The Most Important Election In History

Less than two weeks to go and there's every reason to be optimistic; the polls show that by a margin of fifty-seven to thirty-seven percent (six percent of us couldn't care less), the people want to give the House and Senate back to the Democrats. The GOP is quite literally imploding as one ugly, shameful scandal after another makes itself known....Then why am I full of pessimism? There are a number of reasons for that. First, there is what can only be described as the unexplainable over-confidence of the First Fool. In an interview on Sunday with ABC's George Stephanopolus, when asked if he thought the republicans would be able to hold on to power, he seemed to possess not a shred of a doubt. Why would he portray himself in such a way when all the evidence says that, come Election Day, the results will make him look foolish? Is this just another example of his well known arrogance? Is it merely his obvious and inarguable stupidity? Or is it more than that? Could it be the possibility that he knows he has nothing to worry about because the fix is in? They've already successfully stolen two elections, do you seriously doubt they won't try to do it again? Don't let your guard down.

All of the so-called "October surprises" are in place. The new dialogue out of the White House is that there is now the possibility of massive troop withdrawal by early 2008. They're even implying that Iraqi leaders had better have their act together very soon - or else. This sort of talk is totally at odds with their previous position: "When they stand up, we'll stand down". Press Secretary Tony Snow has just announced that the term, "Stay the course", is no longer operational. What's this all about? Are they serious? Of course they're not. It's just another cynical election year ploy. After November 7th, whatever the outcome, it'll be business as usual. They have been lying to us for six years and that's not going to change - ever.

And here's another very good reason to be concerned about the election next week: the jaw-dropping stupidity of the American public. Although most Americans voted against George W. Bush in 2000, a significant minority of them were dumb enough to actually believe that sending him to the White House was a neat idea. That is the reason they were able to steal the election. When the vote is that close, it's always easy to "adjust" the results in your favor. I'm sure if there's going to be any salvation for the Republican Party, it will be the new, easily hackable electronic voting machines that are manufactured by a major GOP contributor. That's how they were able to steal Ohio and New Mexico in 2004. They're planning on doing the same thing this year. Count on it.

The big question is, will enough democrats and independents make it to the polls next week to make another stolen election virtually impossible? Maybe. But recent polls are starting to give me the jitters. In Tennessee, Harold Ford, Jr., who is the most extraordinary candidate to run for public office in my lifetime (and that includes Jack and Bobby Kennedy) is now running two percentage points behind his opponent, the aptly named, Bob Corker. After a healthy lead in the early stages of the campaign, Ford, who is black, was caught off guard when the GOP began playing the race card which, as we all know, is one of their specialties. In Virginia, inexplicably, Republican incumbent, George Allen - a man who gives mediocrity a bad name, a man so gut-bustingly out-of-touch with reality he actually thinks he is going to be our next president - is running ahead of his challenger, Jim Webb. Yeah. There are good reasons to be worried - a whole lot of reasons .

Of this there is no doubt: if the Democrats screw this one up, our country is finished. We cannot afford this reckless and criminal president to go on for another two years pissing on our Constitution. This administration has committed far too many crimes to even list and must be called to account. In an excellent article called, "Inside The Worst Congress Ever", in this week's Rolling Stone, Matt Taibbi writes that during the Clinton years, the Republicans, "issued more than one-thousand subpoenas to investigate alleged administration and Democratic misconduct, reviewing more than two-million pages of government documents. Guess how many subpoenas have been issued to the White House since Gorge W. Bush took office? Zero - that's right, zero...". One of the "investigations" initiated by the republicans during this period was Bubba's mis-use of the White House Christmas card list - I'm serious! Please, if you get a chance, pick up a copy of that issue - It's worth the price of the ticket. As Taibbi's piece makes clear, another two years of a corrupt, sycophantic and rubber stamp Congress will do this country more harm than can be accurately assessed. The damage that the Bush administration has done to this nation and the planet will be with us for generations. They must be placed in check and, most importantly, removed from office by means of impeachment. The Republicans aren't going to do that. The Democrats will.

According to CNN, fifty-eight percent of Americans believe that the Democrats have no plan for the 110th Congress. Sadly, that's probably true. One hopes that, once they take control, they'll be able to gain their footing and set things on a steady course by going back to their wicked liberal ways. But remember this: the Republicans do have a plan - a big plan - and it doesn't bode well for you and me. What they have planned is the ultimate destruction of the middle class in this country and a continuous war of aggression across the globe - the blueprint of which can be found in the pages of the Project For A New American Century (PNAC). When, during the campaign of 2000, Bush claimed that he didn't believe in "nation building" and that he would impose a "humble" foreign policy, he wasn't telling you the truth (Surprise!) The truth is, while Bush was making these statements, the PNAC Mob was already measuring the Situation Room for drapes.

The next thirteen days are riddled with uncertainty. This disgusting, incumbent president has the power to unleash a chain of events that could be devastating to the hopes and aspirations of the minority party. The only thing they have to offer is fear, itself, and part of their plan is to frighten the masses into staying with their murderous agenda. But be absolutely certain of this: If the GOP is allowed another two years of their rape and plunder of our economy, our country and our planet, by the end of the Bush era - whenever the hell that's going to be - you won't recognize America. You might not even recognize yourselves.

Pray for peace.

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
tomdegan@frontiernet.net