Kuttner: America as one-party state. How they are taking total dominion.

[enough]

Long article -- MUST READ. Outlines the methods by which the right is taking control of all branches of government. Puts it all together.

http://www.prospect.org/print/V15/2/kuttner-r.html

America as a One-Party State

Today's hard right seeks total dominion. It's packing the courts and rigging the rules. The target is not the Democrats but democracy itself.

By Robert Kuttner (The American Prospect) Issue Date: 2.1.04

America has had periods of single-party dominance before. It happened under FDR's New Deal, in the Republican 1920s and in the early 19th-century "Era of Good Feeling." But if President Bush is re-elected, we will be close to a tipping point of fundamental change in the political system itself. The United States could become a nation in which the dominant party rules for a prolonged period, marginalizes a token opposition and is extremely difficult to dislodge because democracy itself is rigged. This would be unprecedented in U.S. history.

snip>

We are at risk of becoming an autocracy in three key respects. First, Republican parliamentary gimmickry has emasculated legislative opposition in the House of Representatives (the Senate has other problems). House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas has both intimidated moderate Republicans and reduced the minority party to window dressing, rather like the token opposition parties in Mexico during the six-decade dominance of the PRI.

Second, electoral rules have been rigged to make it increasingly difficult for the incumbent party to be ejected by the voters, absent a Depression-scale disaster, Watergate-class scandal or Teddy Roosevelt-style ruling party split.

snip>

Third, the federal courts, which have slowed some executive-branch efforts to destroy liberties, will be a complete rubber stamp if the right wins one more presidential election.

Taken together, these several forces could well enable the Republicans to become the permanent party of autocratic government for at least a generation. Am I exaggerating? Take a close look at the particulars.

much more>

[patricia92243]

1. This is what we are all terrified of. This will be the last pretense of..

a two-party system if we don't get Bush out of office.

[unblock]

2. indeed, but don't kid yourself that it's that easy

winning the presidency in 2004 is only one step. they've got a lead on us about a quarter-century long.

they will still control the supreme court.

unless there's a landslide with BIG coattails, they will still control both houses of congress.

they still have a large majority of federal justices.

they still have most state legislatures.

and the still own the media.


our work has just begun....

[chimpymustgo]

3. We can fight. We have to fight.

That is why I get furious when people on this board insist they are going to vote 3rd party.

People - wake up. ABB.

[HereSince1628]

4. If we're going to fight, we must accept some real passion

As revealled by the attention given to the rally cry, not only the media, but many DU'ers seemed to find that inappropriate.

Just how are you going to have a fight while never raising your voice and always drinking out of 4 oz teacups with your pinky curled?

Submitting to the imposition of the rules found in Media Manners Guide to Decorum and Democratic Losses seems antithetical to anything that can be called a fight.

[salin]

5. kick for those who have not yet read - very, very impt.

[librechik]

6. Damn--we better shake some people awake quick, if this is the future

we are truly screwed unless we can get more people to understand these complex dynamics and secretive strategies which are taking our democracy away. How can these RWers claim to be Americans and nakedly grab for dictatorial powers in these sneaky, bully-boy ways? I am disgusted with Congress for abandoning the will of the people for their own selfish interests.