President Bush has lost his mind. We’ve heard this many times over the last several years, but on August 31st it will be official. On that day, Karl Rove will step down as chief political advisor to the presidency. The man known as “Bush’s Brain” will soon be among the many political rats fleeing the wreckage of current administration. [please hold your applause until the end]
Naturally, there has been much speculation on his resignation. I’ve seen his pasty face on select news broadcasts attempting some sort of damage control for his colleagues. Even now, I find myself amazed at his claims about the conduct and decision making of the White House he was a part of. The worst by far is his unwavering support of President Bush. Rove simply gushes over G. W., suggesting he has unified our country.
I hope by now we can recognize such statements for what they truly are; attempts to feed us the opinions they want us to have. I’m not buying it.
Never mind the blatant attack on a separation of church and state, the underhanded stunts to discredit and undermine critics, the slow erosion of civil liberties, and billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars funneled into a war for profit. The absence of honesty and transparency when making major decisions on behalf of an entire nation will do nothing BUT divide that nation. Not only is it undemocratic, it belittles the people you are governing over.
I know I’m not alone in this viewpoint. Rove’s resignation was met with cheers, applause and quite a few sighs of relief. Many political pundits are excited to see what happens once he crawls out from under executive privilege. Perhaps now his testimony on the firing of several competent U.S. attorneys will be something other than “against our national interest.”
I’ve also heard that his life may be in danger once he’s away from the protection of the black suits. Attitudes about his part in the great America ruin go that deep. Well I for one feel death is too easy for such a magnanimous individual. After all, we’ve learned so much from him about how Americans should be treated. I say we honor his legacy by giving some of that back. Consider the following suggestions:
Naturally, there has been much speculation on his resignation. I’ve seen his pasty face on select news broadcasts attempting some sort of damage control for his colleagues. Even now, I find myself amazed at his claims about the conduct and decision making of the White House he was a part of. The worst by far is his unwavering support of President Bush. Rove simply gushes over G. W., suggesting he has unified our country.
I hope by now we can recognize such statements for what they truly are; attempts to feed us the opinions they want us to have. I’m not buying it.
Never mind the blatant attack on a separation of church and state, the underhanded stunts to discredit and undermine critics, the slow erosion of civil liberties, and billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars funneled into a war for profit. The absence of honesty and transparency when making major decisions on behalf of an entire nation will do nothing BUT divide that nation. Not only is it undemocratic, it belittles the people you are governing over.
I know I’m not alone in this viewpoint. Rove’s resignation was met with cheers, applause and quite a few sighs of relief. Many political pundits are excited to see what happens once he crawls out from under executive privilege. Perhaps now his testimony on the firing of several competent U.S. attorneys will be something other than “against our national interest.”
I’ve also heard that his life may be in danger once he’s away from the protection of the black suits. Attitudes about his part in the great America ruin go that deep. Well I for one feel death is too easy for such a magnanimous individual. After all, we’ve learned so much from him about how Americans should be treated. I say we honor his legacy by giving some of that back. Consider the following suggestions:
- Create a shadowy branch of law enforcement whose sole task is to monitor for terrorist threats carried out by anyone named Karl Christian Rove (sure it’s profiling, but we already know a spade is a spade). Efforts would include wire tapping, monitoring any purchases and investments, and detailed investigations into the lives of any family and friends.
- Pull any sons named Andrew Madison Rove from their undergraduate studies at Trinity University and enlist them on the front lines of the war effort. Record attempts to use political connections to stop the draft procedure. Such actions are against national interest and may be viewed as support for terrorism.
- Detain the suspect(s) for an indefinite period of days, months, or years, without arraignment. Any outside attempts to push the legislative process through will be frowned upon. All attorneys sympathetic to such a case will be mysteriously fired without notice.
- While incarcerated, the suspect(s) will be subjected to a variety of tortures including (but not limited to): electroshock treatment; physical torture of the head, torso, extremities, and genitalia; enforced nudity followed by photo opportunities; repeated interviews by one Lou Dobbs; sodomizing any and all holes upon the suspect’s person. Complete healthcare will be provided for so as to prolong imprisonment.
- Torture is geared for eventual brain death. Suspect(s) will then be hooked up to a feeding tube and placed on display in the Library of Congress. Only then will God's great gift of life be fully realized.
- If the suspect(s) is married, he will be replaced by an illegal immigrant so as to perform any unwanted duties under the role of husband.
I hate to sound like an elite, effete snob, but in this case I really believe such actions would be in the nation’s best interest. Let’s call it a morale booster, shall we?
7 comments:
I think the suspect's spouse should have to endure a lesbian immigrant as I am sure banning gay marriage was his idea too!
Torture seems to be very vogue right now; the Saw movies, (which are quickly becoming enterprises, and enterprised upon). I don't know, feeding the idea of torture seems bad, and it's manifestation into our worlds on all kinds of different levels is a little odd to me too; but perhaps indicative of where we are as a society. On the other side of my own double-edged blade, I'm all for the stockades being brought back.
Well, my posting wasn't so much about a love of torture as it was a need for poetic justice, or what some would call "honoring a man's legacy".
For example, when the esteemed (?) Jerry Falwell died, I was vocal about how he probably deserved it. Do I believe this? No, but he sure did. He was of the opinion that death and disease were punishments from God (AIDS, 9/11, etc.) I went along with it so as to preserve his memory. :)
Well that's all fine and well if it's your preferred modus operandi. And I can certainly see the appeal of Keeping The Memory Alive of That Certain Kind of Thought; however, I have to transcend ideas of hate these kinds of people when they die; while complete dicks and assholes they may be, they have families, and people who love them.
In light of any weirdo's death, [i.e. Jerry Falwell] I'm happy that they won't be around to cultivate any more narrow definitions of the world. I'm not happy that their family has to mourn their loved-one's passing. While death be natural, and hopefully not proude, though some have called it mighty and dreadful, even though thou art not soe, (paraphrased from John Donne) it is still no gleefully joy-filled ride for those who share blood with the deceased.
But like I said, I'm not happy that he's dead, I'm happy that he won't be able to bring any more hate into this world anymore. There's enough misunderstanding and lack of trust within humanity as it is, and it's certainly not at a premium these days.
I can certainly see where you are coming from. Honor life simply for its own sake. Remember the interconnectedness of all things and all people. Why lower myself to the level of those I noticeably dislike, right? There is a romanticism about it that does have appeal.
However, we are discussing human beings here. Our species learns, not through love and honor, but by means of positive and negative reinforcements. At least we do at our current level of socialization. The sort of mentality you are describing (self awareness and the compassion which comes from noticing the similarities we all share) is not present in the figure heads we are discussing. And yet they have a strangle hold on our society.
Where was the concern for the families of 9/11 casualties? Where was the basic, human compassion for those suffering from a loved one’s death from AIDS? Not only was it sorely absent, these deaths were used as stepping stones for a self righteous and completely unethical moral stance. What’s worse, the man spewing such vitriol was listened to and followed by a great many people. Their beliefs and attitudes are guided by him.
In other words, they were negatively reinforced to avoid feminism, liberalism, and homosexuality by using God’s vengeance as a motivator. There is no honor in that. And yet, the damage is done, and we must try and work against this. What better way to teach people their beliefs are wrong then to allow them a measure of suffering from those very same beliefs? If you have a better, more reliable method I’d be happy to learn of it.
Back to the subject of this particular report, Mr. Rove is still very much alive and well, and will continue to be active in whatever context he lands himself. I understand he wants to be a teacher?! Can you imagine how far we’d stray from love and compassion if Rove were to educate generations of young, impressionable youths? I shudder to think.
In regard to we the huddled masses, your appeal for kindness and respect is noble. We should strive for those qualities. But we are discussing leaders, alpha males, those who influence and guide entire factions of the human race. If their beliefs were truly good, they would not cause harm when turned in on themselves. That is ultimately my point. Therefore, I see nothing wrong with showing the weaknesses in their own self righteous ideologies. Let them be sacrificial lambs in the pursuit of greater ideas.
[This is an excellent conversation thread kitten, and I thank you for your contributions. You’ve certainly done more than a lot of people who read me.]
I agree, and not to make it all about me, but some of those very reasons about Those Who Have Strong Ideas of Power help me wax misanthropic, even more.
I can only speak for me, I cannot speak for the larger whole of humanity; (or hole, depending on HOW cynical you're feeling today)but people will abuse power, why? They're selfish, or greedy -- there's ALWAYS a pay-off, otherwise why would they do it?
But ultimately, it is they who will cultivate the culmination of their deeds, I can't begin to imagine that their Karma Balance Sheet is anywhere NEAR zero.
[moreover you're welcome. sometimes people saying fabulous things in your life is at a premium, I understand all too well!]
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