Dowd - W.'s Stiletto Democracy

[paineinthearse]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/opinion/27dowd.html

February 27, 2005
OP-ED COLUMNIST
W.'s Stiletto Democracy
By MAUREEN DOWD

ASHINGTON

It was remarkable to see President Bush lecture Vladimir Putin on the importance of checks and balances in a democratic society. Remarkably brazen, given that the only checks Mr. Bush seems to believe in are those written to the "journalists" Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher and Karen Ryan, the fake TV anchor, to help promote his policies. The administration has given a whole new meaning to checkbook journalism, paying a stupendous $97 million to an outside P.R. firm to buy columnists and produce propaganda, including faux video news releases.

The only balance W. likes is the slavering, Pravda-like "Fair and Balanced" coverage Fox News provides. Mr. Bush pledges to spread democracy while his officials strive to create a Potemkin press village at home. This White House seems to prefer softball questions from a self-advertised male escort with a fake name to hardball questions from journalists with real names; it prefers tossing journalists who protect their sources into the gulag to giving up the officials who broke the law by leaking the name of their own C.I.A. agent.

W., who once looked into Mr. Putin's soul and liked what he saw, did not demand the end of tyranny, as he did in his second Inaugural Address. His upper lip sweating a bit, he did not rise to the level of his hero Ronald Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Instead, he said that "the common ground is a lot more than those areas where we disagree." The Russians were happy to stress the common ground as well.

An irritated Mr. Putin compared the Russian system to the American Electoral College, perhaps reminding the man preaching to him about democracy that he had come in second in 2000 according to the popular vote, the standard most democracies use.

more......

[fooj]

1. Dowd is a truth-teller! Such a refreshing change, isn't it?

Californians would love the chance to tell Putin just how "transparent" this administration REALLY is...Lets not forget that 9 billion issued for Iraqi reconstruction- Hey, Mr. Bremer-where's the cash? Then they have nerve to ask for more! You'd think the asshole would be embarrassed by canceling the town hall meeting in Germany! Did he just tip his inept hand, or what? The whole situation is mind-boggling!

[mazzarro]

2. MoDo seem to be more Anti-W than our own LieBerman

She seem to be moving progressively towards the anti-W crowd. How I wish that a lot more common people read and assimilate her op-eds. Somehow this mis-adminstration has to be made accountable for all the ills it has brought upon the country and the world. I look forward to seeing MoDo's name amongst the leading opponents that will make the world truely safe.

Go baby(MoDo) go!

[frustrated_lefty]

3. MoDo has a sharp tongue

but sways with the wind. I will not kneel at her pedestal and praise her...but, the Bush crowd royally screwed themselves by pissing her off.

She can be the epitome of the woman scorned.

I think the "tipping point" will be when they finally lose Friedman. The administration literally falls apart when that happens.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

4. They can lose Dowd, and they can lose Friedman..

..but, referring back to a point made by someone in this thread, they'll be all right as long as they have Lieberman!

[dand]

5. Dowd is a class act, our craven Democratic leaders are too

gutless to speak up, we should be grateful for her courage.

[hadrons]

6. gee, it only took Dowd $ full years to figure these things out ...

such a sharp mind :eyes: ... I guess Maureen is turning because she didn't get a bonus this year

[ellenfl]

11. turning?

i've been reading her for years and she has always been progressive. you must have been reading katherine (kathleen?) parker thinking you were reading md.

molli ivins is right on too. she's been going after bush and the neocons since they trashed her buddy, ann richards, and jim hightower in texas.

ellen fl

[fooj]

7. Now she's being "pre-empted" on MTP!

[IdaBriggs]

8. Nominated & Kicked. nt

[tsuki]

9. Maureen Dowd has been criticized by some, and I don't always

agree with her. But when she is right on, she can say things so much better than I could were I to try for weeks.

[girl gone mad]

10. I'm not a big fan of Dowd, but this is a great article. n/t

[papau]

14. The president loves democracy-as long as democracy means he's always right

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/opinion/27dowd.html?hp

W.'s Stiletto Democracy
By MAUREEN DOWD

Published: February 27, 2005


<snip>
The White House wants its Republican allies in the Senate to stamp out the filibuster, one of the few weapons the handcuffed Democrats have left. They want to invoke the so-called nuclear option and get rid of the 150-year-old tradition in order to ram through more right-wing judges.

Mr. Bush and Condi Rice strut in their speeches - the secretary of state also strutted in Wiesbaden in her foxy "Matrix"-dominatrix black leather stiletto boots - but they shy away from taking questions from the public unless they get to vet the questions and audiences in advance.

Administration officials went so far as to cancel a town hall meeting during Mr. Bush's visit to Germany last week after deciding an unscripted setting would be too risky, opting for a round-table talk in Mainz with preselected Germans and Americans.

The president loves democracy - as long as democracy means he's always right.

[paineinthearse]

12. ASHINGTON

Don't you just love posting from the NY Times? It has some "feature" that prevents the lead letter from pasting.

I left it alone here....imaging Washington without "W"!

Well, we can dream, can't we?

[BrklynLiberal]

13. heh heh well said.

[SoCalDem]

15. Too little, too late..

It always amazes me how people with a "voice" are stricken dumb BEFORE election, when a word or two from them could make a difference, and afterwardsm they get "brave" and regain their rapier wit.

They do us all a great injustice. They have access to all the facts they could ever need, and "play dumb" when it really matters.

Sorry..MoDo..you had your chance and you missed it:(

[sellitman]

16. I agree.

A day late and a dime short.

[glitch]

18. I wonder how it would feel to know that you really, really blew it, and

publically, for all the world and history to know.
I do think redemption is possible for mistakes of that magnitude, but I believe it demands a public and profound apology.
I will require one from everyone who brutalized Gore and simpered for Bush, including Maureen O'Dowd, before I ever again cheer even their most excellent articles.

[SoCalDem]

19. Me too.. No matter how hungry I am for crumbs,

I can never forgive the lazy, lackluster press for NOT attacking *² in 2000 over his dismal Nat'l Guard record. The DUI stuff is not a big issue to me (unless he's drinking & driving now)..But...the gurad stuff and the issue of getting a NEW driver's licence number and the dumped stocks and his questionable business deals WERE important.

He had a LIFETIMErecord of multiple screwups of the highest magnitude, and all the press wanted to report on was "what a funny guy" he was or "what nicknames" he gave them..and how he brought his own "pillow" with him..

They softballed him while the tagged everything Gore said with derision and suspicion.Bush lied every time he opened his mouth and yet Gore was the "liar"..(even though what he said was proven true)

NOW

after four of the worst years, and the worst protection of our country, they gave him another pass..:puke:

Now that he's been bolted to the throne for the duration, some of the "press" has decided that it's time to wisecrack at him, knowing that they're safe..These are rich people (most of them) they ARE republican in nature, even if they occasionally vote D..:grr:

[underpants]

17. This whole misadministration summed up in two pages

SLAM!