The Bush Conspiracy: Divide and Conquer
Maren Hickton MHickton@aol.com
Republicans for America

George W. won his election with an election fix ranging from his Governor brother in Florida, to a raid of the vote count from his pals in the US Supreme Court -- the likes of which this nation has never seen. So rather than focusing our attention towards an investigation about "serious Constitutional violations" about voting in Florida and related illegalities, what do we all do? We talk about the Clinton's "disgraceful" exit, including the theft of Presidential gifts. As if they need them.

Bush continues to discuss his tax cut plan, which can be translated to a payoff to those who supported him -- ranging from big business violators of the EPA to the major drug companies who continue to gouge American's with outrageous costs for medicine. While Bush's tax but plan has remained statistically unpopular and, according to high-profile economists, has no basis in improving long-term economic growth, Bush presses forward. Tax cuts now could potentially slaughter any hope for new initiatives towards improving Social Security and also, based on Bush's proposal, fail to cover the costs of numerous other promised programs. The average American family has less than $10K in assets. So while Clinton is raising money for India's quake victims in his reported leased space in downtown Manhattan (the aid sent to India by Bush should be an embarrassment), what do we all do? We talk about the "exorbitant rent" that taxpayers are paying for Clinton's space, with lease arrangements not even consummated.

Vice President Gore (D) and Senator McCain (R) repeatedly propose campaign finance reform, but Bush bristles at the thought, stating he has other priorities. After all, he got tens of millions of dollars from other less toxic special interest groups, including millions of donations from the far Right, who are now upset with his "faith-based initiative program," which, I suppose, was not what they bargained for in return. He had other priorities all right: the Clinton pardons, starting with Rich and writing his own constitutional amendment proposal regarding pardons. Americans are all sick of all this, but what do we do? We bash the former President's Op-ed piece and encourage an expansion of the pardon investigation, on the basis of "an appearance of impropriety," since it involved some members of the Clinton family. As if Clinton's pardons were different from other President's who played favorites. Bush knows all about influence peddling of the highest kind, and just because money doesn't directly change hands, it doesn't mean that you don't have quid pro quo.

Bush proclaims he plans to substantially take care of our dilapidated military starting with necessary improved wages and incentive benefits for retention. So he delivers a paltry sum to our servicemen and women and goes on to discuss our "need" for a missile defense system, which immediately causes a rift between the United States and Russia. Imperialist Bush doesn't think anyone is our "equal," his arrogance adding to fear and political mayhem within our NATO allies, responding to the fact that this would be in violation of a 1972 accord. The Cold War ended thanks to Ronald Reagan and a new chill is in the air. And what do we all do? We talk about the expanded pardon investigation now ranging to the "HRC Option." The M.O. is that he can destroy both Bill and Hill, "two for the price of one," deflecting questions from the Press, telling reporters we need to "move on." Sure.

Bush has an epiphany of some sort and decides to bomb Iraq. According to Bush, this was a "routine mission," even though Henry Hyde (R) disagrees. (Any savvy Republican knows that you don't mess with GOP flankerbacks like Henry Hyde.) Bush, the compassionate conservative, wants Saddam 'Insane' to understand that we will not tolerate the fact that his father's successful Gulf War meant nothing to him as Saddam parades around with body-doubles building monuments to himself and ignoring the needs of his own people. What Bush fails to understand is that you don't rile an enemy that is certifiably nuts expecting them to retreat. So what do we all do? We applaud Bush, the bully, for doing nothing more than acting like a tough guy, who fashions himself as some kind of Ronald Reagan. A Ronald Reagan he ain't. And, of course, we talk more about the Clinton's. Now it includes pardons that involve motions involving their relatives.

One sure way for the Democrats to fail is to continually defend themselves to this familiar GOP strategy of defaming the ex-President that should, after eight years, be transparent. Who gives a damn whom Clinton pardoned? It was his right and he is out of office. Use the Bush strategy: OFFENSE, and quit being such a bunch of wimps. Address real issues and stop reacting to the subterfuge.

1. The Bush tax cuts are too high and the numbers do not jive. Supporting tax cuts when we still have national debt is ludicrous accounting. Explain it to the public.

2. If Bush is a nationalist, he shouldn't be involving himself in other nation's matters UNLESS there is an agreed consensus among all of our allies beforehand. He can't, on the one hand, refuse to offer humanitarian aid and, on the other, go around bombing and threatening people like some kind of narcissistic fool. Challenge his actions, as warranted.

3. We need to immediately work on education, Medicare reform, and other programs. Stop standing around, gossiping, platforming "Nay Clinton," reading the National Enquirer, and act to promote, with ONE LOUD VOICE, sound proposals.

The new President, who has everyone, including the media, spinning like a top, is formidable. While this level of political wit may be admired, do not fall prey to divisive distraction.