One of the motivating factors that caused the coup in 2000 was the

[KlatooBNikto]

belief by the right wing that Democratic presidents like John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were not strong enough to use all out force against Cuba and Vietnam and "lost" the War for America.They now want to restore America's honor, so to speak, with an all out assault against all Muslims/Arabs, any one that stands in the way of proving our manhood.In this revenge war, everything is fair game: concocting a premise a la Gulf of Tonkin, using weapons against civilians, using Orwellian propaganda techniques, stealing elections and cowing opponents with all manner of threats. I am certain they do not intend to give up power but expand their war making throughout the Middle East and beyond.

[leveymg]

1. Gen. Curtis LeMay Rules.

"Make the rubble bounce."

[KlatooBNikto]

2. Correct. By invoking the "weakness" of Democrats and their reluctance

to be brutal against them, the rightwing plans to develop the constituency of America Firsters.To this you may add the religious fundamentalists and the Israeli propagandists.They are out for blood and nothing is going to stop them.

[leveymg]

4. LeMay & Jos. McCarthy both stepped on "the third rail" - the CIA.

If you can convince me that the Agency has truly been neutered or colonized by Jerry Falwell and Likuud, then I will truly give up all hope.

Until then, I believe there is still something that's "going to stop them." A slender and slippery rope, I admit.

[followthemoney]

3. The Republicans believe they own this country, therefore

taking it back from the rabble is not theft. Follow this line from Hamilton, the first Federalist to Bork of the Federalist Society. There is nothing new but the lack of modern resistance from the people (demos).

[HawkerHurricane]

5. So, Johnson 'lost' the Vietnam war?

I guess having him out of office for a mere 7 years wasn't enough time for Nixon to win it, eh? But it's still Kennedy's fault for losing Cuba, even though it happened before he was president, right?