The GOP exploitation of the largest American mass-murder ever continues unabated --even 4 years later. Their use of a disaster for partisan political gain is one of the saddest and most shameful displays ever seen in the USA. 9-11 has become a Republican crutch whose usefulness is quickly running out and whose exploitation is ever-increasingly offensive.
9-11 has become the Swiss Army knife of the GOP. Anyone familiar with a Swiss Army Knife knows it is a tool for performing a variety of functions: from cutting, to sawing, to even opening a wine bottle. Whenever trouble arises for the GOP they pull out 9-11 like a camper might pull out a Swiss army knife.
Take for instance the “freedom march” in memory of 9-11 --a scripted event by the US Government, in favor of the US Government. You would expect similar charades in North Korea, China, or Nazi Germany, where jingoistic pro-government forces march in lockstep as a propaganda tool in favor of whatever the (Dear Leader / Fuhror) currently wants to do. You wouldn’t expect that here.
The freedom marcher's clothing, route, and signs were carefully orchestrated in a manner that would have made Kim Jong-Il proud. Any American trying to voice an opposing opinion, as well as the press, was kept far away. The “freedom march” wasn’t American citizens assembling to support the Government; it was the Government, once again, organizing a propaganda campaign to link 9-11 to the disastrous war on Iraq, a country not involved at all in 9-11.
Once again the GOP uses 9-11 as a shield to protect itself from the obvious. The perpetrator of 9-11 is still at large. Our military is bogged down in Iraq, thousands of miles away from Osama. The obvious response is for Americans to be angry that instead of catching the perpetrators, a separate, expensive, unrelated war was waged. The GOP response, use 9-11 as a shield and continue to pretend the Iraq war is somehow related to Bin Laden.
When Republicans face opposition at home, they pull out their 9-11 sword, claiming opposition makes Osama feel good, as if Bin Laden's feelings take precedence to the freedom of speech. When their irresponsible spending results in record deficits, only a small fraction of which is related to 9-11, they pull out their shield, by claiming their fiscal irresponsibility is caused by 9-11.
Article comments
1 - Bob A. Booey
I predict a pissed-off, foaming-at-the-mouth Dave Nalle comment right about here.
That is all.
2 - marc
Nah, Dave is still photoshopping images of himself at the Freedom March.
Can't have photos of signs being carried without Bush's image overlayed with McChimpyBusHilerCo's logo can we?
Gotta add those after the fact so the "reality based community" has something to hang their hat on.
BTW balletshooz in the intereest of fairness and giving equal time...
We all await your posts detailing Fat Boy Kennedy using Katrina as a club against Judge Roberts. Or "Sen." Schumer attempting to raise campaign funds by utilizing the same disaster.
3 - Balletshooz
BTW balletshooz in the intereest of fairness and giving equal time..
Now if I did that, there would be a whole bunch of bloggers on this site with nothing left to do.
4 - Kurt
It seems to me that Bush Co. has used 9/11 as the proverbial Emperor's new outfit for about 3 years too long; even his most gullible sycophants are starting to get suspicious, or at least ludicrously defensive. Corruption, cronyism, incompetence, and lies...
5 - The Fifth Dentist
I agree with what you've said here. If we were actually winning the war on terror I might be able to tolerate this government's predilection for fascist-style "spontaneous" demonstrations, it's olde-tyme corruption, and its antagonism toward international law and human rights. But we're not winning. So fuck it, why should I put up with any of this shit?
6 - 1Potato
Balletshooz:
Your remind me of my girlfriend. I can do something once and she says you "always, always do that".
First of all, who are you talking about when you say the GOP. The chairman of the party (Marc Racicot I think)? The President? Who is it in the GOP that "constantly" "every single solitary second" trots out 9-11? Or is it Mr. Straw Man?
After WWII Pearl Harbor was frequently mentioned. "Remember Pearl Harbor" was a cultural cliche. It was in movies, songs, political speeches, etc. We were attacked so it was important. 9-11 doesn't get nearly as much play.
9-11 was the catalyst for the war on terror. Any dunce knows that. We have a war on terror; that was the terror. The left always wants to know what we are fighting about, but they don't want to talk about NYC 9/11/01.
Your post is so obsessively one sided it looks as much like propaganda as the supposed propaganda you criticize.
What's your problem? I bet you are living the free and good life here in America like everyone else. Are you not safe in America? Not well fed? Not free to speak? Did someone put on a Bush mask on and molest you as a child?
Why not spread this freedom to the world instead of tearing it down at home? With a united country we could beat back our enemies like in WWII; division leads to Viet Nam. Looking at the situation in Iraq, which side are you pulling for anyway? Not the insurgents, I hope. So why not stand together and beat back those crazies?
7 - Liberal
"The left always wants to know what we are fighting about, but they don't want to talk about NYC 9/11/01."
OK. Let's talk about 9/11.
Eleven of the hijackers were Saudi nationals and yet Bush (you've seen the photo) holds hands with Saudi Princes and we invade Iraq.
We do so based on the theory that Iraq is a threat to the United States after the US military had decimated Iraq's armed forces and destroyed its ability to make war on anyone, let alone the US.
That theory was based on evidence (since the US military has been flying over Iraq for nearly a decade) that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. That, of course was a lie, as was the evidence that Iraq was attempting to obtain uranium from Africa.
While we were busy invading Iraq (and holding hands with the Saudis), North Korea and Iran, real threats to the US, were going about the business of building nuclear, I'm sorry, nukular weapons.
And while all of this was going on, we were providing aid to the military dictatorship of Pakistan, who has missiles pointed at the nominally democratic US trade partner India.
And while we were NOT fighting the war on terror in any intelligent way, Osama Bin Laden, the assumed mastermind of 9-11 was going about recruiting all of the enemies that the US made in that part of the world by pre-emptively attacking a country that was no threat to us at all.
Now, of course, the Administration can't figure out how to get out of Iraq. It declared "mission accomplished." If that's true, what was the mission?
Every day, with every Iraqi death, an angry person joins the cause of the enemies of the US.
Please note that although there are digs at Bush, there is no ideology in this post.
Now for some ideology: What bothers me most about Bush supporters is their willingness to follow this fool no matter incompetent he is shown to be,no matter how many times he lies to you. It's amazing, truly amazing.
8 - balletshooz
Why not spread this freedom to the world instead of tearing it down at home?
is that satire?
how is bashing Bush tearing down freedom at home?
Your argument is a bit untenable. I had no clue who bush was 5 years ago. The republicans impeached clinton for sex. The republican president decided "liberals" where his mortal enemy. Bush decided those who disagree are irrelevant despite only having support of 50% of the country.
thats where the devisiveness came from.
You know what? Im a liberal, and fuck bush. he doesnt like me, i dont like him.
Bush is not america, hes a thorn in america's side. When his ilk are gone ill be glad to join the team. Until then, tearing him down is my patriotic duty.
When democrats are back in power, ill ask you if you are ready to join the team, you will probably see it much as I do now.
9 - Dave Nalle
>>I predict a pissed-off, foaming-at-the-mouth Dave Nalle comment right about here.<<
Babs, what is there to respond to here? It's a Balletshooz post.
Dave
10 - 1Potato
Liberal:
Eleven of the hijackers were Saudi nationals and yet Bush (you've seen the photo) holds hands with Saudi Princes and we invade Iraq.
Holding hands is customary in that country. It's diplomacy. Nice try.
I do agree, our relationship with Saudi Arabia is a bit awkward. But what should we do about them? Bomb them?
Are you saying we should have taken action against Saudia Arabia? If not, why? You just said most of the terrorists were from there?
As for the weapons of mass destructin lie. That has been so thoroughly debunked in some many ways you sound like Goebbels.
Sadam used chemical weapons on his own people. Duhhhh, he had to have them to use them, right?
And what about the tons of yellow cake uranium. And the illegal missles? And planes buried underground? Why couldn't he put WMD's underground as well (remember they were close to having nukes before Israel took out their reactor in 1980) We still don't know if some things were smuggled through Syria. Do we?
Did Bush touch you "down there" as a child or something? Where does all the Bush loathing come from? I guess there really is something called Bush Derangement Syndrome. You appear to be among the afflicted.
11 - 1Potato
Balletshooz:
Now that we are in Iraq (blood for oil, whatever). Now that we are there, who do you want to win and why?
Could you please give me a straight answer to that, no b.s.?
Joe
12 - gonzo marx
that would be the US for $1000, alex
stupid fucking Question, designed to trap the unwary, or a set up to belittle someone for a personal Opinion...
nice try
here's some for ya..a lot of the chemical weapons were sold to Saddam by the US during the Regan admin...during the self same trip where the infamous hand shaking pic with Rumsfeld was taken
the chem attacks on his own people were from prior to the FIRST gulf war...afterwards he coudl do no such shit...well, after he blasted the Kurds we abandoned...then we established the no fly zones and that behaviour was ended
so, you ask if Bush "touched" someone down there..i have a Question for you..
how long has it been since you slept with Jeff Gannon/Guckert? and why was it the best night of your life?
Excelsior!
13 - Dave Nalle
And when did you stop beating your wife?
Dave
14 - Magnus
>>What's your problem? I bet you are living the free and good life here in America like everyone else. Are you not safe in America? Not well fed? Not free to speak? Did someone put on a Bush mask on and molest you as a child?
Post-9/11 Bush imposed more restrictions on your so-called freedom than ever before in US history. I thankfully do not live in the USA anymore, but I was living in Florida during the election and 9/11 and it scared me. I would go with some mates to IHOP, have a coffee and start asking 'difficult' questions: why was my best friend being followed by an unmarked black SUV when she was dating a guy from Lebanon? Why was the FBI barging into college dorms and arresting students under 'terror laws' when their crime was to oppose Bush? Why was my brother, who lives and works in Washington since many years, nearly jailed and deported after his passport was stolen on his way to Costa Rica? Why is the US demanding photos and fingerprints of foreigners entering the country through your airports when your borders and ports are left wide open?
I have many questions, but the only response I got was 'shhh!! The FBI might be able to hear you.' If that's freedom, then I'm a republican.
Mx
15 - steve
bush is one of the greatest presidents we have ever had. it is too bad you liberals can't see that. it will be a loooong time before the liberals are back in office. you have NO ONE to run in 08. we control the house, senate, and the presidency...ahhh life is good =)
16 - Magnus
>>we control the house, senate, and the presidency...
Errm, which dictatorship are you describing? Perhaps you are chinese... oh wait... sorry I missed the part where you said 'Bush is one of the greatest presidents'. Silly me!
17 - John Bil
The reason we invaded Iraq are:
1, We were already there policing the nofly zones.
2, Because Iraq presented the best opportunity to transform Arab society from the 7'th century to the 21'th century culture.
Iraq may have not been behind Bin Laden, but it certanly was a major reason they attacked us. Iraq is vital to winning this, and if you think it will just go away if we pull out your dreaming.
Bin Laden and many of the 9/11 hijackers were indeed from Saudia Arabia, but the Saudi government wasn't behind it. If we did invade them instead like you suggest, you would be saying the same damm things; also it would make things much worse not better.
18 - Balletshooz
Balletshooz:
Now that we are in Iraq (blood for oil, whatever). Now that we are there, who do you want to win and why?
Could you please give me a straight answer to that, no b.s.?
Joe
Are you fucking serious? Im Israeli. Are you seriously questioning whether I support Saddam Hussein? What kind of damn bubble fantasy world are you living in that you would even ponder that idea.
You have proved the point of my article to a T. The GOP cannot win any serious debate so they claim debate means supporting terrorists. Just as you have pondered.
19 - Magnus
>>Iraq presented the best opportunity to transform Arab society from the 7'th century to the 21'th century culture.
I'm sure Reagan and Bush senior would disagree. As I recall they were very friendly with Mr Hussein and surely held him up as a model of a 'modern, secular Middle Eastern state'. It's funny how fashions come and go.
Oh and another thing... 21'th [sic] century culture. Culture?? Ha, that's actually very funny. Can you define what that '21'th century culture' is? I want to know.
Love
M