Conason: The bitter lessons of four years

[Raster]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2005/09/11/911_anniv/index.html

Standing among the wreckage of two national disasters, it is no longer possible to deny the plain truth: Bush and his administration are unfit to wield power.

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By Joe Conason

Sept. 11, 2005 | It would have been almost impossible to imagine, during the days and weeks that followed the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that we might someday look back on that depressing time with a tinge of nostalgia. For Americans, and especially for those of us who live in New York City, those autumn memories are filled with rage and horror, fire and smoke, loss and death; but they are also filled with a spirit of courage, community and real patriotism. United we stood, even behind a government of dubious legitimacy, because we knew that there was no other way to defend what we valued.

In a strange way, Sept. 11 -- despite all the instantaneous proclamations that things would never be the same -- represented a final moment of innocence.

Now catastrophe has befallen another American city, with horrors and losses that may surpass the toppling of the twin towers. And while many people in New Orleans have shown themselves to be brave, generous and decent, this season's disaster has instilled more dread than pride, more anger than unity. Why is the mood so different now? At every level, the vacuum of leadership was appalling, but especially among the national leaders to whom all Americans look at a time of catastrophic peril. As rising waters sank the city, summer vacations in Texas and Wyoming, and shoe-shopping on Madison Avenue, appeared to take priority over the suffering on the Gulf Coast.

Four years after 9/11, we know much more than we knew then about the arrogance, dishonesty, recklessness and incompetence of a national government that was never worthy of its power.

<snip, MUST READ>


http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2005/09/11/911_anniv/index.html
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If you don't have a sub, you'll need to watch an add or two for a day pass. Just do it. Joe Conason hits on ALL cyclinders, as usual. He's right, of course. These criminal assholes should have never made it to D.C. Never. It's time to do something about it.

[CrispyQ]

1. Great op/ed piece!

Conason rocks. His book "Big Lies" was a wonderful read. My repuke mother is getting a copy for the holidays this year.

[PSPS]

2. Once again, all well and good. But this has miniscule readership.

As nice as all this is, nothing will ever happen until the mainstream state media grabs this and shakes it until these criminals get thrown out of power. Salon has its readers, but they are mostly the choir anyway. And its readership is a tiny fraction of what it would have to be to set any kind of agenda or have any political consequences.

Once I see or hear this in places other than in Salon, DU or the foreign press, I'll once again have hope for the future.

[phantom power]

5. I second that.

There's been some encouraging signs since Katrina, but it only works if it remains consistent. If I still see Bush criticized in the MSM six months from now, then I'll be impressed.

[longship]

7. No time to wait.

We can no longer afford to wait for consistency. We must act now before these idiots get us all killed. Imagine a scary scenerio and then consider how much scarier it would be with these incompetents in power. They're now even talking about preemptive use of nukes and at the same time devising scenerios for nuke use in Iran. Jesus! That's freaking me right out. :scared:

[Kahuna]

3. Ouch! Smokin' Joe is pissed.

:scared:

[Raster]

4. last paragraph, bold emphasis mine.

"Four years ago, as we contemplated potential threats from the enemies of civilization, it was impossible to conceive of the vast damage that our own government would inflict upon America before those enemies could strike again. The danger from the perpetrators of 9/11 has not abated, and suddenly we know how vulnerable we remain -- because the federal officials who have sworn to defend us, beginning with the president, have neither the character nor the competence to fulfill that oath.
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bushco* not only was never fit to wield power, they did not deserve to wield power, installing themselves in the White House TWICE under the most dubious of circumstances. TWICE the white-boy, Texas, petroleum mafia and their corporate collaborators have usurped the will of the people and seized power through coup d'etat, American style.

coup d'etat

n : a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force

[longship]

6. It's Wonderful. It has everything but the inevitable conclusion.

Ergo... Impeach! Now!!

Otherwise, a spectacularly good article, Joe.

On edit:

Somebody has to start saying this. It's time for them to go. It's encumbent on us to start saying it and keep saying it until it happens. Impeachment is an imperative.

Or are we going to trust this administration to continue to conduct business on our behalf? What kind of horrors are in our future if we do? Is even nuclear conflagaration out of the realm of possiblities for the reckless mismanagement of a reckless foreign policy? Al Qaeda must now be putting their next attack onto the fast track because everybody in the world is aware that the Bushies will be totally incapable of stopping it.

Impeach them now. We can no longer afford to wait.

On second edit: BTW, recommended. This belongs on the front page.

[Raster]

8. Impeach now and then further investigate. The bastards need to

be held accountable. Their failings are numerous, the crimes against the citizens of the U.S. are heinous. These are high crimes and major felonies. No wonder * pulled us out of the International Court and has refused to honor international judicial treaties. In addition to their other crimes, many members of bushco* are guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Their time has come.

[ailsagirl]

9. We can't impeach until the majority of Congress votes to

And, I'm assuming, the majority isn't about to veer off the
path they've been on for these (nearly) five interminable
years.

Are people calling their reps and demanding impeachment?
I've been out of the loop.

Anyone?

:shrug:

[longship]

10. Who knows that for sure?

We don't know that the Repugs won't go for it until we start pushing for impeachment. There's 60% of the people of the US who think Bush sucks. With this Katrina disaster we could get some considerable support. Conyers (minority member of House Judiciary Committee) is already on board, as is Barbara Lee and about 30-some other Dems.

We need to keep the mantra going. Impeach Bush Now.

[ailsagirl]

18. Amen, longship!!! Let's keep that mantra going.

:patriot:

[spooky3]

11. I'm reading "Big Lies" now--it is outstanding.

[IndyOp]

12. Disproportionate millions went to rural areas - Whoa...

"Disproportionate millions went from the Department of Homeland Security to rural towns that will never be threatened"

Exactly where? For exactly what?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[bobbieinok]

13. didn't more HS $ go to Wyoming or Montana than to NYC???

[IndyOp]

14. I don't know --

I knew FEMA had been 'gutted' and that Homeland Security was spending HUGE dollars to little effect, but I did not know about the disparity between cities and rural areas.

[sando]

15. Don't forget

There are a number of wealthy people in these rural areas that Bush has as his base and that's why a ton a money for HS went to these low population states. Besides Bush knows the blue states such as CA and NY will always likely be blue, what better way to punish them. The man is a vindictive bully without any regard for those beneath his economic class, no matter how loud he proclaims to be Christian.

[tex-wyo-dem]

16. Here you go for starters...

NEW YORK STILL TERRORIST TARGET #1
BUT ALARMING REPORT REVEALS ...
IT IS PRIORITY #35 IN HOMELAND FUNDING PER PERSON

First-of-its-kind Congressional Report Commissioned by Rep. Maloney
Shows New York Dropped 19 Places in Just One Year

Wyoming leads the pack overall in 2004 funding with $40.60 per person;
New York ranks 35th among states at $10.03

http://www.house.gov/maloney/press/108th/20040806HomelandFunding.htm

Edit:

And Here...

CNN: How we got homeland security wrong
The fortification of Wyoming, and other tales from the new front line

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/22/homesec.tm/

[Raster]

17. and we know just what a target Wyoming is. I mean Casper is a

terra'ist wet dream.