fas·cism [fash-iz-uhm]
–noun
1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) the philosophy, principles, or methods of fascism.
3. (initial capital letter) a fascist movement, esp. the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Keith Olbermann, in his most recent "Special Comment" on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann on February 14th was an especially heated, passionate, and livid man concerning our president. Rightly so.
The first 1:47 is background to the rant. Then it swells into a thrilling commentary lambasting and skewering George W. Bush. ABOUT TIME! We're so glad SOMEONE finally has the stones, cajones, hell the outright BALLS to call out the president for the fascist he is. Yes, fascist.
If you [George W. Bush] believe in the seamless mutuality of government and big business, come out and say it. There is a dictionary definition, one word that describes that toxic blend: YOU'RE A FASCIST. Get them to print you a t-shirt with FASCIST on it. What else is this BUT fascism?
and then
There's one thing we know about Big Brother, Mr. Bush: it's that he, well you, are a liar....You said the lives of countless Americans depend on you getting your way. This is CRAP. And you sling it with an audacity and a speed unrivaled even by the greatest political felons of our history.
and also
You are a LIAR, Mr. Bush. And after showing some skill at it initially you have ceased to even be a very good liar. And your minions like John Boehner, your Republican congressional crash dummies, who just happened to decide to walk out of Congress where a podium full of microphones await them, they should just keep walking. Out of Congress. And if possible, out of the country. For they, sir, and you, sir, have no place in a government of the people, by the people, for the people. The lot of you are symbolic descendents of the despotic middle managers of some banana republic, to whom "freedom" is an ironic brand name, a word you reach for when you want to get away with its opposite.
and
The president has said that American lives will be sacrificed if Congress does not change FISA. But he has also said that he will veto any FISA bill that does not grant retroactive immunity. No immunity, no FISA bill. So if we take the president at his word, he's willing to let Americans die to protect the phone companies.
and finally, the absolute clincher
As recently ago as 2006, we spoke words like these with trepidation. The idea that even the most cynical and untrustworthy of politicians in our history, George W. Bush, would use the literal form of terrorism against his own people, was dangerous territory. It seemed to tempt fate, to heighten fear. We will not fear any longer. We will not fear the international terrorists, we will thwart them. We will not fear the recognition of the manipulation of our yearning for safety, we will call that what it is: terrorism. We will not fear identifying the vulgar hypocrites in our government, we will name them. And we will not fear George W. Bush, nor will we fear because George W. Bush WANTS us to fear.
If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
1 comment:
I am paying attention....and I am outraged!
I read this post and it reminded me of someone who Keith Olbermann (KO) love's to hate: Rush Limbaugh (RL).
KO, IMHO, is to liberalism what RL is to conservativism. Here are my points to back this up:
1) both are at the extreme side of their politcal beliefs
2) you either love him or you hate him, depending on your politcal beliefs...and the die-hards hang on every word he says.
3) neither would say a good word about their opposition on the air...that wouldn't sell.
4)I can't tolerate either of them because all they do is polarize.
Listen, most normal people either a)don't have a reasonable amout of time to do their own research on national world events or, b) are too busy watching and talking about how Brittney Freakin' Spears is screwing up her and her children's lives and are oblivious. These poeple who don't eat and breath world events rely on poeple like RL and KO to tell them how to think. And all those people learn to do is hate people who don't think like them when they listen to them.
Get a freakin' brain people...both sides are kind of right and both sides are kind of wrong...on EVERYTHING!
Regarding fascism:
Here is the definition I got when I looked on Merriam-Webster.com:
fascism
One entry found.
fascism
Main Entry: fas·cism
Pronunciation: \ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm also ˈfa-ˌsi-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
Date: 1921
1often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control [early instances of army fascism and brutality — J. W. Aldridge]
I agree, some of GWB's policies could fall under this category. People think of facism and they think "dictatorship". GWB has done much strong-arming in what he considers the intrest of national security...but it is hardly dictatorial. Business and government have always been linked and to some extent always will be. GWB is not unique in this area of facism.
But what about some possible liberal facism?? The policies where government, to quote my definition of facism, "exalts nation and often race above the individual" and has "severe economic and social regimentation". Here are my examples:
Taxes: Democrats feel that rich people make enough money that they should have to give up more of it to benefit everybody. Now...according to many perspectives, I am "rich". I made choices that allow me to live more comfortably than others who made different choices, but I am not "rich". However, some feel the government should put the nation's needs above my personal hard work.
Universal health care(if it were to come about): What happens when the government needs to make spending decisions regarding health care? If some "cuts" need to be made, who's life will be more "valuable" under a health care for all? A 20 year old who needs back surgery to be able to keep working (therefore contributing more to society as a whole) or an elderly person who needs a hip replaced (but won't be able to work afterwards)?
How about government regulation: Didn't New York City ban trans fats in restaraunts? What's next? Banning a fat guy from the buffet line because he might be a burden on the health care system?
Facism...real or percieved is a slippery slope. Whether your idea of facism is the dictatorial kind that KO rails about...or the social facism that RL drones on about, it can get ugly real quick. Could a system of covert (aka illegal) wiretaps to catch terrorists eventually lead to the "Big Brother" scenerio? Yup. Could a ban on a cooking ingredient lead to "Big Brother" scenero? Yup.
IMHO...both side of the political coin are blind to the fact that they act the same way...just about different issues.
Love,
Duke
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