The Seven "C's" to Bring Down Bush!

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Todd Harvey

Dear BuzzFlash,

There is growing anecdotal evidence that many people who voted for Bush in 2000 will not be doing so in 2004. We must recognize that a segment of the population that leans to the middle, the swing voters who could be the key to a Kerry victory in Nov., may be looking for a good reason to reject the Republican ticket. Perhaps one or all of the following reasons will resonate with enough of them to make a difference. I call them the "seven C's".

1) Bush is not conservative. It doesn't take deep analysis to see that there is very little that is truly conservative about this group. Fiscal policy of record deficits, hostility to conserving our environment, the blurring of church/state lines and efforts to recruit church groups (including the Vatican) to do partisan work, the intrusion of government in people's bedrooms and doctor's offices, preemptive war and nation building, etc., etc., are all contrary to traditional conservative values. (It might also be a good time to reclaim the word liberal by pointing out all the major advances in the human social condition that have been the result of liberal thinking. ) Don't grant Bush the coveted title of conservative!

[BuzzFlash Note: See Rev. Jackson's "There's no shame in being liberal" and Eric Alterman's "Think Again: The Word 'Liberal.'"]

2) Bush is not credible. The litany of Bush lies and dissembling is well documented. In fact, entire books have been written about it! It's important to point out the difference, or lack of it, between technically lying, and intending to deceive. Bush has a real inclination to the latter, as well as an incredible sloppiness with the facts. Just ask these people how much Bush's word is worth. Expose the deception of the "straight shooter"!

3) Bush is not competent. What can he point to as evidence of his abilities? Not only in the last 3 1/2 years, but his whole life? Would you hire this man to run your company? Is his team competent? What success can they point to? They claim that he is best able to fight terrorism. What evidence is there for that? What did he do after 9/11 that any other person in that office wouldn't have done? Bush's grasp of the war on terror doesn't seem to extend beyond "they are evildoers who hate our freedom." We need better than that!

4) Bush is not compassionate. His policies consistently reflect the worst aspects of Darwinian capitalism and favor the wealthy elite that is his base. He has shown consistent disregard (in his actions) for the unfortunate of society, and looming budget deficits will only make things get worse.

5) Bush's actions are not Christian. Central tenets of Christianity include to forgive and turn the other cheek, and to be careful about the pursuit of material wealth. The defining foreign policy doctrine of Bush is to strike before you are struck. The defining domestic policy of tax cuts accelerate the accumulation of wealth at the top and serve to help the rich get richer. Has Bush done what Jesus would do?

6) Bush can't claim to be the candidate of character. For all these reasons listed here and more, there is no reason to grant him this quality. He has allied himself with the most slimy and scurrilous elements of the right wing attack machine ("Rush Limbaugh is a national treasure"). His administration is the most controlling, secretive and manipulative in memory. For all his pretense of piety, he seems to have a very mean streak and dirty mouth. The first defense of this administration is to slander, smear and ridicule any opposition. What does this say about his integrity?

7) Bush doesn't honor our Constitution. List the ways, from the Patriot Act to his assuming the power to send the nation to war, in which he disregards our foundation, our defining document. His administration doesn't respect the checks and balances of power, the church/state separation of a pluralistic society, the open and free flow of information, the right to dissent, etc. He jokes about wanting to be a dictator, and believes that being president means he doesn't have to explain his actions. He has broken his oath to protect and defend the Constitution!

The Bush team has succeeded in large part because they have shaped an image of Bush that is contrary to the facts. Help the swing voters see what has been obvious to us for so long. Everything about Bush's public life testifies to the triumph of spin, image and sound bite politics over substance, truth and accomplishment; of money over ability; of blind ideology over facts, reason and competence.

This poster boy of privilege and plutocracy poses as a "common man," while he wages a class war. This shell of zero accomplishment dresses up in military gear and proclaims "I'm a 'war president." All his so called strengths are illusions and all his many weaknesses are self evident every time he talks. Rather than being a uniter, as he claimed, this most polarizing president has dangerously divided our country.

Maybe these points will help to start exposing the nakedness of this emperor.

Sincerely,

Todd Harvey
Northfield, MN

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION