The American Crisis: If Thomas Paine Were With Us, Part 3.
By Brent Budowsky
Created Sep 23 2006 - 9:16am
This note will end with a call to action to Democratic and progressive
billionaires and millionaires to step up to the plate at a critical hour of
crisis for democracy in America. Readers can assume I am in the process of
contacting some who fall into both categories, for support for the cause,
and am open to suggestions from those who have, or know others who have, the
means and commitment to make a difference.

Any one of a thousand progressives and Democrats of means, to whom God has
given so much, has the power to change the course of American history.

By helping send out our message that is so right, so vital and so true, at
so important a moment, with stakes so high, for our country.

The American crisis is real and immediate, with an arc of chaos enveloping
the Middle East, with the catastrophic results of grave mistakes and
escalating tragedy, which our divided American Family witnesses every
evening on the network news.

The cause of the American Crisis is twofold: An Administration that has made
enormous and incalculable mistakes, and in fact exploits the results of
those mistakes for their own partisan advantage, is the first cause. The
dangerous situation in Washingon that has eradicated virtually every check
and balance in our democratic system, making past and future mistakes of
catastrophic magnitude virtually inevitable, is the second cause.

The calculus of democracy in America is simple. The American people have
lost confidence in the ability of the President and his government to
protect our national security. Those in military families and military
communities are most acutely aware of the disasters. The spinmeisters of
Republican partisanship and the conventional wisdomers of the national media
believe it a great victory for the President when his disapproval falls to
merely 60%% of the American people.

Unable to point to victories, the President and his partisans are reduced to
demeaning and misrepresenting their opponents, with the desperate hope,
which has worked before, that their numbers will fall even lower than his.
George W. Bush is the first President in the history of the Republic, who
seeks to win an election with policies, misjudgments and obsessions that may
be losing a war.

With a historic election approaching its twilight hours, the party that has
caused catastrophe for America's interests and values around the world, is
about to launch its greatest disrespect for democracy through a campaign of
slanderous attacks, financed by one of the giant war chests in history,
powered by the most giant media machine ever built in history, created
through thirty years of money and power while our side slumbered and slept.

The argument for the Democrats is not that they are brilliantly organized,
politically courageous, or profoundly principled. They are not. The argument
for the Democrats is that on national security, on the issues that define
The American Crisis, they are fundamentally professional, fundamentally
decent, and fundamentally in tune with the successful security strategies
that have served America well since the Second World War and have united the
free world for sixty years.

The argument for the Democrats is that America is a Republic that functions
best with two political parties and three branches of goverment sharing
power. The Nation inevitably endures grave crisis, as we have learned
through much unnecessary danger and blood, when the goodwill of the
Republic, and the checks and balances of democracy, are destroyed by the
single minded partisans and factions that the Federalist Papers warned all
future generations so sternly against.

The calculus of the election is simple: the Nation has overwhelmingly lost
confidence in the Republicans, but has not yet gained confidence in the
Democrats. Those who have caused the catastrophes that plague us, have
successfully demonized those who have not.

What does it tell us, that almost half of our Nation believes the untruth
spread so malicously to drive a wounded people to unwise war, that Saddam
Hussein was involved in 9-11? How Jefferson and Paine, Washington and
Madison, must be shaking their heads in heaven at the power of a lie,
restated often, backed by money and power, repeated by a supplicant press,
to be seen as truth by half the Nation so ignorant of the facts, so long
after the event.

Freedom and democracy will never be threatened by Osama Bin Laden, as much
as they are threatened by this.

The great danger in the world today is not World War III, as discussed by
our President and Vice-President, but the growing possiblity that Osama Bin
Laden's greatest vision could come true, a global religious war that would
ultimately make our dangers and divisions today pale by comparison to what
might someday come.

Never has a case in a mid-term election more clear, more compelling, and
more urgent to communicate. Never has the responsibility been so great for
those in our party, to whom God has given so much, to stop doing so little
for our cause by comparison to their Republican and Conservative colleagues,
who have spent thirty years pouring money and power into dominating the
communications of our country.

Our message is right, our case is clear, our cause is just, the source of
the American Crisis is before us, the means to end it are within our power,
if our will can equal our passion:

Through the blunderings and bad faith of an Administration dangerously far
removed from the decent opinion of the friends of democracy throughout the
world, and through a disrespect for democratic traditions and values that
have served America well throughout our history, the danger of one party
government, being dominated by one branch of government, being dominated by
one faction within that Party, are clear:

Whether the Iraq war was right or wrong, it has been administered
disastrously.

Iit has destabilized our military force structures throughout the world.

It has created dangers and preventable casualties and death for our troops,

It has involved breaches of trust and violations of the terms of service for
our greatest heroes.

It has wreaked havoc on our military families throughout the Nation.

It has been mismanaged through constant disregard and disrespect for the
informed opinions of our military commanders.

It has alienated overwhelming majorities of the people in the land we
invaded.

It has created worldwide loss of crediblity and support for America that is
more widespread and more damaging than at any time in our history.

The Administation announed fanfate that civilian casualties in Iraq had
fallen dramatically in August.

The American people learned shortly thereafter: that was simple untrue.

Evidence now reveals that civilian deaths in Iraq had risen above 6,000 in
July and August alone.

What was done in the name of democracy, has led to a vote entirely along
sectarian lines, and a civil war between sectarian combatants, where the
biggest winners were insurgents and terrorists, and the biggest losers were
honorable Iraqis suffering civilian deaths measured in the thousands per
month.

It has given aid, comfort and strategic gain to our enemies while vastly
increasing the dangers to our people, and what done in the name of making us
safer, has destroyed the villages we invaded to save, and done incalculable
damage to our national security by creating new dangers from sources around
the world.

Within the days of the votes being counted on this next Election Day, there
is now the strong probability that even more troops will be formally
requested and sent to Iraq, with the situation continuing to deteroriate.

The mission in Afghanistan is deeply troubled, where the surrendered moment
to finish off Bin Laden has allowed resurgence of the Taliban and the
triumph of war lords and drug lords, who are the true Afghan winners of the
Bush- Cheney policy.

Barely weeks ago the Bush Administration spoke in terms of reduced troop
strength in Iraq.

Then they increased troop levels by 20,000.

Soon they may increase again.

And now, there are urgent requests for more NATO troops in Afghanistan.

The little noticed war in Somalia creates another windfall for terrorists,
with dangers that are not even discussed on the network news.

Yet our ports remain unprotected.

Police and fire fighter support remains cut.

Our borders remain unsecured while our President suggests that those who
sing our Anthem in Spanish are not real Americans.

Four years after 9-11 good people died in New Orleans because they were too
poor, too young, too elderly, and too handicapped to protect themselves, and
those entrusted to do so, did not.

Today emergency preparedness remains so faulty that communications in many
of our communities still do not exist between police, fire fighters and
emergency medics if disaster stikes again.

The Republican former Inspector General of Homeland Security writes a book
with hundreds of pages of warnings listing unaddressed dangers that remain
today.

The Republican former Secretary of Homeland Security publicly states that he
never believed that many of the previous terror warnings that alarmed the
Nation should never have been issued. The Republican former Secretary of
State announces his belief that because of current policies, the whole moral
basis of the President's war on terror is now in doubt, throughout much of
the world.

War heroes are called traitors.

Troops are ordered to combat without armor.

Or enough bandages.

Or enough helmets.

Military hospitals are closed.

Those who cannot win the war against the terrorists and insurgents declare
war to cut brain trauma support for wounded troops.

Debt collectors harrass the wives and the husbands of heroes in uniform.

War profiteering abounds.

Of the $18 billion of taxpayer money aimed to improve life for Iraqis, $10
billion is stolen, or missing, or corrupted.

The Republican Government pushes military pay increase that is barely above
2%% for 2007, almost certainly below the rate of inflation, an effective pay
cut for the troops.

In short: the politicians who vote steady pay raises for themselves, who
vote enormous tax cuts for the wealthiest, try to push through a below
inflation, effective pay cut, for the troops, and wonder why Washington is
now held in such low repute.

Almost 20%% of our heroes in uniform are so financially wounded they are
forced to pay up to 790%% interest on loans offered by legalized thieves to
desperate heroes.

The Mafia treats its victims better than our government treats many of our
troops.

While Republican leaders drive chauffered limousines to champage
fundraisers, to raise piles of money for themselves, while they our people
how much they love our troops.

Our President supports torture.

Our Vice-President champions it.

Our troops despise it, but again, and again, and again, our commanders are
disrespected, our troops are disserved, and those who never got closer to
danger than hunting trips declare war on the Geneva Convention, endangering
our heroes, disdaining what Jefferson called the decent opinion of mankind.

Even though virtually our entire miltary opposes torture.

And leaders of every democracy on the face of the earth oppose torture.

And near unanimous populations in Nations that are America's truest friends
on earth oppose torture.

And every leader of every great religion in the world opposes torture.

Except the mullahs who advise the terrorists.

While our President plays on fear.

And our Vice President hides in undisclosed locations.

The capital city of the great democracy on earth is reduced to fearful
rabbits running to specialty shops to buy duct tape, gas masks, bullet proof
vests, and bottled water.

We are told not to bring fluids on planes.

By the same people who spent six years refusing to supply airport screening.

The CIA Director who called false intelligence a slam dunk is rewarded with
a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

While Army Chief of Staff who courageously warned the nation is publicly
demeaned and forced to retire prematurely.

And the Senate Intelligence Committee covers up until after the election a
report that will probably prove that our highest officials lied to the
Nation, about pre-war intelligence on Iraq.

Possibly in violation of law.

The President who compares Bin Laden to Hitler let Bin Laden escape Tora
Bora.

Disrespecting the advice of commanders.

Ignoring the urgent calls from our special forces.

Letting off the hook the man who planned 9-11.

To fight a war he wanted before he was even inaugurated.

When he should have been reading the Presidential Daily Briefing warning of
terrorist planes flying into burning buildings.

Then spent six years exploiting the blood of our greatest heroes for
partisan political gain in his shameless politics of fear.

One of our greatest heroes and most famous athletes gave up a life of luxury
and wealth to give his life in service to our country, sadly lost in
friendly fire.

Then our leaders tried to lie about it.

Then they disrespected his family.

Our President ran for re-election promising our people that nothing had
changed with warrants required for searches.

When he knew he was not telling the truth.

Then tried to keep the truth from Congress.

And tried the keep the truth from Courts.

He opposes treaties to prevent nuclear proliferation while he hints at war
over nuclear proliferation.

He opposes treaties to protect the earth and prevent more global warming
while his henchmen threaten scientists to try to force them to silence, or
lies.

He alienates our nation on issue affer issue, from country after country,
saying they are either for us or against us, while he turns them against us.

Yet despots with oil are among his truest friends.

While executives who give hundreds of thousands of dollars to his campaigns
are rewarded with billions and billions of special favors, while their
companies who reap their record profits pay them hundreds of millions of
dollars of personal wealth.

Energy policy is made in secret meetings.

Oil dependence gets more dangerous by the day.

Middle East profiteers spin oil money to terrorists, then hold hands with
our leader.

The rich get richer, singing their songs in champagne tributes to each other
while money changes hands and great fortunes are made.

While Cher fights for the helmets, against the negligence of those who sent
our heroes to war, who were busy at gala fundraisers raising toasts of
triumph with influence peddlers while unsupplied troops shed their blood in
the sands.

No bid contracts.

Misappropriated funds.

Political oppo staff running Iraq reconstruction projects.

Superbowl parties for Haliburton execs.

While heroes write home to Mom and Dad, who scour EBAY for military
supplies.

And they wonder why things are getting worse in Afghanistan and Iraq.

And then use their failures to make us afraid.

And then use our fear to claim the Bill of Rights is expendible.

And then use these crisis to claim the right to have two more years of power
without checks and balances.

And demean our politics and divide our people against each other, using the
language of holy war not merely against the enemy abroad, but against our
neighbors at home.

Which no wartime President has ever done.

Our enemy Bin Laden works to divide and conquer.

While our President deliberately divides us.

Our enemy Bin Laden uses to terror to make us afraid.

While our President abuses our trust to make us afraid.

Thomas Paine wrote that in our nation of bravery the law is king.

Bush and Cheney believe that in a fearful nation the king is law.

The source of the American Crisis is clear; tragedy and failure are
inevitable when power is concentrated in one branch of government,
controlled by one party, without the checks and balances designed to prevent
abuse, without the decent respect for each other that is the hallmark and
guarantor of our diverse society and democratic system of government.

Never before in our history has a message been more right, a truth more
true, a case more compelling, a time more right, a danger more urgent, a
mission so noble.

The forces we are up against are mighty; even television networks defame our
most solemn national moment with a film so false and dishonest it is more
akin to a propaganda film of a one-party state than a national moment of
commemoration of a good, decent and brave people.

For thirty years the billionaires, millionaires and operatives of the
partisan right have spent enormous amounts of money building a machine so
powerful that half of our country still believes something so totally false,
so long after the event.

Give them credit; what they did was brilliant, daring, aggressive, visionary
and bold. They control the medium, they control the message, they define the
debate, they determine the outcome, while our sleeping and slumbering side
failed to appreciate the power of what they do, the danger of their success,
and the consequences for our country and a world that prays for America to
lead.

I do not condemn Mr. Richard Mellon Scaife for what he does; I am jealous,
that our side has so few like him, fighting for our more noble cause,
financing our more noble ventures, defending our more noble values, standing
with us in defense in our far more honorable vision of American tradition,
American history and American values.

Any one of a thousand Democrats, to whom God has given so much, the has the
means to change the course of American history.

What is striking about the American Crisis in our times, is how little
respect the highest levels on our side, have for the greatest numbers on our
side, the truest hearts and sweetest souls and highest patriotism of those
among us who ask for nothing more than an Americanism that lifts our
spirits, and lights the world, with the greatest gift that God ever gave
this earth, in this great land we call freedom.

To those on our side to whom God gave the greatest gifts and most wonderful
fortunes it is time to make a stand.

Every day brings news of a hundred million dollar gift to Africa, or some
great global cause that we appreciate and applaud.

Those who do this should be commended with high praise and grateful thanks.

But where is the gift to Democracy in America?

Where is the investment in the freedom and justice that is best guaranteed
in a Nation that is governed by we the people, not we the President, we the
conservatives, or we the extremists who want to wage war after war,
promoting fear after fear, viewing even our Bill of Rights as property to be
bartered away in the quest for total power without limits?

To those whom much is given, much is asked.

Where is our Richard Mellon Scaife?

Where is the support for our message, our values, our mission, so much more
noble, so much less supported, not for a year but for a generation, from
those with the means who would have made the difference, but did not, at
such great cost?

Stand with us, we will move the world, we will restore vitality and trust in
our democracy.

There will be cheers from free people in every corner of the world.

There will be standing ovations from those who yearn to be free, who are
terrified when we go wrong, but inspired to heights of humanity when we live
up to our dreams, our ideals, our vision of an America that is a sun so
bright, it shines so brilliantly, on even the darkest corners of a troubled
world.

Like Paine marching with the troops when Washington read his words to
desperate patriots suffering at Valley Forge, and read his words to cheering
patriots as they crossed the Deleware to make their stand for America, we
are up against mighty forces, but we know that in this land we love the
American Spirit can always overcome the American Crisis.

The stakes are high.

The danger is real.

The case is compelling.

The cause is just.

The time is now.

The choice is yours.

This age of The American Crisis must end.

The renewal of The American Spirit must begin again.
_______

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"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at
stake."
-Thomas Jefferson