"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."....Steve Biko
Such is the case with the current powers that be in this country. Make no mistake about it America, the GOP is desperate. They see the president's approval rating at 33% on good days and know that the American people disapprove of the republican rubber stamp congress even more. More importantly, and this is what we all have to keep in mind this November, they fear losing total control. If the Democratic Party was to take control of even one house of Congress, then the party is over for the GOP. What comes with losing complete control, are real checks and balances. For the first time in five years, Congress will actually do the job the Constitution laid out for it and oversight will return. No longer will Bush be allowed to run roughshod over the civil liberties of the people and decide which laws he will enforce and which ones he will ignore. Subpoena power will return to America and real investigations into allegations of illegal governmental activity will come back to the people. For the first time in five years, it will be America's interests that will be served, not the elite in power, protecting themselves as they rape the environment, reap the lion's share of the economy, and ruin the fabric of our democracy.
Keep in mind though; those in power will not go without a serious fight. The problem this time around, is the GOP is running out of ammunition. They cannot run on the economy, no matter how happy a face they put on it, it only amounts to lipstick on a pig. The average person today KNOWS the truth about this economy. They know they have to work harder and longer, for less money and less benefits. They see the games republicans play with their lives. They saw last week when the GOP proudly attached the elimination of the estate tax to the minimum wage increase, forcing democrats to vote to hand back billions of dollars to the richest people in this country if they wanted to see an increase in the minimum wage. They know having 13.9 trillion in debt and an 800 billion dollar trade deficit are not causes for celebration. They feel the middle class being squeezed into poverty while the rich get richer. They understand that this Congress has not created enough jobs to cover the new job seekers, let alone deal with the unemployed. They KNOW these things, because they are LIVING them. Without the economy, the GOP cannot run on the state of education as so many children were left behind in this country over the past five years. They realize that when the republicans talk about education, it is only talk. They cannot run on the environment, as real scientists have been dismissed and ignored for five years as we have seen global warming become a reality for nearly everyone. No, the GOP is staring at real problems with their record and when that happens, it is time for the ole Karl Rove two-step.
We saw the battle plan this past week as the talking points released to the media machine operated by the Bush regime included words such as Islamo-fascism, rise of Nazism, and cut and runners. The Lamont victory on Tuesday spoke volumes for how fed up America is with the fear-mongering tactics used by the GOP for the past five years. It portends good things for this November, if the oppressed can remember the game plan of the oppressor. One day after the Lieberman defeat, we saw people like Dick Cheney and Karl Rove rush to his defense. Cheney went as far as to disgustingly say that Lamont is the type of candidate "preferred by al Qaeda types." Then another day later, we conveniently have a dastardly terror plot foiled. Every member of the GOP media machine was out in full force, claiming this was a vindication of the illegal spying, the war on Iraq and basically anything the Republican Party has allowed to happen for the past five years, including the abhorrent Patriot Act. Of course the part they left out is how the foiled plot was actually timed to occur right when it did, as the administration had foreknowledge for months. I will be keeping a close eye on what happens to these arrests as usually when this much noise is made; it turns out to be much ado about nothing. Four of the people arrested have already been released.
The plan is pretty clear for the Rovian machine. Paint anyone who does not support the war efforts as cowards, who are weak on security, and cut and runners. I understand why Rove would play such a card, no matter how ridiculous it may be. First of all, it has already worked for so many years, why abandon it and secondly, it is the only card the GOP has left to play. America this time will be smarter however. Making them empty their liquids on line for flights will not be enough this time around. Here is the dirty little truth the GOP hopes you forget this November...
Iraq had nothing to do with 911, terrorism, or al Qaeda. No matter how many plots are foiled, it does not justify the Iraq War and America knows it. Don't think for a second that this foiled plot will be the end of it for the GOP. There may be another Osama tape released just in time to help GOP candidates, like he did in 2004 to help Bush. There may be more chatter and elevated terror alerts, timed to bump positive democratic stories from the front pages. Unfortunately, there may be another "event" designed to catalyze the American people into such a fearful state that they run to the polls to vote republican. What Karl Rove has not figured out yet is that America is on to them. If there is another foiled plot, they will be able to see through the façade and understand how the political whores are using it for their gain. If they see chatter and elevated terror alerts, they will also look to see what stories the media machine are trying to bury. God forbid, if there is another event, the American people will realize that it only validates that the Republican Party cannot protect them anyway.
We have heard the buzz words and the focus group tested phrases. We understand that there is no rise of Nazism and that the only fascist developments are in this country where corporations have taken over the governing of the people. We know that democrats do not want to "cut and run", but rather we want to end a debacle, save as many lives as possible and allow the entire world to help in the rebuilding of Iraq, a country we have destroyed. We understand that it makes more sense to listen to a man like John Murtha, who has more experience defending this country then this entire chickenhawk administration combined. We will not allow the swift-boating of anyone, anymore. The media can shove Mel Gibson-gate down our throats for weeks, as they did Natalie Holloway and Michael Jackson before him, and it will not matter. Call me a foolish optimist but I am starting to believe that the mind of the oppressed has awoken to the truth and a new day is dawning over our democracy.
Unless they try and steal the elections again.
Anthony Wade, a contributing writer to opednews.com, is dedicated to educating the populace to the lies and abuses of the government. He is a 41-year-old independent writer from New York with political commentary articles seen on multiple websites. A Christian progressive and professional Rehabilitation Counselor working with the poor and disabled, Mr. Wade believes that you can have faith and hold elected officials accountable for lies and excess.
the bushes will not go without putting up a fight:
they will steal our elections again. they did it in florida, they have done in ohio, they have done it in Georgia, they did it in MEXICO and they will do it here, again. They do not for a minute want to let go of their power grab and that is very sad.
by
teresa simon-noble (56 articles, 17 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 81 comments)
on Monday, August 14, 2006 at 12:23:48 AM
Write to local newspapers. Urge the editors to publicize, strongly and continually, the dangers of using touch tone screens and optical scanners. Here is one clear, dramatic sentence to use as part of your request: * Electronic voting machines can be programmed to record a vote for one candidate and give a paper receipt showing a vote for the other candidate. * We must insist on paper ballots and hand counting. To retain -- actually, regain -- our democracy after two stolen presidential elections, we must have a verifiable paper trail.
If at all possible, volunteer to be a poll worker in your local district. Ask friends and acquaintances who are retired or who are otherwise available to volunteer to be poll workers.
Sites with information on the subject: A few of the relevant references documenting the situation: 300,000 votes were flipped in Ohio. This is well documented in Robert Kennedy's 200 page, well documented report. The Brennan Center for Justice , after one and one-half year study, released a lengthy report on the voter fraud. The League of Women Voters also has very clear information in the article on its Site. There are impressive books on the subject of our 2004 stolen election. Or google the phrase -- voter fraud -- for many articles.
by
Christie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 143 comments)
on Monday, August 14, 2006 at 5:25:50 AM
We see, here on this site and in many other places on the web, how easily folks are swayed by the hatred and fear mongering of this administration. Let an absurdly unreal thief and liar like Dick Cheney utter a few racist comments about arabs and there are those ready to slaughter them all. Let him speak about plots to deliver so-called suitcase nuclear devices to American cities and there are those willing to give up hard won rights to prevent such imaginary occurances from taking place.
Never mind that there is no such thing as a suitcase nuclear bomb ( it would have to be the size of a large foot locker and be incredibly heavy to boot),never mind that Iraq never had a nuclear weapons program, never possessed a single biological or chemical weapon that wasnt supplied by the USA and was long since deteriorated, never mind that this administration is one long series of incompetent actions and theft that benefits only a very small minority of very wealthy old white guys. Just let Cheney say "terrorist" and these unthinking but very vocal stooges jump up and rant and rave......whither democracy?
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ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Monday, August 14, 2006 at 7:34:39 AM
I hope you are right that the mind of the oppressed has awoken to the truth and a new day is dawning over our democracy. Where is the outrage??? Well, I believe that the time is right for the bad guys because the majority of Americans do not read and cannot think. (they watch foxnews, limbaugh, etc., to be told what to think about the news.)
I know now that the media is just throwing distractions at us. The real story is why 9-11 happened and the reason we attacked Afghanistan is because of the Caspian oil and gas deal.
Peace, and good luck,
Aimee
www.dataoptions.com
by
Aimee (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 100 comments)
on Monday, August 14, 2006 at 8:48:38 AM
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