For those of you who may not be acquainted with the term Captain Save-A-Ho, I’ll explain it. It has been my displeasure to encounter from time to time, older men who make it their life’s work to save young ladies from lives of depravity and pain by taking them in and supporting them while they get their lives together. On the surface it seems like a selfless, Christian like act of charity. The problem is that these guys are Johnny-on-the-spot when it comes to saving one of these ladies.... if they’re young, hot and sexy. But if the woman is not young and hot looking, Captain Save-A-Ho has more important things to do. But the ickiest thing about Captain Save-A-Ho’s is that any help given to these young ladies is contingent on how “close” a relationship they are willing to enter into with their benefactor. In other words, it turns out to be a quid pro quo kind of deal or all of the sudden Captain Save-A-Ho will no longer consider the young lady worthy of his generosity.
I’m sure that by now you’re wandering what this has to do with George W. Bush, I’ll explain. In my scenario, Bush is Captain Save-A-Ho, and nations being run by evil dictators are the Ho’s. Now just like street hookers, some countries are more attractive than others, i.e. OIL! Therefore, just like the ladies of the night, countries with out oil just don’t motivate Captain Save-A-Ho into action the way the hot chicks do. Because if they’re hot, i.e. have oil, then Captain Save-A-ho is there to save the day and defend the American way... Thus
Mild mannered George W. Bush spent his mediocre life dealing with drug and alcohol abuse. He wandered from career failure to career failure barely surviving on his allowance from his millionaire father. Finally he found his true calling... politician. It was a warm sunny day and George was busy running his baseball team into the ground when he accidentally fell into a toxic vat of Carl Rove. When he emerged he was president of the United States, but no one knew until the attack on 911 that his true identity was... “CAPTAIN SAVE-A-HO.”
Armed with the strength of the most powerful nation in the world, Captain Save-A-Ho set out to spread his brand of truth, justice, and the American way. In response to an attack by the evil pimp al Qaida man, Captain Save-A-Ho travels to the lair of al Qaida Man where the ho Afghanistan is being held captive. But before Captain Save-A-Ho captures al Qaida Man, he reveals that he knows of another ho (Iraq) that has been held prisoner by the evil pimp, WMD Man (Suddam Hussien). “This is where the real threat lies” pronounced Captain Save-A-Ho. But it was really because the ho Iraq was more alluring to Captain Save-A-Ho. Her heaving underground oil reserves mesmerized our hero and he fell under her power. Despite killing WMD Man, Captain Save-A-Ho stayed with Iraq. But it wasn’t long before the people of Captain Save-A-Ho’s home country realized that Iraq was not getting her act together. She seemed perfectly satisfied to let Captain Save-A-Ho support her forever.
Enter Liberal Man, defender of the working people and the poor. “Captain Save-A-Ho has fallen under Iraq’s spell and cannot seem to get a handle on reality,” Liberal Man pronounced. Liberal Man tries to convince Captain Save-A-Ho that staying with Iraq is of no purpose, she’ll never get her self together as long as you keep enabling her. But Captain Save-A-Ho won’t listen.
In the end the kryptonite called the general election strips Captain Save-A-Ho of his powers and the members of the Republican Injustice League are expelled from the Hall of Justice (Washington D.C.) and the members of the Democratic Justice League take their rightful place in the Hall of justice. And through reasonable diplomatic and economic assistance, Iraq and Afghanistan find a life free of pimps. They aren’t living the lives Captain Save-A-Ho envisioned, but that was a fantasy to begin with.
****************
Devin Barber, Politics Correspondent
Devin’s column, “Left Of The Right” published twice weekly or more to Gather Essentials: Politics is a Blue Collar Democrats take on current political news.
Devin was raised by proud Roosevelt Democrats. Being the son of parents counted among the throng of Americans displaced by the Great Depression has given Devin a deep rooted passion for causes dealing with the poor and the working class.
You can find all of Devin’s columns at http://gather.com/leftoftheright
You can keep up with Devin’s postings and his Gather activity by joining his Gather network. Just click here: http://kiwina58.gather.com and then select the orange “Connect” button on the left-hand side of the page.
You can find Devin and other Political Correspondents, plus celebrity content and plenty of other politics experts at Politics.gather.com.
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Comments: 82
The problem is, my mouse did an odd thing as I hit the ten star, went to 1, and I tried hitting the back icon very fast but not fast enough. Can a member who made such an error change the vote?
A colorful analogy! Just about sums up the reality of the situation.
Nice work.
But seriously though, this was a very funny and creative article. Well done.
You are a disloyal and evil traitor*. Darn funny though!
*just kidding
I would add that "Captain Save-A-Ho" has made
America his "ho" for the last 7 years.
I figured what the hell, politics has been so serious lately, maybe we all could use a good laugh. I LMAO the whole time I wrote it.
Are you really a fan of Roosevelt? The Democrat who allowed Pearl Harbor to be bombed while he sat on his fat duff and planned for a war to save the economy. Shame on you. You always get a 10 by me, because we Republicans get a kick outta ya.
Devin, your Caption Save-A-Ho fits right along these lines. No living creature in this world gives up resources to another creature or system for no reason ... it is the whole point of evolution really if you care to look at it. You will attack the Republicans for their hypocrisy on religion, but you just can't see it in yourselves.
Your expendature of energy to push this weird analogy just seems weird to me. Do you go around helping people for free Devin, because if you do you leave the people who don't to get rich and ignore you. No, the whole idea of human consciousness if to find evaluate actions and choose those which assist in survival.
Either add to that discussion and push better alternatives, or stay out of the discussion, but to attack someone for being inhumanly human in a way you do not approve or respect is ridiculous.
This is like blaming Ralph Nader for having a 401K that invests in corporations, or blaming Al Gore for having a big house that uses energy. It simply is a falacious argument to attack another person's humanity ... especially when there is so much else about George Bush to attack.
//One of the thing I have always thought the Democrats, Liberals, whatever you want to call them always do that is counter-productive is to make grand pompous holier-than-thou comments or gestures.//
Devin screwed up somehow. He didn't use the words "evil" or "undemocratic" or "unpatriotic" or "wimp" or "terrorist symp" or "godless" or "gay" or "humanity" even once, unless I've misread. Humanity? How humane is it to kill and otherwise damage multiple hundreds of thousands of human beings -- over here and over there.
//Do you go around helping people for free Devin, because if you do you leave the people who don't to get rich and ignore you. No, the whole idea of human consciousness if to find evaluate actions and choose those which assist in survival."//
It's just the civilized and humane thing to do -- to sometimes help people for free -- [providing of course that you don't bomb the bejesus out of them and call it 'help']; it's called civilized behavior above and beyond the "sheer survival" level. Humanity!
"Are you really a fan of Roosevelt? The Democrat who allowed Pearl Harbor to be bombed while he sat on his fat duff and planned for a war to save the economy. "
Really, and I suppose you have proof.
Bruce,
Lighten up man, you reaaly need to take a chill pill partner. And don't ever tell me to "stay out of the discussion." Who the hell do you think you are? And if you want to crawl on the ground with the other lower animals, go ahead, I'll stick with humanity. A Republican talking about humanity... now that's rich/
After all that has happened they have the audacity to say Rosevelt let the Pearl Harbor attack happened. PALEEESE, You are only calling more attention on your idiot Bush.
He loves to discuss illegal immigrants, but only because they keep him awake at night with their "cars bumping up and down," and their loud music.
>> wing rear...he merely likes to disagree and be involved
>> in discussions that he knows absolutely nothing about!
PJ, this is just what am talking about, I can acknowledge your
humanity while objectively perceiving you cannot read and
comprehend. And you are just as arrogant as George Bush to
have the gall to pretend you are somehow more human than
I. Until you start to have mental processes that shut out the
knee-jerk 1st grader reaction how do you think you can contribute
to any political discussion in this area?
If you alternatively say that the US has its own problems and should not be attending to other country's problems, where do you stand on Darfur. Where would you have stood on Cambodia, or any of these places that have had genocide?
How do you think you can ever stop this kind of thing if you do not aim to terminate the root causes, ultimately entwined with toxic leaders and cultures? Captain Save-A-Ho ... all you people who think this is funny think you can solve problems with a smug laugh.
Devin, you misread the meaning behind my first post, I don't say you cannot say what you want, your pathetic childish sense of humor is what keeps you of any serious discussion about this .. except the joking around with the misguided here that think you are funny.
"pathetic childish sense of humor"
Good thing he's not into name calling.
Wow, you truly are a sad little man aren't you? You say "stay out of the discussion" and then say "I don't say you cannot say what you want." Which is it? Oh I'm sorry, that's what miscreants like yourself do when you're caught with your foot in your mouth. And just like the simple minded Righties, I write a humorous article for a little levity and it's "all you people who think this is funny think you can solve problems with a smug laugh." No we don't, and it demonstrates a total lack of comprehension to think so. I write 50 serious articles and you decide this one is the one that defines my political ID. What a dullard.
10 for the creativity 1 for the substance. Not so much different from your "serious" articles though. Then you belittle everyone that does not agree with you. Your message stays the same. Bush is evil, Bush is an idiot, Bush is only out for his own interests. Then you get your buddies to pat you on the back. Whatever floats your boat man.
If you want to learn something then study the history of the middle east. Have you ever been there? Have you ever been outside the US? Study the history of terrorism and study the history of war. But you re not interested in educating yourself because Bush is evil and and idiot thats good enough for you.
Stick it in your ear!! I'd match my knowledge of history up against yours any day. And while I do belittle those who attack me, I answer those who make coherent arguments with the same. Unfortunately, there are few on the Right who can form coherent arguments, they just attack me the messenger. But to be honest, I did expect the Righties would show up, but I'm a little surprised. I didn't expect they'd have no sense of humor at all.
And I think you proved your knowledge of history and geography I might add in different posts.
You have yet to argue a coherent argument made without telling people to stick it somewhere. Or like in this case again, won't respond to simple questions.
I think your constant yammering about what a terrible writer, debater, maker of coherent arguments, or sense of humor I have demonstrates a lack of self confidence on your part.
I was actually hoping the Righties would come back at me with their humor, you know like Rush Limbaugh (whom I think is a comedic genious). But alas, I get Victor... sigh!
Your comment here:
>> No we don't, and it demonstrates a total lack of comprehension to think so.
basically trying to say that you have more to say as Democrats and Liberals than you hate Bush, he is an idiot, etc ... I can read, and that is about 99.9% of what you and most others have to say ... so much so that if there is anything else in there, by the time you get to it anyone but the back-slapper sycophants are long gone off to read something or do something productive.
Why don't you just tell us what bothers you about all of the people who have made comments to this article?
Are they smaller than you?
Are they less intelligent?
You entered the conversation, but have had nothing of any real merit to add.
Please, enlighten us with the simple answers to these trivial questions?
1. Was is the definition of victory in Iraq?
2. Does President Bush usurp the powers of the federal government?
3. Is conservatism ROOTED in bigotry, racism, sexism, censorship, etc....
4. Are you not conservative? I'm guessing based on your dialogue.
5. Why should we listen to you if your first comments to this article were condescending and unobjective?
is that all you can do, yammer on about how we Dems don't fight fair or what ever it is you're so pitifully trying to say. I want some comedic bantering here. I have several Right wing comedian friends and we get into some hilarious political debates. Lighten up you guys, use your imaginations for something besides being so serious. Gees, you sound like one of those old bitter guys that's always yelling at the neighborhood kids to get out of his yard.
PJ,
Nah, they just can't seem to shift gears I guess.
Have I seen you here before? Anyway, this is actually the first parody article I've ever written here at Gather.com. If you go back, you'll see I write very serious and, I'll be the first to admit, controversial articles. I'm actually not as extreme as I come off, but I do stir things up, just ask anybody.
A note to everybody,
I know things get pretty heated in my threads and I don't believe in pulling punches. But please know that I am aware we are all Americans first and Republicans and Democrats second. It's like what my comedian friend Vahgn Eaglebear says "It's Indian love. You get drunk and beat the crap out of each other, and then make up the next morning and get back to work,"
>Bruce,
>Why don't you just tell us what bothers you about all of
>the people who have made comments to this article?
>Are they smaller than you?
Huh?
>Are they less intelligent?
I think that depends on what you are trying to accomplish?
I don't know, in trying to engage in a conversation when you
use insulting symbols from the start and expect that not to
affect the discussion - maybe not very effective.
>You entered the conversation, but have had
>nothing of any real merit to add.
You may have something of merit to add, but when you
phrase your OPINION as statement of fact you are not
conversing, you are just insulting.
>Please, enlighten us with the simple answers to these trivial questions?
>1. Was is the definition of victory in Iraq?
>2. Does President Bush usurp the powers of the federal government?
>3. Is conservatism ROOTED in bigotry, racism, sexism, censorship, etc....
>4. Are you not conservative? I'm guessing based on your dialogue.
>5. Why should we listen to you if your first comments to this article were >condescending and unobjective?
Do you also want to know how you can pay off all your bills
in 3 days using no money of your own. This is what I am
talking about ... you really typing this with a straight face
or are you so mad you cannot even be effective at trying
to have a conversation.
My advice to you, go find a George W. Bush punching
bag and spend a few days bashing it, when you are
worn out, then try to have a decent conversation
with someone.
You just don't get it do you? Oh well, I know a few anal Democrats as well. I think you need to go out and do something totally silly bruce, it'll do you a world of good.
tonight thinking you really won some victory because you wrote some nasty
words to someone you think is a Republican ... you don't have the focus to
fight, and the Democrats do not have the focus to figure out what their
issues are in order to gain some support anymore, they just want to draw
out the rage in everyone against the Republicans.
OK .. maybe that will give us another Clinton, but this country headed just
as much down the Republican line under Clinton as it has under Bush.
Warning: my act contains adult language and themes.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fagSF8A9ejs
The entirety of your complaint rests upon the premise that Mr. Bush is incompetent. I for one do not believe that at all. I believe he is an extremely clever and ruthless manipulator, who has used the prideful nature of people to get them to buy into a silly charade he plays, so as to get away with things he could never have done if folks weren't "disarmed" by their sense of superiority to him.
And you too have taken the bait, preferring the thought that he is incompetent, to the thought that he is a megalomaniacal would -be despot, who has put in place all the pieces required to become the dictator of America at his own discretion. You will laugh and say he could never pull it off, right up till the moment you realize he has, simply because you believe he is less "competent" than would be required to do so.
How silly, do you really think it is all that hard to keep appearing unintelligent? We are a nation of fools, because we fancy ourselves wise. We have allowed a man to amass the ability to rule us by force, because we like to think we are smarter than him. Remove that one single assumption, and all the reasons to laugh about Mr. Bush, and all his stupid "mistakes" come crashing down.
Just imagine for one moment that he has done precisely what he intended. This "joke" is on us, and I don't believe we will be laughing much longer.
I never took the bait on Bush. I never liked his father as President, and I was practically apoplectic when it looked as if he might actually become the president, a condition that got worse when we all had to live through how this guy became president.
You do not know anything about me John, yet it does not keep you from inferring the most amazing things as fact, and going on to call me silly because of what you wrote.
The thing about Bush is that the American people, who use just this kind of emotional associative thinking are the ones who were manipulated into voting for George W. and nothing I have seen about any of the Democrats rhetoric or yours leads me to believe that anything is getting any better.
Oh, apparently you all are rejoicing and writing silly stories about Capt. Save-A-Ho because you are so assured that everyone knows now about the Republicans. Republicans can think. They can think mathematically and economically, and they have lots of money and lots more power now than they ever had before, even
before Bush.
Nothing has changed, including the picking of the most ineffective spokespeople for the Democrats that we have ever seen.
The Republicans do not need a dictator, your big worry. Bush is not a dictator, he just is a focus of the elite with a lot of money. They do not need Bush, and Bush does not really need them. As I said Clinton did just as much to push the Republican agenda as Bush has.
My point, Bush is incompetant in his execution of the war. He fired all the experts and vetoed their advice. He has put in place a Republican Supreme Court, more powerful now than it was when they selected him in 2000.
If I were you I would say maybe making Capt-Save-A-Ho jokes about someone you really think is going to be dictator, if you really do and are not just Chicken-Littleling as Democrats do, and want to make some comment about the country, and start some serious conversation about what you are going to about it?
It is silly to on the one hand admonish me as "not knowing anything about" you, and then turn right around and ascribe to me various responses, feelings, and motivations. Get your act together, please, and THINK about what I'm saying.
"Because George Bush is an incompetant leader . . . "
You see, that is an ASSUMPTION. And if you remove that premise from your arguments, the whole position makes no sense. Just because you personally would rather not consider that possibility does not make it wrong to do so. It is far from "radical" to realize the President is in a position to destroy our republic with the stroke of a pen, if he chooses. It is "radical" to accept this as an appropriate state of affairs for this country.
I just wrote an article along these lines.
Just got in on this one. didn't have a chance to read all. Loved your story, but you forgot the MAIN character. The Evil drug (power) lord Cheney that has Captain save-a-ho under his drug (power) induced spell.
BTW, i'm a fan of your writing. alot of great articals. Hard NOT to get involved.
You have been on enough of these message board arguments to know that calling me names and telling me what you think I am and what I am doing wrong leads to nothing but a waste of time ... like your total last post.
I did think about what you were saying, once, I gave you the benefit of the doubt and opened up for a discussion, but you just responded with more of the same BS. While telling me to read your post you did not respond to mine.
That just makes me kind of mad actually - I come here not to waste my time with that kind of useless BS. So ... this is the end of this conversation for me, I have better things to do.
The problem is that this threat to the Constitution is not in the body of one person, it is a whole system of elite that has developed around vacuuming money/capital into the hands of the few for the villification of the many. I do not know how we are ever going to pull this cancer out of the country with its deep metastatization(sp) into the body and institutions of this country and its power to co-opt or remove any threats to itself.
I believe Mr. Bush is on the verge of destroying our republic, and initiating a despotic rule of the hyper-wealthy. You'll just have to excuse me for not having received a copy of what are the proper terms and methods a citizen ought to employ in trying to make others aware of such a danger. I guess I was sick that day.
So perhaps you could fill me in; Just how would you recommend a person in my position go about fulfilling their duty as a citizen? I don't think it's a bad place to start by warning that there is an imminent threat, but what do I know, I'm kinda new at having my Constitution overthrown?
What you just said [John too] -- I don't think any of us disagree with your analysis well, some of it]. It's just when you tell us our tiny little brains are 'infected little worker bees''? I really can't go back and read it all. It made me laugh though -- with you.
Besides, 'come the revolution' [unless you really just want to lie down and play dead little worker bee], it's absolutely necessary to laugh. I do believe that's what Devin is trying to do -- laugh. 'Worker bees' and tiny little brains -- now that's funny -- and I really do feel better.
On what to do about losing our constitution. Right after the Orange revolution in the Ukraine, I watched a documentary on some of the planning and techniques used for what took place [though probably not the most important details; i.e., just who did the planning]. Humor and loud noises [i.e., music, singing, chanting, etc.] are a crucially important tactic. Perhaps we should all sing in the shower. . .and just put our minds into taking the constitution back.
Also I have come to realize, that those who support KG I, don't really care about the Constitution. They view this document the way Bu$h has said he sees it, "it's just a piece of paper." They wouldn't mind KG I, the despot, from now on. Hey at least we know who the enemies of the Constitution are, and who there for.
Why don't I ever here about the Carlyle group in these posts. This is where the Bu$h$ and the Bin Laden's have been in business together for years. Makes you wonder if Lil Bu$h and baby Osama were maybe playmates at one time.
If this administration is really more concerned about lining their own pockets than the integrity of the United States and the welfare of its people, this can be easily verified by scrutinizing said pockets. (Think Halliburton.)
I guess one of the reason Devin's article, and a few of his article"S", bug me is that I am just wondering how on Earth this coup is ever going to be seen for what it is, and then overturned, and I do not see a way. I see lots of this carrying on and making jokes like the humor of the slaves in their cabins during slavery in the south, and the analogy burns me up.
Have things gone so far bad that the only thing we have to do about it is make bad jokes and laugh. Hell, even radical Islam, our ignorant and repressive enemy had enough juice in them to defeat the Soviet Union and has scared the hell out of all of us. But they don't allow humor or fun, maybe that is why they are so strong, they can enforce some discipline, something that the US has no idea of apparently anymore.
I have to say I do not trust humor anymore, well, except my own. What I saw in the last Democratic debate that was supposed to be humor just fell flat, the snowman concerned for his son because of global warming, the guy at the top of the show asking the candidates to answer the questions, the montage of the questions not asked, the hair rock video in the middle.
There is a pattern of entertainers being, or pretending to be sympathetic to left-wing causes. Ever wonder why. The people who are hurting so bad are usally their market. Rich people don't watch that much TV, or go to movies that much. Personally I think it is a cynical put on that most of these people advertise themselves as lefties. There are sincere ones. say Bono for one.
I wonder if Americans want to believe we can just party and joke our way through the Bush administration and it will just go away? I don't think that.
Well, we agree on much, and I only wished to make what I feel is a critical point in getting folks to come to grips with the gravity of our situation. There is this unreality about it in many people's minds it seems, and this imagery of the bumbling Mr. Bush facilitates that dreaminess quite well. There actually may be only a matter of months, weeks, or even days, before it will be too late to speak openly of what has transpired, and this realization of just how "staged" this whole "personality" thing has been is, I believe, critical for intelligent people to understand.
If this really does begin to materialize in the near future, many people will need to grasp the audacity and guile involved in this charade within a charade. Many new versions of pseudo reality will be thrown up to create confusion and a sense of isolation in those who would not hesitate to act against it all, if they could see how the game is played. For that, I feel it is vital that we cease and desist with the child-like pride of feeling somehow above these creatures. And face unflinchingly our susceptibility to illusions which allow us to see ourselves as somehow wise and secure in our perception of what is real.
Moments when action is possible will drift by un-responded to if we aren't positively determined to resist underestimating the degree to which we can be misled. A million people can be rendered helpless, for instance, if they each believe themselves to be alone in what they see happening. We can expect some very sophisticated attempts to convince us that all is lost well before it is true, and these will most likely be based on illusions which give the impression that some secondary possibility which only the "clever" can see, is the truth. They've got "our number", and it's pride.
(KG I - stands for King George the first, I believe.)
Don't much care for lullabies myself, or vague loaded words.
Why ascribe to incompetence the ability to usurp our Constitutional republic with the stroke of a pen?
"President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution"
Boston Globe
lullabies?
Political stuff????
The vast majority of those laws were passed by his own party!!!
This is not about advancing his politics, but his own power.
"The thought has crossed my mind, but I can't see how we would do such a thing, the country would be rioting in the streets"
Well there are ways of causing much panic, and cries for saving. Recall Katrina, something we like to think of as a "failure" and an indication of incompetence, but the result was the very legislation which will be used to justify the overthrow if it comes. It is no big whoop to set off an offshore nuke, and claim it was a terrorist plot foiled by our great hero.
Or even douse the capital building with anthrax; recall the affair immediately after 911, which killed and hospitalized hundreds. The anthrax on those letters addressed to specific Dem leaders of Congress was positively traced through genetic markers to a military facility in this country, and the CIA issued a report warning that there were troubling indications that that "terrorist attack" eliminated from somewhere in our own government.
If we are dealing with people that would start wars to advance their purposes, just as has happened throughout history, we are not operating in any sort of "rules" based framework. These fellows really do face the distinct possibility of charges of treason and war crimes if they allow themselves to be removed from power. It is no longer about whether they feel they can succeed, I don't believe. They have crossed the line, and have nothing to lose, and a world to win.
Shit has happened.
>> claim it was a terrorist plot foiled by our great hero.
You are really traveling far out ... that is "big whoop" territory
in my opinion. I just cannot seriously consider that contingency.
I think you are talking from some kind of tramatized point of
view John. I have considered these kinds of things, and I think
so have many people just because it is nonsensical not to, but
there is no evidence for your ideas. I don't know how serious
you are about this, but I think we have had some conversations
before about 911 which you argued very strongly that it was not
done by terrorists, is that right?
I don't know how someone lives day to day with that kind of
thoughts and I refuse to. Especially since I see no point in it
or evidence for it.
I do not make reality, or choose what to believe based on how comfortable it makes me feel, or how many people believe the same.
Reality is very strange. If someone told you six years ago what these six years have been filled with, you most certainly would have felt the same way and wondered how a person could live with such dark ideas. But dark ideas are nothing, compared to dark realities, and we all live with those everyday now.
We're on a thread about this crazy man and his craziness, I don't dwell on this crap all the time. It would be wasteful and silly.
>> I do not make reality, or choose what to believe
>> based on how comfortable it makes me feel, or
>> how many people believe the same.
Be really careful about saying stuff like that, it sounds
heroic, but neuroscience and psychology tells us that
we humans have almost no insight into how we decide
what to believe or think, and that most of what we do
is emotional.
Truth is stranger than fiction, but the idea that a man could
grow up in America, become President, and decide to
overthrow the Constitution for selfish reasons ... well, that
is a longshot. Without remorse to murder American citizens.
I just find that highly unlikely ... and I do not have to like George
W. Bush at all to think that. I do think however that George
Bush is a different kind of man to become President that ever
before. He is a "below" average guy who had the chance because
of his father. I do not think he has the love of freedom, or the
Constitution in him that most Americans do. I do not think he
understands it, and therefore I do not think he respects it. I
think he is stain on the American system that will never go away.
I think he sees the world through the lens of a spoiled arrgoant
rich kid's son, and is used to using all kinds of conniving tricks
and raw power to get what he wants, even if it is a whim, and
he is used to being vindictive to instilling fear so that he can further
do what he wants and intimidate people. In short he was never
a man to be president of a Democracy, but I do not think he is
going to try to create a discontinuity like taking over the country,
that is a process that is happening, buy it is the vacating of power
by the people what is doing it.
It has already been proven the the terrorist did 911. But it has also been proved the Bu$h was negligent in protecting the country, and in my opinion, knew about 911, and did nothing. Recall, before 911, 1/2 of the country was screaming foul, Bu$h stoled the election. The other 1/2 was arrogantly telling us to get over it. Gen. Richard Clark told America, in his testimony to the 911 commission Clark said that Bu$h put terrorism on the lowest priority and Clinton had it on the highest priority. And recall, the August 6, PDB, Bin Laden Determined to Attack IN the US. There are MANY other signs that Bu$h knew, and did nothing.
"Truth is stranger than fiction, but the idea that a man could grow up in America, become President, and decide to overthrow the Constitution for selfish reasons ... well, that is a longshot." He did grow up in America, but was the son of old New World Order himself. Some of daddies best friends are Saudi (KG I holding hands with Prince Bandar in Crawford) That NWO daddy talked about in the 80's IS NOT A GOOD THING. Tell me, to you, does this man seem like someone who cares about America, or the world, with his actions.
"Without remorse to murder American citizens." Does he show any remorse for the people he is responsible for their deaths in Iraq. I don't think he even knows what remorse is.
" I do not think he has the love of freedom, or the Constitution in him that most Americans do. " Regardless of whether he understands it or not, he swore and oath to DEFEND IT form all enemies both foreign and domestic. But then, if you are the enemy from within, you DON'T defend it.
And BTW, your description of KG I is right on.
Well, I do appreciate the candor and directness of the approach you are taking to this "long shot". I think that you are asking the right sort of questions here, and getting at the heart of the matter. It's not important whether one "likes" Mr. Bush, or identifies with his party, or particular aspects of his policy. All these things are "presentations" at heart, and can include elements of deception which are essentially "swallowed up" in the more central question of whether we are dealing with a "normal" human being, or something we would all rather not be possible.
If one approaches that central question from a historical perspective, it is clear that we must avoid the mistake of approaching this grave concept as if there were some "probabilistic" anomaly required to permit such a dark thing to be real. It's not like asking what are the odds of lightning striking an exact spot at random, but more like asking what are the odds that lighting will eventually strike a prominent grounded tower.
We are not dealing with a conceptual possibility like choosing four people at random for a card game, and asking what are the odds that one of them is a card shark who will cheat ruthlessly. Card sharks are real, and they find their way into real card games, intentionally. History teaches us that the "card game" of great power in any society, is extremely attractive to a wide range of less than savory personalities, and those who win on the lower levels, and advance eventually to the upper "tables", are in no way a random sample of citizens.
What we are truly asking about now, is whether an exceptionally gifted "card shark", could have cheated his way into victory at a huge poker tournament. We know there are going to me numerous "cheaters" in the tournament, and that clever ones will in fact advance toward that ultimate gaol. It's a given. What we are asking is whether in the tournament for champion of "politics" a ruthless cheater could have made it to the end, and be sitting in the White House.
And the answer depends very much on how the tournament is conducted. On whether it is an environment that enables those who cheat well, or not. Unfortunately, our "tournament" has become one which allows "cheating" on all sorts of levels, and actually demands that a "player" surround themselves with a cadre of backers and handlers and operatives, who actually conduct the "play" itself, while the supposed "player's" job is to present a likable caricature of a trustworthy strong leader which will cause many people to identify with them.
So the possibility that Mr. Bush is not a "regular Joe", but instead one of the millions of Americans who are known to be living among us, who actually could murder American citizens without remorse, must be looked at with an unflinching eye.
We must ask ourselves what such a thing would look like, what sort of behaviours would such a person exhibit, what sort of cadre would they be surrounded by, and so on. I say he would look like Mr. Bush, perform like Mr. Bush, and be surrounded by backers and handlers and operatives like those we see Mr. Bush is. I say it is not unreasonable at some point in this growing nightmare of corruption and violence and deceit, to conclude the unthinkable has happened. No other explanation makes sense.
The ruthless cheater would never be the front man. George W. in my eyes is a chameleon nice-guy who because of his lineage and connections and western cowboy look was a natural followon to Ronald Reagan in terms of marketing. Brilliant, and sad that the American people after all the advertising we are exposed to could not and can not see it.
By the way, psychological studies show than virtually anyone led down the right path can kill people without remorse. How else would someone be able to be president, sorry but that is a good thing. The bad thing is a lack of judgement and morality leading to ingoring the cost, effect and competence of what is being done.
So ... if you believe this, what you wrote above, then you have to know that it is almost impossible that this group is going to let go of power, correct. So elections will continue to be fixed, and the fix hidden and money distributed to those who support the delusion and the opposing side made to look ridiculous. And you want to tell me that that does not make you crazy?
Look at the Arab world which has had this kind of totalitarianism since the 1500's to see where this will lead and how it will warp and break the human will and soul.
So ... what is the action to take if you believe this?
Your interest in how one "copes" with such a belief as I have about our situation is quite fascinating to me. I find it a fruitful avenue of inquiry, which does indeed lead to some rather important distinctions.
Well, while I think I understand what you mean by this;
By the way, psychological studies show than virtually anyone led down the right path can kill people without remorse. How else would someone be able to be president, sorry but that is a good thing
I am not reffering to that sort of thing, but responding to this;
Without remorse to MURDER American citizens. I just find that highly unlikely
What psychological studies also reveal, is that somewhere in the neighborhood of 5% of our population is sociopathic. These folks do not mug old ladies BECAUSE they might get caught. If, however, such a person is fairly intelligent otherwise, and given a few "second chances" along the way, they can learn to mimic compassion and even intimacy. They learn what is expected by others, though they tend never to accept they are "different", but rather conclude they are more aware of the true nature of the human mind. This can result in an incredibly gifted manipulator.
It is the possibility that one of these roughly 15 million Americans is named George Bush, and that a band of them have managed to get him into power, that I am pointing out. This would explain the strangely successful, and at the same time profoundly clumsy behaviour of this Administration.
They are essentially con men, and while they were capable of inducing many high level "players" to fall for their scam, they themselves are not truly aware that what they are doing is "wrong" in the way we would see it. But over time, more and more of the people outside the true cadre of sociopaths will come to realize something is very "wrong". Thus we see the incessant attrition of once vital members of the larger group, and the gradual isolation or the "inner circle".
Many who were "neocons", or partnered with them, because they actually felt the need for America to take a dominant role in the future of the world, have abandoned ship, coming to their senses as they see the inherent shallowness and corruptibility of such notions of "Global Hegemony". They are realizing that this way of dealing with the world is flawed in an organic way, for the same reason all systems based on "authoritarian" principals are doomed; They attract extremely unsavory characters, whose real allegiance is but to themselves, and not America at all.
So what we are left with, is a self destructing gang of cut-throat manipulators, gradually losing the larger group of at least semi-competent players that actually made the trains run. The problem we face is not a highly efficient dictatorship which will actually rule America for any significant length of time, but a desperate band of flailing misfits, who may try something incredibly destructive in an attempt to cling to the illusions and power they have been playing with.
The problem is that they really do have the power to traumatize our republic, and much of the civilized world, and send us into potentially catastrophic turmoil because they don't really give a shit, or even comprehend, their fellow human beings, or the misery they might cause them.
At this very moment, the Congress, and other components of our government, are attempting to pry Mr. Bush's fingers off the "wheel", and dismantle his ability to "pull the trigger" of a "state of national emergency". In just the last few days we have seen major strides in rendering AG Gonzales a highly suspect official, and his is the "other" signature which would be on the document that sends the nation into martial law. The number of people in our government and military that will balk at such an order has just risen substantially, and will continue to rise from now on.
America may very well disarm this bomb peacefully, and there is reason to have much hope. I "cope" with what I understand by doing what I can to further that goal.
thinking it, than the results of the thinking process, which are far removed
from first hand everyday experience. While conceding that there is a chance you could be right, it is not something that I could let myself be convinced by based on the logic of what you are saying, because it does not connect with me, and I think you would have a hard time connecting this way with most people, and in fact ...
say you put this out here on Gather (which you have) the people most likely to agree with you and rally round you, (like a mob, no criticism of you intended here) would be the ones emotionally predisposed to intensely emotionally dislike George Bush and to think they were find logical reasons reinforcing that emotion.
Does that make sense?
Well of course it makes sense. But you have just removed all the evidence from consideration of the matter. Once that is done; Yes, any conclusion is equal to any other, and one might just as well go by what feels comfortable to them. I cannot argue with the underlying rationale of this, but would note that it works equally well regardless of what reality has revealed to us. It is called denial in a generic sense, and it is always available for when a conclusion becomes something we wish not to be true.
What I would ask is; What evidence can one point to that contradicts what I have proposed? If the answer is; None, then I hardly think it is my own methods or impulses which ought to be suspect. That can be resorted to even under the most blatant of circumstances. What I MIGHT be misunderstanding is only a valid concern to the rational mind when some sort of indication is seen that one has erred. If it is imposed at all times, one simply abandons all pursuit of truth entirely, and abdicates to those who might not be so hesitant to inflict their impulses on others through the generation of propaganda.
I will not yield the field to them. I will continue to consider and reason.
I just wanted to say I am finally going through what is now under 5,800 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)
And I hope you have a Happy New Year... in 2009 :o)