The Bush destruction of this country rolls on with the Alito confirmation. But there are cracks forming in the Bush steamroller. Those cracks could bring this nightmare to an end but it's hard to tell if there are enough Democrats that aren't part of the problem and if they can stop it soon enough before the Supreme Court is lost for a generation.

Bush v. Reality
War, Trials, Leakers, Investigations, Packed Courts, and a Constitutional Crisis

2006 is sure to be the year of living dangerously -- for the Bush administration and for the rest of us. In the wake of revelations of warrantless spying by the National Security Agency, we have already embarked on what looks distinctly like a constitutional crisis (which may not come to a full boil until 2007). In the meantime, the President, Vice President, Secretaries of Defense and State, various lesser officials, crony appointees, acolytes, legal advisors, leftover neocons, spy-masters, strategists, spin doctors, ideologues, lobbyists, Republican Party officials, and congressional backers are intent on packing the Supreme Court with supporters of an "obscure philosophy" of unfettered Presidential power called "the unitary executive theory" and then foisting a virtual cult of the imperial presidency on the country.

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Off Message

I'm not sure what is worse: the fact that Democratic Senators and their staffs couldn't be bothered to do serious work on the Alito nomination hearings and coordinate a coherent and focused strategy for the hearings, the message and beyond over the Christmas break because they were too busy doing personal fundraising or hanging out at the club; or that they felt the need to publicly whine about it, in all its infinite detail, to the NYTimes before a vote was even held on the Alito nomination in the Judiciary Committee. And I am so angry this morning, I am shaking. I've had to read through the freaking article three times in order to reach any sort of equilibrium other than wanting to yell "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" as loudly as I can. (And I didn't think that was appropriate analysis, frankly, because this deserves a hell of a lot more discussion than just being pissed off.)

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A Problem Of Hope

Last time I checked, Article II didn't give the President the power to appoint a nominee with the advise and the consent of the media. Yet so many take the media's smug words that "Alito will be confirmed" as gospel. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the media and the GOP tell us we'll fail, so we believe them, and we do. Senators have yet to cast their votes, and we're already putting another black robe on Alito and bringing the hangers out of the closet. Sure, Feinstein and too many Democrats have come and said they don't think a filibuster is warranted. But you know what? It isn't their damn decision. It's ours. They represent us. Don't tell me a filibuster isn't warranted when 56% of this nation says Alito SHOULD be blocked if he'll overturn Roe. Don't tell me a filibuster isn't warranted when Alito implied Bush could invade Iran without the consent of Congress. And don't tell me a filibuster isn't warranted when it's my rights, my body, my way of life on the line. I keep hearing the Dems needs to "grow a spine." That we need "angry" Dems, we need Dems with courage. We need Dems with courage. Well guess what-- we HAVE angry Dems, we HAVE courageous Dems. Look in the damn mirror, people. WE are the party. WE are the Democrats. We're angry, we spit fire, and our time has come.

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Passivity is no solution

People say I'm optimistic. Fuck no. I know American history. Bush is a piker compared to the people who ran Mississippi in the 1950's. That was a police state, complete witrh secret police, disappearances and mob rule. Most American have forgotten that, but they shouldn't. Bush's power came from our weakness and fear, we didn't protect what we should have when we should have. We gave him too much trust and he failed us all. Now, we have to reclaim it and that will not be easy. But is has to be done. Compared to the other challenges Americans have faced, it's not a massive thing, no one has to steal Tory land at gunpoint or dodge German bullets on Omaha Beach or face fire hoses and dogs, but it won't be easy either. But it needs to be done. And no matter how shitty it seems at any one moment, like reading the Times this morning, you don't get to lose heart. Why? Because if you can read this, you probably aren't doing that bad. The people who need a different America, soldiers, Wal Mart employees, don't get the time to call Congress. We do. So keep in mind, if you do nothing, the people who catch it in the neck isn't you, but someone who's already struggling and doesn't need another burden. You aren't just fighting for yourself. Every time you read about Wal Mart, and get pissed, remember, you're not just protecting your rights, but a lot of people who have no voice. That's why we do this, not just to vent your anger and express your frustration. America has left a lot of people behind, and if no one else want to think of them, it is our moral duty to do so.

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