Turn off the life support: America is dead (Doug Thomson)

[IChing]

The America we used to cherish is dead, replaced by a ruthless dictator. The America that more than 3,100 men and women died for in Iraq no longer exists. We might as well pull the sheet over Uncle Sam's head and prepare for the funeral.>>>snip

Another despot occupies the Presidency, an evil man whose lust for power surpasses Nixon and who poses a far greater danger to the Constitution. This time, however, the system is failing to protect America from despots. George W. Bush rides roughshod over a compliant Congress. The Supreme Court, packed with knee-jerk right-wingers who helped put Bush in office in 2000, abdicated its role long ago.>>>snip

While Congress slept and the Supreme Court looked the other way, the Bush administration has gone on its merry way seizing absolute control of the United States government. He fired independent thinking U.S. attorneys, replacing them with lockstep right-wingers who share his view of totalitarian control of government. He ignores the laws of Congress, issuing "signing statements" that give him the power to do whatever he wants. When the federal courts declared his wiretapping of Americans illegal, he ignored the ruling and appointed an in-house review panel that declared the program "legal.">>>snip

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/202/162/

[brazos121200]

1. If Congress will use its power of subpoena

there may be a small chance to save this country. If not, the Democratic Party will have failed its and America's last chance for the return of democracy. There are some signs that the Dems in Congress may at last be showing some signs of life, albeit weakly. The calling of Valerie Plame to testify is a good sign. Only time will tell if Congress lives up to the challenge facing it. Let's hope thay find their spine.

[donsu]

2. agree and I like the last sentence of the article:

"Maybe it's time for a new American Revolution. After all, the last one started because another guy named George tried to destroy our way of life."

[CJCRANE]

11. Bushco

used 9/11* to stage their Counter-Revolution and seize illegal power.

*whether it was planned that way (as I believe) or opportunistic is open to debate.

[sce56]

3. I only disagree with one thing he states in his editorial

"A few years later, as a young reporter, I wrote about the attempts of Richard Milhous Nixon to destroy the Constitution of the United States. He failed because the system worked and both Congress and the Supreme Court exercised their powers in our system of checks and balances to restore order to a faltering nation."

The congress did fail since they let Nixon be pardoned and never having to answer for his crimes! If they would have went ahead and prosecuted him all of the other things that the shadow government was doing would have been brought to light like the assassination's of JFK RFK & MLK! Today we are suffering due to the pardon not challenged by the congress which allowed those who got burned in the 70's to regroup and reclaim their stranglehold on the US government and people!

[IChing]

5. Ford's pardon is the reason we are on this road which lead to

Bush's pardon of Iran/Contra and now to this constitutional crisis with the executive branch thumbing its nose at democracy.

[sce56]

8. I'm glad to hear you agree with me Thanks!

[peacetalksforall]

4. While some Dems hugged the lock-step supporting dictator ... tragic.

Yes, I agree with the state described in this essay, but I believe the people can do something, but only with the help of remaining Dem (or other) leaders.

Kucinich and some of our leaders look better every day when contrasted with some Dems.

I blame DLC policy for a grand portion of our state of the union and the state of Iraq and maybe Iran and for what happened to Lebanon this past summer-fall.

I blame the people who don't want peace in Israel.

I blame profiteers.

Throughout history - it's those who gain and those fool.

What stocks are Dems holding?

[burythehatchet]

6. Been there for years

[PhilipShore]

7. Democracy has been dead in the United States for more then 50 years...

When the politicians start whining about a constitutional crisis; they are referring to the fear, that they (the politicians) have that the people will wake up and - find out democracy is dead, and the last thing a politician wants is to have to start working, and being accountable to the people.

See Bush vs. Gore opinion (America and the Supreme Court formally reject a true democracy).

I am not a lawyer though - perhaps, a lawyer out there can interpret the Bush V. Gore opinion - and democracy in America.

[MasonJar]

9. I disagree. I believe that the Dems in Congress are working diligently to

right many wrongs of the the Republics and are holding investigations that the pugs never intended to hold. They have only been in control 2 months and they have 6+ years to undo. Support them.

[BridgeTheGap]

12. Anybody see any other "viable" alternatives?

It ain't dead yet - only comatose. Democracy has always been and ever will be, a reflection of the will of the people. I know way too many people who are aware and haven't given up. Of course "they" don't want to acknowledge this through mainstream media.
Too many Dems to go along with too much bullshit - but there are some really good ones who know what's happening and doing their best to bring it to light. The media doesn't give them much attention (I wonder why). The Dems I have a problem with are the ones in the pockets of big business. Dean proved that rank&file dems will support candidates financially. Want a revival of democracy? Start putting your money where you mouth, heart and brain are!!!

[stonebone]

10. K&R