Revolt

Do I detect the stirrings of life in the moribund body politic of the Democratic Party? Have you noticed, Bush? First, Senator Barbara Boxer (my Boxer, if you like!) seems to have rediscovered something of her old feisty self in leading the charge against the nomination of your Rice as Secretary of State. Then good old Teddy, Mr. Massachussetts Liberal in person, my Teddy, comes up with the beginnings of a withdrawal plan from your Iraq adventure. 12,000 troops, I heard him say, immediately following your election there!

Of course, no sooner does he utter the words than your attack dogs come out to snarl and bite. "Kennedy's partisan political attack stands in stark contrast to President Bush's vision of spreading freedom around the world," the Republican statement said. Of course! So I'd hope, from the loyal opposition. But "partisan political"? Come on, please. And Republican suport for your war is not partisan? Nor political? Why is it, Bush, that every time anyone opposes you, it's either "partisan political" or a lack of patriotism?

Then the day before, a group of 23 Democrats (count 'em, Bush! This is large-scale revolt!) introduced a resolution on the floor of the House, calling on you to withdraw our troops from Iraq immediately. "We have a moral responsibility to leave," said one of the sponsors, "in order to stem the violence." Partisan politics, of course. No one could honestly stand in opposition to the spread of freedom around the world.

There are even a few rumblings of revolt against your policies in your own party, Bush. Senators, Congressmen and -women expressing doubts about your Social Security scheme. And then there's Christine Todd Whitman, your former Secretary of the Interior, putting out a book complaining that "It's My Party, Too." She made a nifty appearance on The Daily Show last night--and also, I understand, on The Today Show, earlier--touting her book, and her weird notion that the extreme right wing is paralyzing your Republicans. I think I can quote her (almost) exactly, saying the party used to include a spectrum of opinion, from conservative, to moderate, to (yes, Bush) liberal! She said this. A liberal Republican! What a concept! How partisan political is that?

And I believe she's right. But your literalist fundamentalists--whether evangelical or constitutional--have got you by the balls, Bush. Their intransigeant ideology threatens to be the death of the Republicanism that we know and love. Time to face up to them, perhaps. And face them down.

Question is, are you paying attention, Bush? Are you listening to the country, or stirctly to your neocon psychophants (with apologies for the neologism)--the folks who promised you--and us, heaven help us!--that your Iraq war would be a cakewalk, and its costs handily covered by Iraqi oil. Now you're asking for another $80 billion! I'm usually hesitant about offering my own advice, especially to so astute a politician as yourself. But here's my two bits' worth for the day, with more apologies for my presumption: Shut up, Bush. Shut up about democracy, and liberty, and spreading freedom all around the world. (You couldn't resist doing it again, I notice, at your Rice's swearing in.) Just shut up. And start listening to other voices than your psychophants. They're just plain nuts.