The unmitigated disaster that has been the Bush presidency for this country and for the world has, interestingly but unexpectedly, also set a historic precedence at the same time. Normally, it takes years, and sometimes decades, for historians to assess the real impact of a presidency. In the case of the current administration, however, there is really no need to wait even one day. Just look at this nation’s continuously declining approval rating of the president and America’s standing in the world (moral and strategic), and you will understand why. So, let the presidential historians take a break. The verdict on the Bush presidency is in -- and it’s an open and shut case. The Peter Principle is alive and well, since George Bush and his corrupted and corrupting entourage have, as employees of The People, officially reached their level of incompetence.
Amazingly, there are still die hard right wing supporters who point to how Bush has protected this country from another terrorist attack. Apparently, in this vast nation with its incredibly talented civilian and military people, only George Bush and his cohorts- and they alone- are capable of protecting this country! If that’s the case, then let’s ask if those very same supporters are willing to see Bush run for a third term! Let’s also ask them if they will guarantee that no new terrorists have been created among the millions of Iraqi refugees now languishing in Syria and Jordan, among the surviving families of the hundreds of thousands of civilians killed inside Iraq, and among the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi former military personnel who were fired and rendered jobless at a stroke of the irresponsible and arrogant pen of Lewis Paul Bremer III.
To add insult to injury, and to highlight the depth of the corruptive influence in the administration, Bush awarded to Bremer on December 14, 2004 the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civil award for "especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." He was also presented with the Department of Defense award for Distinguished Public Service, presumably at the recommendation of the other “Paul” at the Pentagon – the architect of the Iraq war policy, Paul Wolfowitz.
I remember as the Iranian revolution was reaching its climax in early 1979, it was generally acknowledged that the single biggest (though not the only) reason why so many diverse elements became unified in the days and weeks leading up to the revolution was the extent and depth of the corruption that had permeated every facet of Iranian society. See anything familiar today here in the United States? Given the depth and scope of corruption in Congress and their spineless obedience and subservience to just a handful of right wingers who have hijacked this country’s democracy before our very eyes, should the Capitol be renamed The Best Little Whorehouse in Washington?
I have been an admiring observer of the efforts of all the presidential candidates (Democrats and Republicans alike) over the past year or so. They have made personal sacrifices beyond the call of duty to promote the process of democratic elections and we should all be grateful for that. However, all their efforts are in vain. The day that the new President enters the White House in January 2009, out of the shadows and the woodwork (as well as from the so-called “Think Tanks”) will step out the same hijackers of America’s democracy to give him or her a ceremonious pat on the back, congratulate him or her on his/her victory – and then hand out a sheet of paper showing the real marching orders. It’s easy to guess what will be the number one (and, to them, the only real important) item on the agenda.
In fact, there are early signs that the candidates are already knuckling under pressure from the usual corrupt lobbies. Obama, Clinton, and McCain are all falling over each other in a mad panic rush to be the first to appease them, even firing competent people outright if they don’t tow the line.
Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times (“On Israel and the Campaign Bus” - May 27, 2008) gives us the best, most balanced commentary to date. He quotes Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank: “I can’t remember a time in the last half century where the US has had so little influence in the region.” Rachman then wonders if the presidential candidates have noticed this. “Probably not,” he says, adding “they are too busy chucking their advisors under the (campaign) bus, and in one case even reversing the bus back over him,” a reference to the highly respected (by all sides) Middle East expert, Robert Malley, summarily disowned and fired by Obama, despite protests by prominent, knowledgeable, reputable Israeli and American statesmen alike.
We have taken note, Barack! Congratulations! You are already corrupted ahead of your time.
Accountability is dead as a door nail and the justice system seems to be failing miserably. Is anyone in jail for promoting (and profiting from) the war in Iraq based on lies and deceit? The recent book by Scott McClellan (of all people, Bush’s Texas buddy and former press secretary) is the latest and most damning testimony yet to the corruption of power in the land’s highest office.
Nobody is in jail for illegally revealing the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame, despite the open and shut case against the culprits.
How many individuals or groups have been indicted for the massive frauds in the loan industry, despite the catastrophic impact on the economy and on hapless families (many middle class) who have lost their homes to foreclosures and are now living in their cars?
Corrupt senior executives of financial services companies were handed huge severance payments (thank you very much) and headed off to other jobs instead of to jail.
Privacy is dead and buried for now. Every single movement and statement is now instantly available to officials (including corrupt ones) in high and low places. And once science and technology have made it possible for them to read our thoughts, well, good luck to all of us!
Watch as the corrupting of the three candidates deepens. Better be thinking about an alternative write-in candidate for November. It won’t do much good, as the die has been cast per normal procedure, and it will be business as usual. But at least you won’t be an accessory to the continuing corruption and hijacking of this country’s democracy.
