Blumenthal: America's Hidden Vote

[kskiska]

Passing almost without notice earlier this month, the public release of The Civil Rights Record of the George W Bush Administration - the official staff report prepared by the US Civil Rights Commission - whose submission is required by federal law, was blocked by the Republican commissioners. None the less, it was posted on the commission's website: "This report finds that President Bush has neither exhibited leadership on pressing civil rights issues, nor taken actions that matched his words."

Bush has held the Civil Rights Commission in contempt since its June 2001 report on Election Practices in Florida During the 2000 Campaign. Then it concluded: "The commission's findings make one thing clear: widespread voter disenfranchisement - not the dead-heat contest - was the extraordinary feature in the Florida election ... The disenfranchisement of Florida's voters fell most harshly on the shoulders of black voters."

(snip)

Since September 11 infused Bush with a mission, he has evoked hovering angels, crusades, mushroom clouds, evildoers, shades of a universe of death. His imagery induces a dynamic of paralysis before the threat and fervour in embrace of his absolute reassurance and power. Dread without end requires faith without limit.

Yet Bush found himself on the defensive when the New York Times reported on the closed gathering of his campaign contributors, where he revealed his radical programme for his second term - rightwing capture of the supreme court, privatising social security, turning over national land to the oil companies, more tax cuts. Kerry was prompted to raise these issues. And Bush whined that Kerry was practising "the politics of fear". The next day Dick Cheney projected terrorists exploding nuclear weapons within the US, and offered Bush as saviour from looming apocalypse.

"No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as terror," wrote Edmund Burke. But not even the eve of destruction will stifle turnout.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/comment/story/0,14259,1332231,00.html

[enough]

1. kskiska, as usual,

You return us to what's really happening. Thanks.

[kskiska]

3. Not me, it's Blumenthal

who gets us back to reality.

[Ladyhawk]

2. Excellent article...thanks!!! nt

[Merlin]

4. "Dread without end requires faith without limit.'

Bush… has evoked hovering angels, crusades, mushroom clouds, evildoers, shades of a universe of death. Dread without end requires faith without limit.
-- Sidney Blumenthal


"No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as terror."
-- Edmund Burke.

Blumenthal adds:

"But not even the eve of destruction will stifle turnout."

Great piece!

[jakenjoe]

5. I know one of the members of this Commission (Rep)

She was so badly thought of in the African-American community that she had to be appointed as a "recess" appointment. She appears to be a self-hating African-American who has worked tirelessly everywhere she was employed to undermine any civil rights gains achieved by minorities and women of the "left." I was shocked as she confided to me about what she actually thought of most African-Americans. Her speech was astounding, almost like she didn't believe that she is African-American. This administration has purposely worked to undermine the CRC and the clandestine appointment of this woman is a prime example. I was a very close friend of her husband (white, deceased) so I know what I am talking about. She is bad, bad news.

[realFedUp]

6. Welcome jakenjoe to DU

we always like personal insights.