Armageddon Chosen

What is happening is nothing I wanted.  In fact, I have worked against most of it my entire adult life. Americans are forsaking their Constitutional foundation, their Republic, their Democracy.  By default, they are allowing aristocrats to lead us into Empire and Imperial rule.  That means the end of popular democracy.

The Non-Election

I am hoping for a miracle on Tuesday, March 2, 2004,  but I do not believe in miracles.  The miracle would be Democrats selecting Dr Dean as their nominee.  The un-miracle is Sen Kerry becomes the nominee.

What Dr Dean and I stand for is changing America.  That's right, the United States needs to undergo fundamental change.  Change of attitude, change of philosophy, change of government, change of foreign policy, change of economy.  That's a pretty complete change.

In rejecting Dr Dean, Democrats are selecting Senator John Kerry, who does not stand for personal or institutional change.  Sen Kerry, and apparently most Democrats, believe a few different laws, a few sleight of hands here or there, a "few good men", will fix whatever is wrong.  They reject the notion that anything is fundamentally wrong with America.

Over at the progressive Blog,  DailyKos, progressives are shocked, SHOCKED!, that Sen Kerry opposes gay marriage and favors a Massachusetts constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.  Not only that,  South Dakota Congressional candidate Stephanie Herseth supports George W Bush's proposed anti-gay Constitutional Amendment. These are only the latest blows to progressive sensibilities.

Of course, these same progressives abandoned Dr Dean in favor of Sen Edwards or Sen Kerry in hope of electing a liberal Democrat.  In doing so, they abandoned their outright opposition to the Conquest of Iraq and the Patriot Act and John Ashcroft and ... and what else? So, giving in on one thing just leads to the next thing.  Remember Munich, 1938?

We should all remember the tragedy of FAUST, who bargained with Mephistopheles for eternal life until he wished it no more. In the end, Faust could not live as a god without Marguerite; so Mephistopheles claims his prize. This is what happens, when trading one's soul.

That's what happens to those who want ANYBODY BUT BUSH.  You do get what you wish for, but not necessarily the way you intend it.  How many times have I asked:  'how about Attilla the Hun?'

Whoever gets elected next November,  the following matters are off the table:

The War

 

None of the leading candidates opposed the War in Iraq.  In fact, Sen Kerry was urgent in his declaration last Thursday (in the USC debate, 2/26/2004) that he did not regret his vote giving Pres Bush authority to wage war in Iraq.  (The War Resolution also gave the President unlimited authority to perform military operations in the Middle East, generally.  That includes Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, even Egypt  ...)

 

Sen Kerry questions how Pres Bush handles the war and foreign policy, but not the war itself.  Apparently, justifying an illegal operation because it had one good result - the removal of Saddam Hussein - sits well in our President candidates' minds.  The end does justify the means, they believe.

 

The Police State

 

The likely Presidential candidates are not opposed to the Patriot Act.  Bush wants to "improve" it by allowing his Gestapo chief,  John Ashcroft,  more latitude in capturing people, imprisoning them and  throwing away the key;  all without judge, jury or trial.  Kerry and Edwards want to fix some of the rough edges,  but believe the Act is necessary in order to enable and protect "Homeland Security."

 

They all want you to be very secure in your homes and prisons.  It is just not clear which one I will be in, regardless who wins.

 

The Empire

 

There is no real disagreement among the candidates about the United States' role in the world.  America is big and strong, they say, so it has the right to flex muscles whenever and wherever.  Watch out enemies!

 

George W Bush believes 9-11 was a sign from his God that he had a mission in being elected President.  The President is a radical-right, fundamentalist Christian who believes in triumphal Christian righteousness.  He has let it slip several times that the American government is his weapon in the crusade against unbelievers.  (And, there's a lot of unbelievers out there at home and abroad - see above.)  Our President believes in the Second Coming and the day of Armageddon, and not in some remote future;  but possibly in the future of the living.

 

Sen Kerry does not doubt that the United States must be involved in Europe, Asia and Africa as well as Latin America and probably even the South Pole.  We have a high national purpose in bringing and supporting democracy throughout the world.   This is a Good Thing.  Sen Kerry certainly would not go about this the same way as George Bush,  but the ideals and the goals are the same.  Except - what a relief - apparently Sen Kerry does not believe Armageddon is destined to happen any time soon.

 

Gay Marriage

 

Marriage is just between a man and a woman.  So say the candidates,  except the ones who aren't going to be President.

 

As it always has been, so it shall be,  forever and forever.

 

I wonder if they're planning to bring back Dowry or Bride Price, and reinstate chattel?

 

Tax Cuts

 

The Senators agree with George Bush on most of the recent tax cuts.

 

Sen Kerry would re-impose higher taxes on those reporting more than $200,000 on their 1040s.  That would recover some $600 to $800 billion - about 1/3 - of the $1.6 trillion Bush cuts over 5 years.

 

The Republican possessed CBO released its estimate last week that the 5 year budget deficit will be $2.7 trillion.  The 2001 CBO estimate was a 10 year $5.6 trillion surplus.  I will be a condescending bastard and do the arithmetic: (2 * $2.7) trillion = $5.4 trillion over 10 years.  Kerry's tax on the wealthy will reduce that by about $1.4 trillion, to a net deficit of only $4 trillion in 20 years.

 

Before Bush:  $5.6 trillion surplus

 

With Bush:    $5.4 trillion deficit

 

With Kerry:    $4 trillion deficit

 

Thank someone (Dr Dean?) for little things.

You do whatever you want.  As I said earlier, I am out of it.  And, as I said even earlier,  this is a HOLD THE LINE ELECTION.

Also Ran

You might want to check your Sunday New York Times,  where it is reported (2/29/2004) that Democrats have given up hope of taking back the House.  For one thing, there's a lack of money for the cause, which is blamed on Campaign Finance Reform.  Republicans have a 2:1 funding advantage.

Apparently, rank and file Democrats are not sending off money to the national organizations controlled by the Washington Establishment.  Progressives especially, such as yours truly, are donating directly to the candidates of their choice, which are few and far between.

On March 18,  Dr Dean will announce what's to become of his organization,  which is still collecting money - lots of it.

Neighbor Rep Matsui (D-CA) of Sacramento is in charge of the Democrat's House effort.  I wonder what he's thinking?

What does this portend for the Senate? For the Presidency?

The Lecture

Here's the part you hate the most.  Skip This.

I quote myself:  Politics exists in a strange world where, when you steer to the right,  the road goes more to the right.  I add to that:  In today's America, when you steer to the left, you go off the road.

When Dr Dean tried to bring up poor white Southerners - the "white trash" - he got lectured, heatedly, by Sen Edwards.  'Don't you come down here and tell us what to do.'  No, the South won't be told anything by the North.  Guess what, Yankees?  You lost the Civil War.

This country is being run by the South, on Southern principles, by those who participate in Southern values.  This is not new: it started shortly after World War II under Harry Truman.  It was entrenched by Nixon's Southern Strategy.  George W Bush is only the latest and most explicit of the Southerners who've taken charge of America.  The post-Civil war was lost without a single shot being fired, or any national protest being heard.  The North, the Yankees, have just laid down and died.

The South is not, and never was, like the North.  The South never believed in a strong Federal government;  they always believed in State's Rights.  The South was reluctant to join the Union,  and only did so for economic reasons.  In 1787,  the South would have starved to death without the North.  The Plantation System and Slavery was not economic (profitable) then or now.  The North could have bought cotton and lumber cheaper abroad than from the South.  So, reluctantly, the South signed up - Georgia last of the original 13.  Ever since, the South has received more money from the Federal Treasury than it pays in.  The North and the West are still paying for the South.

Let's see,  what other wonderful things does the South stand for, aside from hospitality for royals?  There's right to work laws.  There's mandatory religion, and only born-again Christianity at that:  Southerners don't mind having an official, enforced State religion.  There's unquestioned patriotism (we used to call it "jingoism") and the belief that America is first, best, and always right (in more ways than one).  There's the belief that you are on your own, and that society owes you nothing, not even a penny for your thoughts.

Let's not forget the Good Ole Boy system.  They are the ones who decide everything and make it go.  Good Ole Boys are just that:  a patriarchy.  Female persons need not apply;  just keep 'em barefoot and pregnant.  Maine had a female Senator in the 1930s; Southern States are only now getting around to that.  Things just take longer there.

The Admonition

I could go on for many more paragraphs and pages,  but I won't.

In my opinion, it would not matter whether Dr Dean or Sen Kerry is the Democratic nominee.  The Presidential election is decided by the Electoral College,  State by State.  In this election, party affiliation is more important than the candidate's name which leads to bloc voting.

The name of the nominee has not changed the outcome in a single State.  The Old South and its fellow travelers will vote for Bush.  The North and Old West will vote for the Democrat, probably Kerry.  It's about even, with 230-240 votes each.

The election will be decided - as I said last summer - in the North Central States, such as Ohio and Minnesota.  Western States in transition - Arizona, Nevada and Oregon - may also be hotly contested.

Right now,  the advantage still goes to Bush. He's the incumbent,  he's got the money, and, best of all, he believes he's got God on his side.

So far, Democrats have squashed the real issues (see above). We are going to have a high school election.  It's all so easy, at first, when you've made a deal with the devil.

The real issue is whether you are willing to engage in real change.  That starts with yourself,  and how you deal with others and the world.

Short of that, short of real change in America, the tragedy is taking its course.

February 29, 2004

Last update: 11/02/2007

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