Red Blogule to BUSH'S ADDICTION TO POWER

Archives 20040904 (see blogules 2004)

The guy may have recovered from a double addiction to alcohol and drugs, he is still deeply hooked to power. Hear him talk about presidency (on the TV, at the RNC...), and see how high he is on it.

Now watch this drive, from a Newsweek interview (20040906) : "The Oval Office is a powerful place. It's the kind of place where people stand outside, 'I'm going to come in and tell him what for', and they walk in and get overwhelmed by the atmosphere, and say, 'Man, you're looking beautiful, Mr President' ?(Laughter). And, therefore, you'd better have people that walk in and say, You're right and wrong, and I do."

This man is definitely wrong. The wrong man at the wrong time at the wrong place.

His body language betrays him : the guy is very weak. A wannabe who should never have been, who enjoys every single bit of it who'd do whatever it takes to get his daily fix.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to BUSH, THE NEW HUGO CHAVEZ

Archives 20040902 (see blogules 2004)

Stop demagogy!

Dubya is using the same tricks as Chavez and could get the same results as his fellow dictator if the American audience doesn't get any wake up call. Soon.Time to remember how inspirational the man can be, but how delusive he actually is.

Time to say "It's democracy, stupid".

Some extracts from his inauguration speech (20010120) :

• . "Through much of the last century, America's faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations."
  => A seed of torture upon a wind of shock and awe. What kind of freedom and democracy are you talking about?
• . "America, at its best, matches a commitment to principle with a concern for civility. A civil society demands from each of us good will and respect, fair dealing and forgiveness."
  => Some still do expect that from you. Along with apologies.
• . "If we permit our economy to drift and decline, the vulnerable will suffer most".
  => You're gifted with precognition, man.
• . "We will confront weapons of mass destruction, so that a new century is spared new horrors".
  => And we will use weapons of mass disinformation, so that our voters are spared the horrors we provoque and even sometimes commit.
• . "The enemies of liberty and our country should make no mistake: America remains engaged in the world by history and by choice, shaping a balance of power that favors freedom. We will defend our allies and our interests. We will show purpose without arrogance. We will meet aggression and bad faith with resolve and strength. And to all nations, we will speak for the values that gave our nation birth."
  => Make no mistake : now all nations despise your arrogance and your betrayal of your own nation's values.
• . "And I can pledge our nation to a goal : when we see that wounded traveler on the road to Jericho, we will not pass to the other side."
  => Yeah. You just drove the damn tank over him. And made sure the damns walls were fully destroyed.
• . "America, at its best, is a place where personal responsibility is valued and expected."
  => Thus, we'd value and are expecting your non reelection.
• . "Our public interest depends on private character, on civic duty and family bonds and basic fairness, on uncounted, unhonored acts of decency which give direction to our freedom."
  => Family bonds it is. Along with honored acts of indecency. The problem is the public interest depends on your very private character.
• . "After the Declaration of Independance was signed, Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson : 'We know the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm ?' Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his inauguration. The years and changes accumulate. But the themes of this day he would know: our nation's grand story of courage and its simple dream of dignity. We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity with his purpose. Yet his purpose is achieved in our duty, and our duty is fulfilled in service to one another. Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today, to make our country more just and generous, to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life. This work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm."
  => What a quote ! You knew from the start the race was about swift boats and dignity. You just don't fit in, and the Karl Rove directing the storm is no angel. Learn more about duty and service in your public library (I don't think there will be many other books in your own prez library than your faves : "My Pet Goat", the Reverend Moon's autobiography, "An End To Evil" by Richard Pearle and David Frum... and of course The Stubborn Again Christian Handbook...).

Some extracts from Dubya's acceptance speech (20001213) :

• . "Our nation must rise above a house divided. Americans share hopes and goals and values far more important than any political disagreements"
  => Are the US more divided now than 4 years ago ? Betcha !
• . "I know America wants reconciliation and unity. I know Americans want progress. And we must seize this moment and deliver."
  => Like seizing Iraq and delivering goodies to old pals ?
• . "Together, guided by a spirit of common sense, common courtesy and common goals, we can unite and inspire the American citizens".
  => Courtesy might be your middle name, when you let Karl do the dirty job (I love the "Turd Blossom" you use as a nickname for your first counselor).
• . "Together, we will work to make all our public schools excellent, teaching every student of every background and every accent, so that no child is left behind".
  => Taught 'em how to die in Iraq, didn't you ? Why didn't you include your own major (Dodger 101) in your costly tuition program?
• . "Together we will save Social Security and renew its promise of a secure retirement for generations to come."
  => Social Security and secure retirement for all, no former Halliburton CEO should be left behind.
• . "Together we will strengthen Medicare and offer prescription drug coverage to all of our seniors"
  => Too bad daddy let you use all these non-prescription drugs when you were young...
• . "Together we will give Americans the broad, fair and fiscally responsible tax relief they deserve."
  => ... and a jumbo size deficit while you're at it.
• . "Together we'll have a bipartisan foreign policy true to our values and true to our friends, and we will have a military equal to every challenge and superior to every adversary."
  => By "bipartisan", you meant Lookheed and Martin ? Halli and Burton ? Come on ! Gimme a break. But your military surpasses Saddam's, that's for sure. Even in torture.
• . "This is the essence of compassionate conservatism and it will be a foundation of my administration."
  => Compassionate conservatism indeed. Now you and your compadres can leave. Please.
• . "These priorities are not merely Republican concerns or Democratic concerns; they are American responsibilities."
  => Now I get it. You read by mistake Al's acceptance speech.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to the French language - No equivalent to "liberal"

Archives 20040901 (see blogules 2004)

(discussion : "neocon" a reaction to Bourdieu's "neoliberalism" concept)

There is a translation issue here. In French, a "liberal" person is in favor of unleashed capitalism and total deregulation. From an Hegelian point of view, one may think the French are so much enslaved in capitalism their language considers ultimate capitalism as ultimate freedom.

The thing is we frogs don't have a word that could match "liberal" as you mean it. We tend to stick to XIXth century references (capitalism vs socialism, progressivism...). Such adjectives as "pragmatic" fix some voids, and one could translate "centrism" with "how-the-heck-should-we-call-em-guys-that-don't-fit-in-ism".We badly need to change references, and economy remains a fairly exotic science to the bulk of my fellow citizens (the Bourdieu you quote is a philosopher). To sum it up I think we somehow dub "conservative" someone who didn't adapt to the first industrial revolution (the majority of the population doesn't even know such thing as an "industrial revolution" ever happened), "liberal" someone who'd like a longer leash for his attachment to our "omnipotent - ventripotent" state, and "socialist" someone who loves to consider himself generous but who'd never give up any of his privileges nor share his own wealth.

We're so much fond of "isms" that we're not likely to think "responsible economics" anytime soon.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to the New Lie - France was not against a war on Iraq (if all other options failed)

Archives 20040829 (see blogules 2004)

GWB on CNN's Larry King Live : "this debate on coalitions is a very interesting debate. Sometimes I think they're basically saying that there is no such thing as a coalition unless the French are involved. But the truth of the matter is, the French are involved in Afghanistan, and the French have been involved in Haiti. The French government just didn't agree with the decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power. And, therefore, there was a difference of opinion on that issue."

A Frenchman, I cannot accept this lie : the issue was not about removing Saddam from power but about starting a war with a wrong motive, without any propper peace strategy, but with a clear and immediate danger of fueling terrorism across the planet in general and BRINGING it to Iraq in particular. The war in Afghanistan was completely linked to the war on terror. Too bad Mr Bush used this token for an illegal wild ride, forgetting to finish the job where it mattered : instead of financing what was planned there, he's asking for more billions to cover up his mess in Baghdad. Afghanistan is back to drug mass production, insecurity, corruption and intolerance. Dismission accomplished.

Bush should remember the position of the French government : they were not against a war on Iraq, but only if all other options failed. War isn't only a matter of boys using toys and friends getting contracts. The decision of going to war should not be left into the hands of this man.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to the Electoral College system - Abolish

Archives 20040829 (see blogules 2004)

(discussion about the US system of indirect prez elections)

I'm not very found of the Electoral College system either, which is not fully democratic. But I consider the primaries an interesting crash test for a most-powerful-person-in-the-world wannabee (pure demagogists could be elected - Howard Dean is one thing, Hugo Chavez another kind).

Yet, direct vote is the best system for such a national election (especially since the US consider themselves a leading democracy), not this "nationocal" madness where Republican supporters back Nader and voting methods vary from one state or one county to another (ie the nepotic Banana Republic system in Florida). In this country, the knowledge is kept by a minority and the majority can easily be betrayed (ie the Y2K Floridian bug).

A reform is badly needed and local elections should be held independantly from the national ones. It should be a Federal issue where Governors have no right to cook according to their own receipe.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to Bush's doubletalk

Archives 20040829 (see blogules 2004)

Bush never flipflops. He is always the same self : a dangerous demagogist using whatever words are needed to win. If he always told what he thinks, he would reveal himself as he truly is : a stubborn again Christian, a power abuser, an amoral wannabe who by mistake or theft somehow managed to become the most powerful person in the world. And who now is doing whatever it takes to fool us 4 more years.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to Bush - Stealing words

Archives 20040829 (see blogules 2004)

"Building a safer world and a more hopeful America" will be GWB's wrap up address to the Republican Convention.

Once again using the opposite side's words to make them his own, with just more media power. You may even hear an inspiring Dubya in a few days. The same kind of moving address he gave at his inauguration four years ago. The same smoke screen to cover his hidden agenda up.

Enough of this. Expose him. Do not let America be betrayed once again.

SM on a forum