The most dangerous George Bush is one who feels weak, powerless and under attack

[seemslikeadream]

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

The reason Bush violated the law when eavesdropping is the same reason Lithwick cites to explain his other lawless and extremist measures -- because he wanted purposely not to comply with the law in order to establish the general "principle" that he was not bound by the law, to show that he has the power to break the law, that he is more powerful than the law. This is a President and an administration that are obsessed first and foremost with their own power and with constant demonstrations of their own strength. Conversely, what they fear and hate the most is their own weakness and submission to limitations.

For that reason, the weaker and more besieged the administration feels, the more compelled they will feel to make a showing of their power. Lashing out in response to feelings of weakness is a temptation most human beings have, but it is more than a mere temptation for George Bush. It is one of the predominant dynamics that drives his behavior.

His party suffered historic losses in the 2006 midterm elections as a result of profound dissatisfaction with his presidency and with his war, and his reaction was to escalate the war, despite (really, because of) the extreme unpopularity of that option. And as Iraq rapidly unraveled, he issued orders that pose a high risk of the conflict engulfing Iran. When he feels weak and restrained, that is when he acts most extremely.

Bush officials and their followers talk incessantly about things like power, weakness, domination, humiliation. Their objectives -- both foreign and domestic -- are always to show their enemies that they are stronger and more powerful and the enemies are weaker and thus must submit ("shock and awe"). It is a twisted world view but it dominates their thinking (and that is how our country has been governed for the last six years, which is what accounts for our current predicament). As John Dean demonstrated, a perception of one's weakness and the resulting fears it inspires are almost always what drive people to seek out empowering authoritarian movements and the group-based comforts of moral certitude.

The most dangerous George Bush is one who feels weak, powerless and under attack. Those perceptions are intolerable for him and I doubt there are many limits, if there are any, on what he would be willing to do in order to restore a feeling of power and to rid himself of the sensations of his own weakness and defeat.

[MadMaddie]

1. In other words he is like a cornered animal.

[napi21]

2. That article scares the hell out of me because Ireally believe it's

true! God help us all!!!!

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. This quote to me describes bush.

"The weak can be terrible when they wish to appear strong, and he was such a man, darkly vengeful and unforgetting. If dying, he would strike out wickedly in all directions to injure all he could to his last breath."
"The Walking Drum"- Louis L'Amour

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Kinda like Hitler's last stand of Berlin before he shot himself in the Bunker. n/t

[themadgerman]

15. Bush is not at the stage

where he would kill himself like Hitler did....I think he plans on suspending elections in '08 in an attempt to seize absolute power. We're more at the beginning of this tyranny than at the end of it.

[no_hypocrisy]

19. Welcome to DU.

You could be right. However, I still recognized the beleagured dejection as recognition that the WH could not "make" another country and its citizens bend to its will. Hitler was delusional until the very end, thinking that through sheer will the German civilians could stave off being surrounded by Russian planes and tanks.

[themadgerman]

22. I don't believe the pretense of beleaguered rejection...

I think that's pretend humility and nothing more....intended to make folks think Bush is changing his policy when in reality...he's not. It's just part of the show.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. Spot on L'Amour quote. Thanks for that. n/t

MKJ

[indepat]

6. Ultimately several 'pukes Senators will determine if this nation is to to have an above-the-law,

and many say delusional thus dangerous to the world, dictator, albeit their very own dictator, or a constitutional republic with reasonable prospects for world peace going forward. These seem the only options and those 'puke senators might not have too long if they're to exercise their option for this nation to return to a conditional republic, judging by what's blowing in the wind.

[murray hill farm]

7. "Mr. Danger"

Seems some see him for what he is, eh?

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Dupe - delete

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. He looked like a caged animal yesterday

[themadgerman]

23. That's when tyrants

are most dangerous.

[Hamlette]

10. kick

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. This has not happened in the context of money and the milindus complex yet

so I don't entirely agree with your words. If they managed to cut off him and his base, and swing the orientation of the Treasury back to the people of the country, and delete the corporate empowering he's allowed, THEN I imagine he'd feel crappy-- because his base would be pressuring him.

Currently, the money is flowing like always.

[mzmolly]

12. Dennis Kucinich touched on this today:

He said that if we impeach NOW, Bush will escalate the war "even more." However, he indicated that if * attacks Iran, we'll be inclined to proceed with the big "I." I wonder how many of Bush's comments were actually directed at Democrats? Impeach and I'm going for Iraq and Syria?

[donkeyotay]

13. This is what troubles me. If bush achieves expanding his war, the congress

will not impeach him. If bush attacks Iran, there's nothing we or they can do to change the facts on the ground. It'll be circle the wagons and support the commander in chief time. That's why it's so important to preempt the preemptor on this, or we'll all be along for the ride, again.

[mzmolly]

21. Seems worth pondering. Typical abusive no win situation we're in.

*sigh*

[themadgerman]

14. the biggest threat now

is that he might find an excuse for suspending elections in 08

[brazos121200]

16. A major terrorist attack in this country

within the next two years would usher in a renewed round of suspension of civil liberties on a massive scale by the neo-cons. Martial law could even be imposed depending on the level of resisitance within the Congress to drastic measures by the Admin. There are now FINALLY Republican members of congress like Hagel who are beginning to oppose the war policies of the President. Now, truly, only the Congress stands between the American people and an incipient Fascist state.

[themadgerman]

17. The congress won't do anything

especially if a terrorist attack occurs, even if they suspect or know it's staged, they don't have the courage.

[napi21]

24. No, that won't happen. I guess I understand why you say it, but

it's just as crazy as the Pubs were when they said Clinton was going to do that because he loved the job so much he'd never leave!

[blues90]

18. If you look at bush right after he stole 2000 elections

He could not get anything done and went to the ranch . Soon after 9/11 happened and the entire thing turned around , bush had his power and off we went to Afghanistan and then Iraq . Boom and now we are here . He was down then and cornered then and the bombs were loaded . Same as now the protests were on and no one listened to the people who were against this .

It looks like Iran will play out the same way even though we are supposed to have the majority , it still seems that once this Iraq attack began we are captive in so many ways . We did not have camps or police looking like militia in black or wire tapping or a sheaded constitution or the patriot act .

[brazos121200]

20. I really, really miss Sept. 10th, 2001.

Without the 911 attack Bush would have been through before he began. Its just as if al qaida and the neo-cons are working in tandem to help each other by their actions. The terrorists are stronger because of our invasion and occupation of Iraq, and Bush has been in power for six years now because of 911.

[barbtries]

25. this is right on the money

which is why there is truly NO TIME TO SPARE:he must be removed from office.

i guess i've been saying that for a few years now. didn't matter. it's like i am the flip side of bush: i can see the damage, i recognize the lies, this bastard has never fooled me for even a second. but i'm the only one who gets it, who understands how crucial his removal from the most powerful office upon this planet really is. And i am not Bush. Not only does nobody believe me, they don't even listen. and the unitary president who wants to be the dictator just rides roughshod over the laws and the people, hellbent and apparently unstoppable. with every passing day WWIII is more possible, and i find the thought so unnerving that i cannot actually dwell on what might be the outcome of something so huge, destructive, deadly, and - and this is the part that makes me want to scream - unnecessary.

every member of congress should be made to read this piece. i swear to gawd there must be some way to get the lead out of their asses.