Bill Ayers speaks out! An In These Times exclusive.

Bush Can Be Beaten

By Susan J. Douglas

Let’s face it: For now, Team Bush has won. What happens in Iraq over the next months and years is, of course, up for grabs, but whether most Americans will care remains to be seen. Polls indicate that most don’t mind if any “weapons of mass destruction” are ever found, even though their elimination was allegedly one of the big… return to article

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    i couldn’t agree more. now who can we draft to our cause to speak this message eloquently and loudly?

    United States Posted by heather on Apr 28, 2003 at 4:29 PM

    This is a ridiculous story...somehow I ran across it looking up information on Iran. It was a sub-search on a previous search. I wish people like you would open your eyes. The media, has tarnished its image these last fews months...report the facts instead of you opinion. Just because you are in a position where you can influence people to the “right” way doesn’t mean you need to not report the truth. The truth disproves everything you say. 

    United States Posted by Kevin on Apr 28, 2003 at 10:50 PM

    Good piece. Inspirational. Unfortunately so many US citizens have been brainwashed by a compliant media, unfettered by the old Fairness Doctrine, and unleashed by deregualtion, that they actually believe the rightwing garbage pumped out day after day.

    Bush is in the final analysis, unAmerican.  Right now we have an unelected uneducated anti-democratic president in office, courtesy of the Supreme Court.

    We patriotic and thinking Americans need to take our country back from the radical right bornagains. We need to energize the Democratic party and at least elect a moderate in 2004. The Democratic party as it is constituted today is pathetic. 

    United States Posted by Russ Nichols on Apr 29, 2003 at 11:05 AM

    Since many of the writers in your excellent paper have shown that we are rapidly moving in the direction of a totalitarian state, I started reading this article with some hope.  Unfortunately, like most of the others I’ve read, this one does not even hint at how we are to counter this abomination of an administration. (A hint, perhaps?)

    United States Posted by Bob Schneider on Apr 29, 2003 at 5:43 PM

    The writer’s suggestion to expose our emperor’s lack of compassionate clothes is right on the money. Even more frightening than Bush himself is the number of people who buy his message--whatever that is. The Dems’ challenge is to figure out how to remove the gauze from the electorate’s eyes and show them how truly crooked it all is, then offer something truly compassionate, feasible and attainable.

    United States Posted by Alex on Apr 29, 2003 at 5:49 PM

    Good article, good observations.  The working white male strives to be John Wayne, tough, proud and just(?) and killing himself with cigarettte smoke which he insists won’t hurt him.  The Bush team makes him proud with the ass kicking they give any one that goes “agan the American way” and the causes are painted just and right but are still self serving.  Sadly Bush will get his four years and at the end of that term, we will be buried in some much right wing bullshit that even Rush’s good word won’t keep us out of trouble even if his butt boil heals.  Right now this is all a football game for most people.  All is okay as long as they can sit back and watch it and don’t have to join in or give up their poker nights.  This country is full of non participating patriots.  The death of the poor guy that went into the military to get some place in life is all the scariface that is needed since no one really has to go. 

    United States Posted by Tony on May 1, 2003 at 7:13 PM

    Where to start? It’s too late at night to take issue with everything in that obscenely slanted rant. I’ll just make the point that those that see a conservative bias in a media whose ranks are, by a great margin, predominantly self described democrats are certainly in need of a reality check.

    United States Posted by Mike M. on May 2, 2003 at 12:28 AM

    The major problem as I see it is we are a nation who forgives too quickly the winners i.e. OJ, top movie stars, teams in sports, politicians at the top of the heap, preachers such as Fallwell, Robinson, James Dobson.  We need to seek those with high standards and abilities and not in secrecy to lead.

    United States Posted by ROSS on May 3, 2003 at 9:48 AM

    This story is a complete joke...for most of the articule, she rightfully tells how the right-wing with Bush as the spokemen has us all by the balls and how the spineless Democrats sit back and watch and are afraid to do anything, which is also correct.

    Then she ends the articule with “Opposition leaders need to offer utter ridicule of Bushís claim to be ìcompassionate.î Which is just nuts...we ALL know what the “opposition” (democrats) need to do and all of a sudden it’s going to happen? the opposition is happy with Status Quo as long as they can keep their seats in Congress and the Senate and perhaps without steping on too many Republican toes win a win seats back in the Houses.

    Get real the right will alway be ready...they have one goal and they are completely unitfied in that goal...taking all our money, and they will protect their own kind to the death doing it. They also own the huge money making machine the corporate media, which is the Republican party...They only offer images of what they want Americans to see think and vote. 

    And don’t think for a second they are EVER going to focus on the economy as liberals hope and pray for and is the ONLY chance to even have a chance in 2004.

    Absolutely no way will Rove and the media be focused on the economy in 2004 no matter how bad it gets...Rove & Company have many smokescreens planned if they need them...N Korea, Iran, terrorist attacks, Syria etc…

    United States Posted by Al Baston on May 8, 2003 at 3:31 PM

    How to be a Leftist in Six Easy Steps:

    1.  Dismiss every fact that conflicts with your ideology or inconveniences you as propaganda from the mainstream media.

    2.  Do not, under any circumstances, listen to anyone’s opinion unless they agree with you.  Anyone who does not is clearly brainwashed (by the mainstream media), uneducated, or evil.

    3.  Remind yourself often that you are a crusader, a freedom fighter, and a visionary.  Search the internet for fringe theories and you may be the first kid on your block to regurgitate deep, intellectual catch-phrases like “blood for oil” and “American hegemony.”

    5.  Speak often of how much better European governments are.  This is a foolproof way of sounding enlightened.  If only this fascist government would legalize child molestation like the Danish government, if only Bush would collude with Iraq like Chirac, then we would live freely.

    6.  Atone for the sins of your ancestors.  Never forget that you a great debt to anyone whose ancestors may have been wronged by some distant relative of your ancestors.  Many aspiring leftists wonder how to reconcile this penitence with the self-congratulation of knowing that you are a freedom fighter.  All I can say is that it is quite a balancing act.  See Step 3 for how to become a crusader. 

    United States Posted by Ralph on May 13, 2003 at 10:53 PM

    Excellent analysis, but I’m afraid it’s just preaching to the choir (and, judging from the two or three crank comments here, to a few skeptics in the pews as well). 

    Unfortunately, “opposition leaders” are not hearing this sermon...they’re too busy with the rest of the money-changers in the temple selling their souls to gain what they think is the world.

    United States Posted by Dwayne Eutsey on May 14, 2003 at 5:13 AM

    The appalling Cheney-Bush Junta seems firmly locked into place.  More public figures, however, are telling the real story of deceit which lies under the loincloth of these gangsters. They are criminals under the American Constitution. I even fear they in their mighty right wing power, will try to rig polling booths all across America, or worse--call marshal law.  How do we stop them short of civil war?

    United States Posted by marc widershien on May 14, 2003 at 4:18 PM

    Calm down, Marc.  Everything will be all right.  Do you have any evidence for your hysterical claims?  How, exactly, are Bush and Cheney “criminals under the Constitution?” Other than your apparent paranoia, what has led you to believe they might declare martial (NOT marshal) law?  And, finally, where did you come up with this analogy involving gangsters and loincloths?  If you want to liken Bush and Cheney to gangsters, go right ahead (at the risk of sounding like a kook), but gangsters don’t wear loincloths.  How old are you?  I’m guessing you’re an 18 year old English major who is trying to sound poetic but getting his analogies all tangled up.  Maybe you should run your next piece by a professor before you submit it. 

    United States Posted by Tom on May 14, 2003 at 8:54 PM

    Great article. We need to take our country back. Check our ieamericaradio.com and therandirhodesshoe.com for progressive talk radio on the web. It is great to know we are not alone in our frustrations. 

    United States Posted by Catherine Brabant on May 16, 2003 at 11:53 AM

    Excellent article. We need to take our country back and that includes the corporate republican owned news media. Check out Mike Malloy on ieamericaradio.com and therandirhodesshow.com for progressive talk radio. It is nice to know that we are not alone!

    United States Posted by Catherine Brabant on May 16, 2003 at 11:55 AM

    Well Susan, you hit a home run on this one.  Very few people are commenting on what needs to be done to turn back this
    rabid gang of ‘neo-cons.’ You have not only done a wonderful job of laying out what is going wrong, and why, but you have also established a list of things to do.
    More like Michael Moore than you care to admit, possibly.
    Now I must go back and read you previous articles.  There is no listing of your background and credits.  I hope you have only a few as it would be good to be on the ground floor of your admiration team.

    Most Sincerely,

    james

    United States Posted by James on May 16, 2003 at 8:33 PM

    Very good analysis and keeps up the positive parts of what we like to call the progressive movement.

    Ya gotta start somewhere. Thank you! 

    United States Posted by Ed Mellon on Dec 29, 2003 at 5:03 PM

    Eloquent story, but you overlooked another glaring failing of Bush’s administration. It’s one of the most divisive ever, with a Congress that resembles the Grand Canyon in ideological terms.

    Bush’s idea of uniting the country is to draft legislation in camera and appoint judicial nominees by fiat. Not so much a government by the people, or for the people, as “of” the people.

    United States Posted by Peter on Mar 26, 2004 at 6:16 PM
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