Paul Loeb (Working for Change): Dying for Nixon; dying for Bush

[Jack Rabbit]

From WorkingForChange.com
Dated Tuesday April 25

Dying for Nixon; dying for Bush
Iraq another war based on lies
By Paul Loeb

"I didn't want to die for Nixon," said a man I met recently in a Seattle park. He'd served on military bases in a half dozen states, then had a car accident just before being shipped to Vietnam. "The accident was lucky," he said. "It was a worthless war and I didn't want to go."
I agreed. I admired those who fought in World War II, I said. We owe them the debt of our freedom. But to die for Nixon's love of power, his fear of losing face, his deception and vindictiveness - to die for him was obscene. Nixon's war, the man said, had nothing noble about it. And neither did Iraq.

What does it mean to die in a war so founded on lies? Bush may lack Nixon's scowl, but he's equally insulated from the consequences of profoundly destructive actions. He came to power riding on the success of Nixon's racially divisive "Southern Strategy," which enshrined the Republicans as the party of backlash. He won reelection by similarly manipulating polarization and fear. Like Nixon, he's flouted America's laws while demonizing political opponents. His insistence that withdrawing from Iraq would create a world where terrorists reign echoes Nixon's claim that defeat in Vietnam would leave the U.S. “a pitiful, helpless giant.”

While Bush assures our soldiers they fight for Iraqi freedom, and to "make America safer for generations to come," 82 percent of Iraqis, according to a British Ministry of Defense poll, say they're "strongly opposed" to the presence of American and British troops, and 45 percent justify attacks against them.

Read more.

[OneBlueSky]

1. here's what I don't understand . . .

by now, EVERYONE KNOWS that BushCo lied us into this disastrous war . . . still, about a third of Americans continue to support him . . . and the rest, for some reason, aren't calling for his head on a platter . . .

the BushCo transgressions are several levels of magnitude greater and more serious than those that drove Nixon from office and resulted in Clinton's impeachment . . . yet the American public -- AND our "representatives" in Congress -- STILL refuse to say "Enough!" and initiate a process to get rid of them . . . before they do even MORE damage (e.g. start another war or two or five) . . .

I just don't understand it . . .

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Before long, more people will be calling for his head and others

Even that 32% figure will drop, but not to zero. As Lincoln observed, any political leader can fool some of the people all of the time. Nevertheless, 32% is well below that level that a major party candidate would be expected to receive in a two-way presidential election just for showing up.

I really don't think striking against Iran will help him. Even if it turns out that Iran is closer to building a nuke than we think (which isn't likely), who would believe Bush when he tries to make that case? A person would be foolish to believe anything Bush says now.

It is our duty now to agitate for impeachment of Bush and Cheney and to paralyze the regime until it is ousted from power. These people are dangerous. They will play politics with national security. Bush and Cheney will provoke another unnecessary war in order to drive up public support for their crumbling regime.

As far as I am concerned, a strike against Iran now would only be further grounds for impeachment and removal.

[Southsideirish]

2. Good article - thanks for posting. I've sent it on to 3 friends.

As much as Nixon and Bush are so similar I still find the latter to be about a million times more offensive, personally and officially. Maybe its the rich, born on 3rd base, frat boy sneering arrogance...I don't know...I just can't stand the very sight of him.

[jbfam4]

4. Excellent article

" Bush now tells us it will be up to "future presidents" even to consider withdrawing our troops. Who wants to be the last man or woman to die for George Bush? "

Last paragraph says it all!

[Martin Eden]

5. I would die for George Bush ...

... if my death could somehow reverse the result of the 2000 election.

Of course we can't undo the past, but I would give my life for my country to change the disastrous course it has been on these last 5+ years. How many have already died to further the WRONG course?

[Jack Rabbit]

6. I hear you, Mr. Eden

If Bush is impeached and convicted and still refuses to leave, I will more than gladly risk my life to personally throw his worthless hide out on the White House lawn.

[Martin Eden]

7. On the White House lawn ...

... will be waiting the Cindy Sheehans of this country to do with his worthless hide what they will. Justice dispensed by them would indeed be justice served.