March 30, 2007 at 10:26:15 Beginning of the End Game by James Brett     Page 1 of 1 page(s) www.opednews.com

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In his remarks to the press on Thursday President Bush looked very agitated and not the least bit comfortable.  When he spoke about Iraq War funding being tied to a withdrawal timetable for some reason he tripped out of the possessive for "harm's way," saying "harm way," and into the singular for "troops," saying only "troop."  You could see that he heard himself say it wrongly, but he moved on with his jaw tightening just a fraction more.

Use of the singular syntax betrays the state of Bush's mind, such as it is.  It is the mind of a born-again person, as one of Keith Olbermann's experts noted during Countdown on Thursday.  Bush subconsciously moves to the singular when he knows in his heart that he can assert only his own belief.  Without the Congress he is reduced to the singular number and stands increasingly alone in government asserting what is plainly his true belief, but just as plainly a fantasy built up over these past four plus years on the uncertain foundation of his own malformed and often-bruised psyche.

In a way Bush is now getting the payback for refusing to do the work of consensus building, something that was within his grasp in the months after 9/11, but scorned as needlessly "political," especially considering that they intended to erradicate the Democrats once and for all, reduce the Judiciary and the Legislative branches to lackey status, and to establish the Pax American domestically from the White House.  The lord only knows what they planned for the succession, but perhaps it is best we not know.

Bush's back is to the wall.  The wall is Rove, and Rove is counseling the usual political belligerence, even as a subpoena begins its trip to his inbox.  We see this all as the men in Plato's cave saw the shadows cast against the opposing wall.  When you read about Condoleeza Rice flitting around the middle east accomplishing nothing and then read about Cheney following her to undo any messes she might make, the circus begins to take on new meaning, especially when Saudi King Abdullah calls Bush's occupation of Iraq illegal and unacceptable.  If we are down to a beleagered Bush and Rove and Fredo, we (that is Bush&Co) are in big trouble.

Alberto Gonzales was called a liar by his former chief of staff Thursday in the Senate.  Senator Shumer made sure that point was crystal clear.  Even Orin Hatch could not turn the avalanche of testimony into something palatable for the President.  His Attorney General is looking more and more like an incompetent boob, incapable of lying convincingly, and never really owning his job of running the Department Justice, leaving it instead to Rove and all the President's men (and Harriet Miers).

Fredo may be too stupid to resign without a smart kick in the ass from someone.  Bush does not want to do it, because that would mean Fredo might not keep his loyalty after being fired.  After all, the secret decoder ring in the Bush White House is the word Loyalty.  Getting fired is not really part of that whole thing.  You will read about this later on, but the old time leaders of the GOP are going to have dinner with Alberto soon, and tell him to resign.  If he refuses they will have him for lunch the next day!

You knew all this would happen when Bush was chosen by the Supreme Court.  You knew the kind of spoiled brat, born-again, middling intellect kind of guy George is and you just knew that it would come to this.  There is radar screen full of lethal icebergs surrounding the White House now, and surely it would be better to abandon ship now than to go down with the bridge half of this broken ship later.  We have advised here at ALP that impeachment of Cheney and Bush would be the better thing for our country.  In the shorter and midterm run I am certain of it.

But there may be a case for letting this whole thing run its power-drunken course, impale itself on a few major issues, and then sink.  The lessons would be good ones.  Maybe then we can have a few Constitutional amendments and new laws pass in the aftermath,

adding consensus civilians to the House and Senate Ethics Committees

and many other things that Bush has taught us can be exploited for ill.

If the Democrats see that Bush is going to be truculent even as his Presidency lies in ruins around him, if he is going to insist that troops in harm's way will the responsibility of the Congress, then let him try to fix this awful mess.  He cannot.  It is too far gone and far too many people abroad and even here at home will work to see that it doesn't happen.  The risk is the lives of perhaps two or three thousand more troops and a possible nuclear war against Iran.  Maybe these deaths and that war can be averted by members of the GOP in the Hill who want to be re-elected.  Maybe.

JB

 

http://americanliberalism.org

James R. Brett, Ph.D. taught Russian History in several universities before becoming an academic administrator in curriculum and faculty research administration.  His academic interests have been in the history of science and the history of ideas, particularly Marxism and classical liberalism, but also psychology and consciousness studies.   He is a frequent contributor to liberal and progressive blogs and is the founder and publisher of The American Liberalism Project.

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I worked as a teacher in the Michigan Department of Corrections for nearly 30 years. I retired from state service in 2003. I am now an adjunct history instructor at Baker College of Muskegon, in Muskegon, Michigan--and I love it. Tom SciamannaI worked as a teacher in the Michigan Department of Corrections for nearly 30 years. I retired from state service in 2003. I am now an adjunct history instructor at Baker College of Muskegon, in Muskegon, Michigan--and I love it.

A Most Dangerous Moment For Humanity? During the last days of World War II, when all but the most insane megalomaniacs  in Germany knew that the war was lost, Adolph Hitler retreated further and further into fantasy deep within his Fuehrer Bunker. The result? More lives lost, more carnage, more insane war. Let us hope and pray that history does not repeat itself. by Tom Sciamanna (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 24 comments) on Friday, March 30, 2007 at 2:53:21 PM

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A grouchy but well-informed know-all with much experience of the low-down low-life infesting and animating 'high-finance', and what to do about it, Keith P. occasionally emerges from the obscure depths of the Youreapeon forests to eye the current world, growl a few obscenities and lurch back into the darkness whence he came. amazinA grouchy but well-informed know-all with much experience of the low-down low-life infesting and animating 'high-finance', and what to do about it, Keith P. occasionally emerges from the obscure depths of the Youreapeon forests to eye the current world, growl a few obscenities and lurch back into the darkness whence he came.

Dangerous?   "He is all alone and, given his born-again self-righteousness, he is very, very dangerous." Then do what you would do with any other mad dog. And please remember to include Cheney and Blair and all the others involved in the lethal mess. by amazin (34 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 400 comments) on Sunday, April 1, 2007 at 7:51:38 AM

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I consider myself a philosopher in the traditional sense, trying to be interested in all the things of the mind, the body and the feeling (I'm doing a Ph.D. in academic philosophy). I make my living as an IT consultant and technical writer. I'm a ballroom dancer and run a dance using computer music. I speak several languages. I raised my three daughters as a single father. These last few years I have become very interested in health and in economics. Robert HoogenboomI consider myself a philosopher in the traditional sense, trying to be interested in all the things of the mind, the body and the feeling (I'm doing a Ph.D. in academic philosophy). I make my living as an IT consultant and technical writer. I'm a ballroom dancer and run a dance using computer music. I speak several languages. I raised my three daughters as a single father. These last few years I have become very interested in health and in economics.

Insane, isn't it, when the world is waiting if Bush ... ..., the madman, will unleash World War III. It takes the whole military to do that! All the military has to do is say: "Get lost, Bush". Robert Hoogenboom Sydney, Australia by Robert Hoogenboom (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 168 comments) on Sunday, April 1, 2007 at 9:12:08 AM

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Robert Chapman is greatly interested in developing political awareness among as many people as possible. Robert ChapmanRobert Chapman is greatly interested in developing political awareness among as many people as possible.

Beginning of the End Game I watched Bush at the National TV and Radio correspondents dinner, and I cannot square the involved, self-confident and humorous individual I saw there with the descriptions of Bush that I read in these articles. It is not at all clear that Bush is crumbling under the strain or coming apart psychologically as Mr. Brett seems to think. Bush is no less prepared intellectually or mentally than any of his predecessors and has in fact a history of accomplishment, such as flying fighter aircraft, earning a Havard MBA, and working as chief executive of massive governmental entities that speak to his strong character, an impressive array of intellectual and social skills and leadership. Instead of viewing Bush as a boob, I suggest progressives acknowledge his strengths and oppose his policies.  GOP conservative policies have dramatically tilted the balance of power even more in favor of the already powerful. We are past the point at which an average person can expect legal relief from all but the most egregious employer abuses at the workplace.  Legal protection against product defects has been severely diminished, environmental protection gutted and federal fair employment laws are being construed to protect the already privileged. Add to the steady diminution of legal recourse the federal intrusions on civil liberties, the war in Iraq and Administration's general over reliance on military force in foreign affairs. One does not need to bash Bush as a man to oppose the Administration's agenda.  One need only expect the government to be fair and balanced toward all citizens to oppose this Administration.   by Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 556 comments) on Sunday, April 1, 2007 at 1:57:44 PM

 

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