Fear and Smear: The Nation

[im10ashus]

An evil symbiosis does exist between Muslim terrorists and American politicians, but it is not the one Republicans describe. The jihadists need George W. Bush to sustain their cause. His bloody crusade in the Middle East bolsters their accusation that America is out to destroy Islam. The president has unwittingly made himself the lead recruiter of willing young martyrs.

More to the point, it is equally true that Bush desperately needs the terrorists. They are his last frail hope for political survival. They divert public attention, at least momentarily, from his disastrous war in Iraq and his shameful abuses of the Constitution. The "news" of terror--whether real or fantasized--reduces American politics to its most primitive impulses, the realm of fear-and-smear where George Bush is at his best.

So, once again in the run-up to a national election, we are visited with alarming news. A monstrous plot, red alert, high drama playing on all channels and extreme measures taken to tighten security.

The White House men wear grave faces, but they cannot hide their delight. It's another chance for Bush to protect us from those aliens with funny names, another opportunity to accuse Democrats of aiding and abetting the enemy.

cont'd...

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?bid=15

[Tin Man]

1. Glad to see that William Greider has caught-up with the thinking @ DU

...folks here have been saying the same thing for years already. Anyhoo, I'm happy to see that Will is in agreement.

[displacedtexan]

4. Exactly. In fact, last Friday's DU Blog Box column is VERY similar.

I know because I wrote it.

Hm. Here's a snippet from the column:

"The Fear Factor" is the only platform Republicans have left in their arsenal of campaign tactics. Will America cave in to the Rovian "fear & smear" pressure again, or will we finally stand up and shout that we're not going to live in fear anymore? Will we buy more duct tape and plastic sheeting, or will we demand that our elected officials prove that they're doing everything possible to secure the nation?

Fear sells in all time zones, but it shouldn't be easier to sell than bravery. After all, this country was founded on bravery. The question we must answer on November 7th: is it finally time to cancel the BushCo Show?

[William Seger]

2. "The president has unwittingly..."

... made himself the lead recruiter of willing young martyrs." This president doesn't do anything "wittingly" but the people who actually caused this war -- Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the rest of the PNACers -- know exactly what the deal is. The next line explains it all: "More to the point, it is equally true that Bush desperately needs the terrorists."

[im10ashus]

3. That's the only platform they can run on.

At least in the recent past. I think that FINALLY America is waking up to the reality.