Echo Reflection: Week 33
This column ran just over two years ago, spilling that Echo ink on Thursday, November 10, 2005. I do imagine I had some fun writing it. Bastards.
The GOP is pathetic @ the Echo
GOP approval ratings in tailspin
GOP approval ratings in tailspin
The GOP is crumbling under the weight of its own arrogant incompetence. And as the crack in the facade continues to grow, so does the smile on my face. As George W. Bush's disgraceful presidency spirals ever downward, it approaches very dangerous territory. Recent polls indicate that his job approval rating stands at 35 percent, the lowest at any point in his reign. Only Richard Nixon's 27 percent approval rating in November 1973 was worse. If poll numbers continue to decline at current rates, W. should plummet under Nixon's mark sometime early next spring thus giving him the worst job approval rating that a President has had in the history of the United States of America. None deserve the honor more.
It is safe to say that the majority of Americans no longer support this corrupt administration. Under this administration, America has suffered two fraudulent elections, multiple prisoner abuse scandals, a war based on lies, rampant cronyism, and an embarrassingly bad hurricane relief effort, just to name a few disgraces. Throughout these atrocities the Bush spin machine was able to deflect most criticism by offering blanket statements sprinkled with nonsensical patriotic overtones, but even the widely ignorant American people eventually had enough. Compounded by the lingering effects of each previous instance of corruption, the CIA leak case has dealt a heavy blow to BushCo's battleship. This time the only defense the spin machine could produce came in the form of smoke accompanied by the whirring sound that precedes mechanical death.
The onslaught of scandals has prompted comparisons to Watergate. Some have stated that this is much more serious. I agree. In a nutshell, this case is concerned with a CIA agent named Valerie Plame whose identity was illegally revealed by someone in the Bush administration. Plame's husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, threw a wrench into the administration's case for war when he investigated and subsequently denounced claims that Saddam Hussein was attempting to buy uranium from the African nation Niger. Well, if there's one thing this administration refuses to embrace, it's facts and truth. Something had to be done. As payback, a member of the administration intentionally blew Plame's cover.
It is sickeningly ironic that the same group that champions themselves as the great defenders of the people has willfully and purposely compromised national security. Thus far, vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has been indicted, and it is possible that Bush's adored "turd blossom," Karl Rove, and the aptly named Dick Cheney will face similar trouble. If Watergate serves as a lesson, then Libby's is only the first in a line of indictments. Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald will squeeze him for information and, when pressed, I'll bet ol' Scooter sings his heart out. On the bright side, perhaps Scooter and Dick can share the same cell. This would help recreate the relationship they once had; Scooter could once again serve as Cheney's bitch.
Amid the controversy, democrats were able to find their displaced spine and finally took a serious stance against the republican leadership in Congress (realize that the term "republican leadership" in this particular instance is an oxymoron the phrase is simply a reflection of the amount of seats the party holds in Congress and certainly does not imply that such seat holders exhibit any leadership qualities). Getting back on track, the democrats, no doubt emboldened by the CIA leak case revelations, decided to shut down the Senate when republican leadership used stonewalling tactics to stall an investigation into pre-war intelligence.
It is a strategic move by the democrats, who look poised to take control of Congress following the 2006 Congressional elections. If the findings of such an investigation support the claims of the Downing Street memo which said intelligence was fixed to fit the war policy then a democrat-controlled Senate could and most certainly should push for impeachment. Although many view this as a long shot or, more precisely, too good to be true, the pieces are starting to come together and the possibility of impeachment looks much more likely than it did even a few months ago.
But make no mistake about it: these investigations must be thorough and void of political bias. The public needs to know and understand who knew what, when, and what they did with said information. How high up the chain of command do the scandals go? Very serious allegations have been levied against this administration regarding the war in Iraq and the CIA leak case and they carry heavy penalties. Treason and war crimes should not be taken lightly. This is the most honest, unbiased assessment I can give.
George W. Bush is not a very clever or intelligent man. He was allowed a chance at the American presidency not because of any great accomplishments (indeed, there were none to speak of), but rather because of who he knew. Until recently, he had benefited from surrounding himself with people much more intelligent than he, and this could now be his downfall. As more is revealed about these various scandals, Bush seems less like the tough-talking war leader with a strut and more like a frightened orphan left out in the cold. In some ways, I pity him, because he is a man who believes himself to be far more powerful than he truly is. But mostly, I hate him for what he has allowed to happen to this county.
I don't believe all republicans or conservatives to be stupid or lacking in any way, but I know that many have been fooled into believing the propaganda spun by this wayward pack of neo-cons. These people do not practice Christian values and they don't represent decent conservatives. This malicious breed adheres to the faith of money and power; their only sworn allegiance. The poll numbers will continue to fall as sensible conservatives turn their backs on Bush. I look forward to the day that I can forgive these people, because it will be on that day that we begin to fix our country. That will be the day BushCo's battleship is cast out to sea and drowned.