John Dean: If Past Is Prologue, Bush Is Becoming Increasingly Dangerous

[Newsjock]

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20060421.html
If Past Is Prologue, George Bush Is Becoming An Increasingly Dangerous President
By JOHN W. DEAN
Friday, Apr. 21, 2006

President George W. Bush's presidency is a disaster - one that's still unfolding. In a mid-2004 column, I argued that, at that point, Bush had already demonstrated that he possessed the least attractive and most troubling traits among those that political scientist James Dave Barber has cataloged in his study of Presidents' personality types.

... As the 2006 midterm elections approach, this active/negative president can be expected to take further risks. If anyone doubts that Bush, Cheney, Rove and their confidants are planning an "October Surprise" to prevent the Republicans from losing control of Congress, then he or she has not been observing this presidency very closely.

... One possibility is that Dick Cheney will resign as Vice President for "health reasons," and become a senior counselor to the president. And Bush will name a new vice president - a choice geared to increase his popularity, as well as someone electable in 2008. It would give his sinking administration a new face, and new life.

... Bush's second and more likely, surprise could be in the area of national security: If he could achieve a Great Powers coalition (of Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and so on) presenting a united-front "no nukes" stance to Iran, it would be his first diplomatic coup and a political triumph.

But more likely, Bush may mount a unilateral attack on Iran's nuclear facilities - hoping to rev up his popularity. (It's a risky strategy: A unilateral hit on Iran may both trigger devastating Iran-sponsored terrorist attacks in Iraq, with high death tolls, and increase international dislike of Bush for his bypass of the U.N. But as an active/negative President, Bush hardly shies away from risk.) Another rabbit-out-of-the-hat possibility: the capture of Osama bin Laden.

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[Selatius]

1. I think Bush attacking Iran will indicate to the world we are a tyranny.

We will replace the USSR as the most dangerous, most powerful threat to democracy the world over.

[AndyTiedye]

9. I'm Afraid ** Has Already Done That

[KittyWampus]

25. I would like to see DU'ers & the Left paint Bush etc. as Soviet-style

corrupt bumblers. Really, the comparison is so much more accurate then Hitler.

[havocmom]

2. Dean certainly has good perspective.

And he is usually spot on.

Yep, an injured animal is dangerous. And the bush junta is a very injured animal at this point. One hopes there are cooler heads ready to reel them in SOON.

[Just Me]

19. I honestly do not believe Bush views himself as an "injured animal".

I believe he does perceive threats against his mission and legacy which will likely lead him to push even harder to achieve what is pragmatically the impossible. But, this guy blindly believes he is literally in God's grace. He believes he is infallible. That's scarier than an "injured animal" that wildly fights off threats to its existence IMHO.

[havocmom]

20. The whole administration is the wounded animal

the junta is wounded and so very dangerous, as I said before.

[Just Me]

22. They're making money hand over fist. How are they "wounded"?

Their complex is more economically powerful than EVER.

I'm sorry but,...I think people miscalculate the accumulation of power this complex has acquired and continue to acquire.

I dare say, they will act emboldened, not like wounded animals, by their success in exploitation.

That's just my opinion and perspective.

[leveymg]

3. Russia and China hope to pick up the pieces after Bush further overextends

American power in Southwest Asia. Same thing with the Euros. They're never going to give Bush his "Great Powers coalition". Dream on.

[Oversea Visitor]

4. China has stated a firm no on attacking Iran

After bush effort to insult the China President to the max I say good luck to him.

[XemaSab]

5. K&R

A worthwhile read in its entirety.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Recommended

!!

[azurnoir]

7. There is another possibility

they if the do indeed lose control of the House or Senate he'll simply use "executive privilege or war time privileges" more often. He's already done this with the repukes in control of both houses.

[tavalon]

8. The place he didn't go

and the place I suppose he shouldn't go, though I would love to know what he really thinks, is that that terrorist attack that worries him so much might come from this increasingly dangerous President.

I've not had such nuclear nightmares since the Cold War.

[troubleinwinter]

11. I strongly felt that he wrote it to read that way (between the lines)

[SupplyConcerns]

16. I agree

John Dean has a full understanding of their treachery. For example, bombing Iran for political reasons is more deadly than a fake terror attack. Holding onto Osama/letting him run around until the "October Surprise" is an utterly dishonest action.

[tavalon]

17. I agree with you on that one

[Klukie]

24. Agreed.

[troubleinwinter]

10. A very unique and FASCINATING article.

[Buns_of_Fire]

12. There's a cancer growing on the Presidency...

...and there was, at the time John Dean made that statement in the Nixon days. That cancer was apparently excised when Nixon resigned.

Or so we thought. The cancer wasn't completely removed, as it is painfully apparent. The few remaining cells grew, undetected, and now there's a cancer growing on the country.

[glitch]

13. Yep - this presidency IS that cancer. Wholly consumed. Can the country be

saved? That's the question.

[seemslikeadream]

14. In the darkness of your blindness the beast will learn to bite

Song Of Choice
Early every year, seeds are growing
Unseen, unheard, they lie beneath the ground
Would you know before the leaves are showing
That with weeds all your garden will abound?

If you close your eyes, stop your ears
Hold your mouth, how can you know?
The seeds you cannot see may not be there
The seeds you cannot hear may never grow

In January you've still got the choice
You can cut the weeds before they start to bud
If you leave them to grow higher, they'll silence your voice
And in December you may pay with your blood

Close your eyes, stop your ears
Close your mouth and take it slow
Let others take the lead and you bring up the rear
And later you can say you didn't know

Everyday another vulture takes flight
There's another danger born every morning
In the darkness of your blindness the beast will learn to bite
How can you fight if you can't recognize a warning?

Close your eyes, stop your ears
Close your mouth and then you know
Let others take the lead and you bring up the rear
And later you can say you didn't know

Today you may earn a living wage
Tomorrow you may be on the dole
Though there's millions going hungry, you needn't disengage
For it's them, not you, that's fallen in the hole

It's alright for you if you run with the pack
It's alright if you agree with all they do
If the fascist's party slowly climbing back
It's not here yet, so what's it got to do with you?

The weeds are all around us and they're growing
It will soon be too late for the knife
If you leave them on the wind that around the world is blowing
You may pay for your silence with your life

Close your eyes, stop your ears
Close your mouth, they're never there
And if it happens here, they'll never come for you
Because they'll know you really didn't care

Peggy Segger

[emulatorloo]

15. Kick n/t

[Just Me]

18. Sure, he'll appoint McCain VP then nuke Iran invoking a world war,...

,...that will force the draft and poverty and ultimate defeat because the rest of the world is against us "go aloners".

[RedEarth]

21. Kick

[Klukie]

23. A great article.....

and rather disturbing.