Patriotism
July 26th 2008 02:24
Welcome to Todays World; Today we have an essay on “Politics As
Usual;” “Business is Business:” and what a bunch of Scoundrels; by my good friend Scott.
What a World!!!
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." (Attributed to Samuel Johnson)
Samuel Johnson was a noted 18th century British writer who was also sympathetic to the American cause; which probably didn't do much to elevate his standing with patriotic Brits of his time.
Today, as often happens during elections, much is being said about which of the candidates for American president is the most patriotic; as if that personal characteristic alone qualifies one to hold public office. Never mind that former president Richard Nixon was considered a real patriot in his day.
Although he loudly proclaimed "I am not a crook" he nevertheless fled the Oval Office to avoid a congressional impeachment trial and a probable criminal indictment for "high crimes and misdemeanors." Recall that Nixon's hand-picked team of bungling burglars were arrested after breaking into the Democratic Party headquarters at Washington's now famous Watergate Hotel. It later emerged that Nixon's 'black bag' squads also burglarized a psychiatrist's office, rummaging through private medical records in an effort to discredit one Daniel Ellsberg, a prominent 'whistle blower' regarding the government's Vietnam misadventure who leaked "The Pentagon Papers."
Fortunately for him Nixon's cherry-picked presidential replacement was Gerald Ford. As another noted 'patriot' Ford quickly pardoned his criminal predecessor, thereby saving "Tricky Dick" from further disgrace and a possible prison sentence.
Never mind also that Nixon's ardently patriotic Vice-President, Spiro T. Agnew,
was himself convicted of accepting bribes from big construction corporations while serving in his previous job as governor of Maryland. Agnew nearly always wore an American flag lapel pin, and was (in)famous for lambasting peaceniks and others opposed to the U.S. invasion of Vietnam as "nattering nabobs of negativism" (whatever that means). He was still a crook.
Never mind that current V.P. Dick Cheney
also proudly displays a red-white-and-blue lapel pin at every photo op. As a true patriot he champions the military invasion of Iraq, but Cheney says he "had other priorities" during the Vietnam conflict. He was apparently too busy to serve the country whose flag lapel pin he now prominently sports on his expensive suits.
Not to be outdone by the Republicans, Democrat governor Elliot Spitzer just left office as it was being learned he squandered over $80,000 on hookers. That's a lot of cash money being spent for women whose businesses he built a career prosecuting, while serving as attorney general for New York state. Spitzer probably spent more on sex than each of those women spend on rent and other living expenses in two or three year's time. Wouldn't they love to have his budget? And aren't they more deserving of it? How many women had to languish in jail cells, victims of this politician sporting an American flag lapel pin? How many watched t.v. as the consummate hypocrite who sent them there resigned in disgrace as New York's "law & order" governor?
Regardless of which type of corruption we find most odious, all of these self-described "patriots" have been living illustrations of Samuel Johnson's reported observation: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
Every time we pass by an automobile dealership festooned with American flags, recall the famous satirical poster of President "Tricky Dick" Nixon's growling face, and the amusing slogan adorning it which read, "Would you buy a used car from this man?"
On July 8th the Associated Press reported from Washington that trade with Iran is today 10 times greater than it was when George W. Bush took office as president eight years ago. Today you and I can be arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to prison for trading with Iran. The Iranians are described by the White House as part of an alleged international "Axis of Evil" that includes North Korea and once included Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Yet the A.P. reports that, despite severe restrictions and penalties imposed by the government on trade between the people of Iran and the United States, U.S. corporations are trading with Iran at record levels and without penalties of any kind. What's going on here? Trading with the "Axis of Evil"? The government says it "won't negotiate with terrorists"... but it is willing to sell weapons to them? Is this some kind of Devil's Bargain?
I don't think so. Notwithstanding the 'tit-for-tat' bellicose frothings of its nominal leader, president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could it be that Iran is not really much of a military threat after all? Like they say, to find the truth you just "follow the money." And the smart money appears to be betting that, unlike the manifest designs of American capital, the nation of Iran actually has no realistic empire building aspirations.
Although 'John Q. Citizen' can't even smoke a genuine Cuban cigar in the United States without breaking a stupid law, the Associated Press reports that tobacco corporations and other businesses are allowed to profit by exporting all sorts of products to Iran, including lethal weapons. If the state was truly worried that Iran is capable of causing big trouble outside its borders, is it likely that trading weapons for cash to the mullahs would be allowed?
Apparently you and I must be restrained, but "business is business" and "free enterprise" apparently means the freedom for private corporations to make a buck doing exactly what you and I as individuals are forbidden to do in the name of a bogus "national security" scare. As current rumors of an impending conflict with Iran increase, Samuel Johnson's word to the wise should suffice. "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
Well, what do you think about that. Interesting, what?? Thanks for the visit to Todays World, and a click on my sponsors’ links would be very much appreciated.
(And, of course, there are always the good parts of America, though they aren't necessarily political...)
Usual;” “Business is Business:” and what a bunch of Scoundrels; by my good friend Scott.
What a World!!!
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." (Attributed to Samuel Johnson)
Samuel Johnson was a noted 18th century British writer who was also sympathetic to the American cause; which probably didn't do much to elevate his standing with patriotic Brits of his time.
Samuel Johnson
Today, as often happens during elections, much is being said about which of the candidates for American president is the most patriotic; as if that personal characteristic alone qualifies one to hold public office. Never mind that former president Richard Nixon was considered a real patriot in his day.
Richard Nixon
Although he loudly proclaimed "I am not a crook" he nevertheless fled the Oval Office to avoid a congressional impeachment trial and a probable criminal indictment for "high crimes and misdemeanors." Recall that Nixon's hand-picked team of bungling burglars were arrested after breaking into the Democratic Party headquarters at Washington's now famous Watergate Hotel. It later emerged that Nixon's 'black bag' squads also burglarized a psychiatrist's office, rummaging through private medical records in an effort to discredit one Daniel Ellsberg, a prominent 'whistle blower' regarding the government's Vietnam misadventure who leaked "The Pentagon Papers."
Fortunately for him Nixon's cherry-picked presidential replacement was Gerald Ford. As another noted 'patriot' Ford quickly pardoned his criminal predecessor, thereby saving "Tricky Dick" from further disgrace and a possible prison sentence.
Never mind also that Nixon's ardently patriotic Vice-President, Spiro T. Agnew,
Spiro Agnew, from the Library of Congress
Never mind that current V.P. Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney (o.k., it's irreverant)
Not to be outdone by the Republicans, Democrat governor Elliot Spitzer just left office as it was being learned he squandered over $80,000 on hookers. That's a lot of cash money being spent for women whose businesses he built a career prosecuting, while serving as attorney general for New York state. Spitzer probably spent more on sex than each of those women spend on rent and other living expenses in two or three year's time. Wouldn't they love to have his budget? And aren't they more deserving of it? How many women had to languish in jail cells, victims of this politician sporting an American flag lapel pin? How many watched t.v. as the consummate hypocrite who sent them there resigned in disgrace as New York's "law & order" governor?
Regardless of which type of corruption we find most odious, all of these self-described "patriots" have been living illustrations of Samuel Johnson's reported observation: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
Every time we pass by an automobile dealership festooned with American flags, recall the famous satirical poster of President "Tricky Dick" Nixon's growling face, and the amusing slogan adorning it which read, "Would you buy a used car from this man?"
On July 8th the Associated Press reported from Washington that trade with Iran is today 10 times greater than it was when George W. Bush took office as president eight years ago. Today you and I can be arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to prison for trading with Iran. The Iranians are described by the White House as part of an alleged international "Axis of Evil" that includes North Korea and once included Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Yet the A.P. reports that, despite severe restrictions and penalties imposed by the government on trade between the people of Iran and the United States, U.S. corporations are trading with Iran at record levels and without penalties of any kind. What's going on here? Trading with the "Axis of Evil"? The government says it "won't negotiate with terrorists"... but it is willing to sell weapons to them? Is this some kind of Devil's Bargain?
I don't think so. Notwithstanding the 'tit-for-tat' bellicose frothings of its nominal leader, president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could it be that Iran is not really much of a military threat after all? Like they say, to find the truth you just "follow the money." And the smart money appears to be betting that, unlike the manifest designs of American capital, the nation of Iran actually has no realistic empire building aspirations.
Although 'John Q. Citizen' can't even smoke a genuine Cuban cigar in the United States without breaking a stupid law, the Associated Press reports that tobacco corporations and other businesses are allowed to profit by exporting all sorts of products to Iran, including lethal weapons. If the state was truly worried that Iran is capable of causing big trouble outside its borders, is it likely that trading weapons for cash to the mullahs would be allowed?
Apparently you and I must be restrained, but "business is business" and "free enterprise" apparently means the freedom for private corporations to make a buck doing exactly what you and I as individuals are forbidden to do in the name of a bogus "national security" scare. As current rumors of an impending conflict with Iran increase, Samuel Johnson's word to the wise should suffice. "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
Well, what do you think about that. Interesting, what?? Thanks for the visit to Todays World, and a click on my sponsors’ links would be very much appreciated.
(And, of course, there are always the good parts of America, though they aren't necessarily political...)
The 4th of July
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