Reply #40: That deserves a response

[Jack Rabbit]

It's not like I just woke up the other day and decided to rejoin the Democrats. Nor is it that I burned any bridges with the Greens. This is aimed at getting Bush out and a good -- or at least reasonable -- Democrat in.

I understand where you are coming from. After all, my decision to abandon the Democrats for the Greens wasn't a casual one, either. It was the result of years of frustration with a party that found it too easy to slide to the right rather than lead.

The problem we have here is that an oppressive, illegitimate force has taken control of the executive branch of the government. The legislative branch has been far too complicit in the crimes of the Bushies. I agree that Congressional Democrats share in this shame.

Nevertheless, this is no time to demand it all. The Bushies aren't going away unless we drive them away. Let's be clear: Things aren't going to get better under Bush. Could they be worse under the administration of any of the Democrats running? I don't think so. It's hard to imagine the worst of them proposing Patriot II. Perhaps things will remain bad, but our rights as citizens will be respected. As things are now, those rights are under threat. We cannot allow them to erode further.

A Bush victory in 2004 will only mean a further ersosion of civil liberties. It might mean the end of what is left of American democracy. The Bill of Rights will be sacrificed on the alter of the national security state by the high priests of empire. Instead of being able to present our ideas freely, the day when American citizens will be expected to get in line behind the elitists running the show will be that much closer at hand.

Moreover, look at what else is happening now. The Republican Party, not just Bush, has lost all patience with democratic processes. As we post on this threat, the Republicans seek to recall a Democratic governor in California without even attempting to show any malfeasance; the Republicans in Texas seek to redraw Congressional boundaries that were approved only last year. These are pure and simple power grabs. They are extensions of GOP behavior of the recent past: if one loses a presidential election, then the President may be impeached on the flimsiest pretext; if one is in danger of losing an election, make sure that those who support the opposition are disenfranchized and, failing that, that any remaining votes are not counted. In short, no election loss is considered by the GOP to be final. The will of the voters is respected only when it goes their way.

The kind of behavior exhibited by the GOP in the last several years is alien to the principles of American democracy. I grew up in a country where the people had the final say in who governs them. To allow a single political faction that authority is tyranny.

A stop must be put to this, even if something less than ideal is the immediate result. We may have to continue a fight, but defeating Bush in 2004 -- even if he's replaced by the likes of Lieberman -- will leave the Left stronger to continue the struggle for true democracy.