Very interesting article. "Is George Bush “The Manchurian Candidate?”

[FedUpWithIt All]

Is George Bush “The Manchurian Candidate?”
By Robert Buzzanco

http://hnn.us/articles/32618.html

Mr. Buzzanco, Professor of History, University of Houston, is the author of several books and articles on Vietnam War.

If enemies of the United States had gotten together a few years ago to devise a plan to damage America and undermine its global position–diminish its power and credibility, drag it into a stubborn war, harm its relations with allies, create international financial disarray, run up huge deficits, create political openings for the Europeans and China to exploit and become equals in global economic matters, motivate terrorists, bring the U.S. image in the Middle East to its nadir, restrict civil liberties at home, and so forth–they would have been hard-pressed to create a program that would be more effective than the Bush administration’s policies on these issues of war, terrorism, and global economics have.

Indeed, if one is an “enemy” of the U.S., then he/she would have to be heartened that Bush has pursued this agenda and would have to be elated that the war in Iraq continues today. Given enough rope, Bush may hang not only himself, but American influence and credibility, and the global economy. Like a “sleeper” agent, or Laurence Harvey’s famed character, Sgt. Raymond Shaw, in The Manchurian Candidate, George W. Bush, the ultimate insider, is doing more to damage America than Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Hassan Nasrallah, the Syrians, the Iranians, or any other enemy du jour, ever could.

Obviously, the U.S. is in a much more delicate and dangerous position today–politically, militarily, and economically–than it was prior to the Iraq invasion. National prestige and national security have suffered, and the economic impact will be felt for years. At home, the emphasis on Homeland Security and the Orwellian-titled Patriot Act have restricted our freedoms and liberties. The United States, its soldiers, and its people have suffered because of this war, because of Bush’s entire program. Meanwhile, American enemies and rivals–in the Middle East, in China, and elsewhere–have more power, prestige, and wealth than any of us could have imagined just a few years ago.

Given these conditions, there is now great reason for all Americans, including, if not especially, Republicans and conservatives, to demand an end to these policies in Iraq and at home that are making life more dangerous and costly. Some years ago, during the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon said that “Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.” It seems like George Bush has accomplished precisely that all these years later.

[liberal N proud]

1. link?

[Jon8503]

3. Found the link:

I too like to see where the article comes from and who wrote it. Googled it and here is the link to the article.

http://hnn.us/articles/32618.html

[FedUpWithIt All]

5. Thank you. I thought i had linked it.

:hi:

[Jon8503]

12. No problem & thanks for the posting. A good web page that I have

saved. Would'nt have known to look for it if you had'nt posted this.

[liberal N proud]

6. Thanks, I always have to know where it came from

I also share this stuff with some other people to keep them informed and will not send if there isn't a reputable link

[Phredicles]

2. The Arabian Candidate, I'm thinking.

[formercia]

4. Moon's family came from that part of the World,

North Korea,if I remember correctly.Still live there in peace and harmony with Brother Kim.

[whistle]

7. Here is are the grounds for impeaching Bush/Cheney

"...George W. Bush, the ultimate insider, is doing more to damage America than Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Hassan Nasrallah, the Syrians, the Iranians, or any other enemy du jour, ever could."

[FedUpWithIt All]

8. Kinda chilling in it's simple truth. n/t

[Jon8503]

14. Ya, I wish he would send it for an op in the papers that called for

Clinton to resign & have said nothing about Bush. There is no comparison in the damage the two have done to our country.

Actually, what harm did Clinton do to the USA? Granted he got caught doing something he should not have done but other than that. This country was in good shape when he left office, what shape will we be in when Bush leaves.

Look at the harm Bush has done to the country. No comparison.

Bring over the European press and allow them to sell papers here so we can read the truth.

[Tesha]

16. The harm Clinton did was to pave the way for Bush rather than Gore. (NT)

[WinkyDink]

17. 1.) Gore won. 2.) Ken Starr was the "man" who pressed for and published lurid sexual details.

[Tesha]

18. Ahh -- That explains why he's been President these past few years.

> 1.) Gore won.

Ahh -- That explains why he's been President these past few years.

He may have had the American people behind him, but he lost
the only two elections that mattered:

o The 5-4 vote on the Supreme Court and

o The Electoral College.

And we can think B.J. Clinton for both losses.

Tesha

[cassiepriam]

9. I have thought the same for a long time. nt

[pacalo]

10. ITA -- Bush/Cheney are the biggest threats to our national security.

The U.S. standing in the world has probably never been lower than it is now in the wake of the dismal war in Iraq. Not only is anti-Americanism rampant in the Middle East, but U.S. enemies like Bin Laden and Nasrallah now dominate the political discourse of the region with great credibility on the so-called Arab Street. Even in Europe, the American image and influence is fading, and travelers may feel uncomfortable abroad, or, more seriously, American tourists and businesses fear boycotts or actual violence, as in Madrid or London in the past few years, and that seriously dampens the U.S. ability to influence other nations.

Ironically, Bush claimed to have launched the war in Iraq to protect American security, but it has had the opposite effect...Meanwhile, the number of military officials publicly speaking out against this administration’s war in Iraq is staggering, discomfiting and unprecedented.

Last week I filled out a questionnaire sent out by Russ Feingold on foreign policy. I answered two of the six questions with "impeachment":

5. What steps do you think the new Congress can take to better protect the United States from the threat of terrorism?

The biggest threat of terrorism is George Bush & Richard Cheney. They should be thoroughly investigated so that those who have been misinformed by Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, etc., will understand that our country's reputation & survival depend on impeaching these crooks. Impeachment will ensure that no future president will make the same mistakes; nor will the media allow the same mistakes to happen again.

6. How do you think the Progressive Patriots Fund can promote a progressive foreign policy agenda?

Impeaching George Bush & Richard Cheney will do wonders for our foreign relationships. It would show the world that, given the opportunity of checks & balances, our country does not support the cruel, corrupt leadership of this administration. We voters did our part on Nov. 7th; we expect the 110th Congress to follow through to earn back the good reputation of this country in the world.

[NewJeffCT]

11. Paul Krugman had a similar column 2+ years ago

It was around when the remake of the movie with Denzel Washington came out, only he called Bush the "Arabian" Candidate instead of the Manchurian one.

[Poiuyt]

13. There are certain veterans groups who have called John McCain the Manchurian Candidate

http://www.usvetdsp.com/manchuan.htm

[insidious]

15. W=The American Shah

He is the bloodsucker of the 21st century.

[Canuckistanian]

19. Bush is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being...

Oh. Is it time for my meds now, nurse?

[Lisa]

20. at least Raymond Shaw tried to be nice to people occasionally

And not because he stood to gain from it. The book portrays him as a bit of a sociopath, but he was honestly loyal to Senator Jordan's daughter, and Major Marco from his platoon.

Bush, on the other hand ...

[tomreedtoon]

21. Someone never saw the movie/read the book.

There is one good point of juncture (this is kind of a spoiler)...Raymond Shaw's mother was a double agent who was the controller who wanted an assassin. She just didn't know that the Russian/Chinese masters would choose her own son to warp into that assassin.

However, even that doesn't gel. Mrs. Shaw expressed her anger at the program, privately, before giving Shaw his final instructions. She said:

"But now we have come almost to the end. One last step, and then, when I take power, they will be pulled down and ground into dirt for what they did to you...and what they did in so contemptuously
underestimating me!"

That doesn't sound like Barbara Bush. She has never been so forthright. She has never been so controlling. She's a vicious, evil woman, but nowhere near that manipulative.

And the one great parallel broke down. Raymond Shaw was made to look like a war hero by the Communist controllers. When did anyone really accept Bush as that? Shaw was, as others have observed, a miserable bastard who slammed people left and right. Bush always seemed folksy with a phony bonhommie. Paper-thin, perhaps, but there for the cameras.

And think about this. Raymond Shaw wasn't "the Manchurian Candidate" of the title. He was the assassin of the legitimate Presidential candidate, whose bloody assassination would make way for the real Manchurian candidate - his weak, Joe McCarthy-like father.

[otohara]

22. After Watching New Version of MC

Bush was corporate America's Manchurian Candidate