The Iconoclast

John McCain canNOT stop --- once again, as my mom loved to say --- talking through his hat.

Ever since the Regressive Convention (which, by the way, delayed NFL telecasts --- how patriotic is that?), McCain has paraded around campaign signs that read, 'Country First'.

How patriotic! The Regressives, led by their Great White Hope, want to put aside their caveman ideology in order to solve our nation's issues.

If only it were even remotely close to being true.

Here is the beginning of a letter I just received from John McCain:

"Dear Friend, I am 100% committed to leading our Party to victory in this November's elections all across the country, and I need individuals like you, men and women who have done so much to help our Party in the past, working alongside me.

...The fate of all of our Republican candidates and the fate of our Party in the 2008 election is in the hands of Americans like you.

...That's why I am asking you to join in the effort that I am spearheading to build and strengthen our Party's national organization from the grassroots up."

Nothing about putting Country First in the entire 4 page letter. But a whole lot about how America will continue down the path toward hell in our self-created handbasket if those damn Democrats take control of the government.

Here is a gem! "At this critical time you and I need to be getting organized (no shit, Sherlock! you sure do need to get organized) and reaching out to our fellow Americans to let them know that there is a BETTER WAY, our way, the Republican way of solving problems that does not rely on big government (really? Can you say, Homeland Security?) and high taxes."

Nothing about the American way. Just good old Regressive policies.

Could the Great Angry White Hope be insane as well as senile? I mean, continuing to do the same things repeatedly and expecting different results, is the very definition of lunacy.

Let's hope we do not find out.

VOTE!

Curious as to why I rarely stray far from bashing those from the shallow end of the political gene pool?

Because one of their 'waders', the village idiot from Crawford (by way of Midland, by way of Yale, by way of some hoity toity suburb in the northeast) decided to be, not "a", but "the" decider and blow a huge chunk of the Middle East to Kingdom Come and take hundred of thousands of their citizens along with it.

The invasion of Iraq, the implementation of what has come to be known as the Bush Doctrine (don't forget to expectorate when you say that phrase), aka pre-emptive war (which, by the way, gives each and every one of us on this planet a precedent to attack our neighbor if we suspect our neighbor is planning, making plans, or thinking about, even in the abstract, of attacking us), is the most egregious criminal act --- perpetrated in my name --- of my lifetime. Or, during my lifetime when I was politically cognizant that many of our leaders are soulless, corrupt and motivated by something other than the common good, contrary, of course, to their flag-waving, flag-pin wearing, Country First jingoistic bullshit.

The Vietnam War was even more egregious, but that is for another blogging.

(And since I am currently enjoying America's Favorite Pastime, the World Series, I would just like to say: a) I love my country, b) I love our ideals as well as the 'idea' of America, and c) the singing of 'God Bless America' during the 7th inning stretch is a bit much. What happened to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"? Why do we have to swear allegiance over and over in public places? The "God Bless America" tradition began following the attacks of September 11th, 2001. Since they happened in the midst of the pennant races of that year, I think I could understand the sentiment. But methinks it has been taken to an extreme 7 years later. The national anthem is sung prior to the game. Isn't that enough?)

Anyway...

What I was going to write about, and hence the title, was the old flatulent windbag from the water-sucking desertified state of Arizona's campaign strategy(s). Please recall that one of his corpulent henchmen admitted early on that the campaign was NOT going to be about the issues. And, for the irate and irritable former vet, it HASN'T been.

First it was that Obama wasn't experienced enough. Fair enough. McCain could have based his entire gameplan on that premise but, no, once the Palin bubble deflated, and the unstable, two-time loser to Bush couldn't debate his way out of grocery sack, the insanity ramped up.

It was always out there, of course. The fringe element's most outrageous thoughts came to find a home in the McCain campaign.

Obama was a bomb-thrower. Is a bomb-thrower. Might very well throw a few bombs at the White House if elected.

Obama pals around with enemies of the state.

Obama gleefully murders babies. (While they are sleeping! Before they are even born!)

Obama is anti-American.

Obama is a socialist.

Obama is a commie.

Obama is exotic.

Obama is a Muslim.

Obama was not born in the U.S.

The communist and the socialist labels are the two the McCain/Palin ticket are flogging like the dead horses they are. All over a comment made by Obama to a simpleton in Ohio who is too lazy to get his license to even be a plumber. "The spread the wealth around" comment has been seized upon by McGrumpy as if it is his personal Holy Grail. The game changer he has been lusting after.

This in spite of the fact that we have had progressive taxation in this country since early in the 20th century and Senator John McCain has never made a play to do anything about it in the 26 years he has been ensconced inside the Beltway carefully grooming his image as a Republican black sheep --- only to have it all get blown to hell with one incredibly chummy shot of him awkwardly embracing the man who is the epicenter of the worst of the Republican ideology. That and his incessant flip-flopping on everything he previously espoused when he was Johnny Bad Boy.

And, if Obama is a socialist OR a communist, why is Warren Buffet willing to be seen in public with him? Why is Robert Rubin advising him? What are all these titans of capitalism doing cheering Obama on? Aren't they worried about gulags?

This is a tawdry conclusion to the longest political campaign in history. And the lion's share of the tawdriness can all be laid at the doorstep of the addled Senator from Arizona and the ethics-challenged governor from Alaska.

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(Postscript: If McCain and the disciples of Rove, manage to steal this election from the electorate, I am going to make my way to Washington, D.C., on January 20th to participate in what will surely be the most unruly crowds ever to converge on the Capitol --- including the marches in 2001 and 2005.)

Let us not forget, as we argue the merits of occupying a foreign country against their wishes, of the atrocities uncovered at the prison known as Abu Ghraib. The link leads to a montage of photos not originally released and, be forewarned, they are disturbing.

Abu Ghraib, the atrocity and the prison, is, very likely, not an aberration. After all, this administration, as well as the presidential candidate, John McCain, have not taken steps to outlaw waterboarding, nor have they agreed to comply with the interrogation techniques found solely in the Army Field Manual.

Torture, extraordinary rendition and the proliferation of 'internment' camps continue under George Bush's watch. They are sure to continue under a McCain presidency.

Take a hard look at these photos.

As long as we trample on the sovereignty of Iraq, we will create enemies and threats. Perceived and otherwise. We will cross the line. Or we will hire others to cross the line for us. (See the movie "Rendition" with Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Meryl Streep.)

This is barbarism and reprehensible.

The similarities between Rome and the United States grow stronger with every passing day that we leave criminals in charge of our government.

Even Ralph Nader says that this is the most impeachable administration in the history of our country.