We Love Howard DeanBy John Cory, t r u t h o u t | Perspective
[BFIA Editor's Note: Did you hear that big Dick cheney said THIS about the much beloved Howard Dean: "Maybe his mother loved him, but I've never met anybody who does." Yeah, I think that's because little bully cheney closes his eyes and pretends we don't exist. He's got a pretty active fantasy life, I'd say. To those of us who realize the country is drowning in a sea of incomprehensible fascism, Howard and his tough talk are a breath of fresh air. Now, from last week, before little cheney opened his big mouth on national TV, an article from Truthout.org on WHY we love Howard Dean.]
The Bush GOP is a Wal-Mart of five-and-dime ethics, self-enriching corporate sponsored war, imitation morality made in China, and a fresh baker's dozen of half-truths for every occasion. America on sale: to the right folks in the right place at the right time for the right price. Going once, going twice ...
Bible-thumping-bunko artists shove the hand of God into your pants pocket for thirty pieces of silver to buy membership lists from the likes of David Dukes and the KKK, because we all know, Heaven is white with just a touch of beige. And if you question that, James Dobson will take his Bible belt and show you the lashing love of Jesus.
...The Downing Street Memo is all the talk to avoid. There are some people who want the American media to cover the contents of the memo that show Bush and Blair conspired to wage war despite their promises otherwise. But the media won't cover the memo any more than they covered Bush's words in the second presidential debate of 2000 when he said: ".... The coalition against Saddam has fallen apart or it's unraveling, let's put it that way. The sanctions are being violated. We don't know whether he's developing weapons of mass destruction. He better not be or there's going to be a consequence should I be the pResident."
So what is the topic that grabs the news and the Democratic leadership's attention?
Howard Dean said something mean. Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
Bush lied and people died. Nope - not news. Ohio Republicans involved in financial and voting scandal. Nope - not news. Republicans jam Democratic phone lines during 2004 election to stop the vote. Republicans hack into Democratic computers. No news there. Tom Delay has repeated ethical lapses and takes money from lobbyists like Jack Abramoff. Nope - not news. The White House edits critical environmental reports to refute scientific fact. Nope - no news there. Wait a minute - this just in:
Howard Dean said something mean.
Oh my God! Stop the presses! Did you hear? Dean has gone mean, pass it on. Get Candy Crowley at CNN and Chris Matthews at MSNBC. Don't forget Scarborough. This is a week's worth of programming! Get Holy Joe Lieberman to speak for the good Democrats. Get Jive-Joe Biden, he'll be good for a sensible quote to contrast with the madness of Howard "Beal" Dean.
...If you Democratic leaders want to get upset about something, here's part of my list:
1. Lack of health care in this country.
2. Trampling of civil rights and privacy in the name of phony patriotism.
3. Religious hate discrimination against gays sanctioned as legislation.
4. Corporations ruining the environment and defiling worker's rights.
5. In a culture of life - why does more money go to improving bombs than improving schools?
6. How can a [pseudo-]president lie to Congress about war and get away with it?
7. Church and State do not belong together. Ever.
8. Why do I need to remind you of any of this?
...The list is long and ignored. I understand you are much too busy trying to teach Howard Dean how polite society functions.
...I want someone who will stand up not stand down. I want someone outspoken and outrageous and out there, for me. I want someone on my side, not on my back for more money. I want someone who fights, not folds at the first sign of fake indignation.
To paraphrase my good friend Titus: You whiny Democratic Leadership wussies - get down off the cross and use the wood to build a bridge to get over it! We love Howard Dean!
(Click here to read the complete article.)
John Cory is a Vietnam veteran. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V device, 1969 - 1970.
