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July 05, 2007
Of Yeats and Tyranny
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all convictions, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
~ William Butler Yeats, "The Second Coming"
In the past few days, I have spent several hours reading commentary from various bloggers, journalists and pundits about the political ramifications of President Bush's commutation of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison sentence. This is not the kind of trial I normally follow, although I was mildly amused (but not surprised) by its devisiveness. I didn't pay very close attention to the Libby case, having considered it (in my cynical, post-rabbit-hole mindset) a sideshow of yet another patsy taking the fall for his handlers.
I am far too jaded to be outraged by the inconsistency of The Law as it applies to the rich and powerful. (Yawn. What else is new?) Nevertheless, I couldn't help but be reminded of the above stanza from Yeats' "The Second Coming," where the poet describes, nearly a century ago, a similar tragic desperation.
There is a reason we study great poetry; not to confound college freshmen or appear erudite and philosophical. No; we read it because it is relevant. We remember it because it is timeless.
The center - our country's core existence based on laws rather than men - is not holding. The continued deconstruction of our purpose as a nation has reached critical mass. We are in the last stages of surrendering our sacred beliefs, our very natures, to a tyrrany. Some would argue we have already surrendered and simply are too obtuse to realize it.
There is only one solution: Everybody out of the pool. That means everybody - a clean sweep. Every incumbant in every race for every state, no matter what party affiliation, needs to be removed. If that takes six years, so be it. Every member of congress, every cabinet officer of the administration (past and present), every political appointee in every department - fired, removed, voted out.
Meanwhile, those still holding office until we can replace them must do their jobs. If they don't do their jobs, impeach them, indict them, imprison them (without commutation or pardon) for any crimes they committed while in office.
Pretty simple. But, we don't have the guts to do this. We are cowards. We are sheep being led to the slaughter. We are lazy and fat and uninformed. We lack the "passionate intensity"; we fear ridicule and disdain. We silently mutter our protests and hope for the best, all the while holding the keys to the kingdom.
Like Dorothy in Oz, we have always had the means to go home. The question is, will we tap our ruby slippers?
Comments
One of my favourites! And so true in this time of ignorance and apathy...
Posted by: vero | July 6, 2007 01:28 AM
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/4708-impeachment-2007-a-constitutional-duty-seymour-hersh
Must-see video.
Here's a little comic relief, but nonetheless still tragicomedy.
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/3526-bush-admin-scandal-set-to-the-sweet-tunes-of-abba
Posted by: Anonymous | July 6, 2007 07:17 PM
Oops. That was me up there.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/cheney
Get involved. Sign the petition. Do SOMETHING!!
I am wearing my shirt every day it's not in the wash. heh. Neon green. It's all sold out, so no more to buy. Dang.
Posted by: loretta | July 6, 2007 07:34 PM
http://www.beachblogger.net/barbara/tee_shirts.html
I have the bright green tank top. Fast shipping, nice folks, not very expensive. I would have paid more for it gladly.
They have sleeved ones left.
Posted by: loretta | July 6, 2007 07:37 PM
Hmmph... html didn't work. Try this to watch Keith Olbermann's commentary on the commutation. Brilliant!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_29X_EyiHpc
Posted by: Deege | July 6, 2007 07:59 PM
Nearly half of the US public wants President George W. Bush to face impeachment, and even more favor that fate for Vice President Dick Cheney, according to a poll out Friday.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070706195925.rdm9h3ci&show_article=1
Posted by: Astrologer | July 6, 2007 10:19 PM
Over A Dozen GOP Senators Look Poised To Defect On Iraq:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070706/us-iraq/
Posted by: Astrologer | July 6, 2007 10:28 PM
You may recall that sanctimonious nutcase, Rick Santorum, the senator from PA who lost his seat this past Nov.
He let this little gem slip in a radio interview:
"You know, I’ve talked to all three of the major candidates, that I think will be the major candidates, and that’s Giuliani, Romney and Thompson. I think those will be the three major candidates when we head into the final analysis. And I think all of them understand the issue very, very well, they understand particularly the importance of Iran, and confronting Iran in the Middle East as an absolute lynchpin for our success in that region, and I think they are committed to that. And while it may not be a popular thing to talk about right now, and I know public sentiment is against it, they understand the importance of the national security of this country...
and they also understand that between now and November, a lot of things are going to happen, and I believe that by this time next year, the American public’s going to have a very different view of this war, and it will be because, I think, of some unfortunate events, that like we’re seeing unfold in the UK.
Whoops. Did someone tip off Santorum that another false-flag operation is in the works?
I sure hope they screw it up. Sheesh. Luckily, there are a lot of folks out there keeping an eye on such things.
Beware of "drills"....
Posted by: loretta | July 7, 2007 10:42 AM
Good afternoon on this superbly gorgeous day on the Lovely Lake Erie.
Here is an article to read:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/01/AR2007070101356.html
I have a few answers for Dubya.
Posted by: loretta | July 7, 2007 03:54 PM
What is the nature of good and evil in the post-Sept. 11 world?
The nature of good and evil does not change. We know that 9/11 was orchestrated by the same hypocrites and psychopaths who are trying to engineer us into a war with Iran. That, my friends, is evil.
Good? Good is doing something to stop it.
What lessons does history have for a president facing the turmoil I'm facing?
Well, considering the turmoil is self-inflicted; a result of horrible choices made for all the wrong reasons and not anticipating the backlash. Bush and his cronies are like all the criminals we review in this blog - stupid killers who do stupid things because they never think they will get caught. But, most of the time they do.
When you ever wonder how these guys thought they'd get away with this stuff, how they underestimated everyone's intelligence or failed to anticipate the power of the "Internets" and the collective mind of millions of dissidents, you just have to recall Scott Peterson and his ilk: they are too arrogant, self-centered, myopic and inhuman to comprehend their own stupidity.
How will history judge what we've done?
I may not be a "scholar" but I am a student of history; and I can safely predict that history will judge these times, this administration, this occupation of Iraq and future illegal and immoral invasions as the beginning of the end of western civilization as we know it. Our golden days are over. We are at the end of our reign. Unless, of course, we change it.
It's like "A Christmas Carol." We are shown by the Ghost of Christmas Future what our country will be like if we don't change it. We can change it. Now.
Why does the rest of the world seem to hate America?
Wayull, duh.
Or is it just me they hate?
What's to like?
Posted by: loretta | July 7, 2007 04:01 PM
I am abreast of all of the above and am ready to sit in my recliner knitting during the impeachment proceedings. Can't happen soon enough for us.
Posted by: moi | July 7, 2007 06:23 PM
It disturbs me that our president represents us all to the rest of the world, like it or not.
I didn't vote for him.
I don't like him, and I don't support his beliefs or policies.
Posted by: Nadine | July 7, 2007 10:20 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRxZ64Z7poE&mode=user&search=
A speech Dennis Kucinich gave to the steelworkers' union a couple of months ago.
If you have ever lived in an industrial/manufacturing city like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo, Erie...you will cry.
But, the good thing is there is hope.
Posted by: loretta | July 8, 2007 11:11 AM
Ok, here's one good reason to live in New Hampshire. (hahahaha....inside joke)
But, seriously:
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch last week signed into law a bill that forbids New Hampshire government agencies from complying with the controversial federal national identification act, or Real ID bill.
The New Hampshire Legislature had overwhelming passed the bill this past spring and handed it off to Lynch, who signed it on June 27.
“Real ID is intended to make us all safer, which I think we can all agree is a laudable goal,” said Lynch in a statement. “However, I strongly believe Real ID’s proposed haphazard implementation and onerous provisions would have the exact opposite effect. The federal government obviously did not think this burdensome system through and that is why we in New Hampshire are right to reject it.”
Oh, dear Lord. Please let Ted Strickland feel the same way. How many goats do I have to sacrifice??
Posted by: loretta | July 8, 2007 10:07 PM
We interrupt this nap to make a public service announcement:
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp
Real trojan/virus in this "You have a postcard from a friend" email.
Don't open it, Bubbaloooey!
Posted by: loretta | July 9, 2007 05:30 PM
You'd think Snopes would disable the link...or does it go somewhere else? I didn't click on it...
Posted by: vero | July 10, 2007 03:00 AM
That link is not the problem, the email attachment is the problem. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
Here is a good op-ed on the current state of the DOJ etc. I read a lot of junk and try to link just the best of the best, folks. heh
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_6308408
Posted by: loretta | July 10, 2007 11:53 AM
Ok, Ok, don't faint. But, I'm going to praise Mark Geragos here.
He's not the POTU and he's not a federal employee, so I beLIV he is right about this:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/07/10/news/top_stories/1_04_437_9_07.txt
SAN DIEGO -- A federal judge removed celebrity attorney Mark Geragos as the attorney for Poway businessman Brent Wilkes on Monday in a case involving national security secrets because of Geragos' refusal to undergo a security clearance.
Federal District Court Judge Larry Alan Burns said his refusal would jeopardize his client's defense. Geragos said he refused to submit to the security clearance out of principle.
``````````````
See. Even GerEgo can have a few principles I promote. High Five.
Posted by: loretta | July 10, 2007 02:02 PM
Ok, ok, this is verrry interesting. And you think I'm paranoid??!
This Frederick Kagan guy (ach tung) who authored the current strategy on Iraq (quaintly named "The Surge"), a guy who never wore a uniform and has ties with .... YALE and has ties with PNAC and has ties with other brain(less) trusts that have orchestrated this disaster.
Must-Read:
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1240
Posted by: loretta | July 10, 2007 09:21 PM
Heck with listening to your generals, military experts, yerrr daddy's pals. Nahhh. Let's get this fat guy whose dad is prolly a Skull & Bones bro to write up the strategy.
A guy whose closest encounter with a soldier is the tin ones he plays with on his desk.
Posted by: loretta | July 10, 2007 09:25 PM
Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.
Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. He also said he was asked to make speeches to support Republican political candidates and to attend political briefings.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/washington/11surgeon.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Posted by: Astrologer | July 11, 2007 01:18 AM
Wayull gohhhhleeeee.
Dubya told a really amazing (ding) truth:
“The same people that attacked us on September the 11th is a crowd that is now bombing people, killing innocent men, women and children, many of whom are Muslims,” Bush told a Cleveland town hall meeting yesterday.
Yup.
That would be *YOU*.
Posted by: loretta | July 11, 2007 06:15 PM
He has to be the most dangerous president we have ever had!
Posted by: vero | July 11, 2007 10:58 PM
Ah, it was good to find your updated blog, Loretta. It was even better to find out why you haven't been honed in like a laser beam on blogging! Congratulations on finding "Blog Wrecker".
I found everyone once on the private site, then promptly lost the url!
But, to my comment - do you really think the will of the people can be heard through the duplicity of Diebold and others of their ilk?
Posted by: Laurel | July 12, 2007 02:18 PM