archived: 20 - 26 Jan, 2008         Back                 Next

UPDATED:  JAN 23, 2008  

“THE PERMANENT REPUBLICAN PRESIDENCY, PART 3: WHAT THE DEMOCRATS CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT IT HAPPENS” 

The bulk of the text of this column first appeared on August 29, 2007, as part 3 of a series entitled “The Permanent Republican Presidency.”  In view of the debacle that is currently going on in the Democratic Primaries between Sens. Clinton and Obama, it seems suitable to re-run it.  In terms of the text below, they are, it must be said, both now supporting reasonable timetables for withdrawal from Iraq.  On the other issues raised, neither one addresses any of them, except on rare occasions Bush in passing.  For example, neither has raised the issue of Permanent War and likely never will.  That is unless one regards what is going on between them as Permanent War.   

This war, if continued, will lead directly to the election of a Republican in 2008, for the following reasons.  A) they are handing the Republicans so much negative sound-bite material that they won’t know what to do with it, B) much more importantly they are driving wedges right into the heart of the Democratic Party, and C) when they should be using the present opportunity to convince Democratic voters that they would be the best candidate to take on the Republicans and the total BushCheney record by attacking both non-stop, they continue to insist on focusing almost entirely on each other and at the most base level. In commenting on Democratic politics sometime last fall I did say that Clinton and Obama might take each other apart to the extent that Sen. Edwards could sneak through the gap to the nomination.  He may well have that in mind himself, which is likely why he is sticking around.  Hey, in politics as in Super Bowls, you never know. 

Given the seriousness of this situation, we thought to interrupt the presentation in three parts of chapter 10 of The 15% Solution.  We will return with Part 2 next week.   And so, to what I wrote back in August of last year.  Read it and weep. 

For the past two columns I have been talking with you about Karl Rove’s present supreme objective: the establishment of the Permanent Republican Presidency (PRP).  That he has suddenly left the White House is an indication that he will, likely already is, heavily involved in the 2008 elections, with this as his goal (see my Commentary on BuzzFlash at http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/jonas/074). The Democrats --- Presidential candidates, Congressional membership, commentator/analysts, and rank-and-file --- all have a major role to play in all of this.  In fact, I am, sure that Rove is counting on them to do their part.  In this column I lay out what the Democrats need to do to ensure that Rove’s objective is indeed achieved.  Long-time readers of mine know just how much I like to write “what the Democrats must do” columns.  Well, here’s another one.  Some of these tasks are those of all of the Democratic constituencies, some for just one to three.  We will consider the tasks serially. 

On Iraq: 

As I have discussed in this space and on BuzzFlash a number of times now, it is becoming evermore clear that the Georgite goal in Iraq is the creation of Permanent War, for that it is the only route to the establishment of the Permanent Republican Presidency.  Others are picking up that theme as well.  As far as Iraq is concerned, Bush cares not a wit about that nation itself or the Iraqi people themselves.  What he does care about is the ongoing American presence in Iraq, the ongoing violence in Iraq, yes the creation of new potential terrorists in Iraq, the creation of a new branch of something that labels itself "Al Qaeda in Iraq" even if bin Laden's base is somewhere in the territory of the U.S. "ally" Pakistan. The reason Bush will not negotiate with anybody, much less the Democrats, on any plan for Iraq withdrawal is that for Bush, withdrawal is simply not on the table. 

And so, to ensure the PRP, it is vital that none of the Democratic constituencies, especially the Presidential candidates, raise this as an issue.  Further, it is vital that the Presidential candidates (with the exception of Kucinich and Richardson) must present positions on Iraq that are nuanced, not black-and-white.  They must surely not talk about immediate withdrawal.  They must surely not talk about any “third way,” neither stay forever or precipitously withdraw (see my TPJ column No. 159).  Doing so will accomplish two things.  It will cause vast numbers of potential anti-Iraq War voters to say “see, there is really no difference between the two parties” and just not go to the polls, and it will virtually ensure the entry of a third party, immediate withdrawal, candidate.  Just what Rove wants. 

On George Bush

One could write volumes on George Bush (and I have, in this space and several others).  But it is vital to ensure the PRP for the Democratic commentator/analysts to persist in the delusion that Bush is being delusional about Iraq or anything else.  He ain’t (see my TPJ column No. 160).  He knows exactly what the reality is and he persists in his policies precisely because he likes what he sees and wants it.  But, heavens, we must never say that and attack him directly.  No let’s just persist in calling him a raving lunatic. 

The Constitution and the Assault Upon It 

This is an issue that all of the Democratic constituencies must avoid at all costs, and with a few brave exceptions here and there among the left-wing commentators, the rank-and-file, and Senators Leahy and Reid, most of them do.  “Can’t win an election” on those issues, many say.  Well, as you know, in my view this is the number one issue facing the country, even more important than Iraq.  We had better figure out ways to bring it into the campaign, for as a sign in my dentist’s office says about your teeth: “if you don’t take care of your teeth, they will just go disappear.”  Under the Georgites, the Constitution, described by the Head George as “just a scrap of paper,” is doing a fantastic disappearing act.

For the past three months or so, I have been calling this the “F___ You Presidency.”  Nothing is any of the Congresses’ business, or the people’s business for that matter.  Congress says “do this.”  The President says “F___ You.”  And given our non-parliamentary system (which latter also has its own severe limitations when taken over by someone like George Bush, e.g., Margaret Thatcher), there is little Congress can do.  But for the direct violations (e.g. of Article VI on torture, the warrantless searches, the violations of prisoners rights), the Signing Statements, the Executive Orders, and etc., we must be sure not to frame them in terms that show the people how they can negatively affect everyday life in this county, and thus make these major campaign issues, blaming Bush.  No, we must continue to blame the Democratic Congress. 

Further on Attacking the Democratic Congress 

To help ensure the PRP our commentators/analysts must act and write as if when ignored like they are, Congress can actually can buck Bush on the major issues, when he knows so well how to use the powers, real and made-up-with-no-recourse, of his office.  It is also vital for our side to continue to present the position that “we elected THE Democrats to do A, B, and C,” as if, A) for the Congress we voted on lists as they do in Israel, not 435 separate Congressional and 33/34 at-a-time Senate seats, B) there were presently a national “Democratic Position” on the major policy issues, to which all Democratic Congresspeople adhere, C) that the Democratic Party is not, as it always been, a coalition, and D) that we are lucky to have ended the Republican grip on Congress so that at least it can investigate (even if nothing much comes of such investigations now) and we have a sounding board in Washington.   

No, if we are going to ensure that PRP, we must continue to attack those Congressional Democrats who don’t fully agree with us and make them the principal enemy, not George W. Bush.  Bush and the Georgites have massively expanded the Executive Branch powers, on their own authority, and have a near stranglehold on the Federal courts.  So, who needs Congress?  But let’s blame Congress for that, not Bush.  That’s a sure winner for the PRP. 

The Big Lie Technique 

Under Rove’s tutelage, Bush and the Georgites, have become past masters at the Big Lie Technique (see Bush’s speech on Iraq and comparing it with Vietnam to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Aug. 22, 2007).  Using Permanent Fear and Permanent War they may well, in one way or another, establish Republican control of the Executive Branch for as far as the eye can presently see.  For example, there is the total dyslogic of the President saying that the nation needs him and the Republican Party (except for its own weaklings) to protect it against al Qaeda at the same time that he is saying that al Qaeda is now as strong or stronger than it was on 9/11. And on whose watch did that occur and for what reasons (like the War on Iraq)? But logic doesn't apply when Goebbelsian Propaganda is your archetype, as it is for Rove et al.  And heaven help our side if none but one Presidential candidate (Kucinich) ever points that out.  Heaven help us, all of our constituencies, if we ever Attack on Defense (see my TPJ column No. 149).  Doing that just wouldn’t be right.  And doing it would significantly decrease the chances for success of Rove’s PRP campaign.  We couldn’t have that, now could we?   

There is a counter to The Big Lie Technique. It’s called The Big Truth Technique.  But using it requires that positions be taken that are not nuanced, not on-the-one-hand-this-on-the-other-hand-that, not unequivocal, like the positions taken by the Big Lie technique with the only difference being that they are true.  Nah, couldn’t have that, now could we?  Why if we did, our side might actually be able to win the Presidency in 2008.  Of course, if we don’t, without the Executive Branch, even with a Democratic Congress, things are going to get even worse for ourselves, our nation, and the world.  But heavens to Betsy, we cannot focus on the single most important task facing the Democrats at all levels in 2008: wresting the Presidency from the Georgites.  Nah, we couldn’t have that, now could we?  

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