Republican Scylla Beheaded!
Actually the mythical sea monster that threatened Odysseus had 6 heads. In this version she will have only 3 -- each standing for one of the right wing factions that has constituted the Republican party during the Bush II era.
The thesis here is that these three heads have become detached from our central body politic and each other and that none of the current Republican candidates for the presidency (and by extension for other elected offices) can stitch them back together again.
Head #1 is well recognized as the libertarian branch of the Republicans, bent on maximizing personal profits and income -- both for individuals and corporations with minimal governmental regulation of either.
Head #2 is the fundamentalist right wing, characterized by journalist and former divinity student, Chris Hedges, in his latest book as fascist: American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America.
Head #3 is the neocons and their love of war matched only by their own lack of personal experiences with it during their draft dodging years of yore.
Needless to say the American public has had it with the protracted war on Iraq launched on false grounds and maintained with ever changing and highly dubious rationales. Even the Christian right is becoming a bit discomfited by the strident calls to war in the face of the Gospel message of peace on earth and goodwill towards all.
The public has also had it with the greedy grabs on behalf of the corporations and wealthiest 1% or fewer by Bushdom and the loss of assets and increased cost burdens for the rest of us ranging from paying college tuitions to medical care.
The three heads seem to be now writhing on the ground (or should one say in the sands over there) and engaging in wars with each other.
A quick glance at the Republican candidates does not show any who can revivify this headless monster. McCain is all for war. Giuliani loves war, but offends fundamentalists' moral values both in his personal life and with his liberal NYC moral stands. Romney seems to be jumping from ice flow to ice flow in melting waters that give the phrase 'flip flop' new meaning. The great new arrival on the scene, Thompson, seems to be unusually inarticulate for an experienced actor and not the great white hope he was billed to be. As for the rest, one has trouble remembering their names:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Republican_presidential_candidates,_2008#Candidates_with_national_campaigns
None exactly leaps out of the pack. Shall Gingrich arise again? I doubt it. Is there another Bush available? Yes, but . . .
So, I imagine that we shall see a campaign that will spell disaster for the Republicans -- the war situation over there can only deteriorate by all sane estimates. The economy is sagging towards recession. The autumn of 2008 may prove interesting. May it not bring disaster to us one and all.
--
"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
--
Ed Kent 212-665-8535 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CollegeConversation
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Israel_Palestine
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The thesis here is that these three heads have become detached from our central body politic and each other and that none of the current Republican candidates for the presidency (and by extension for other elected offices) can stitch them back together again.
Head #1 is well recognized as the libertarian branch of the Republicans, bent on maximizing personal profits and income -- both for individuals and corporations with minimal governmental regulation of either.
Head #2 is the fundamentalist right wing, characterized by journalist and former divinity student, Chris Hedges, in his latest book as fascist: American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America.
Head #3 is the neocons and their love of war matched only by their own lack of personal experiences with it during their draft dodging years of yore.
Needless to say the American public has had it with the protracted war on Iraq launched on false grounds and maintained with ever changing and highly dubious rationales. Even the Christian right is becoming a bit discomfited by the strident calls to war in the face of the Gospel message of peace on earth and goodwill towards all.
The public has also had it with the greedy grabs on behalf of the corporations and wealthiest 1% or fewer by Bushdom and the loss of assets and increased cost burdens for the rest of us ranging from paying college tuitions to medical care.
The three heads seem to be now writhing on the ground (or should one say in the sands over there) and engaging in wars with each other.
A quick glance at the Republican candidates does not show any who can revivify this headless monster. McCain is all for war. Giuliani loves war, but offends fundamentalists' moral values both in his personal life and with his liberal NYC moral stands. Romney seems to be jumping from ice flow to ice flow in melting waters that give the phrase 'flip flop' new meaning. The great new arrival on the scene, Thompson, seems to be unusually inarticulate for an experienced actor and not the great white hope he was billed to be. As for the rest, one has trouble remembering their names:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Republican_presidential_candidates,_2008#Candidates_with_national_campaigns
None exactly leaps out of the pack. Shall Gingrich arise again? I doubt it. Is there another Bush available? Yes, but . . .
So, I imagine that we shall see a campaign that will spell disaster for the Republicans -- the war situation over there can only deteriorate by all sane estimates. The economy is sagging towards recession. The autumn of 2008 may prove interesting. May it not bring disaster to us one and all.
--
"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
--
Ed Kent 212-665-8535 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CollegeConversation
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeaceEfforts
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EndingPoverty
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/440neighborhood
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StudentConcerns
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AcademicFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PrivacyRights
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Israel_Palestine
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FindingHumaneJobs
http://BlogByEdKent.blogspot.com/
http://www.bloggernews.net
posted by Ed Kent at 9:05 AM
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