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--- Yeah,.... that's right. It's a line from the Cowardly Lion's song in "The Wizard of Oz." Which makes it a tremendous analogy for the situation attending the democrats' standoff with the Bush-PNAC junta in the White House. Phony wizard? Check. Cowardly King of the Forest? Hmm,.. sure seems that way at times. Post-2006 election, the democrats ARE the nominal Kings of the Forest, eh? And while there is plenty of political cowardice floating around in there somewhere, the democrats' apparent timidity could also be partially explained by the fact that a fair number of them (DLC) ultimately "work" for the same big corporatist interests as do the republicans,.... and also by the glaring absence of a unifying, cohesive gameplan. Let's just look at the latter case for a minute.
--- Flush into majority status,... the "first 100 hours" legislation successfully on the books,.. the democrats have a number of their various committee chair-people pursuing their respective investigations (and respective careers) and doing good things, no question. I love Waxman, in particular. But I don't see a "plan" unfolding,... especially a plan to stop Bush in his Unitary Executive war-making tracks. That has to be done at all or any costs. An attack on Iran is unthinkable, except in the Strangelovian reasoning of the neocon junta that sees itself as having a chokehold on the course of planetary human history. I haven't seen any evidence that anyone on the democratic sidelines,... a "coach, if you will,... has said, "Okay, here's how we're going to beat back the neocon determination to force the USA into permanent war status in the Mideast." We need that.
--- And remember,... we may only have a couple of weeks. These guys are nuts. Gotta work fast, Ok?
--- The "non-binding" resolutions are Ok,.. especially considering the extent of republican cooperation with them. And the potential for cut-off of war funds is always on the table in the House,.. although it is difficult to imagine just how much worse things have to get before that card is played. But no matter,.... Those are the procedural antidotes favored by lifetime political careerists,.. and not by the true heirs of the original patriots or the Founding Fathers. These are extraordinary times, and they call for extraordinary measures.
--- If the democrats expect to be Kings of the Forest, here are some of the measures that ought to be included in a winning gameplan. (And remember when you're reading this,... I'm not a politician, but I used to train special forces... I play for keeps.)
--- IMMEDIATELY,.. Send a private democratic delegation to the Pentagon. Remind them that Bush's intention of attacking Iran is in conflict with the popular legislative will of the people. Let them know that any ensuing Constitutional crisis will be on their hands, IF they choose to humor a rogue executive. Tell them they can be heroes right now, or they can be incarcerated for the rest of their lives, once things return to normal in 2008. Tell them that,... just that way.
--- IMMEDIATELY,.. Send a democratic envoy to Iran to urge them to show restraint in the face of Bush-PNAC attempts to provoke them into any action which could be used as cause for a US attack.
--- IMMEDIATELY,.. Hold up all war funds, contingent upon a $250 billion tax against corporations that have benefitted and profitted from the war. That means Halliburton, Bechtel, KBR and Big OIL, for sure. Give the bill a "downside" involving litigation, prison sentences and executions for treason. Privately communicate to corporate honcho's that you will use the "Patriot Act" to see that they are never seen or heard from again. Make an example out of Lazar or Bechtel. Make this the "beginning of the end" of corporate influence in American politics. Democrats are supposed to be the "people's party" eh?
--- IMMEDIATELY,.. Send a memo to all democratic state governors telling them that they WILL hold up federal appropriation of their National Guard units for foreign military action. If Bush calls for their troops, then he will have to send the Army to collect them. Force a showdown. Three dissenting states will be enough to stop Bush.
--- Pass a bill in the House designating the PNAC as a subversive, treasonous and anti-American organization. Stipulate penalties for all members of not less than ten years hard time. PNAC members who actually were members of the administration won't do that well. Capital punishment is in the mix.
--- Bring charges against the corporate sponsors of the Bush administration. Don't obsess about the sentencing,... five years will do,.... but see to it that 100% of their property is confiscated. Hey,.. we do it to drug dealers.
--- Launch an all-out, no-holds-barred effort to profoundly discredit and humiliate George W. Bush. Put up $50 million to fully investigate his insider deals with Arbusto, the Bahrain oil deal, BCCI, the Saudi connections, etc. Give the investigators guns. Follow it to the end. Make the Bush name synonomous with "Satan." Now there's a legacy.
--- Ignore the republicans. Make your case directly to the American people. Call it an update of FDR's "fireside chats." Frequent democratic infomercials,........ Much as I despise TV programming,... it seems to be what motivates and influences people. Use it. Tell people what you are doing,... what the other side is doing,... and be honest. And as for the GOP-corporate-controlled media,..... pass a gargantuan tax on any corporation operating a news media source,... in addition to doing stuff like making toasters or hygiene products. Tax the corporatist media out of existence,.... and give journalism back to the journalists.
--- Oh jeez,..... I've probably written too much,.... and I still haven't even begun to address the subject. We are in a war, folks. The "other side" consists of a thousand monied families who are accustomed to having things their way,...fond notions of democracy no exception,... and George W. Bush is THEIR president. Not ours. We need to set things straight.
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