Why I Switched Parties
Published March 25, 2004
Don Rumsfeld, cornered, retreats to his CEO roots and bizpeak, "healing the seams" between CIA and State, the phony, scared to death, only too happy to have Wolfowitz, who truly looks his name, step in and save the day, setting the record straight on some metaphor somebody used to describe him somewhere that nobody remembered but he wanted it on the record that he resented it. Twenty minutes of witlessness from Wolfowitz damn near ran me off the road. Narcissism is a word in desperate need of understanding.
Even though Condoleezza Rice hasn't testified in public, it's clear that Dr. Rice (just the fact she enjoys being called "Dr." is telling), is nothing less than an Executive Secretary whose job it is to protect the president from incorrect facts, inappropriate people and manners unbecoming. She replaces Karen Hughes, who replaced his tutor, whom he depended on through junior high and much of high school, who replaced his mother, who gave up early.
Sometimes I think maybe these hearings could help "heal the seam" between the two Americas. As our nation gradually radicalizes, slowly, the way a pot of pasta water gradually heats up, I see us heading for Lincoln's house divided.
It's not just us. Other houses around the world are dividing rapidly: Iraq, Israel, Spain, Britain, Russia.
What the hearings are exposing is the danger of radical ideology. The element that is creating the most dangerous radicals quickest is the compound created by three parts politics and one part religion.
This compound creates a third thing much worse than the first two, and entirely different from either. It is malignant, not benign, and this is always true.
It's true in every country and every religion: Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism.
Radicals are nuts. They don't listen. They have crazy ideas that are wrong. They have it in mind that they're right, end of argument. And there is something appealing in that position, especially to people who have been sidelined or beaten up a lot. It's called "having enough." Now the other side is radicalized. No one will live through it.
The problem with radicals is they kill without batting a lash. They won't say so but they enjoy it. They have given way to a raging id that literally sweeps them up and has its way with them.
- Why I Switched Parties
- Published: March 25, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Culture
- Writer: CW Fisher
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Thanks for giving me the clap, Tek, but I think commercial enterprise would be a huge mistake. No concessions should be made. I could see Disney and Six Flags and McDonald's and Pepsico all vying for position. Did you know that five years ago a McDonald's opened in Pompei within viewing distance of the ruins?
The more I think about this, the more I like it. Kick 'em all out. We need the parents to show up, like they did at the end of Risky Business and Lord of the Flies. Sometimes enough is enough. This qualifies.
Was it last year, the seige on Bethleham at Christmas? Made me sick. Remember that? Kick these jerks out. Time to go, says the world. How could they argue?
A friend asked me: Where would they go? I said: Scatter! None of our business. Just get out and figure it out yourselves. Israel's not that big. The world can absorb its population without a problem.
Great piece, Fisher. You're one of the best. (You ever get tired of me saying that?)
xxoo
Shark (who changes parties every five minutes -- Hey, I have *PDD!)
*Philosophical Deficit Disorder.
BEST LINES:
* testimony unfolds, leaving in its wake newly minted heroes and villains.
* Even though Condoleezza Rice hasn't testified in public, it's clear that Dr. Rice (just the fact she enjoys being called "Dr." is telling), is nothing less than an Executive Secretary whose job it is to protect the president from incorrect facts, inappropriate people and manners unbecoming.
* I see us heading for Lincoln's house divided.
* radical ideology: The element that is creating the most dangerous radicals quickest is the compound created by three parts politics and one part religion.
* Radicals... They cannot be dissuaded from strapping a bomb to their own waist even as their children cry mama don't.
(Whew!)
* This Promised Land... The three major religions who claim it holy defile it every day.
* If you're a domino with legs, you take a step to the left, you save the world. Get out of the way. Don't add to it.
*******************
~I am humbled by Your Majesty!~
OH STOP. STOOOOOP!
Hm. Looks like "stoop." Shark! Stooop!
Excellent Curt - good reading. I'm with Shark, lots of Best lines in this one!
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/14071)
*Claps*
You know... a few years ago when Clinton was in office and Israel and the Palestinians were playing "nicey-nicey" with each other, I came up with this great idea:
The Holy Land should be run by Americans. If it was run but true Americans, then we would run that place and everyone would come and we would be turning over a profit selling "Halal Big Macs" and "Mc Matzo Ball" Soup. We would know that keeping everyone safe and getting along would be the best way to make a profit from ALL parties involved.
Back then, I remember people thinking I was nuts, or being very sacrilegious. I think back then, I was on to something. To bad we didn't invade Israel as opposed to Iraq. We'd of had a Starbucks, Micky D's and Gap on every corner. Think of the the income and stock options!
Could you a imagine- An Old Navy that sold cheap burkas made in China or Thailand? Prayer rugs by Martha Stewart? Kosher K-mart? Maybe the Christian Cheesecake Factory?
Shame. =(