Let’s have some fun with numbers, all right? Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003. So 365 times three less 38 less another day for leap year gives us 1,056 days from that day to this one.
Now all join in and count along with me. One, two, three, four, etc., etc., etc. and so on and so forth, keep going now, still a long, long way to Tipperary. Count, count, count, don’t give up now …
Oh, man, at last, we made it. One thousand and fifty-six. Take a couple of deep breaths and now let’s wind down with something easy. Count the days between Saddam’s death sentence and the midterm elections. All together now!
One.
Two.
Well, I’ll be damned. What are the odds of that happening?
Tomorrow's front-page in every paper in America will read "Saddam Sentenced to Death." What are the odds that the timing is coincidental? Zero. But does it matter? This is what the administration does; the coffins keep rolling in. More than 100 Americans in October alone. But the press operation just keeps on chugging. And to what ends?
This administration has no shame. They don't know the first thing about controlling a country either at home or abroad, but their control over the news cycle would make the Tass weep.
They have a positive contempt for truth. But not for one second in my lifetime, and perhaps in our nation's history, has the press and the populous ever been more puppet-like in responding to a public relations machine.
For that matter, the entire government seems political, including the arms of it that are most in need of apolitical credibility.
Sure, DOJ won't indict the Abramoff members, including Burns, for a while if at all.
Sure Scooter Libby waited for 60,000 Ohioans.
Sure the "mission" was "accomplished."
Sure, the people of New Orleans didn't need help so much as a well-lit city square during prime time after the waters and the lives had receded.
Sure, 600,000 people have died in a war founded on lies and supported by rhetoric.
Sure, for the cost of the war that had nothing to do with the attack we could have instead provided housing for millions homeless Americans; or health care for all. You know, luxuries.
Sure, the scientists from around the globe are wrong on global warming.
Sure, we've lost any semblance of credibility around the globe for going from the nation that was a City on a Hill for human and civil rights and freedom, to a world power that actively seeks and actively does undermine such sacred ground as the Geneva Conventions.
Sure, we've virtually repealed 230 years of due process in the form of habeas corpus. Because no one is EVER wrongly accused right?
But hot DAMN, they control the news cycle to meet their own ends like nobody's business. And the people eat it up. If we were electing a PR machine they would have my vote. Unfortunately, they run the world, not a Hollywood press boutique..
The P.R. machine works because it preys on our fears and not our hopes.. Wednesday's papers will read: "Democratic Gains Less than Expected." And as for the race I care about the most, any Montanan who votes for a man who, over 18 years has repeatedly used the very worst of racist slurs in public and in the public record, should be positively ashamed of themselves. Unfortunately, they'll just care that they won. And the rest of the world, including America, will have lost. Lost a lot. Of credibility. Of opportunity. Of respect.
We can't control the puppeteers' headlines. But if you happen to know a Montana voter, I encourage you to reach out to him or her today. The polls show a dead heat.
How it comes to pass that 47 percent of the state supports Burns despite the repeated, objective transgressions is something I try not to think about while I romanticize the state I love and in which I so dearly want to believe.
This is a chance to reach for something more for Montana. Tester is a good man and a good personal friend. He's a smart guy, and a real Montanan through and through; if, by real Montanan we still mean, someone who respects people of all kinds; If by "family values" we still mean someone who values the family from Grandparent to Grandchild, regardless of wealth, regardless of ethnicity, regardless of whom they love.
18 years of embarrasment is more than enough. Please don't let those you love vote to further shame our state. Please vote, and encourage your friends and family to vote for a new direction, a new face, a new sense of respect. The lobbyists' red carpet may be a fact of life in Washington, but, for too long, it has been out rolled out in front of Conrad Burns' door. Please support Jon Tester on Tuesday.
I'm interested in what you have to say, Anonymous, and would like to talk to you about it. Would you mind emailing me directly, at remnant@mohawk.net? I'd appreciate it.
Posted by: Jerry Doolittle on November 6, 2006 10:33 AMGreat comment, Anon!
FWIW, the Post has Tester ahead by 2% with 74% counted at 12:15 Pacific. They haven't called it yet, but it's looking good.
What about Lieberman, though? What's up with Connecticut? I realize money from Rove helped, but 10% with 83% reported — what the hell? Apparently Jerry and my mom are not as representative as I thought…
Posted by: Chuck Dupree (Belisarius0 on November 8, 2006 3:20 AMCongratulations, X! Tester won! And he wasn't Chuck Schumer's choice any more than Jim Webb was, right?
Posted by: Joyful Alternative on November 9, 2006 5:08 PM