middle-class Americans during the eight years of GWB? Aside from press their emotional buttons?" I paused; he only smiled and nodded. "Lead with the right policies, Mr. President, and the people will follow and the Republicans will wither even more in the next election. Your sudden honesty will put them in a tailspin.
"Next..." I said and paused because of the strange way he turned his head and looked at me.
"Forget consensus? Ah... that goes against the grain... of my other advice."
"You can't get consensus anyway," I replied. "You tried, but these divisions are real and wide. The country didn't elect you and a Democratic Congress because they want consensus, for crying out loud. They want real, adult leadership again!
"Also, you can help your cause by hacking away at the myth that Jesus was a reactionary Roman who loved fat cats, killing machines, and voracious capitalism. That was Pilate and the other elite Romans, right? Use 'Jesus Christ was a liberal!' to remind Republicans... of their hypocrisy in voting for warmongers and greed merchants like Bush/Cheney. JC was a bleeding heart liberal, right?"
"Maybe he was," the President replied, "but liberal is still a radioactive word inside the beltway." He had been standing behind his desk with hands in his pocket, and he came around to take a chair opposite me in front of his desk.
I continued, "We need to make 'reactionary Republican' radioactive words, reminding everyone that Barry Goldwater was the last conservative. Every Republican since Barry has been a reactionary Republican, Reagan included. And a case in point is my next example, which is an evasion.
"Mr. President, suppose you make this statement, 'People have been crossing our southern border pretty much at will since Ronald Reagan became President in 1981, and our government has looked the other way.' Then ask, 'Why?' and add, 'What is the real reason we don't enforce our immigration laws?'"
Become a Fan -- Page 4 of 6 page(s)
"But you and I haven't pondered the power of those twin swords of democracy, truth and justice. Remember: 'I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against."
He was looking at me with eyes that were mesmerizing in their directness. "Of course, I remember, but twin swords of democracy? Truth and Justice are swords... ah, for what purpose?"
"To hack away at the hypocrisies, the myths, the lies, and the tremendous evasions by national politicians and media that have grown so thick in what used to be American democracy, Mr. President. Do you want some examples?"
He was now looking at me like I was a little bit crazy. He nodded and added, "I would like to know specifically what you are talking about. Of course!"
"Okay, sir, how about this half dozen. First, of course, is treason on 9/11 that even Nation and Mother Jones won't touch, never mind anyone inside the Beltway. The obvious reason no one will come clean on 9/11: fear.
"Next... lets talk about the cousins, hemp and marijuana. Both have been used by humans for millennia. You can make almost anything out of hemp: paper, cars, clothes, houses... nutritious granola. As for dope, the Right hates it because it is a mind-opener for some people, and the Republicans would much prefer complacent slaves instead of questioning citizens. There is also the medicinal effect, and as you know, in California it is legally used and taxed as a medicine. More to the point, however; what goes in my body is my business, sir, not that of government."
Obama smiled and nodded at that comment and I continued.
"Next, the Republican-led class warfare that they have been practicing for some time. You're trying to work with Republicans; nix this strategy that allows them to pull you further to the right. Accentuate that they are reactionaries. You can see that when I ask you to name one thing that Republicans did for poor or middle-class Americans during the eight years of GWB? Aside from press their emotional buttons?" I paused; he only smiled and nodded. "Lead with the right policies, Mr. President, and the people will follow and the Republicans will wither even more in the next election. Your sudden honesty will put them in a tailspin.
"Next..." I said and paused because of the strange way he turned his head and looked at me.
"Forget consensus? Ah... that goes against the grain... of my other advice."
"You can't get consensus anyway," I replied. "You tried, but these divisions are real and wide. The country didn't elect you and a Democratic Congress because they want consensus, for crying out loud. They want real, adult leadership again!
"Also, you can help your cause by hacking away at the myth that Jesus was a reactionary Roman who loved fat cats, killing machines, and voracious capitalism. That was Pilate and the other elite Romans, right? Use 'Jesus Christ was a liberal!' to remind Republicans... of their hypocrisy in voting for warmongers and greed merchants like Bush/Cheney. JC was a bleeding heart liberal, right?"
"Maybe he was," the President replied, "but liberal is still a radioactive word inside the beltway." He had been standing behind his desk with hands in his pocket, and he came around to take a chair opposite me in front of his desk.
I continued, "We need to make 'reactionary Republican' radioactive words, reminding everyone that Barry Goldwater was the last conservative. Every Republican since Barry has been a reactionary Republican, Reagan included. And a case in point is my next example, which is an evasion.
"Mr. President, suppose you make this statement, 'People have been crossing our southern border pretty much at will since Ronald Reagan became President in 1981, and our government has looked the other way.' Then ask, 'Why?' and add, 'What is the real reason we don't enforce our immigration laws?'"
Ed Cowan attended high school and the University of Texas in Austin, getting his BA in English in 1964. In 1965 he moved to Vermont, became a writer, and spent ten years, most of it on the staff at Montpelier High School after manning a fire tower (more...)
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