QandO: Evil Bush

August 30, 2004

Evil Bush
Posted by Dale Franks

Writing in The Nation, Bill Greider gives us a wonderful look into the mindset of the Hard Left as the election approaches. While reading it, it struck that Krauthammer's right. These guys need therapy, because they are already living in an odd fantasy world where George W. Bush will tell any lie, and commit any act to get himself re-elected, where he runs a vast right-wing conspiracy that uses the power of the government to instill fear and loathing of our enemies.

The Bush campaign strategy is already in play before the GOP convention. The President runs on fear and character assassination--big fear and big lies. While Bush's claims and insinuations are utterly distant from the truth, the strategy can't be dismissed, because Republicans are so experienced at this kind of politics. GOP marketing proceeds on a cynical assumption that voters can be moved by the brazen repetition of evocative falsehoods and broad-brush caricature. Their model is 1988, when Bush's daddy used the racist "Willie Horton" ads and "card-carrying member of the ACLU" to defenestrate Michael Dukakis, a decent and capable governor they turned into a national joke.

For big fear, Bush Junior has the federal government at his disposal, and he's using it to pump up anxieties. Does anyone think the "Ashcroft alert," based on old and murky material, was anything more than a thematic tuneup for the fall campaign? Nor was the White House necessarily upset by the headlines about FBI agents chasing after antiwar protesters who might be planning "violent" actions at the GOP convention. Anything that polarizes public opinion about unknown dangers is assumed to help Bush. Meantime, his war planners are suddenly escalating the "threat" rhetoric surrounding Iran and its nuclear bomb-making. Anything that changes the conversation from Iraq can be helpful too.

For personal slander, the Bush regime is hurling mud at Kerry's brightest armor--his sterling reputation as a decorated Vietnam War hero. The Swift Boat veterans attacking Kerry are clearly agents of the Republican machine--financed by Bush money boys and already exposed for multiple lies and distortions. The well-coordinated attack has produced a media tempest, but this is August, the doldrums between conventions, and we can't yet know how much real damage may be done.

What this farfetched smear demonstrates for sure, however, is the President's desperation. The man will do anything (didn't we already know that?). If Kerry is smart, he can turn this latest hit job into an excellent opportunity. Since Bush has raised the question of character and honesty, by all means let's talk about it. Kerry should open every speech with that line and then review the shameful evidence of Bush's mendacious character, from the fictitious threats from Iraq to the 5 million jobs his rich-guy tax cuts were going to produce for ordinary Americans. Which candidate trashes the truth? By all means let the election be decided on that question.

This is paranoia. There's simply no other word for it. I mean, sure, it's an amusing kind of paranoia; the kind that makes you smile as you see 100,000 people march down the streets of Manhattan, claiming that civil liberties are being smashed, just like in Germany back in the 30s. Marching in front of gas stations where regular unleaded is selling for $2.00+ per gallon while carrying "No Blood for Oil" signs. That kind of cognitive dissonance is just too precious for words.

Mr. Bush seems to invoke that kind of cognitive dissonance though. Any good Lefty can, without even pausing for breath, launch into a harangue describing George W. Bush as a simpleton who needs a brace of Secret Service agents to help him into his pants every morning, then, in the very next sentence, describes him as the global mastermind of a fascist conspiracy to take over the world.

I mean, it's like the freakin' mystery of the trinity, where one God is eternally existent in three separate persons. To the Left, the mystery of George W. Bush is that he is both Forrest Gump and Ernst Stavro Blofeld, which is really quite revealing about the mental Weltanschaung of the Left, because, in the real world, no one person can be both an idiot and a criminal mastermind. That makes no difference to the Left, though. In W they see every single negative character trait. If there is any way in which Mr. Bush can be deficient, he is.

It's almost enough to make you want to round all the Lefties up and stick 'em in dank, cheerless prison cells. At least that way they'd feel the warm glow of knowing they were right, that they were targets of the new fascism. That'd probably be more mentally healthy for them, because at least they would no longer have to reconcile their overblown world-view with reality. Of course, we won't do anything like that. We'll leave them free to march in the streets, which will keep the flames of their paranoia high, as they wait each evening for the midnight knock on the door from the State Security goons; a knock that never quite comes.

I can only imagine how crazy these people will be if Mr. Bush wins reelection in a landslide. I mean, they're already nutty now. We may be in for a repeat of the 1960s.

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Comments

Weltanschaung. :-)

Posted by: Donnie at August 30, 2004 10:55 AM

I submit that Krauthammer is right, but for a different reason... oe he doesn't se hismelf as such;

The left is all excited about George W. Bush because the left has nothing on it's own side of hte fence to get exited about. Their biggest fear, I think, is that the average voter will see this too. which in turn explains a lot of the fear associated with Mr. Bush.

And I've already spoken about the 1960's being now. I would add, though, do not be shocked if after around 6 months, the left starts to seriouesly try to remove Mr. Bush from office.. in effect trying another Nixon, having no other way to remain some power, some control over our national stuation. Problem is, Clinton made Nixon out a schoolboy prank, and it won't fly.... they DEFENDED Clinton.

Posted by: Bithead at August 30, 2004 10:56 AM

I can only imagine how crazy these people will be if Mr. Bush wins reelection in a landslide. I mean, they're already nutty now. We may be in for a repeat of the 1960s.

Fine by me. That means the Dems will slide into permanent minority status. By all means, lets see them driven nuts!

Posted by: shark at August 30, 2004 11:12 AM

Well, going round the bend may mean some actual operational connections between islamofascists and the hard left. Many of the hard left see Bush as a greater enemy than AQ. The old enemy of my enemy. That would be bad

Somehow they feel that a proper discussion with AQ would clear everything right up.

Even now, where is John Edwards? In Iran trying to negociate a deal with Iran to supply them nuclear fuel so as to have them not go the route of developing nukes. Does anyone remember that that was the Jimmy Carter deal with North Korea? And that turned out how?

Posted by: capt joe at August 30, 2004 11:19 AM

As has been pointed out in other places, there exists the possibility of en electoral tie, meaning Bush would win via the House of Reps.

Imagine if that happened...how crazy would they get then?

Posted by: shark at August 30, 2004 11:19 AM

Bits:

Stop. Drinking. Now.

I'm serious. It's gotten so you can't even type anymore.

:-)

Posted by: Dale Franks at August 30, 2004 11:21 AM

Oh oh. BUI (Blogging under the influence)

Posted by: capt joe at August 30, 2004 11:24 AM

One of these days I'll stop typing when I'm trying to monitor three screens at once. Work is the curse of the blogging classes.

Posted by: Bithead at August 30, 2004 11:24 AM

I get people telling me Bush is evil and they can tell just by his looks. I mean, how much logic was required for that view?

I'm sure we're going to see 'Anti-War' protests if they lose in November. After all 1 year in Iraq is equal to 14 in Vietnam.

Posted by: looker at August 30, 2004 11:26 AM

This is paranoia.

It is not.

It is cold, calculated DNC projection, specifically designed to create and foster paranoia amongst the Kool-Aid Konsumers.

Posted by: recon at August 30, 2004 11:38 AM

If everyone only realized how right he is. I'm situated in Bush Hatred Central at work and to hear these guys pull anything, and I mean anything, out their collective butts to pin on Bush they will.

My director let loose with this gem today which clearly shows how unhinged it has becomed. They'd put JoJo the dancing circus monkey in the oval office before Bush.

Posted by: Sharp as a Marble at August 30, 2004 11:42 AM

Looker,

I agree. When I ask co-workers of mine why they are going to vote for Kerry, I get crazy answers. One said they simply cannot stand the "smirk" on Bush's face. Another said he is obviously a "madman". Another just said "he's an idiot". When I ask them what Kerry will do that they like, they can't grab their ass with both hands. They don't have a clue. One young lady here in Louisville, KY. where I live, was asked why she was going to vote for Kerry. She said she was going to vote for him because "Abbey Road is his favorite album, and it's mine too". This was in the Courier Journal, our local paper.

Scary.

Posted by: todd at August 30, 2004 12:15 PM

Actually though, ya know it hasn't changed much.
I summed up the 1980's Democratic Campaign(s) as "BOOOOOOOOO! If Reagan is elected we'll have a nuke-u-lar war!!!!! BOOOOOOO!!!!!! Are ya scared yet?!!!!!!!!! BOOOOOO!!!!!!".

I think the Dem's live for fear. Fear of having your kids shot down in school works for gun control, fear of the dangers of mercury in your fish and global warming provide for environmental control. Fear that children are not getting fed, or adequate medical treatment, provides for social control. Fear that your Social Security retirement package (which they screwed in the first place) is screwed provides further social control. Fear that your company is going to move their factories or offices to some foreign country provides for business control. Who delivers the daily dose of fear pap to your door, why surprise!, the left leaning MSM.

By making everyone afraid they can promise a fix to the fear they promoted in the first place. Their candidate will deliver, the other candidate is a patsy for whoever is trying to do you over, socially, environmentally or economically.

"Are you afraid of (fill in your pet fear here)?
You should know (Republican Candidate) is against fixing (whatever it is you're afraid of) and (Democratic Candidate) wants to fix that NOW!
Vote (Democraitc Candidate) in the next election because (whatever it is you're afraid of) needs to be fixed now!"

And of course Big Government and lot's and lot's of other people's money can solve ALL of those problems.

So, painting GWB as the whore of babylon, with the head of Adolph Hitler, the heart of Joe Stalin and the brain of a Borgia prince works real well.

Posted by: looker at August 30, 2004 12:21 PM

Their Weltanschaung fuels my schadenfreude.

Posted by: Jumbo at August 30, 2004 08:40 PM

Got too disagree with poster who says he hopes they become a permanent minority party. I live in a 1 party state and as the old saying goes 'Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. The key to a healthy democracy is in the competition of ideas and policies and while I'd love to see Dems and liberals take the beating they deserve there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Posted by: Jack Tanner at August 31, 2004 01:01 PM

There has to be some genetic reason one turns out to view things from the left or right perspective.

How can two intelligent people like Grieder and Krauthammer, living in the same country for about the same number of years, and from their last names may have the same German heritage, see events and issues so opposite? They are so at odds, I don't think they could agree on the definition of 'is'.

Is it like homosexuality where you are just born the way you are and that's the way it is, you can't change it? I think so, and if it is, I think we should not blame the left for the way they are. I know their perspective isn't natural and can be quite disgusting at times.

But, maybe they really can't help the way they are and need our understanding, sympathy, and tolerance instead of irritating them by trying to correct the problem with common sense, logic, and rational argument.

Posted by: Jim R at September 5, 2004 06:41 PM