Lately, commentary about Democratic critiques of the Bush
administration is like a first-grade reader.
By By: Frank Morris
“Look Jane. Look Dick. See Spot Run.”
Lately, commentary about Democratic critiques of the Bush
administration is like a first-grade reader.
“Look Jane. Look Dick. Democrats have finally found an issue.
They think 16 words of the State of the Union are wrong. Look,
kids. See Dems run.”
Give me a break. If the present administration were a client
reporting to a psychiatrist, the shrink would take one look at the
pathology and think to herself: “This patient is good for a
Maserati.”
The 16 words about yellow cake uranium going to Iraq were simply
part of the overall rush to war because we, the American people,
were supposedly under “imminent threat.” We were put into a fear
state that, at any moment, Iraq could unleash chemical, biological
or possibly a nuclear attack.
Does anyone now believe that? “Imminent” kept us from getting
help from other nations, nations that could be of benefit in the
occupation. But no, this administration is strong and takes matters
into its own hands.
They are not weaklings like the past crew in charge of the White
House. Oh no. “Look Jane. Look Dick. George is tough.” Jane and
Dick, are you watching? If the decisions of the Bush administration
were put on a dart board, Democrats could bandanna their eyes, toss
a dart and have an issue worthy of the whole campaign.
A blind toss of a dart hits on the word “Rumsfeld.” Do you
remember the week before Sept. 11, 2001? Cabinet members of the
Clinton administration had unsuccessfully sought the attention of
the Bush cabinet about the terrorist threat. In early September a
Democratic bill came before Congress asking for a $500 million
investment in counter-terrorism.
Rumsfeld, speaking with the authority of a deity, stridently
recommended that President Bush veto it. Rumsfeld wanted the
Defense Department to invest in the Strategic Defense Initiative
that would supposedly stop any threat.
What happened? We all know about the Twin Tower destruction and
the fade of Rumsfeld’s old agenda. He did not, however, develop any
humility in the process.
“See Democrats run.” Give me a second break. The present
administration is dismantling the social contract. It is
systematically withdrawing all federal help to those in need. As a
result, states have to make up the difference, which means raising
sales and property taxes.
“Why, Jane, Why?” So the top 5 percent of taxpayers in the
country can be rewarded with major sums of cash and have caviar
with their din-din. So corporations can go offshore, establish an
office and avoid paying federal taxes. So the deficit can be run up
to the tune of $455 billion per year.
A blindfold. A dart. Bing. It hits on the word “school
privatization.” That sounds good, doesn’t it? The idea is that
federal bureaucracies are stupid monoliths and that private
competition run by business men will heal educational
ills.
Have you heard the rap? “Tough-minded businessmen know that they
have to stay current and viciously competitive in order to survive.
Therefore, privatization is good because it scuttles the insanity
of bureaucracy.”
Well, well. Another take is that the Bush administration turns
schools over to the greed motive. Rather than have our social net
be monitored by a sense of national care for children, we’ll have
it run by those who win by cost cutting.
Bean counters replace educators. Hurrah for capitalism. Another
dart, if you please. Bing. Off to the side of the target the word
“trust” gets the feathered missile. In my value spectrum “trust”
should be at the center. Americans are learning to distrust the
compassion of Republicans.
How, pray tell, can we trust an administration that has a
monomaniacal commitment to help corporations and the wealthy while
ignoring the concerns of the majority? We are not stupid out here.
We all know Ken Lay has not been in court, that investment firms
get a free pass while investors and pensioners lose big, and that
the working class is being shafted across the target
board.
“Yes, Dick. You lose unless you are rich.” Of late, Republicans
have deified one president while demonizing another.
There is a deep problem when such radical polarities are
believed. Their deification of King George keeps them from seeing
the truth. Therefore, they do this infantile spin of “see Jane, see
Dick. Democrats have an itty bitty 16-word criticism.”
Give me a break. And a blindfold. And a handful of
darts.
Frank Morris is a free-lance columnist for the News-Press.